Andreas
Well-known member
I love my new rev'it full vented leathers...
Atgatt
- Thread starter mbroyda
- Start date
Golluk
Well-known member
I was out yesterday for an hour or so around 2 or 3pm. Just for the hell of it I decided to see how bad it would be in full gear, in my all black Kevlar 2 piece suit suit. Like this but black http://www.motoport.com/Ultra II Kevlar Jacket blue,gray.jpg . Stepped outside and the suit held the cold air from inside until I was moving, and then it was just fine. I felt a little bit warm on my chest where the armor reducing air flow, but the whole thing breaths nicely, and wearing a wicking shirt, and swim shorts underneath the pants, I was dry and comfortable. the only real heat I felt was on my face from hot air hitting it directly (also wearing a sports balaclava). When I stopped for lights, I'd just be starting to feel warm when I could go again, and the bit of sweat accumulation would all evaporate and it would chill me right back down, rather refreshing.
I certainly got a few comments when I stopped at a timmies, and a few big waves from other riders in shorts and t-shirts. Just need to keep hydrated, I drank a large glass of water down in one go like it was nothing. Ended the day with some swimming and barbecue, made for a nice day out.
I certainly got a few comments when I stopped at a timmies, and a few big waves from other riders in shorts and t-shirts. Just need to keep hydrated, I drank a large glass of water down in one go like it was nothing. Ended the day with some swimming and barbecue, made for a nice day out.
In the last few weeks there have been a number of crashes involving the exact same riding behaviours I noted. Some appear in the rider down section. If you were to have asked the riders involved, pre-crash of course, if they thought what they were doing was unsafe, what do you think they would have said?
Anecdotally, the ones I see doing unsafe stuff on the road tend to wear minimal gear about 5 to 1 to those with full gear.
Wearing gear does not logically make one unsafe.
I don't think anyone has argued that gear equals unsafe riding is the automatic rule of thumb.
What has been said is that it's pointless for a rider to go ATGATT in the name of safety when the rider then turns around and rides stupid as a result of excessive over-confidence in the protective capability of that gear.
Just to support your comment a bit, which I completely believe as well:
A few nights ago I was with a couple buddies and we wanted to go for a nice ride.
I volunteered to be the gps/leader and asked if they had ever done certain roads in my route.
The one buddy said no and then asked if he should stop home real quick to get his jacket.
I then told him "With your jacket you will feel a little more confident and you may take some turns a little faster than you might want to seeing as you have never seen these roads before. Some of them are tricky cause they tighten up halfway through."
I recommended him to stay in his current attire as this would naturally bring down his aggression in the twisties a little bit, thus making it a little safer in one sense by forcing him to reduce the speed upon entry.
At the end of the ride my buddy talked about a few turns that got sharper halfway through (even though I warned him ahead of time with my 4-ways). He also noted that if he'd have his jacket he might of done that turn 10kmh faster and could have resulted him to end up in the grass sideways. He indirectly thanked me for making him realize that with his jacket he gains confidence that might not have played in his favor that night.
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Lemme get this str8 - this is post of the year material ^^^^^........
Hypothetically - Had he crashed in a tee shirt, riding 10kph slower, is it better than crashing with gear, 10kph faster?
Buddy thanks you for NOT letting him hike home for his protective riding gear? Weird.
Hitting twisties with what appears to be several decreasing radius turns?
You think it is best / safer to haul through without at least a jacket?
Is the heat getting to us?
I didn't intend for my post to promote "riding without gear is safer". Instead I was trying to add to turbo's comment that when you ride with gear on, your confidence and aggression (for some people) levels rise instantly. You feel like you're Superman because you have protection.
That's why I wrote:
One sense. The reason there's a quoting system on these boards is for me to refer to what subject I am talking about so that you, the reader, can try and interpret it the way I am trying to explain it.
I am not ATGATT. Not afraid to admit it.
I am a prepared person though.
If I am just going somewhere close and I know i'll just be following the flow of traffic, I will squid it out and take my chances especially in the heat we've been having the past few days.
As in the case of the ride with my friends, I rode in shorts and a tee during the day when I went to my friend's house and we were just cruising around. In my backpack I had jeans, jacket and gloves.
When we decided we were going for a joyride, I was prepared and took 2 minutes to change. Two of my 3 buddies weren't and they took their chances.
I am no one's mother. I believe that it's not my responsibility to make sure other riders are atgatt when they are fully aware of the consequences should they fall off a motorcycle. I might pass a comment if we're projecting to have a quick pace, but it's still not my place to tell them what to wear. We're all adults, we make our own decisions.
All I did that night was explain to him that without his jacket, his brain will automatically "tone it down" when he rides.
I never said "nah you don't need it".
I had absolutely no problem to follow him to his house just so he could get his jacket. Even if it was out of the way, I still would of went with him.
He made his own choice.
If I am talking to a person that is not a rider yet, then I take a good 5-10 minutes to explain how gear helps should an accident happen.
example: a girl at work wanted to go for a ride. I have 2 identical helmet (same model, different graphics) so I made her try my main one on. It fits ok (acceptable) but not perfect. I told her she needs to wear jeans tomorrow and if possible, footwear that covers the ankle. The next day I showed up with my extra helmet, made her wear my jacket and gave her my gloves and I used my spare gloves that I keep in the tail. She is not a rider and therefore I felt that I was responsible for her wellbeing.
Error #1
He asked if he could go home for his jacket, didn't he?
Maybe he made his own choice after some coaxing, but I still think you should have encouraged his original plan, and let him grab his jacket, rather than decide for him - regardless of what type of riding you're planning on doing. JMHO.
Enjoy the a/c.
Fixed to correct what happened.
The other 2 guys with us didn't even offer a response when he asked that question. I am curious to know what they were thinking.
Perhaps it was "If i say nothing then he'll just forget it and we can ride right now" or maybe "I want to say yes but don't want to seem like a nanny in front of everyone".
It's true that my comment may have coaxed him into making a wrong decision. I can see that point of view and you're right.
Perhaps next time I am in that situation I will offer 2 comments that leaves my position a bit more neutral.
I'm sure the majority of members here will agree that the correct comment should of been "yeah dude no problem, let's go get your jacket".
Now how 'bout this? He mentioned that he'd of taken some turns faster with his jacket on. What if he ended up in the ditch?
(i know the responses will be along the lines of "gear or no gear, he should still ride within his limits and be extra careful/slow down on roads that he's unfamiliar with).
Look at that. I'm basically having a conversation with myself! My camping vacation cannot come any sooner lol.
Just curious, what exactly do you mean by "enjoy the a/c"? Not sure if sarcasm. :laughing8:
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If his bike ends up in the ditch..........use your knees while lifting - avoid a hernia, unlike me.
Seriously - enjoy the a/c.....I am........too damn hot to play in the sun, or ride, and I won't ride without at least a mesh jacket, boots and gloves.
I used my 'mulligan' - high sided with a tee shirt & jeans and escaped serious injury. That was the last time I rode without gear. Last crash - full leathers, or Ida been dead.
i normaly do wear full gear but not today i was on tshirt jeans boots gloves and riding shorts underneath!!! i know its not right but....i forgot t-shirt
