It's getting hot in here, can't take off all my clothes!

[inevitable]

Hi all, shameless lurker and occasional poster back for some more advice again!

I've been riding around on my SV for a good 4 months now, mostly round london but with some good runs out to the West ****ry and back!

loving every minute of it, especially not having to get the tube to work in the mornings anymore! Haven't quite summoned up the bottle to make it to a meet yet but who knows now the sun is threatening to shine I might just find some balls and come to meet you!? there are loads of SVs parked up round Hanover Sq where I'm based.

Anyway, when I started I got myself all kitted up in Frank Thomas textile gear which has proved to be warm and waterproof. Haven't had the misfortune to test it's crash resistance yet.

The thing is, it's all getting a bit too hot in there. I took the thermal linings out ages ago and opened all me vents up but if the bike aint moving, I'm getting warm and damp.

Unfortunately I have to wear a suit to the office. Not a problem getting the suit trousers under the bike trousers and being warm in the winter and the suit jacket stays at work so shirt on and tie in the tank bag with the sandwiches is fine by me...

But what do you lot wear for the summer? I want something that's a bit brighter and trendier than the standard black that my biking wardrobe currently consists of???

I've been looking around but the draggin jeans are no good as I can't really be popping into the loos to take my trousers on and off all the time so ideally need something light and airy to go over the top still. Also, what jacket should I be looking at? I'd love to get a leather but at 6'4 I look a bit of a prat when it's half-way up my back whenever I sit down or move my arms forward so I just don't fit leather jackets.

Help me Obi-Wan Kinobe... What shall I do to be cool in the summer?

Cheers,
J

[thor]

I've got a leather richa jacket with zip out side panels from waist to cuff. Might be worth a look?

Highly vented gloves and boots should help keep you cool, as well as a highly vented lid. You might consider an open face one and sunglasses? Or failing that, sunglasses and the visor up?

Trousers. Well if you can't take your work trousers off then you either you are going to be hot, or have no protection. That's unless you can get armoured suit trousers these days... No seriously, there may be trousers with mesh panels but loose means any armour might move around when sliding.

Make sure you aren't wearing a rucksack so some air gets down your back too. And open your fly :wink:

[tomjones2]

Hein gericke do some mesh suits for v hot weather, but if at all possible try and find somewhere to get changed at work and just wear the gear next to your skin.

I have a normall HG kit with a liner for winter and vents for summer, great for this country dosn't work so well on the continent though, got v hot over there last summer.

Wait till its get proper hot and you are sitting over the engine in 30C+ summer weather and the traffic lights, even the helmet gets to hot - no excuse not to wear one though. Always makes me wonder how the engine can produce that much heat in the summer and seemily so little in the winter :)

[Daimo]

Winter......

Boots
Winter Gloves
Wolf Racing textile jacket with inner lining
Usually a nice warm jumper
Textile trousers with padding, with inner lining.....

Spring/autumn......
Boots
Winter/summer gloves
Wolf racing textile jacket WITHOUT inner lining
A nice warm jumper
Textile trouser WITHOUT inner lining...

Summer.......
Boots
Summer gloves
Wolf Racing textile jacket without inner lining
Textile trousers without lining OR leather trousers with sliders

I wear my trousers under my textiles every time (apart from when wearing leathers). I also wear my shirt under this lot....

Lukcily, the only times i get hot and sweaty is in the summer on my way home from work (usually as im caught in traffic or something on London Bridge) in which case i dont mind. THe mornings usually mean its cool enough not to get too hot.

At worst, when heat sets in, while riding, lift up the bottom of your jacket so it scoops the air in :lol: Works wonders as all the hot air comes out behined your neck. mmmmmm 8)

[inevitable]

Thanks fellas. Looks like there's not much compromise then, safe but hot is the way. Might have a look for cooler jackets but it is true that I'm only really hot on the way home so maybe I'll grin and bear it.

failing that, i might become the only biker to garage the bike for summer and get it out again when it's cold enough...

[lynw]

Hein gericke do some mesh suits for v hot weather, but if at all possible try and find somewhere to get changed at work and just wear the gear next to your skin.

I wouldnt recommend that entirely, not if you dont want half hour of trying to get clothes off which are stuck to your skin from the sweat [my leathers are bad for that I wear leggings underneath in summer to avoid this problem].

Hein Gerricke tuareg stuff was good for hot weather. I also tend to wear my Draggin jeans in hot weather - though the UK has really yet to reach anything approaching what I was riding in while in Australia. :lol:

[tomjones2]

Hein gericke do some mesh suits for v hot weather, but if at all possible try and find somewhere to get changed at work and just wear the gear next to your skin.

I wouldnt recommend that entirely, not if you dont want half hour of trying to get clothes off which are stuck to your skin from the sweat [my leathers are bad for that I wear leggings underneath in summer to avoid this problem].

Hein Gerricke tuareg stuff was good for hot weather. I also tend to wear my Draggin jeans in hot weather - though the UK has really yet to reach anything approaching what I was riding in while in Australia. :lol:


Yeah sorry lynw i meant wear breatble textile gear next to your skin. My leathers are alpinstars lined with mesh stuff and i have never any problems with them sticking even in hot summer trackdays, i did have some unlined ones beofre that and i know what you mean though, not nice.

[GregK2]

I've got a Frank Thomas 'Sabre mesh paddock' jacket and matching trousers for the summer.

I rode to work wearing shirt/tie/suit trousers under them last summer and it kept me cool, plus they still have the armour at the knees elbow & shoulders (although probably don't provide the same protection against gravel rash in the event of an off).

[Blue_SV650S]

Another alternative is to take your suit/suits to work and leave them there. If you are in London a dry cleaners (or laundrette) can’t be far away for when they need a clean? Or stick them in a rucksack and take them home.

Then just wear a t-shirt (or whatever) under your bike gear and change in/out in the morning and evening.

I have found keeping a spare pair of kegs and socks at work invaluable for them days when you get soaked on the way to work too!! :D

That’s what I do anyway! :)

[Warren]

alpine all stars T-stunt is very cool in the summer, feels like your naked

[northwind]

For trousers, I wear my Belstaff cordura trousers year round over work trousers... As long as the jacket's a cool one the trousers have never been a problem. They're note specially thick, though I don't need anything more for winter, but they do have 2 large and slightly effective vents. Now, winter boots in summer, that's a killer.

[thor]

it is true that I'm only really hot on the way home so maybe I'll grin and bear it.

Ok, I think you might be best off taking a quick trip trip to the loos to get take your suit trousers off!

[Viney]

Im lucky to have a locker at work, so i just keep my stuff at work.

However, really hot summers days, i have a mesh jacket from Gerickes, and i wear motorcross gloves, but still wear leather torusers.

[Jelster]

Another alternative is to take your suit/suits to work and leave them there. If you are in London a dry cleaners (or laundrette) can’t be far away for when they need a clean? Or stick them in a rucksack and take them home.

Then just wear a t-shirt (or whatever) under your bike gear and change in/out in the morning and evening.

I have found keeping a spare pair of kegs and socks at work invaluable for them days when you get soaked on the way to work too!! :D

That’s what I do anyway! :)

That's the best answer really. When I was working in Brick Lane I had 2 suits, 14 shirts, a number of ties and a pair of shoes. I too had some suitable spare underwear in case I got soaked.

I wear vented leather jeans and either the matching top, or I have a Sidi summer jacket that is very cool in summer.

.

[northwind]

I wear vented leather jeans and either the matching top, or I have a Sidi summer jacket that is very cool in summer.


Do Sidi make jackets? are you sure you're not wearing apair of boots on teh end of your arms, that'd certainly be cool...

[fizzwheel]

I'm lucky we have a casual dress policy at work and I also have somewhere to get changed.

In the winter I just wear what I'm wearing to work that day under my winter textile kit.

In the summer I wear my leathers and get changed at work. I also have a vented textile jacket that I have been wearing in the summer but I have a leather jacket instead now so I'm going to stick with that and just wear a t-shirt underneath it.

I keep a pair of "work" trainers under my desk and to change into. In the summer I also keep a pair of jeans under there to change into as well.

[inevitable]

thanks again for all the tips. I'm No 14 in the locker queue at my place and can't see that going down before the hot weather hits.

vented jacket seems a m ust, good shout! the sturdy boots might have to be changed too.

This biking thing... I know i managed to sell it to "herself" as a money saver on the commuting front, but it's not really, is it? always some good kit to go and buy like.

bought her a lid, jacket and trousers the other day... got her on the back for the first time ever amd she loved it so i reckon i'm okay :-)
:twisted: :)