The dirty thread

[Jayneflakes]

I washed my bike gear today.

It is all Textile so is fairly easy.

I had curry stains on the jacket sleeve from last summer and the trousers were a little err... fragrant.

So being a brave girl I took out the armour and filled the bath with warm water and Nickwax simple soap. Having dumped it all in and stamped on it for a bit to kill off the Armpit trolls that appear to have been using the lining for breeding and eating crisps, I let it sit for a while,hoping the curry stains will fade.

Now I have a pile of armour on the bed and I use the loosest description of it. It looks like the sort of stuff that Laser Quest used to give you so you looked like a pillock in the dark. However, does this stuff really work and is it worth putting it back in the jacket and trousers? It is made by a company called Knox and seems to be made out of plastic and foam rubber.

Anyway, back to the fausty kit, leaving the water several shades darker than when it went in, lifting the kit out was like heaving sacks of rubble because the water proof fabric turned into bags, full of water. I rinsed it all out, again in warm water and drained it off before hanging it in the garden to drip dry. I have thought about reproofing the outer fabric, but it still seems to be beading ok, so did not bother.

Any other tips for things I should do while my kit sits unused over winter, until I can afford to start bike training again?

As for the bike, the alarm killed the battery, so that was brought in and charged up again and the alarm switched to Winter mode. Lots of people I talk to seem to think I was a fool for having an alarm fitted. I get comments like "An alarm wont stop your bike being stolen, they just wrap it in a blanket and load it into a van!" All very discouraging.

So winter rituals, what should I really be doing (and don't say riding my bike because I am on the push bike trying to loose weught and be super fit for next year to take my DAS again)?

Originally Posted by Jayneflakes

However, does this stuff really work and is it worth putting it back in the jacket and trousers? It is made by a company called Knox and seems to be made out of plastic and foam rubber.

It is better than nothing, and Knox is a very reputable name.

[dizzyblonde]

when you've got the textiles dry, you need this stuff. It'll seal the fabric so it beads for definate. YC used the techwash and his jacket wasn't the same after, but I use this and mine is fine, I sprayed his with this once, and it did the job.

Its not until you get out on the road and it slashes it down, you notice if the techwash alone worked,,I'd far rather be dry first time

lets be honest, its going to smart a bit sliding down the road on your ass so any piece of plastic between you and it is going to help a bit? plus i think they are designed to cushion the initial fall from bike to ground (about 4ft whether moving or not) the rest is largely down to luck?

[dizzyblonde]

yup, put it all back in. After sliding down the road, I can definately say the foamy armour stuff in my Halvarssons kit did its job

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

when you've got the textiles dry, you need this stuff. It'll seal the fabric so it beads for definate. YC used the techwash and his jacket wasn't the same after, but I use this and mine is fine, I sprayed his with this once, and it did the job.

Its not until you get out on the road and it slashes it down, you notice if the techwash alone worked,,I'd far rather be dry first time

Dizzy, I bought this and it said to spray on the fabric while damp- or did you use it dry?

Originally Posted by shonadoll

Dizzy, I bought this and it said to spray on the fabric while damp- or did you use it dry?

Follow the instructions on the bottle

Originally Posted by Dangerous Dave

It is better than nothing, and Knox is a very reputable name.

+1. I believe YC has a Knox back protector which has done its job very well so far. He's also got a Knox backpack whihc doesn't seem to have given any problems yet either, had 'em a fair bit now.

As far as I'm concerned, any extra layer that stays between your skin and the surface you're landing on is good news, whether that be Kevlar, foam or plastic. Even if it doesn't look/feel much, if it saves you the odd fracture or skin damage then its well worth it in my opinion.

YC explained to me - the other day when we were shopping in Lidl - the difference between foam and hard plastic in back protectors (and therefore I will assume armour in general) and how it makes every difference spending that little bit more to get something which will do the job properly, but then that goes without saying!

[yorkie_chris]

My back protector is not knox, it's a CE approved one sold by halvarssons.

Knox back protectors and armor have a very good reputation and seem to do well in all the tests.

The elbow pads are meant to stop you shattering bones as you hit the deck, in my last little spot of tarmac surfing I instictively tried to break-fall. My elbow hit the deck pretty hard soon after my head and back, my elbow hurt a bit, I'm fairly convinced that if not for the armor, something would have snapped or shattered.

Leave the armor in, if you want some better alternatives then lozzos knowledge on this is excellent.



Winter storage of motysickle:
charge the battery once a month.
Change the oil, fresh oil does not have all the acidic crap in it that used stuff does.
DO NOT start the bike up and rev it thinking it's helping, it only fills the oil with acidic blowby and condensate.
Give it a coat of FS365 or ACF50
Move the tyres around to stop them developing flat spots.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

My back protector is not knox, it's a CE approved one sold by halvarssons.

Ooopsie I swear you said it was, Knox was definitely mentioned....shows how much I was listening.