Too hot for biking

[Biker Biggles]

I've just got back from holiday in Portugal,not on a bike,and there was a big bike rally in Faro.Thousands of bikes and only a tiny minority were wearing much in the way of protective clothing.From what I saw,the Brits and Germans tend to wear the gear and the rest ride in shorts and T shirts.I know Portugal has one of the worst road safety records in Europe,but does anyone know how this breaks down for bikers?
Nice place for a holiday BTW with great weather aided by cooling breezes off the Atlantic.A degree or two cooler than the British heatwave.

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

I've just got back from holiday in Portugal,not on a bike,and there was a big bike rally in Faro.

Heading to the Algarve in October with the famiy as well...
Where did you stay? We're booked into a resort called villa da golf(?) I think. The wifes made all the arrangements

[Biker Biggles]

We flew to Faro,hired a car and stayed in Lagos which is about fifty miles up the coast.Lagos is a working fishing port as well as a tourist resort,and is great for beaches and boat trips to the caves and dolphin watching.Great food if you like fish and easy access by car to anywhere in the Algarve.I was a bit rusty on driving a left hooker on the wrong side of the road but it all comes back and I did'nt hit anything Prices are similar to here and cheaper than rip off London if you avoid the obvious tourist traps.Seagulls are violent,just like British ones.

Although I believe in free choice, I would still like to stop anyone stupid enough to not wear the correct gear, and punch them in the face. Not taking proper precautions increases our insurance premiums and makes bikers look even more like irresponsible idiots in the eyes of the public who have a low opinion of us already.

As a side note, when I presented myself at A&E in my full kit (cos I was too sore to get it off when I got home & it was basically holding all the bits together ) the doctor complimented me on beig fully kitted out, noted every single item in the medical records and told me that if I had not been wearing a back protector, I would have been lying on the side of the road coughing up blood due to a punctured lung, instead of riding my bike home and then proceeding to the hospital in an orderly fashion

Another side note - taking passengers without proper gear is a crime worthy of a firing squad.

IMHO of course

Originally Posted by Scooby Drew

Although I believe in free choice, I would still like to stop anyone stupid enough to not wear the correct gear, and punch them in the face. Not taking proper precautions increases our insurance premiums and makes bikers look even more like irresponsible idiots in the eyes of the public who have a low opinion of us already.

As a side note, when I presented myself at A&E in my full kit (cos I was too sore to get it off when I got home & it was basically holding all the bits together ) the doctor complimented me on beig fully kitted out, noted every single item in the medical records and told me that if I had not been wearing a back protector, I would have been lying on the side of the road coughing up blood due to a punctured lung, instead of riding my bike home and then proceeding to the hospital in an orderly fashion

Another side note - taking passengers without proper gear is a crime worthy of a firing squad.

I had full kit on, including a back protector, and I WAS lying on the side of the road coughing up blood because of a punctured lung.

Originally Posted by BigApe

I had full kit on, including a back protector, and I WAS lying on the side of the road coughing up blood because of a punctured lung.

And if you hadn't been?

Originally Posted by Scooby Drew

And if you hadn't been?

I wouldn't be writing this

Scooby - You're entitled to your opinion of course, as are the car drivers who think bikers are stupid for riding bikes in the first place.

Originally Posted by dooley

Scooby - You're entitled to your opinion of course, as are the car drivers who think bikers are stupid for riding bikes in the first place.

Quite Sorry, shouldn't drag car drivers into this, it just muddies the waters.

It never gets too hot for me to ride. The call of the road pulses too strong within my veins .

It is the colder weather that dampens my enthusiasm. I always wear a ventilated Pilot Airmax jacket with ventilated armoured gloves and BMW touring boots. Would like to get Draggin jeans.

I get the cold chills when I see school kids blasting past me wearing a t-shirt and shorts. But hey, I also honour free will ... except those of my pilllions .

Keep it on 2 wheels!