Too hot for biking

Coming from a country (Greece) where protective gear is not worn as much as in the UK I have come to the conclusion that its a matter of bike mentality.

Here in the UK the bike is not used as much as back home, weather here most of the time requires you to wear waterproof gear so it goes hand in hand with wearing some gear in general.

Plus distances travelled here are considerably longer than back in Greece. Try riding around town in 40C wearing all protective gear U'd be soaking wet within 2mins! Hence it's the practicality of the thing as well.

Bare in mind though that the bikers I know of back home to wear protective gear when going on trips etc etc.

Could it be that in Faro the guys had camped just around the corner or were just riding around town?

By no means I would consider riding without protective gear in the UK but when riding back home around town i only wear my helmet and ride in T-shirts. Maybe not safe but tell me any other way you would be able to ride for 10mins in 40C then ride again for another 15mins then again etc etc.

Maybe we need some real summer gear from all these companies out there?

I can't understand why you get so upset about people not wearing leathers on a bike.

In this heat i will often ride in jeans/t-shirt. But i ride at no more than about 40mph and just enjoy the sensation of being on a bike. If it wasn't law i'd probably leave my lid at home for trips to the shop etc. I go faster on my mountain bike and no ones complains about shorts etc on that.

Originally Posted by robz400

I can't understand why you get so upset about people not wearing leathers on a bike.

I go faster on my mountain bike and no ones complains about shorts etc on that.

I can see your point, you wouldn't expect to see the Tour de France riders in a full race suit would you. But when they do come off it aint pretty.

Had my first off in 3 years of riding, 6 weeks ago and up to then i would sometimes ride in normal jeans and on vary rare hot days did ride in trainers and once in a t shirt. Today was the first day since that off i as well as the bike were fit enough to go for a ride. I wore the Hood jeans, boots, gloves and leather jacket that i was wearing the day i went down. All the left side of these items are heavily scuffed as thats the side i went down on. They saved my skin
My mate who has been riding a year was with me when i had my off. What i do not understand is why he rode to work in jeans and t shirt on the M25 everyday to work after seeing the injuries i got as well as the scuffing of my gear. All these peeps that ride in t shirts and some in shorts are living in a fantasy world thinking they wont have an off....over confidence i say.
Yes the choice is down to the individual what they choose to wear and if they wont to learn the hard way....

Originally Posted by robz400

I can't understand why you get so upset about people not wearing leathers on a bike.

In this heat i will often ride in jeans/t-shirt. But i ride at no more than about 40mph and just enjoy the sensation of being on a bike. If it wasn't law i'd probably leave my lid at home for trips to the shop etc. I go faster on my mountain bike and no ones complains about shorts etc on that.

I was doing less than that and ended up with broken rib and messed up shoulder and that was without hitting any objects. Come off at that speed and i bet you will be saying different things

Originally Posted by TC3

I was doing less than that and ended up with broken rib and messed up shoulder and that was without hitting any objects. Come off at that speed and i bet you will be saying different things

i came off at 40 mph, my jeans and trainers held up better than my bike jacket you know

Originally Posted by Scooby Drew

Not taking proper precautions increases our insurance premiums

I don't really think people not wearing full gear is going to really affect insurance premiums it's not as if leathers stop PI claims.

I ride is Jeans a lot (it's the only bit where I don't wear proper kit) around town in this weather as if I were to ware my leathers I would be so hot it affects my concentration. I have come of twice around town in jeans and neither time did the wear through although the peg did rip a hole in the shin so it was a good job my sidi's have shin guard bits. If I go any distance or at higher speeds I do wear my leathers though.

I'm lovin the heat!!! yeah its just a bit on the 'sweaty' side but still prefer to be on the bike than stuck on the A40 every morning in heavy traffic. The only thing is when I was done workin for the day last week I got home and was absolutely swelterin and was in quite a rush to get the gear off, got me helmet off - check- undid jacket - check - BUT I made the mistake of taking my gloves off using my teeth to hold the finger ends and theoretically pull the glove off, BUT it was then that I felt a 'crack' in my mouth. I'd fractured 2 of my front teeth at the gum line - so.... £350 dentist bill to get crowns n that!!! So theres a lesson 4 U all, get the wife to hold it in her teeth instead - hence your own teeth will be a o k...LOLOL
But seriously, I hate anythin to do wiv me teeth and I also hate goin to the dentist. Anyway back onto thread - very hot but still 'im lovin it!'