drforsey@watrose.UUCP (drforsey) (03/07/86)
More questions on leathers... Which do you find cooler, leather pants (worn instead of regular pants, not over top) or chaps worn over jeans? Do the open areas on chaps more than compensate for the double layer of material around your legs in terms of staying cooler? This business of staying cool is important to me because I want the protection of leather in case of wipeout but I know I won't wear them if my legs start melting from the heat of the rear 2 cylinders (Honda Sabre). Regarding colour and toughness, my local custom leather apparel maker assures me that, despite what I have read on the net about black being tougher due to processing differences, colour has no effect. They just throw it in a drum with some dye. Black, brown, green, or paisley (:-P) it's all the same. It's just that black will hide scuffs and stains better than lighter colours. Robyn Landers, masquerading as ...watmath!watrose!drforsey
animal@ihlpa.UUCP (D. Starr) (03/10/86)
> > More questions on leathers... > > Which do you find cooler, leather pants (worn instead of regular pants, > not over top) or chaps worn over jeans? > Do the open areas on chaps more than compensate for the double layer > of material around your legs in terms of staying cooler? > This business of staying cool is important to me because I want the > protection of leather in case of wipeout but I know I won't wear them > if my legs start melting from the heat of the rear 2 cylinders (Honda Sabre). Chaps aren't a good idea for you for a couple of reasons: first, the open areas on the chaps will probably be in an optimum position to pick up nice, hot air from the engine, so you won't be any cooler. Second, they leave your butt exposed. Think about that in a crash--if you land on your backside, the leathers aren't going to do you a bit of good (remember, you tend to strike the ground with the outside of a bendable spot--knees, elbows, gluteus maximus). So if you really want to do the leather bit, go with the pants (and plan to carry a pair of jeans along to change into when you reach your destination). Before spending those big dollars on leather, though, you might give thought to the fact that the people who actually wear full leathers all the time live in the cool Pacific Northwest, where they don't know the meaning of the phrase "hot and muggy." In the middle of the North American continent, where summertime temperature and humidity readings both spend long periods in the mid-90's, full leathers aren't all that practical unless you're planning to live on salt tablets (and put spigots in your boots to drain the sweat). Unless you're planning to go racing (or just planning to crash a lot), you may be better off investigating the Kevlar-reinforced riding clothes (jackets, jeans and complete over-the-street-clothes jumpsuits) being made. The ballistics fabric (the same stuff used in drive belts and bulletproof vests) is said to give protection nearly as good as leather, but is lighter, washable, and breathable. I think (don't have the references on my desk right now) the reinforced jeans & jackets are made by an outfit called Tour Rider (or Tour Lion, or something like that; they also make insulated winter riding suits), and the one-piece coveralls are from Aerostich (sic) Riderwear. Dan Starr P. S. to the person from Columbus: I've seen Gore-Tex used in rain suits; it is a waterproof fabric, not an abrasion-proof one. Although if you teamed it up with the Kevlar riding duds, you'd have it made in the shade...