Protective clothing for motorcyclists
by SANDY COSSER
Motorcycles conjure up different images for different people. For some they speak of freedom, adventure and the open road, for others they epitomise rebellion. Many mothers and wives hate them because they stand for danger and death. This is a perception further fuelled by the fact that emergency room staff tend to refer to motorcyclists as organ donors. Riding a motorbike is inherently dangerous, for one thing there is the constant temptation to give in to speed, and other drivers seldom see them, for another.
To make riding a motorbike a more pleasurable and relatively safe practice, it��s advisable to invest in a range of protective clothing. This clothing is designed not only to keep you warm and dry in the cold and rain, but also to provide a measure of protection when your body inevitably introduces itself to the tarmac.
According to motorcycle experts at flamesonmytank.co.za the areas of your body that need the most protection (aside from your head) are the places where your skin is thinnest and the bones are closest to the surface. These places include your knuckles, shoulders, hips and knees. They recommend that you look for clothing that has thick, but soft, body armour sewn in.
They also say that in non fatal accidents, the most common and permanent injuries are to your legs and feet. This means that when buying motorcycle boots, you need to consider a lot more than style. It��s important that your boots support and protect your ankles and are sturdy enough not to buckle, bend and crush your foot. Many long-distance bikers opt for ��off-trail�� hiking boots, as they are designed to support your feet in a variety of extreme conditions and over awkward surfaces.
Don��t forget about your shins. If your boots don��t provide enough protection, you might want to do the same as some professional bikers do and tuck a pair of soccer pads into your socks. They may not be cool, but they��re one hell of a lot cooler than having your broken shin bones poking through the legs of your pants.
When it comes to pants, many bikers choose to ride in denim jeans. They��re convenient, they��re inexpensive and they don��t look out of place when you��re not on your bike. They are not without their disadvantages though. Studies have shown that that cotton used in jeans isn��t able to withstand all of the abrasion that results from a motorcycle accident. Once wet, they take a long time to dry, which means that you��ll still be damp and uncomfortable hours after the rain has passed. Leather, on the other hand, can be treated with waterproofing and is hardier in prolonged contact with the road.
Another thing that you need to consider when buying protective gear is the ��crash and slide factor��. This refers to your clothing��s ability to remain in place while you��re becoming intimate with the surface of the road. You don��t want the cuffs of your jacket or pants to ride up and expose your skin and bones to the abrasive qualities of the asphalt. What you want is for all of your belts, zips and Velcro fasteners to stay fast and protect you as much as possible while your life flashes before your eyes.
Heat resistance suddenly becomes very important, as you will generate a lot of it while you skid across the road. If your garments are of a delicate nature, and the care instructions state that only a cool iron should be used, you��re going to be in trouble. Your clothes will melt and could possibly melt into your skin, adding further insult to considerable injury. Look for clothing that can withstand temperatures higher than 110 degrees Celsius; in other words, something that you can iron the hell out of.
Riding a motorbike is dangerous, and for many that is part of the allure, but that doesn��t mean that all bikers are reckless or careless with their lives. Any biker worth his or her salt takes precautions on the road, no matter how rudimentary. Ear plugs, gloves, helmets and jackets all play a crucial role in keeping you safe on and prolonging your enjoyment of the open road. If you��re worried about stifling in all of that protection, remember these wise words from flamesonmytank.co.za, ��it��s better to sweat than to bleed��.
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