[hotshoetom]

Well, I went and did it. SPent more money on riding gear and now have, I hope, all I need for all kinds of climatic conditions. My choices were, Joe Rocket brand Jacket, pants and gloves...I got the Meteor Jacket which has reflective stripes plus bright yellow all over it which should improve my visibility, padded armor at all the important joints, a liner for cooler/cold weather. The pants are the Alter Ego model with a removable liner and zip open sections for summer cooling. They also have padded armor at all the critical places. They are a little short on me and I may send them back...I would prefer a pant leg that comes over top of my boot so they dont fill up with water in the rain. Both the jacket and pants are supposed to be waterproof....we'll see how well that works eventually. The gloves are also the JR brand, Ballistic 2.0 model. They fit quite well, have a squeegee for wiping off rain on both thumbs, and fit snugly (on my hands anyway). I rate the comfort at a solid 9, but they are a little warm for warm weather...I will need to find something cooler for summer use. I may go ahead and try them on a couple of summer rides and see how they do, but the initial impression is one of being too warm...we'll let you know.

The reason I chose the JR brand was the reputation and comments I have read on various forums, plus I could find fairly reasonable clearance prices through New Enough on models that would work for my size body. Again, the pants may be going back...I am going to try them on again and take a short ride in them and see how they do. The jacket is a keeper.

 

[WildBillPurdue]

I'm glad to hear you're getting yourself up to your standards in safety gear! It takes a lot of discipline to wear the gear each and every time, and I admire those that do! Keep us informed on how you like your gear!

Happy riding!

 

[pamb]

Glad you bought all the gear. Keep me informed if you wear it all the time. I bought a Joe rocket jacket too but it is still Hot when it is 90 and humid. Hope you enjoy yours.

 

[hotshoetom]

I have a slightly schizoid mindset about the safety gear...I know I need to wear it all the time for maximum protection...I also know that comfort is part of the safety equation too...that if you are so uncomfortable you are distracted by it, then you must do something about that or not ride. I am willing to tolerate some discomfort, and thus wore the jacket to work today even though it was quite warm. I did not wear the pants, partly because I havent decided if I am keeping them, and partly because they are not the easiest thing to get into and out of. The Joe Rocket jacket seems to be very high quality but it is still pretty warm in 85 degree weather in stop and go traffic. Once moving at some speed I was fairly comfortable. I will probably try the pants tomorrow and see how they do...I have a longer ride tomorrow at highway speed and would feel safer at the higher speed with more protection. I know the statistics say that most accidents occur at 35 mph or less, but a big part of being safe and confident is mental...we have to do what we have to do...right???

I have always worn a jacket and gloves from the first day I rode. The pants will take time to become part of the routine I am sure...