berth
Well-known member
Coming in to the office today, there's a lady on a scooter. Nice scooter, didn't note the make. Helmet, nice (fashionable) helmet, 3/4 helmet I guess I'd call it, maybe open faced, but the googles were part and parcel to it. Chin was open.
And…that was it.
Lightweight hoodie I think, jeans, didn't note the footwear.
And it got me thinking. About riding attire that's Not Gear, but "better than nothing".
There's always the ATGATT segment, and clearly she wasn't a follower. But why not? Was she going to work/school and she was going to lock her helmet to the bike and be on her way?
When I first started on my scooter, I had a $20 open faced white helmet, loosely fitted, from K-mart, and snap on face shield. I basically wore a ski jacket and ski gloves, as those are what I had. That was "my gear". Later, I lost the snap on shield and replaced them with yellow ski goggles.
All of these protected me during a low speed get off in an intersection, and they were all torn or damaged in some way.
Not gear by any criteria we may use, but they were way better than a hoodie.
From the flattering lines of a rain suit to the anime armored fighter look of modern sport gear and "really, I'm not in to that" Brando style leather, it's not surprising some folks simply Do Not Like the look of modern motorcycle gear.
And "too bad, suck it up" is perhaps a proper response, but isn't there an in between? Isn't "something" better than nothing, even if it's not as good as it can be? Sneakers are better than flip flops. Hiking boots are better than sneaker. Pumps are a bad idea save for calendar photo shoots.
Is a fashion leather jacket destined to be destroyed in a possible, but unlikely, low speed get off better than the armored up riding jacket that someone won't wear? Isn't "gear you wear" better than "gear you won't"?
Just trying to think what could have been suggested to this lady. Maybe she was completely ignorant of what she should be wearing. But that just seems unlikely today. I know not all riders are "enthusiasts", not all will read magazines or forums or, well, anything. But with the emphasis on safety we have in the industry as well as society in general, you'd think that she's not wearing the gear she should "semi-consciously". She made a choice to not purchase or wear something better than a hoodie and no gloves. I can't say her reasons, but looks, comfort, convenience and expense tends to be the top of most lists.
Any suggestions for in between attire that's "better than nothing" that you might convince someone to wear? Even in the heat?
And…that was it.
Lightweight hoodie I think, jeans, didn't note the footwear.
And it got me thinking. About riding attire that's Not Gear, but "better than nothing".
There's always the ATGATT segment, and clearly she wasn't a follower. But why not? Was she going to work/school and she was going to lock her helmet to the bike and be on her way?
When I first started on my scooter, I had a $20 open faced white helmet, loosely fitted, from K-mart, and snap on face shield. I basically wore a ski jacket and ski gloves, as those are what I had. That was "my gear". Later, I lost the snap on shield and replaced them with yellow ski goggles.
All of these protected me during a low speed get off in an intersection, and they were all torn or damaged in some way.
Not gear by any criteria we may use, but they were way better than a hoodie.
From the flattering lines of a rain suit to the anime armored fighter look of modern sport gear and "really, I'm not in to that" Brando style leather, it's not surprising some folks simply Do Not Like the look of modern motorcycle gear.
And "too bad, suck it up" is perhaps a proper response, but isn't there an in between? Isn't "something" better than nothing, even if it's not as good as it can be? Sneakers are better than flip flops. Hiking boots are better than sneaker. Pumps are a bad idea save for calendar photo shoots.
Is a fashion leather jacket destined to be destroyed in a possible, but unlikely, low speed get off better than the armored up riding jacket that someone won't wear? Isn't "gear you wear" better than "gear you won't"?
Just trying to think what could have been suggested to this lady. Maybe she was completely ignorant of what she should be wearing. But that just seems unlikely today. I know not all riders are "enthusiasts", not all will read magazines or forums or, well, anything. But with the emphasis on safety we have in the industry as well as society in general, you'd think that she's not wearing the gear she should "semi-consciously". She made a choice to not purchase or wear something better than a hoodie and no gloves. I can't say her reasons, but looks, comfort, convenience and expense tends to be the top of most lists.
Any suggestions for in between attire that's "better than nothing" that you might convince someone to wear? Even in the heat?
And she doesn't want to bother with the 'hassle' of putting on, or taking off some bulky protective thing she's going to have to store somewhere. 