Twin Cities Area Campfire BS Thread

[Klay]

Originally Posted by propforward

But what of colours? I think I should be blue, like awesomebob. Or else grey and nondescript. Decisions, decisions.

I always regret not getting high-viz, at least for the jacket, for sure. Kick me if my next suit is not high-viz.

[pineconeMN]

Prop, unless you're a slave to fashion, get a white helmet. I've worn black, silver & white and I swear I have way fewer oh shit moments with inattentive drivers with a white helmet on.

And yes, blue. I vote blue

[Klay]

ps. Both my Darien suit and my Roadcrafter suit leak in heavy rain. If it's a hot summer rain, it doesn't matter. If it's a cold rain, I add a waterproof layer because an extra layer is necessary anyway.

[Klay]

Originally Posted by pineconeMN

Prop, unless you're a slave to fashion, get a white helmet. I've worn black, silver & white and I swear I have way fewer oh shit moments with inattentive drivers with a white helmet on.

And yes, blue. I vote blue

I've found that a day-glo high-viz helmet is markedly more visible than a white helmet. However, fashion considerations lead me to choose a white helmet for my latest helmet.

[Grainbelt]

Originally Posted by pineconeMN

I've worn black, silver & white and I swear I have way fewer oh shit moments with inattentive drivers with a white helmet on.

+1. No scientific data but I realized that I notice riders with white helmets, so it probably works for others seeing me.

[Spikehead]

First, I'm sorry to read about your pavement/ditch surfing, Stuart. Glad you and bike are mostly okay.

Regarding the 'Stich gear, I think you're spot on with your thoughts about the Darien being the way to go. I think gives a better fit the life-size people than does the Roadcrafter. Mine is a XXL, and you're welcome to try it out anytime.

Originally Posted by propforward

Krevin, thanks for the input, I was about to PM you about the stitch gear. Did a bit of searching on the forum, and I'm thinking the Darien is the more appropriate candidate for me, but I want a closer look in the flesh, so to speak.

[LumpyOne]

Originally Posted by Klay

I've found that a day-glo high-viz helmet is markedly more visible than a white helmet. However, fashion considerations lead me to choose a white helmet for my latest helmet.

Maybe it is my ego but I like to be seen . I have the Fly Trekker Hi Viz and i catch people taking double takes all the time. Just my 2 cents. Good luck with shopping!

[Spikehead]

As much as I like my full hi-viz stuff for commuting, grey does the best job by far of hiding road grime, squashed bugs and spilled coffee stains which occur as you are enjoying a cup of gas station whilst fueling the tank. It also seems to be a bit more socially acceptable color in small town cafes. You still look like a power ranger, of course, but in muted gray-scale and not technicolor. A hi-viz helmet seems to take up the viz duties, and unlike cordura it still screams YELLOW! after several thousand miles.

Originally Posted by propforward

But what of colours? I think I should be blue, like awesomebob. Or else grey and nondescript. Decisions, decisions.

[GSAnderson]

Originally Posted by propforward

All my research is making me lean towards the Darien set up at this point....

That's what I'll get when I am ready for new gear. Now, what kind of BMW are you going to get?

[LSGiant]

Originally Posted by propforward

Thanks chaps. Jeff - your sentiments echo a lot of what I am reading.


But what of colours? I think I should be blue, like awesomebob. Or else grey and nondescript. Decisions, decisions.

FWIW

I have silver and I have black. I prefer the silver. Leave them both in the sun for 10 minutes. Black is much hotter. But if you are a slave to fashion...........

[propforward]

Good input all. Still trying to decide between white and yellow for helmet, but leaning towards white. I have made similar observations regarding other riders with white helmets and visibility. I don't think I notice yellow over white any extra....but a minor point. Yellow would make it very easy for the adding of the prop avatar. I have always been into black helmets, but over the last year have taken a dislike to them - nothing to do with the visibility aspect, just one of those things. The heat thing Jeff mentions is certainly a factor.

I am thinking grey for the suit. Mainly for the road grime aspect. It is easy enough to add a high vis over vest if needs be, but I think the helmet does most of the job as suggested.

Had a perusal of much gear at Moon. Moon are awesome, they carry manly sizes of stuff in stock. Checked out Klim, Olympia and Firstgear. All good gear. I like the Firstgear suits, and it felt -oh-so-comfy- to be putting on a brand new jacket, especially compared to the beaten up, torn, battered and bug stained thing lying on the floor next to me.

Although the firstgear current range of stuff is good, with some features that I like, they seem to have reduced the substantive nature of the outer shell in order to pay for more zips and fasteners. Although I like the under helmet hood.

All the aforementioned gear is good, but I think having looked at all that, I'm going to pop up nort' tomorrow and check out the Dariens, then make my decision. Bythe way - pleased with the honesty regarding leaks. I suspected as much. I also suspect that the Stitch's leak less quickly than my Firstgear stuff. The jacket would do "OK", but the pants suck from a waterproofing standpoint. I carry an oversuit for the heavy rains.

As for helmets - really like the schuberth, but compared side by side to the Shoei, I still think the shoei has it. Think I'm going to go ahead and get a Shoei neotec.

Anyone who is brain dead enough to still be reading this drivelly post at this point, would do well to remember that as well as one's own asshattery being a potential for ditch incursion, there are still inattentive drivers to contend with. As if texting isn't bad enough, I had the severe displeasure to be following some wanker who seemed to think that an appropriate driving activity is rearranging crap on the back seat, then changing ones shirt, and in the middle of that activity applying what I assume was deodorant. All while driving through the crowded streets of Monticello.

Yeah - he veered across lanes a few times.

Anyway.



Too long, didn't read.

[propforward]

Originally Posted by GSAnderson

Now, what kind of BMW are you going to get?

A pretty red one.

[mngl1500]

Originally Posted by LSGiant

FWIW

I have silver and I have black. I prefer the silver. Leave them both in the sun for 10 minutes. Black is much hotter. But if you are a slave to fashion...........

I regret getting a black helmet this year. It is a hotter than the silver helmet was and way hotter than the white helmet was. Next helmet will be white or silver again.

[Metallic Waste]

Originally Posted by propforward

Krevin, thanks for the input, I was about to PM you about the stitch gear. Did a bit of searching on the forum, and I'm thinking the Darien is the more appropriate candidate for me, but I want a closer look in the flesh, so to speak.

One advantage to 'stich products is that often they can be repaired after a crash. And sometimes not. There's many examples of krashed products on display there. They're all hanging on a rack for anyone to peruse.
-K

[propforward]

White helmet purchased. Easy come, easy go and all that.

Still debating between blue and grey for jacket - only matters for the Darien anyway.

Also still looking at the current jacket and thinking "I can prolly patch that".

Don't want to though. The pants are a write off, there's no patching them. There isn't a patch big enough that will cover my arse.