Have you ever discovered something so seemingly small, yet make a massive difference to life? Or how you ride? Take belts, for example: they’re not exactly a new invention or super advance technology, are they? And yet… I finally found a belt without a buckle that I can use on the bikes without that worry of it scratching the tank to buggery (been there, done that, even with tank protectors). And oh my, it’s made such a difference to my riding, or more importantly, my stopping and how I sit on the bike. I’m not known for having legs the length of a super-model's (Mr J recently compared me to a Dexter cow!!!) and my bike trews have a tendency of very unflatteringly slipping down my arse and, well, hobbling me where the crotch in them ends up halfway down my thighs. So, I got a belt. A new, shiny, uncomplicated belt that actually holds my trousers up and keeps them where they’re supposed to be. And voila! I can now use my legs like they’re supposed to be used and they’re freeeeeeee, to swing and dangle and do whatever legs are meant to do. Ok, I may be dramatising this a bit. But this difference of a few extra mm’s in leg length is amazing and my feet feel so much closer to the ground when I’m sat on the bike now. The added stability and freedom of movement on the ‘bike that this tiny bit of extra leg length has given me is bloomin’ marvellous. So belts, eh? Simple yet amazing.
Being comfortable on and off the bike is important, my leather pants won't stay up when not zipped to the jacket so I always use the clip on braces. Also vital that your gear and more importantly crash protection is in the correct place if the worst should happen, as I found out when I crashed with leathers that were too long and ground a hole in my knee.
See? That's what I mean: something as simple and basic as braces that can make a massive difference. No one tells you about these mini miracles.
LOL, I'm pleased it's not just me then... Fwiw I wear a leather onesie on track, and used to find that in warm weather removing it was "challenging" after 20mins of attempting to contort my sorry old self into the gap between my side fairing & the track, my expended sweat acted like an adhesive against removal. Then I was gifted a silk one piece under suit, makes life soooo much easier. For road use however, I prefer just my old Leather jacket & jeans (ala Billy Joel's "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" ), and like Wobbles I too choose to wear braces. I also find that avoids the added weight of the body armour slipping the jeans down slightly. Another "taken for granted" huge development imho, is the modern built in flip down internal sun visor on my road helmet. When I think back to all the times over the years that I used to get blinded by all that glare & scratches.
