Kitting out a beginner

I feel a move closer to bikerhood coming on. That being the case, I'm gonna
need to look the part and having no wish to lose any more flesh or bones
than necessary, have the right protective gear for my lessons.

As a beginner, should I just settle for the "Man from Lidl/Aldi" look and
upgrade later or is it worth shelling out more now? Given that Aldi/Lidl
aren't doing any biker gear just now, what are other good places to try?

Tim

 

If you're sure you're going to continue biking I wouldn't bother with
a cheap set.

If you say where you live someone may be able to suggest a decent
shop. Buy RiDE and see what they recommend.

 

Knowing where you live might encourage someone to recommend a shop.

The Lidl/Aldi stuff is usually pretty decent for the price, if you can find
your size in stock.

 

There is only one real answer to this.

 

It is but they only sell it once a year in February. Unless there's
another supplier of course.

 

Maybe not leathers, but a pair of waterproof / thermal fabric trousers is a
good idea if you ever intend to ride in cold or wet weather. I've been using
an Aldi pair for a couple of years, to sling over my work trousers when
commuting. I think they were about £30, so it's not a major investment.

 

That's my gut feeling. I'm known for having the attention span of a ned on buckfast so whilst *at the moment*, I don't feel that this is just a whim, who's to say how I'll feel in a few months time. ;-)

Sealskin socks perhaps?

I should have said earlier that I live in Ayr, SW Scotland. As has been pointed out I've possibly missed the boat this year for biking gear at Lidl/Aldi if they only do it once a year but I'll keep an eye on their newsletters.

Tim

 

<nods>

 

When I started I went to Hein Gericke and bought everything from them.

Bloody good kit, not massively expensive and still doing sterling
service.

 

And then buy something else.

 

Autojumbles. Amazing bargains. Old stock being sold cheap, army surplus
gear, very good second-hand leathers... you name it.

 

You get what yuo pay for go for the best kit you can afford

 

Yeah, right.

I'd just like to say "Alpinestars".

 

I didn't know crn was an editor?

 

Two. The sweller answer (army surplus) and my answer (hein gericke)

Generally I'd say buy some cheap stuff to get yourself started, then
gradually replace it over time. When I go out in the morning I'm wearing
about 1500 quids worth of kit and I can't imagine spending all that
money on gear in one go.

 

I managed for *cough* years on really crappy gear. I either got sweaty
hot, piss wet through, or cold or sometimes all three on the same day.

Finally coughing up and buying the real gear (Top to toe HG/Goretex,
Shoei, pinlock) has been an absolute revelation and I rarely worry about
the weather now.

A significant investment and as others have said you need to be sure
that you're going to carry on.

 

Really? I've ended up with several bits of RiDE-recommended kit, not
least my Crowtree leathers, and have been consistently impressed.

 

Now aided by a pair of Daytona boots purloined from your son.

--
Lozzo
Versys 650 Inter-Continental Hyperbolistic Missile , CBR600F-W racebike
in the making, TS250C, RD400F (somewhere)
BMW E46 318iSE (it's a car, not one of those 2-wheeled pieces of shite
they churn out)

 

**** off, it's shit.

--
Lozzo
Versys 650 Inter-Continental Hyperbolistic Missile , CBR600F-W racebike
in the making, TS250C, RD400F (somewhere)
BMW E46 318iSE (it's a car, not one of those 2-wheeled pieces of shite
they churn out)

 

Heh, the HG boots are still great, but are a bit, erm, red. The
Daytonas rock but are a bit scruffy.