Leather Chaps

Has anyone any experience of leather chaps for riding?
I'm thinking they me be what I need for Spring/Autumn riding when the weather's too cold for summer-weight trousers and too warm for winter ones.

MikeO wrote:

Has anyone any experience of leather chaps for riding?

Has anyone any experience of leather chaps for riding? ... for the SWing right? The heal spurs on the boots added a nice touch too

MikeO wrote:

I'm thinking they me be what I need for Spring/Autumn riding when the weather's too cold for summer-weight trousers and too warm for winter ones.

I wear my waterproof/windproof pants under my riding pants.

Mike,

Give a moment to think of where the cool/cold air goes when riding a scooter...
I think that chaps might be of more use in REALLY HOT weather.

Jon

Hey - Honda_Silver,
What do you use as water/windproof pants under your riding gear? I've got an EXCL armored mesh riding set (pant and jacket) that I wear all the time. For cold weather I've got long johns under my jeans but that isn't always enough. The jacket set has a rain liner and an insulated liner but the pants only have the mesh under the 'poly' outer shell.

Have been trying to find a 'lite' "something" to wear under the mesh pants that would be weather proof. Had been thinking of just putting on my rain gear but that just adds to the bulk. Someone else even mentioned ski pants but there again, wanted to stay away from the bulk. Would like to know what you've found that might be more suitable. Thanks for any info.

(Hope this adds to the thread rather than steals it...)

The chief reason for my considering chaps is that I ride the Silverwing to Church on Sunday evenings when it's not sensible to cycle.

Although no-one minds my being in bike gear, I don't feel comfortable so wear 'normal' trousers for the service, especially if I'm reading lessons.
At the moment I have to change.

It seemed to me that to be able to zip off chaps might be a good solution.
I do wear waterproof over-trousers if it's raining and thin thermal M&S long-johns if cold.

DickO wrote:

What do you use as water/windproof pants under your riding gear? I've got an EXCL armored mesh riding set (pant and jacket) that I wear all the time. For cold weather I've got long johns under my jeans but that isn't always enough. The jacket set has a rain liner and an insulated liner but the pants only have the mesh under the 'poly' outer shell.

Have been trying to find a 'lite' "something" to wear under the mesh pants that would be weather proof. Had been thinking of just putting on my rain gear but that just adds to the bulk. Someone else even mentioned ski pants but there again, wanted to stay away from the bulk. Would like to know what you've found that might be more suitable. Thanks for any info.

Here are the pants and jacket I wear underneath my Kevlar mesh pants and jacket:

Pants:
http://www.motoport.com/_product_35444/Aero-Tex_Fly_Zip_Pant

There is an optional pants liner ( http://www.motoport.com/_product_35444/Aero-Tex_Pant_Liner ) ... which I do not have.

Jacket with liner:
http://www.motoport.com/_product_35444/Ultra_II_2_Part_Jacket_Liner

I believe they are an Aerostitch pants/jacket with a one modification.

So I use them both for rain and cold weather riding.

MikeO wrote:

The chief reason for my considering chaps is that I ride the Silverwing to Church on Sunday evenings when it's not sensible to cycle.

Apart from my initial chuckle Mike. (The visions of you lassoing Belgian herds whilst riding your 'Wing' took ages to clear)

Seriously, why should anyone mind your dress in church. we have a vicar in Dorset who is a bit of a biker and I believe he attends in leathers on occasions.

Your beliefs are not fashion statements my friend. You wear your clobber and show the people that your as passionate about staying alive as you are in attending church.

Says me, who only attends weddings and funerals!!!!

Waspie wrote:

You wear your clobber

What is a clobber?

Slang for clothes, similar to gear - tending towards specific outfits, e.g. motorcyclegear, wedding and funeral suits, old clothes for gardening, etc.

It can also mean to hit someone, usually with something (baseball bat or club) or in a financial sense to be hit by a large tax bill or similar:
"The tax-man will clobber me with a huge bill because of all the overtime I worked".

I know what you mean about clothing in Church, Doug, but I was brought up with the 'Sunday Best' mentality and it's difficult to change that.
I do feel that if one is on display as a reader or sidesman, one should look smart.
I cringe when I see the T-shirt & jeans brigade 'leading the worship'.
Priests, servers and choristers wear liturgical gear so that their day-to-day attire does not distract the congregation.

I always wore jacket, collar and tie when I was teaching, not least because the children were expected to wear uniform, and I felt it important to take trouble with my appearence.

As for chaps for rounding up cattle on the prairies, they are also worn for certain fringe 'activities' but we'd best not go down that path!

Another alternative is a pair of waterproof/windproof snow boarding pants. I have a pair made by Columbia that I can slip on over my work clothes and they seem to work great. The legs are large enough to go on and off over my riding boots so in just a few seconds I am ready to go.

For cold weather riding I just slip my Frogg Toggs rain pants on over whatever I'm wearing. They are very light, take up little room in the bike, are rain proof but breath so they don't make a person sweat and reasonably inexpensive. They are windproof so the cold doesn't come through and the pants underneath provide air space for insulation. I've had my set of Frogg Toggs for about five years and have used them many times on road trips. They look like paper but wear like iron.

http://www.froggtoggsraingear.com/Motorcycle.htm