I'm suffering from list overload. Every time I look at my lists to knock something off, 3 more things get added to the bottom. It is easy - as I'm finding - to over equip yourself in the false belief that if you don't, you are somehow not taking it seriously. I think if i'm really honest though, as a newbie, the last thing I want is to look and feel like the newbie. I want to look like I belong, to be part of the tribe. It is vanity and I'm guilty. I definitely don't want to stand out because I'm dressed in shorts and t-shirt, and I don't want to stand out because I'm dressed like a Paris Dakar factory rider who then plods along at 5 mph. There is a knack to just blending in. I think that is my goal - be invisible.
So many sports and hobbies have multi-billion pound industries of supporting equipment wrapped around them. Most of which are unnecessary, but the marketing teams keep pumping us with new and improved stuff, year on year. Think fishing, cycling and golf. That's my top 3. I thought that to go fishing you need 1 rod and a maggot. But I see guys making their way along out local canal with industrial sack trucks. 3 rods seems about the norm, and boxes upon boxes of equipment. Of what? and they dress in camo' gear. Does that make a difference? Cyclists suffer from the n+1 rule too - the summer bike, winter bike, gravel bike, mountain bike, race bike, time trial bike. One would do. And golf. Marketing brilliance. You are convinced by Ping that the new irons are the best, most forgiving ever. But I guarantee in 12 months there will be a new set launched that somehow convinces you that last year's irons were crap and you need the new 'more forgiving' set.
All that is context because I definitely don't speak from the moral high ground here. I have two bikes and more than one set of golf clubs. Fortunately perhaps, I don't fish. To a large degree I am a marketing mans dream. I read the reviews, the YouTube vids, buy the magazines (back in the day). I compare spec, weight, performance stats. And then I buy the one I like the look of, that fits a certain aesthetic nuance that I can't explain.
And so I find myself with a long list of kit required that I have never owned and somehow have to navigate, piece by piece, a whole procurement process. Here is how it is going so far.
The must have list is:
Helmet
Boots
Pants (I want to write trousers, but pants does seem universal here)
Jacket
Body armor - knees, chest, back, elbows as minimum.
Gloves
Camel pack, minimum 2 litres
Then, depending on results of above, there may or may not be additional things like goggles and base layers, rain jacket, and luggage (lunch, toolkit, first aid kit).
Here is my tip. Go to a proper shop and try stuff on. Yes, you will find the 'best' if you do your research, but then the stockist will be in Germany, and then you're next favourite won't be in stock. Just cut to the chase and go old skool shopping. Most bike shop employees are passionate about their kit and often (genuinely) wear much of it themselves. And you are unlikely to find anything bad. I mean the vast majority of kit is good and fit for purpose - it is really just down to your own subtle preferences to decide and the best way to do that is to go and try it. By way of example, I was convinced that I needed the Alpinestars helmet model XYZ something. I tried it at the shop and it was bloody uncomfortable. It was a great bit of kit, just didn't fit my shape. I pulled on an Arai, which was way down my list because it was 4 grams heavier, and it fitted like a glove first time.
Now here we go again - I have an Aria in my hand, but do I want the road version, or the adventure version or the motocross version. Visor. Visor and peak, or goggles. I have literally no clue. Based on no evidence whatever, other than what everyone else seemed to use, I went with motocross style. So now we need goggles - and ones that will fit over my glasses. I can't wear contacts and although vision is not terrible without, I don't fancy riding all day without perfect vision. We found one pair of goggles that fitted over the glasses comfortably, so that was an easy call (again - impossible with home shopping).
Boots were pretty easily actually. Every piece of advise from hardened riders said protection is key and that only motocross style boots are up to the task. I slipped on a piar of Alpinestars Tech-7's which fitted beautifully from the get-go and that was another tick in the box. I used them for the first time on the Honda Adventure days and was really pleased with them. A little awkward for walking, but brilliant on the bike - especially standing up where the rigidity really helps - a bit like ski boots.
So 1 and 2 on the list were pretty easy, but 3 and 4 would prove to be a challenge. As I write it is still a work in progress. My next advice here - if you want to go down the 'everything-must-match-from-one-brand' route - is good luck. Bloody impossible. Give up now. And unfortunately my 'go-shopping' advise is also compromised on this one because not surprisingly UK shops are setup for UK weather. So lots of leather, gortex and cordura. Not vented / mesh, cool stuff. After a lot of home deliveries, I settled - at least for now - on the following combo:
When I ride at home - off to the BMW event next weekend - it will be typical British weather, so I've got a Klim jacket with build in elbow, shoulder and back protection. That should be sufficient for quick UK rides, or less aggressive off road stuff. Base layer, plus jacket - done. Klim kit is expensive, but I'm happy with the fit and function and I think it's a bit of kit I'll have for years. But it is too heavy and hot for Tunisia.
Arriving soon is a Leatt light weight jacket. It is one step up from a motocross jersey, but (I hope) much lighter weight and airy than UK oriented adventure jackets (like the Klim). It does not have amour so separate solution is required there. It also has a camel pack / water bladder pocket in the back which I really like the idea of as it saves wearing the full camel pack rucksack.
So between those two I think I'm covered up top. Klim for cooler or casual rides, the Leatt for hotter or more aggressive rides with armor. I'll just layer underneath to balance the weather.
None of those are waterproof, but I don't chose to ride in the rain so I think a roll up super light weight throw-on mac is in order for the odd time needed. I'll definitely go budget on that one.
Pants: I just ordered loads, tried them on, picked my favourite and shipped the rest back. Unless I find something better in the next week or so, these Rev'it in-boot textile pants are the choice for now. Light and super comfy. Wrong colour, but I'm past caring on that front.
Finally for part 1, armor. Back in the day in my Belstaff wax jacket, there was no armor and nobody questioned it. But I am going to subscribe to this one. My bones and joints are already creaking and anything i can do to save them further pain is welcome. Just the little spill I had in Exmoor demonstrated their value. Even with elbow, hip and knee protection, I still took a knock and was sore.
For that Exmoor ride, I wore my own Leatt knee protectors. I did try them on in the shop and they seemed fine, but over 2 days they really annoyed me. I've taken the scissors to the straps to make them more comfortable but alas I had to admit defeat and they went in the bin yesterday. I've ordered some Alpinestars instead and hope they are more comfy.
For the upper body, I debated different options, but once the Leatt jacket was locked in, the sensible choice seemed to be a single full body protection jacket with chest, back, shoulder and elbow all within. That should arrive this week, hopefully in time for a trial on the BMW event, so we'll see how we get on.
On my main hit list that just left gloves. I have loads in the house and this is one area where I'm going to spend zero pounds. I have winter cycling gloves which offer just a little protection ideal for off-road. Or, I have a nice pair of leather work gloves that I use for general outdoor jobs that are super comfy. Don't think I need much beyond those two options so i'll try both and settle on a favourite.
I put 'part 1' on the blog title because I'm sure this will run a while. I am a tinkerer and probably won't settle on the final packing list until the very last minute, but i'm pleased I've ticked off the big items, and if I had to ride tomorrow, I could.
A few good shops I've used:
Bikers World & Off Road World, Coleshill. Best place for me for in person shopping - great range in store - particularly off-road kit. Very knowledgeable staff.
www.24mx.co.uk Great range of brands that you don't find on other sites, but I think their warehouse is not UK, so takes a little longer to arrive.
www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk They have a few shops but off-road selection in store is limited. Trick here is to order lots for in store trial - usually ready next day.
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