We're heading for another hot one this weekend - which is a great opportunity to get the bike out.
Whether it's a longer cruise or a trip through the urban jungle, there's nothing like the feeling you get from riding your scooter, moped or motorbike on a warm summer's day.
But we mustn’t let that hot weather tempt us to jump on the bike in our best summer street wear.
Let's be honest: we've all seen our fellow bikers cruising down the street in clothing that's not going to give them a scrap of protection if they take a tumble. Blokes in shorts and t-shirts – if that! – and sliders, girls in skirts and sandals.
Imagine if they were to take a tumble? All that bare skin or flimsy cotton hitting the tarmac at 20-30mph – or faster? Imagine how bad the scrapes and cuts would be - from even a really low-speed crash.
Ouch! That would do some damage. Indeed, the damage is so notorious that A&E nurses have a phrase for it: 'road rash'. It's their lovely phrase to describe the injuries caused when bare flesh comes into contact with the tarmac.
It doesn't sound too pleasant, does it? It isn't: and A&E nurses will tell you that cleaning up these injuries is not for the faint-hearted, either.
How to avoid it? Ride in the proper gear. Remember, no matter how warm it is, when we're riding it can get cool pretty quickly – and there's always the option of a Superman-style quick change at our destination into something more stylish and summery.
So what are the right clothes to wear for a summer ride?
Always wear gloves.
We get that bulky gauntlets might seem the wrong choice for a scooter ride through the city in the summer, but there are lots of lightweight urban gloves to choose from, in stylish colours, with superior protection. Look for ones with knuckle and finger armour, and pad reinforcements. Make sure they meet the CE standard; 1 is a pass, 2 gives better protection.
Boots are vital.
Our feet and ankles are one of the most vulnerable parts of our body when riding, so protective motorcycle boots should always be high on the list of biking 'must buys'. Never be tempted to wear sandals, sliders or lightweight pumps. They offer no protection to the soles of the feet or our toes if we have to jam our feet down in a hurry, and we always need protection for the ankles and instep.
Good news is that there are plenty of stylish biking boots for both men and women that look like ordinary street wear. Look for extra support around the ankle, strong soles and leather uppers. The key is make sure they carry CE-certification to EN13634 standard.
On the legs…
Don't ride in shorts or skirts; as a minimum, always wear approved motorbike trousers. If fashion is your thing, go for ones cut to look like jeans or chinos and you won't look amiss wearing them out. Men's and women's styling available, with extra padding at the seat, hips and knees for more protection.
Up top…
Wear a T-shirt by all means but you'll need to cover it with a biker jacket. This doesn't have to be full winter biker gear; a current favourite is a Tucano Urban mid-length jacket. It's fashionable, lightweight – but strong, meaning great protection against abrasion and impact, without limiting riding ability. Check yours comes with Class A-CE/UKCA approval to EN17092:2020 standard.
And most importantly…
The helmet. You must wear a safety helmet that meets British safety standards when riding a motorcycle or moped on the road. That means a helmet that meets one of the following standards:
- British Standard BS 6658:1985 and carries the BSI Kitemark
- UNECE Regulation 22.05
- or if from the European Economic Area, a helmet offering at least the same safety and protection as BS 6658:1985, and carrying a mark equivalent to the BSI Kitemark.
We recommend a full-face helmet, as they offer far better protection in the event of a crash than open face ones. If you do prefer an open face, visors or goggles must meet a British Standard and display a BSI Kitemark, too.
Finally, whichever you wear, always keep the chinstrap fastened.