Women's Bike Wear for Africa

[discoenduro]

I'm planning a trip through the Mid East and Africa with my boyfriend--Discoenduro--in mid April 09.

Can you recommend any on-the-bike clothing to cope with the variety of expected conditions, ie dry and hot, humid and wet, etc.

Thanks

Tina

[Tiffany]

Hi Tina

As with anything about travelling (and life), you find that what one person recommends another says no way. So shall I start the ball rolling...?

I'm not fond of wearing synthetic clothing, especially in hot countries so I take cotton t-shirts and crossed Africa wearing leather trousers - yes you get hot but you're less likely to suffer from thrush and when I needed to look "smartish" fo the Sheraton in Ethiopia I borrowed shoe shine from the bootboy on the street and polished up my trousers till they looked good enough to get in.
My jacket was a standard bike jacket but you can pay more and get Hein Gericke Tuareg jackets which if you suffer from the heat, they are really good - like most things in life, you get what you pay for. I used one for another Africa trip to Timbuctoo and loved it.

I was surprised how cold I was in southern Africa, didn't warm up until Malawi heading northwards. I used a liner in my jacket and then stufed it away in the pannier until it got cool enough to wear again.

One thing you find is that in the cooler weather you have more clothes on your body than packed in the panniers.

[discoenduro]

Thank you very much for your reply. Still not sure about the leather trousers though, although I would like to avoid thrush. Going through Sudan in May, I'm worried that leather might be a bit too hot?

Has anyone experience of Daytona Ladystar boots and Rev'it jackets?

Thanks,

Tina

[AliBaba]

Originally Posted by discoenduro

Thank you very much for your reply. Still not sure about the leather trousers though, although I would like to avoid thrush. Going through Sudan in May, I'm worried that leather might be a bit too hot?

Going through Sudan in May will be extremely hot, I would say it’s dangerous to do it in leather. Expect temperatures above 50°C..
I went through there early September (more or less same temperature) and it was extremely hot.

I would have used a light trouser with ventilation and a mx-shirt with armor underneath,

[linz]

This is not advise, but when I travelled through Africa I wore Draggin Jeans combat/cargo.

Pros
Light, available in light brown and Black, comfortable, soft, detachable knee guards, easy to wash, breathable, not too expensive.
I wore mine constantly for 6 months or so and I did have to start patching quite a bit but they had been hand washed in rather severe conditions ie scrubbed against stone on a weekly basis.

Cons
My husbands jeans fell apart after 3 months. They maybe wouldn't provide the same skin protection if you came off.
My husband was wearing his when he fell off and broke his arm, No damage to his legs but they didn't stop him breaking his arm..... what does that tell you????
If you are going to break something it doesn't matter what you are wearing, wear something comfortable within reason!.

[Mrs X]

Hi, I've been having a quandry about what to do about this as we're heading to Africa ourselves this year. We got caught in some hot stuffy weather in May in Europe this year, and I was going mental in my normal textile gear! I find as a pillion I just don't get the airflow that I do when I ride on my own - opening jacket front and sleeves was no help, and my normal jacket doesn't have lots of vents (one disadvantage of a jacket I adore).

However, I usually suffer more from cold than heat so need to keep my normal jacket. I've decided to buy a second textile jacket for the hot days. It's an Ixon Strada Airflow - very lightweight, has mesh panels for breathing, and squashes really small without the armour so I can pack it away when I don't need it. I've tested my normal armour in it and it fits really well, so no need for extra equipment. It has a nice fit and will look good for normal everyday wear (a nice bonus!), but is definitely shorter in the waist than I normally prefer - I'm going to make some hook-in straps for extra safety! Unfortunately I found it after summer so don't know what it's like to ride in yet!!

There are some other options out there for more breathable jackets - Ixon has another called Fitness Airflow, Halvarssons has them and also Frank Thomas I think.

Cheers, Tam

[Ken and Carol]

Hi Tina,

I wear BMW Summer pants and find them pretty good for riding in the heat. I removed the knee protectors and wear the strap on knee and shin guards as I wear hiking boots (2up so no room for a second pair of shoes!). My jacket is a BMW Savanna 2 with zippered vents. Both items are washable. After having riden in Africa with gortex bike gear I would not recommend it. It makes the gear too hot and doesn't work in humid conditions. For rain gear I have an over jacket and trousers. If you get to South Africa and find it cold (as we did in parts) a windstopper under the jacket works well and I also have silk long underwear.

So far all the gear (except the rain gear, it was old when we started, now replaced) is holding up well after 16 months travelling in Sth America (in hot and cold weather).

Good luck
Carol Duval

[chica diabla]

Originally Posted by Tiffany

I'm not fond of wearing synthetic clothing, especially in hot countries so I take cotton t-shirts and crossed Africa wearing leather trousers -

I'm also wearing leathers but I've a bit of a washing problem. I'm thinking of sticking them into the washing machine without soap on 30 degrees.
Wonder what would happen????

As jacket I'm having a mesh cross protectorvest which is really cool in summer. When it gets colder I wear layers, sweater and windstopper over it.
Works for me!

greetzels

[Selous]

My she who must be obeyed just wore combat trousers @ & boots with a textile jacket, (from Lidl), in the UK
I will not let her get on the back with out leather jeans / draggin jeans as a min.

In Asia, or 3rd world country's a bit less more cotton combats. etc
I know 3rd world riders driving is can be very dodgy, but i find we are going more slower don't mean we can't get hurt but chance we are individually take.

[Tiffany]

Originally Posted by chica diabla

I'm also wearing leathers but I've a bit of a washing problem. I'm thinking of sticking them into the washing machine without soap on 30 degrees.
Wonder what would happen????

greetzels

Washing??? You'll likely go through enough rain that it generally washes the dust and dirt off- otherwise if it's a hot and dry country I just jump in the nearest lake or river with my trousers on to wash them. It's also a good cooling off technique, to ride with wet clothes.
I'm really not sure about putting leathers in the washing machine- will they shrink?

[chica diabla]

Originally Posted by Tiffany

Washing??? You'll likely go through enough rain that it generally washes the dust and dirt off- ?

it's not the dust and dirt that concerns me.....there's sometimes other more stinky things which won't come off by rain or a jump in the water

i do sometimes give it a good scrub but I am now talking about the home-situation where it's easy to get lazy
maybe i should just give it a go and tell you afterwards what happened.....

[maria41]

I just received 2 pair of trousers that I ordered from the US (not available in Europe).
Anyhow, the beauty of these (apart from being very cheap for us in Europe!) is that they are Zip-off and light.

I got the Thor Static Pants Zip-off (64 USD!)
and the Fox Women Switch Bandana Pants (79USD)

They are absolutely great and I will take one of them to Vietnam in few weeks time.
I did not pay inport tax (was sent as" gift").
In term of sizing:
A FOX size US 9/10 is a good size UK 12. (32 / 33 inches waiste)
THOR sizes smaller so best take bigger size. (I got US11/12 and it fits well.
The company I bought the trousers from was very helpful regarding sizing.
The FOx Bandana are very long ( I am adjusting them myself) but I got other FOX trousers and length was good so depend on model I presume.

Motocross : Pants-Women - RidersDiscount.com

Cheers,

[Selous]

Originally Posted by maria41

I just received 2 pair of trousers that I ordered
Anyhow, the beauty of these is that they are Zip-off and light.
Motocross : Pants-Women - RidersDiscount.com Cheers,

Hi Sorry to seem dim when you say that they are Zip-off do you mean you can take them off by zipping al the way up the side?

As i was going to mention my Partner has undies/panties with clips at the hips, so she can remove them with out having to take her trousers off,
she has used these when camping

[maria41]

Originally Posted by Selous

Hi Sorry to seem dim when you say that they are Zip-off do you mean you can take them off by zipping al the way up the side?

As i was going to mention my Partner has undies/panties with clips at the hips, so she can remove them with out having to take her trousers off,
she has used these when camping

Hi Selous,

what I mean by zip-off is that you can zip-off the lower half part of the pants and they turn into (longuish ) shorts (below the knee).
Note that they do not have knee protectors as a result (as most motocross trousers) but it is easy enought to find "youth " knee protectors for 10 or 20 pounds to wear under the trousers when required. Youth size is good for women. Standard adult are too big, for me at least.
They are lighter than "normal " Mc trousers as for motocross you get very hot, so it could be a good idea for Africa?

[Selous]

O ok bit like what mountain whearhouse are selling or Craig hoppers
thanks