mesh gear plus layers?
 

There have been a few posts about use of mesh gear in hot weather, but has anyone got experience using it under layers of more ordinary clothing in cold and/or wet condtions?

I'm faced with needing to buy a whole new bike wardrobe right now, and am thinking that with mesh protectors, I can avoid buying a bulky/expensive goretex suit, layer up with thermals and everyday clothes in cold weather and get a lightweight shell for the rain. By doing this I should be able to cut down on luggage space

Any thoughts?



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Richb
http://www.postmaster.co.uk/~richardbeaumont/60684/

I bought some a mesh armor suit that I was hoping to wear under my normal riding jacket. I tried it on and the major problem was that the sleeve became very tight because of the arm protectors. Also, it left me no room to really wear anything else under the jacket.


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Brooklyn Dakar
http://motorcycleramblings.blogspot.com/

Will mesh gear give you any protection against a slide over tarmac?
If you wonna go on paved road I would also get some 'abrasion' protection.
You can't do much with an elbow if the rest of the underarm is spread over the past 10m of tarmac.

I've been thinking about the same thing except that I was planning on always having the mesh on the outside. This would leave the armor on the outside so not to interfere with other clothes and also leaves the skid resistant mesh outside too (the ones I've seen have a very tough mesh on them). Then you can put rain gear or warmer stuff underneath. You may need to buy an oversize mesh jacket to do this.

That's my plan, am I thinking correctly on this?

I'm going to try wearing it on the outside, I'll look like a ninja turtle, however.


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Brooklyn Dakar
http://motorcycleramblings.blogspot.com/

I have the same idea, but I think I'll go this route (from body to outside):
- Polypro underwear
- 200 or 300 Polartec fleece
- Mesh jacket
- Rain jacket

If you crash, the rainjacket will rip right away and let the mesh do its work. As well, with the rainjacket on the outside, you have a lot of air caught to keep you warm.

I do it all of the time; for the past three years. I have a Bohn hard armor jacket that I use by itself in the summer and in the winter I use it under my Gore-Tex coat. My Gore-Tex coat is big enough that it all fits very well. Layers are always more versatile.

I have a summer mesh jacket with armor and removable liner. If cold I put on fleece and thermal underwear. If wet I put on a cheap rain jacket. If hot I remove everything except the mesh jacket. Haven't ridden in really cold weather yet, but it's been fine in cool, wet weather. I just need some good waterproof boots and gloves and I'm set.

[This message has been edited by Mustafa (edited 24 December 2005).]

You might take a look at the Teknic Spyder jacket, which has large zip-off cordura panels over mesh, giving a great deal of flexibility and lots of air flow when the panels are removed (done by one zipper). It's also fully padded with CE armor (which stay in place when the panels are removed), and has a waterproof membrane under the mesh. It has a large rear zippered compartment that the zip-off outer panels will fit into when removed. With all the panels in place it is fairly heavy jacket, but I never found it to be uncomfortably so. I used one of these for my rtw ride this past summer and it served me very well. Unfortunately, I've never been able to find comparable pants that are adaptable to such a wide range of temperatures.

Mike
www.rtwrider.net

[This message has been edited by liketoride2 (edited 29 December 2005).]

I use a gericke tuareg Jacket that zips opens arms,chest,back to reveal huge mesh panels but is still a full armoured outerjacket giving decent protection. when its cold I wear a mountain equipment down fill mountaineering jacket -very warm and windproof then just a wool jumper and silk/wool undershirt. when its raining (most of the time in england this time) a nylon overjacket to keep out the rain. this combination works really well when off the bike / camping - the down coat is light and comfy for walking/hiking etc