Anyone who has ridden multiple-day rally(e) events (Oz Safari etc) in mid-to-hot climates, what was your gear set-up (rider-wear)? Riding for a day is one thing, but I guess for 5 days or more, comfort and wearability becomes a big issue - chafing / pressure points/weight distribution etc. I'm talking about something like a 5-day event, 2,000km, desert. Undershirt? Chest protector vs. pressure suit vs. built-in jacket armor? Jacket or no jacket (cool mornings, hot afternoons)? External Camelbak backpack or in-jacket water reservoir? Full knee brace or in-boot shin/knee guard? Elbows? Any info would be useful, or a full description of gear, inner to outer layer would be good. thanks
I went with a pressure suit...u can get away with wearing nothing under them if its a good quality one. Think light colours as well...white boots, light pants and jacket...steer clear of basic black. Same goes with the helmet. I usually go for a camelbak with 3 litre capacity (as spec'd be the rules). It also has enogh room for the tube/spares. Tools I fender/frame mounted. A bike specific camelbak is far more comfortable than a generic hiker type. Over 4500 kms/7 days on the '08 Safari, I rarely noticed my pack, except when trying to open zips with tired fingers!
Hmm... this is an interesting question, this is what I wear. I have not done 5 days, and 2000km with it, but I'm confident this would do me well. Sorry, no frontal shots as I am usually the one with the camera! Boots - Motocross boots, or lately I have been testing the KLIM GTX boots and they are working great. They are designed as a winter boot with a gore-tex liner and thinsulate, but they breath really well. I have down 2 days rides in +30deg heat and humidity and have not been overly hot. Knee guards, that have shin protectors in them. Padded shorts - via SixSixOne Pants - Klim Dakar Pants, love them zippered panels Elbow pads - SixSixOne Clima-dry/cool-max T-shirt under Clima-Dry/cool-max Jersey TekVest by Tekrider - fantastic piece of armour. The new ones are made with Coolmax liners, and it can be purchased to fit a Leatt Brace (I was a demo for one) Leatt Neck Brace Klim Dakar Gloves My only complaint with all the above is the knee guards from 661, when work with motocross boots they stay in place. Without the tall boots they tend to slide down. No chaffing, no hot spots, nothing with any of the other gear. The TekVest has a large pocket on the back panel for a camel back (3L), plus multiple pockets and adjustability. In talking with Scott Harden about gear, you will notice all the Dakar riders are wearing jackets - the rationale is that the jackets will block the wind and some of the heat from riding in the desert, and yet still be breathable enough. I noticed that Jonah Street is wearing a modified KLIM Valdez Parka. This is a 3ply gore-tex jacket, so case in point, what one would think would be a winter piece of gear is being used for the desert. I have a pressure suit as well, but no longer use it as I found it was crazy hot, and find the TekVest offers a level of protection I am comfortable with and more ventilation than I had, so I am happy.
Thanks guys, this is what I need. Osteo, TekVest looks good. What model is it (there seem to be different types). Agree with you about the Kilm Dakar pants, top quality, I use them in hot weather, but I just prefer in-boot pants (can't give a rational reason)... Guymcfly, was the pressure suit short sleeved (no elbow pads) under a jacket, or full-sleeve? Can you recommend a brand? Mine gives me bad chafing around the waist / kidney belt area (where the pressure suit meets the top of the pants) after about 4 hours.
In the Safari I didn't ware a presure suit at all. My Jacket has limited padding with a built in camel pack. After waring it I decided that all the extra padding of a suit would just where me down after a week of hard riding. They are tight, they chafe, and make every movement that little bit harded. I figured that the extra fatigue had a better chance of causing a crash than what it would protect if I came off........I suppose you gotta weigh it up. Linc
I wore "Skins" sleeveless top and "Skins" long legs underneath. This stuff keeps you cool in the hot conditions and warm in the cold conditions. Then Dianese undershirt armour, with elbow, shoulder and forearm armour still attached. Over that I wore a vented MX riding shirt. I removed the rubber armour from the KTM Rallye jacket and relied on the undershirt Dianese armour for protection. The vents on the Rallye jacket are very effective, despite the appearance of them being too small, and just opened and closed those as needed to cope with cold of predawn starts and heat of desert day. Also there are belts that you can tighten for extra "snuggness" in cold that you can release for extra air movement in the heat. Finally a Leatt kneck brace and a few options of MX gloves. Asterisk knee braces with vented MX riding pants tucked into Tech 8 Alpinestar boots. External 2 Lt camelback. Ogio KTM bum bag. Shoei helmet.
Been treading some reviews about the TekVest, worried about the heat issue. Some users say that in 90-plus temps (30C-plus) it becomes pretty hot. As a matter of interest, can anybody say what the average temps on the Oz Safari are?
I done the Safari last year. I went through a few different idea's but after 7000km's between the pre-safari rides and the event itself, i ended up with the following (ground up) FOX F3 boots - Due to their stiff design i can relax my ankles when I stand. FOX thigh high sock - As i wear knee braces. Astrix Knee Braces - They are super comphy over long days! Nics - These are the padded shorts for riding bicycles. Under boot MX style pants - These dont get caught up in tree's or the bike. Thermal long sleeve shirt - Best anti-chaffing protection! AXO pressure suit - This is the best armour i found to use with the Leatt! Leatt Neck Brace - Just cause i like walking soooo much! KTM Rallye jacket - Fits great and has so many useull pockets! FOX gloves - Unsure of make but they have the carbon fibre knuckles. MEDICAL TAPE - over the usual blister points. MSR Rev3 Helmet - This helmet fits my head, but im looking at the Arai's now! Scotts Desert Goggles - These goggles are the best ive used for keeping the sand out and they still dont fog up! Anyway thats that i usually wear, for rally's! Everything is usually the same when i got for a small ride but i wear a jersey instead of the jacket! Camel back is a must, and go for something that can hold a fair bit of gear! And there are two rules i stick to 1- Always keep the weight off yourself. Put it on the bike any way possible! 2 - CHAP STICK!!! The KTM Rallye jacket has a cool little pocket just for it!
love the KTM Rallye Jacket but I ride Honda, so too much orange is not good... wish they made a red version for us poorer folk
Predawn starts in the Oz outback can be around -5DegC. Mid afternoon the same day can be mid 30's. The '08 Safari I'd guess the coldest morning was around 5DegC and warmest afetrnoon around 32DegC. Pretty good riding conditions really. This years Safari starts a few weeks earlier so my prediction is cooler and wetter.
I'm not sure what the new model is named for the Leatt, look at the picture of the Rally Sport as that is the closest model, but cut differently around the neck to accomodate the Leatt and the height at the waist is also a bit lower I think. Yes, I heard the same complaints with the TekVests being crazy hot, but the newer models made out of CoolMax are nothot at all. I did 2-3 days or pre-riding an event this summer past and the avg temp was close to 30C each day and had no issues with heat at all. In thinking of it, if I was wearing my pressure suit style armour I would have been rather uncomfortable for sure. The CoolMax tekvest is a grey/silver in colour like in the pic I posted, the non coolmax ones are black. D
I'm really grappling with this issue for Morocco this March. I just hate the thought of having to wear a jacket of any sort...forget about the "Pressure-style" suit. Had one, nearly died of heat prostration at the GNCC in Georgia...and it was only March! Looked at the TekVest during P2D and again lately...seems awful bulky and hot. So far, it looks like I'm going "old school"...heck, I'm old enough it just seems regular for me Planning on a long sleeve cool max type of undershirt, Cannondale biking shorts, MX pants, Alpinestar Vector boots, (haven't figured out the socks yet), hockey-style knee pads (Canadian eh?), summer jersey, Answer chest protector with Camelback zip tied to the back of it. Here's a tip for the zip-tied Camelback set up. The extra weight of the pack tends to make the front of the chest protector ride up and jam into your adams apple. Run another long zip tie through the front, bottom of the protector, the loop long enough to thread your pants buckle through. Holds your pants up and your chest protector down. ...oh...and a kidney belt too...which I'm not sure does anything except help to hold my gut in. (And it doesn't even do that too well!) Tried the el-cheapo EVS neck brace...thought it was useless. Couldn't even get my helmet on properly and I thought it would put too much pressure on my collarbones in a crash. Guess I'll probably have to spring for the "full Monty" Leatt...I'm afraid of getting the new cheap one that has no adjustment in it. Troy Lee Designs helmet, Thor goggles and two sets of gloves, "high top" leather and vented MX to use depending on the conditions. I'm also trying PalmSavers, which so far look like quite the trick set up for avoiding blisters. Still TBD....elbow pads...never wear them, hate them. Seem to be either too tight and cutting off your circulation or falling down onto your wrists. Still...I hate the thought of doing a Charlie Boorman in the rocks and crunching and elbow. Then the jacket...jury is still out as to what the heck I'm going to do there. Maybe go for one with removable sleeves. I know there have been questionalbe reviews on it, but liked the looks of the M2R "Rallycross" jacket. Available colours suck though.
if you're planning on using a Leatt, better check that the jacket neck are accommodates it... else you'll be doing cutting and stitching Good luck for Morocco
I'm not sure who you are, but I was one of the P2D organizers, I'm in Whitby if you want to come by and check out my TekVest and Leatt, you might be surprised, I wore it all during the event. I took a peak at the EVS at Parker Bros and I don't (didn't) like it as much as the Leatt, that velcro strip in the front just does not scream support to me. I saw the Adventure Model of the Leatt at the bike show in Dec, price is significantly less at $299 compared to something like $575 or something.. (not sure). But I am pretty sure it has the adjustability as the higher models it is the material that it is made out of that is different. It is a dense plastic sort of material, weighs more than the KTM version, so no fancy carbon fiber or aluminum. If your interested in checking them out, shoot me a PM D