Tips for rally gear (rider wear)?

[Sycamore]

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

[header]

Oh what a great question. Lets hear some suggestions

[guymcfly]

Originally Posted by Sycamore

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!

[skibum_1260]

[quote=guymcfly]I went with a pressure suit...u can get away with wearing nothing under them if its a good quality one. [quote]


brands preffered? I never figured you should wear anything under them anyway, they dont look like itd be comfortable to wear a shirt under them!

[osteo]

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.

[Sycamore]

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.

[Linc]

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

[JayBo1]

Originally Posted by Sycamore

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 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.

[Sycamore]

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?

[InertiaDRZ400]

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!

[Sycamore]

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

[M.R.]

Originally Posted by Sycamore

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?

It gets hot in 30 degree temperatures or higher? Fill in the rest yourselves

[JayBo1]

Originally Posted by Sycamore

...As a matter of interest, can anybody say what the average temps on the Oz Safari are?

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.

[osteo]

Originally Posted by Sycamore

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)....

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.

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.

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

[guymcfly]

[quote=skibum_1260][quote=guymcfly]I went with a pressure suit...u can get away with wearing nothing under them if its a good quality one.

brands preffered? I never figured you should wear anything under them anyway, they dont look like itd be comfortable to wear a shirt under them!

My current one is a thor impact rig...I think the Axo's are also good. Bpth take the use of a Leatt without any modifying. Both are fine with thermal or t shirt if the weather is a bit on the chilly side. Main thing is the mesh is pretty fine weave...makes them non abrasive on the skin.

Boots wise I've used Sidi Crossfires for quite sometime. They are awesome for amount of ankle protection they give. Like my good buddy Inertia, I go for the Asterisk knee brace...and hardly know I'm wearing them. I also have a KTM Rallye Jacket, and like Inertia also use Fox gloves, but don't use tape because I have manly hands, unlike fairy fingers over there