All That Gear

I remember riding from Indianapolis to Tucson in 1962. 1800 miles, a new rider learning how to change the gears

- Maynard Hershon

I wore a corduroy jacket and jeans and those suede desert boots that we all wore. I feel sure I had a helmet and sunglasses and some sort of gloves, but I don't recall anything about them.

I rode in jeans for years. Would've called them Levis. I wore a succession of open-face Bell helmets, 500TXes and Magnums, then full coverage helmets, a Simpson, a Shoei, a couple of flip-front BMW helmets and, more recently, Arais and flip-front Nolans.

For the last 20 years, more or less, I've worn armoured jackets and pants. Almost all of them have been Aerostich. I did some work for Andy at Aerostich and he sent me a Darien outfit: jacket, jacket liner and pants, in lieu of payment.

I'd have spent the payment long ago, but the clothing lasts and lasts. When the sun starts to set and it's 100 miles to your motel, a fat billfold won't keep you warm.

I've bought and sold a couple of Aerostich outfits as the years have passed and my height and weight have changed. That first Darien outfit got so big on me that I had to wear suspenders (do you call them braces?) to hold the trousers up and the jacket became at least a size too big.

Now, before every ride, I put on pants with armour at the hips and knees. Gloves with armoured knuckles.

I put on boots that clasp or buckle in three or four places around my calves. A jacket with armour at the elbows and shoulders. I wear dogtags and a bracelet with medical information.