I'm on a quest...

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...to find the ideal riding gear for me.
This comes from a chat with a friend who, like me, commutes to an office job on a bike. With the dark nights here it's more important to wear the right warm gear. Trouble is I need two sets of clothes, one for the office and one for on the bike.

What I'd like is to put on my office clothes (shirt,tie,trousers - shoes and jacket can be left in office). Then to just pull on the bike gear so that when I arrive I don't have to get fully changed again, just unzip the bike gear and get to work at my desk.

Now I'm told the Aerostich Roadcrafter suit is what I need. However, at about $727 plus shipping plus import duty plus VAT this is a little out of my reach (estimate £700+, to compare a good leather one piece race suit is £300+).

Is there a gap in the clothing market here? Does anyone know of anything suitable to do what I want with good protection for less pennies?
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[Demonic69]

Right, the best thing for you is to get some trousers with Lycra in. They won't crease under leathers or textiles. I've worn shirt and trou under my leathers and my textiles for ages and had no problems at all. I've got Frank Thomas Textiles, only cost about £120 for the suit and is warm as heck. The trou also zip at the sides, making getting them on and off dead easy.
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[Full Bananas]

I don't think you need to spend that much to be honest. I commute all year round too and have the same problem. I use an Akito fabric jacket with armour and thermal lining, which cost me about £100 a couple of years ago and trousers made of the same sort of material, which cost about £70. They're waterproof and have armour in the knees and on the hips but I don't think they're designed to be worn over the top of other trousers. My solution was to buy XL even though I'm slim, and take out the removable thermal lining. The result is trousers that go over the top of whatever I'm wearing and still keep me remarkably warm. Just an idea anyway.

[synaptyx]

I wear a buffalo armoured textile jacket over my shirt and tie all year. (I've just put the liner back in for winter) and a pair of armoured trousers without the liner so I can get my work trousers under them comfortably. I'm not too worried about getting a little creased. The grand total for this lot was £180. I changed the foam armour in my trousers for Knox CE stuff at the knees and hips. My jacket is XL, but my trousers are XXXL (WTF!?) I strongly recommend trying on loads and having a wander around the shop crouching and standing to see how they feel. See if they'll let you sit on the bike with them on too. Can't hurt to ask.

[mchaggis]

Heine-Gericke have the answer! If you go to their store and tell them exactly what your requirements are, they should be able to tell you exactly what is best to do.

The anti-crease trousers are good idea though.
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I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[Demonic69]

£30 at burtons gets you some nice black no-crease Trou.
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[askew]

Whatever you get, I'd advise for some sort of ventalation, especially in the jacket. There's nothing worse than when people can smell that you've been riding (or so I'm told).

how come you need to wear a different set of clothes to ride in at the moment anyway? Apologises if this is an obviouss or stupid question, my brain doesn't seem to be up to much this morning
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What's ya name? What av' ya taken? Chase the lasers, safe as f*ck!

[Craggles]

I have a Buffalo Jacket (£50 at a sale) and a pair of Hein Gerikke slightly armoured trousers, with removable lining (£80) - also have a pair of cheapish Hein Gerikke boots (£90). Also have cheap but warm/waterproof gloves (£10 from the local motor shop) and a Neck Tube (£10... Hein Gerikke again!).

I just stick all this on over whatever I am wearing - usually casual clothes for college, and slightly smarter... or shabbier depending what I'm doing... for work at the Theatre. If I'm going to be doing a lot of walking, or climbing ladders etc I'll stick another pair of shoes in a plastic bag into my helmet bag and sling it over my shoulder - swapping shoes for Helmet when I get there!

Aside from needing to sort my hair out (thanks to Helmet & Neck Tube), you couldn't tell I rode in (unless you looked at the pile of stuff in the corner). Takes about 5 minutes to put on/take off, In the hot weather I made sure I had a can of Deodrant with me!

Have done this in torrential rain and have still arrived dry and ready to work!

Craig
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If this signature is blue, you're riding too fast

[map]

Apologies for draggin up an old thread but I think I've found what I need

The Turismo Suit from Giali.

Just need to try one on and save up a few pennies
Anyone have any experiece of these suits
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?