Hi
Making motorcycle safety kit can be an odd profession.
We invest time, energy, love and passion into making something we hope never gets used.
But if you are unlucky enough to put that safety kit to the test, you want to know that it works.
As I found out a few weeks ago.
Chris and I had been booked to go for a ride. The night before I checked my weather app.
Sunny and cold. Very cold. Icy cold.
Stay at home with the heating on and a nice cup of tea cold.
Naturally, we did not stay at home.
No, instead we pointed our bikes in the direction of the nearest hills and cautiously tried to avoid the black ice that was melting and re-freezing on the country roads in front of us.
It took less than five miles for my front wheel to break traction on a bend and send me down on the asphalt. I wasn’t going fast, sub 10mph, but I did land hard.
(The camera was not rolling but it looked something like this)
My right hip, followed by my elbow then shoulder. I was wearing the new Gravel Jacket and Pant, and frankly, I had really hoped that it would take longer than this before I tested it’s CE AA protection credentials.
Now, I have to be careful about how I tell this story, this was my crash, and your crash may be different, but under my circumstances here’s what happened.
Chris came around the corner to find me flat out on the road.
My bike continued for another 15 meters down the ice without me.
I got up, carefully stretched all limbs to check for damage.
I found a patch of non-ice and managed to get the bike upright.
I shouted to Chris that I thought this was possibly a sign that today was not the day to be riding motorcycles and that we should probably turn around and go home.
He did not disagree.
Fifteen minutes later we were enjoying a cup of tea back in the lovely warm kitchen.
The point that I want to leave you with is this…
The impact protection in the Gravel Jacket and Pant did exactly what it’s meant to do. I landed bone-crunchingly hard not on dirt, but on the road, with most of my energy going straight down, not forward where it could be dissipated. I managed to get up and walk away.
The Gravel suit is fitted with our new Flow Level 2 armour, and it’s the smallest piece that I was most impressed with.
The hip armour is thin, just 10mm thick, and incredibly flexible.
For those with a technical curiosity, the armour is made from Thermoplastic Vulcanizate and features a molecular structure that sees intelligent molecules transform from 'loose' under regular conditions to 'firm' on sudden impact, all in a fraction of a second. The impact protection comes not from the thickness of the armour, but from how the molecules react when needed.
You can read up on all the science but in the real world it’s hard to believe that something this thin and flexible can offer the same level 2 protection as alternatives that are much thicker. So much so that you kind of need to experience it to properly believe it.
So this is me, experiencing it so hopefully you don’t have to.
My leg was sore, a little stiff, but not so much as a bruise which, considering the fall, was astonishing.
Safe riding and if it's that icy, maybe just put the kettle on instead.
🥶
Greg Villalobos
"Without doubt, straight out of the box, the most comfortable waterproof motorbike suit ever worn, the 'other gear' is staying on the hanger."
BUY THE GRAVEL JACKET & PANT NOW
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