 We've
all, I'm sure, nodded sagely and tutted under our
breaths at the sight of someone riding a bike without what
we consider to be enough protective clothing. Of course, your
definition of enough may not be the same as mine. And those
of us over a certain age will also be able to remember spending
our formative biking years - supposedly the most dangerous
- tearing around in jeans, paddock jackets and basketball
boots. And we lived to tell the tale. As well as picking up
a fascinating variety of scars, of course.
Now I'm absolutely not about to suggest that it's OK to ride
wearing inadequate clothing. I've seen the greasy smear on
the road that someone left when they fell off and I've collected
enough gravel rash when I have been wearing the right
gear to take that approach. But at the same time, there are
huge disadvantages to conventional bike gear. Apart from the
hassle of getting full kit on and off, it looks kind of strange
when you pop down to the shops in full leathers. And though
there are compromises like one piece "step in" suits
they aren't exactly pretty. There's no denying that style
is important, and a fluorescent babygro, albeit an armoured
one, sometimes just doesn't do the job. Finally, as we swelter
in an unusually warm summer, there's the simple factor of
heat. Leathers, and bike clothing generally, is bloody hot,
frankly.
No, what we need is a combination of the
jeans and lightweight stuff we used to hoon around in but
with the protection of proper bike clothing. Happily some
folks in Australia had the same idea, because they combined
a traditional pair of jeans with that staple of modern protective
clothing, Kevlar. The result was Draggin' Jeans.
The concept, though rather more sophisticated in execution,
is very simple. Take a pair of denim jeans and put a kevlar
liner in to protect the bits that normally get worn through.
Make it strong enough so that it doesn't all fall apart and
off you go. It took them a little longer than that to get
it right, but when they did the results were outstanding.
During the years since they started doing this properly (1999),
they have refined and improved the product until today, when
you get a pair of jeans that fit brilliantly and look great plus will stop you from becoming that aforementioned
greasy smear when it all goes wrong.
Over the last six months I've been using
a pair of Draggin' Dry's. It's their apostrophe, not mine.
Anyway, Draggin' Dry's are one of their latest developments.
Waterproof, crashproof jeans. How cool is that? Very cool,
I'd say. I've not tested their crash protection, happily (touching
wood as he types) but I've probably done 2000 miles in them
and all I can say is that they do exactly what it says on
the packet. They really are waterproof, for a
start. It's a very strange feeling riding in the rain in jeans
and not getting that horrible cold wet feeling. They are clearly
designed with biking in mind  as
there are no rivets or zippers exposed to scratch paint or
hook up on the road if the worst comes to the worst. They
are as comfortable as my favourite jeans, not least because
since trying them on the first time they became my favourite
jeans... They are warm when you need them to be. I started
wearing them in February and they were just right. Yet the
breathable nature of Kevlar and denim means that they manage
the neat trick of staying (relatively) cool in summer as well.
And they fit properly. To be specific, I'm a fairly normal
shape and they fit me better than any pair of jeans - regular
or designer label - that I've ever had. Bar none. When you
get them you buy to fit your waist. They are cut very long
(are Aussies all 7' tall?) and you should budget for getting
them adjusted. No big deal, just expect it. Unless you are
particularly long in the leg, of course...
Draggin jeans have made some pretty dramatic claims about
the strength and durability of these trousers. Some might
say that they've exaggerated slightly. Well, all I can say
is that they were prepared to get themselves dragged down
the strip on their backsides at 90mph to demonstrate their
faith in their claims. Look at the pictures and see for yourself.
 As
more and more of us find ourselves working in a less formal
environment where suits are an exception rather than the norm,
being able to ride to work and not have to get changed is
a huge bonus. Jeans a little too casual? Fair enough - Draggin'
do a range of Chinos as well. Smart enough to pass muster
in most 'smart casual' offices and still just as protective.
Though you'll need some waterproofs just in case it rains.
Draggin' even do, wait for it, shorts. But Kevlar lined shorts
with zip on legs - ride to the beach, party, race, wherever,
unzip the legs and enjoy having shorts on all day. The zip
the legs back on and off you go. Yes, you still need to deal
with your boots and so on but it's one less item to worry
about and it's a neat idea. The trouser range is completed
with cargo pants and the obligatory camouflage trousers, all
lined with Kevlar and as protective as you like.
Draggin' make jackets too, for the full
denim effect. Again with Kevlar inside them and designed specifically
for bikers. We've not tested them yet, but have no doubt that
they will be equally effective. You can, if you really want
to, get a camouflage jacket to match your trousers. Presumably
you'll be wanting a pre 2002 bike so you can turn the lights
off and render yourself even more invisible to motorists than
you already are. But at least it will give you a chance to
justify buying the kit in the first place...
 Some
of you may feel that, while having Kevlar to stop you wearing
your soft pink bits away is a good thing, it doesn't really
make up for the lack of armour you'd get in proper bike gear.
And that's a fair point, but one that the folks at Draggin'
have already considered. They supply (though not exclusively)
Knox armour which velcroes into their jeans and jackets. Jackets
generally have a back protector pocket as well.
There has to be a downside, you'd think, but to be honest
I haven't found one yet. There's no problem with looking after
the stuff - just chuck it in the washing machine and tumble
dry like any other jeans. Even the waterproof ones are good
for twenty washes or so before needing reproofing. They genuinely
are comfortable and excellent at keeping your temperature
within reasonable limits, they are waterproof and they look
good, plus they might just save your life. If there is a downside
at all it's the cost. At around £100 for a pair of jeans
they are on the steep side. But how much would a pair of Calvin
Kleins and a decent pair of Goretex bike trousers cost you?
Put it like that and they seem quite reasonable, don't they?
The long and short of it? A brilliant product, worth
every penny. Try a pair on and I can almost guarantee
you'll have them. Wear them once or twice and you'll marvel
at how you got by without them. Oh, and that picture at the
top? That's how my pair look after six months use
and several soakings. Plus several washes as well...
SB
PS If you're interested in getting a pair you can find your
nearest UK stockist here.
PPS If you're not based in the UK then this may tell you what you need to know. |
