14/07/08
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New riding gear, shakedown ride
I'd been planning to take my everyday textile riding kit, but it's not breathable and is uncomfortable just on a 30 min commute - never mind wearing day in, day out in during the height of summer. And the trousers keep falling down. I haven't actually worn those trousers at all since April - I've just been riding in jeans, which is nice but naughty. The Saturday before leaving I find myself at Hein Gericke in Slough, idly perusing their clothing section. Before I knew it, I was dressed in a lightweight but well armoured suit of the finest GoreTex, with 'Taureg' emblazoned on the back to add to its desert credentials. Admiring myself in the full length mirror, I started to mentally justify dropping yet a few hundred more quid on this undertaking. The process went along the lines of : "if it's comfy and makes me look like Ewan MacGregor, I'm more likely to want to wear this and not ride around in t-shirt and shorts. We won't be spending much on food or utility bills while I'm away - I'm sure Anneke won't notice if I empty the joint account this month". Job done.
So today I put the panniers on the bike, dressed up in my new kit and set off for work. Riding through the traffic all kitted out on a bike the width of a smart car certainly seems to attract a bit of attention - I was asked where I was off to by a car driver at the traffic lights and by a chap at the petrol station. Riding with the big panniers on is OK - managed to avoid taking off any wing mirrors with them. The new kit is great - not a sweaty t-shirt or clammy trouser leg in sight!
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