Re: jackets and armor

CE is a European testing standard.

You'll want your first jacket to be as flexible as possible, in terms of
weather. Zip vents and removable liners are a must for flexibility. They
will rarely be enough for 90 degree days at low or no speed, however.
For that, try and get a second mesh or perforated leather jacket as soon
as you can afford a second one (after you get pants!).

I've had a Joe Rocket (JR for short) 4.0 textile jacket that's served me
well for about 4 years now. It's great for long rides and 80% of the
riding I do, but there are better ($$) jackets available. I picked up a
JR perforated leather jacket that's nice for shorter trips (it carrys
less 'stuff' and hates rain) and low-speed in-town rides. What's nice
about JR gear is that its low price lets me buy MORE gear, so instead of
just one fancy jacket, I can have a jacket and riding pants. At this
point, I'm up to two sets of gear - one for long/cool/wet rides and one
for short/hot/dry/humid rides, plus a full rainsuit and gloves for every
occasion. (Then there's also a whole other set of track gear.)

In short, do LOTS of patient research before you buy. Hit a few local
shops and try everything they sell. If there's something specific that
gets you excited, let us know... Somebody's bound to own it already. :)

George
It's supposed to be 45 degrees on Saturday, and even my commuter bike is
still in storage...I've gotta get on that!

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