From JM
Dear Lorraine,
A couple of months ago I parted company with my old motorbike after 23 years. With it went the outfit I have worn for riding it, and, at my wife's insistence I have a new bike and a new "proper" suit to wear on it. It's quicker to get on and off, but less fun to wear.
The old ouitfit was long winded but wonderful in bad weather especially. Over my ordinary clothes I wore a proofed nylon two piece suit, with the trouser legs tucked into long wool socks. I wore a silk headscarf tied over my mouth and nose, followed by a "Damart" balaclava, with the hood of the nylon suit tied on over it. A pair of waterproof sailing salopettes with a warm quilted lining came next, with the cuffs tightened round a pair of wellies. The main top gear was an ex-services gaberdine raincoat, one of several which I've owned for the purpose over the years. All were double breasted, and all were worn fully buttoned to the neck and belted, with a woollen scarf wrapped round my face and the ends tucked in the neck of my gaberdine. Finally, a waterproof coat, either a dispatch riders coat, which was double texture rubber, fastened by a belt with two buckles, with a storm flap over the top button and a collar which came up very high, and fastened across my mouth with a buckled strap, or a naval coat, in either PVC or rubber (I can't smell, so I can't say which!) which buttoned up to the neck on the left side, and then another panel fastened across it and buttoned up the right side. The collar had a big flap which could be buttoned across the throat. Finally, the helmet and two pairs of gloves went on (one wool, one pair leather), and my wife eventually allowed me to go to work. My colleagues were used to my outfits, so no one commented after a while, though one female employee used to wait to watch me come out of the cloakroom sometimes. She rarely said anything, but she would watch me carefully, and occasionally remark on how nice it was to see a man who had the sense to wrap up well - or something along those lines.
In summer, the sailing trousers were replaced with an unlined pair, and on really warm days the balaclava came off, although I still had to wear the nylon hood. I was also allowed to leave off the gaberdine raincoat and the extra scarf on a few occasions, but my wife was absolutely adamant that I wear the nylon suit fully zipped and hooded up, to keep my ordinary clothes clean.
The new suit is two piece, man made, with a quilted lining, and the jacket fastens with a double zip. I have a new balaclava, again from Damart, new gloves with Gortex linings, and new boots and helmet. The bike is great, but I do miss dressing up for the old one! Maybe I should have asked my wife for a Deansgate suit, but she doesn't know I read your page, so it would be difficult.
SHOP | CLUB FOYER | CHILLOUT ROOM | ASK LORRAINE
