FAVOURITES

Protective denim. Also on this page, Youtube entertainments.

Bull-it Covert £179.99

bull-it.com

I’ve been virtually living in these jeans since last May and I like them a lot. Body armour is CE Level 2 foam hip and knee protection and the AAA CE abrasionrated denim is nicely fitted, thick and shower resistant. According to the British firm it’s less likely to melt and friction-burn your skin when you slide across the tarmac in a spill. Good news. And they are as comfortable to walk around in as they are on a bike. RRP is close to 200 quid, but you can pick them up for a lot less (Sportsbike Shop are doing them for £99).

Roadskin Easyrider £139

My disgruntlement with riding jeans is that decent protection usual means a heavy lining, making them heavy and hot off the bike. Which defeats the object – I may as well wear leathers. They often have extra seams and panels, too. But the 40% Kevlar weave of these single-skin Roadskins means Aa-level CE rating from what look and pretty much feel like regular strides. The straight leg has a hint of Clarkson, but means ample room for the (included) armour. Roadskin also do a fully-lined Aaa-rated jean with a waterproof membrane for a snip-like £159.

Dainese Piega 72 £195

I’m not sold on riding jeans, even if they’re made with Kevlar weaves and whatnot. And certainly not if they cost £350! Leather trousers feel safer and they don’t soak up rain like denim. When some riding jeans are hot, heavy and not especially comfortable you wonder what the point is? Plus, being a natural poseur, I like the preening rock god vibe of leather trousers. These Dainese Piega 72 have a pleasing 1972 (geddit?) feel to them, but minimal armour and no pockets. Other options available.

Saint Unbreakable Stretch £350

These are the only bike jeans I’ve worn where neither you, nor anyone else, can tell they’re motorcycle jeans. The denim is stretchy and comfortable, not hot and stiff, so much so that you can wear them all day whether you are riding, working, walking or leaning on a bar. They’re so low key, in fact, that I wore mine on a date after I ripped my trousers on the way there (don’t ask) – as we’re still together I must have got away with it. There are cheaper and more protective options (material rated AA, whole garment rated B) but these are the ones for me.