IT’S NOT COOL TO WEAR SHORTS WHEN RIDING

I don’t like being too hot. But I like being in hospital less. This incredible bout of tropical weather may have seen my riding jeans pressed back into action but they are made of Kevlar and have pockets for body armour.

It does make me cringe when people ride past without gloves, let alone sporting the shorts and T-shirt look while sitting astride a 170mph R1. I’m all for freedom of choice and all that but sometimes people need saving from themselves. That’s why we have the drink drive law and the seatbelt law. Because the consequences of those misdemeanours are so massive that the law has to be able to take enforceable action.

There’s no law (yet) top stop people wearing shorts or flip-flops on a motorcycle and that’s why we have to use that freedom of choice wisely. Otherwise it could get taken away from us.

The incredble British weather looks set to stay a little longer and there’s plenty of incredible riding still to be had (see our Summer Sizzler), but I’d rather be sweaty at the end of a ride than sitting in A&E with gravel rash.