Whats the oldest bit biking gear you own an still use or reluctant to part with for sentimental reasons? Mine is a white real silk scarf that was my dads when he rode a BSA Sloper, Ariel Square Four and others, I know its at least 65+ yrs old, older than me as he had it before me, and it has the Utility marks on it, just barely readable now. (like Pack Man facing the wrong way round) I used it on my NSU Quickly, '73 Honda 50, Triumph Thunderbird Combo, Suzuki 250/750, etc right up to today. The Waddington gauntlets he gave me did fall to bits some years ago though. The scarf comes out every year about this time, its used still for riding the bike and walking the dogs! Next oldest bit is my pair of textile trousers, made 2000, still going strong! All the rest is not much more than a year old.
Still have my army surplus dispatch riders waterproof jacket ( doesn't fit me now ) Last wore in my 20's
HO, bet that scarf of your dads has seen some service. I wonder if you'd still use it if you knew all the uses he had put it to.
I have my grandmothers silk scarf from when my grandfather had a 500 Norton in the 1930's. I've never used it though it's just sat in my drawers. Andy
My granddad always called his white silk scarf a ropper.. love to know where that came from---oldest kit I have is a pair of goggles, oval flat mica lenses, slightly yellowed, with grey rubber and rabbit fur.. might actually be pilot's goggles, but I'm guessing 1920s. My oldest gear is a schott horsehide brown leather with a fur collar I bought second hand in an army surplus shop in Kings Cross somewhere about 1972. well used when I got it. They used to get true military gear there, parachutes and naval kit, and a load of stuff had just come in from one of the American airbases in Suffolk I think. I remember one of the blokes there who had been there about forty years then, saying they had a load of wr Harleys and willys jeeps that they couldn't shift, and couldn't store and ended up scrapping the lot, sometime late fifties.
Oldest bit of kit I had was a leather pilots helmet, had the flaps over the ear's for the earphones, don't know it's age but must be about late 30's early 40's. As radio wasn't around before then. I wore it when I rode my 1941 BSA M20 , even got stopped once by the law... Breathalyzed bike admired and a " have a nice day sir". I sure did. Nice to meet someone who doesn't enforce rules for rules sake, this was about 10yrs ago on a little country road between Northam and Goomalling in WA.
I remember that place, I bought a great coat from there, Russian I think, was the only winter bike gear I had.
Oldest bit of kit I had was a leather pilots helmet, had the flaps over the ear's for the earphones, don't know it's age but must be about late 30's early 40's. As radio wasn't around before then. I wore it when I rode my 1941 BSA M20 , even got stopped once by the law... Breathalyzed bike admired and a " have a nice day sir". I sure did. Nice to meet someone who doesn't enforce rules for rules sake, this was about 10yrs ago on a little country road between Northam and Goomalling in WA. It's really nice when the internet and your PC get confused !!!??? Didn't mean to post this twice. twice Doh!
Good on you mate, nice story. I use Freecycle a lot, given lots away and got some good stuff too, Bath was a good area, not too much up here though! Actually, my 2000 made textile bike trousers came off there up here, still like new. Got a brand new unused Ikea king size bed and memory mattress off the Bath one, would have cost £400+, had lots of Ikea stuff off there too. Will have some dogs beds going on soon if the 2 dog centres I contacted dont show some interest soon!
As I'm only a junior compared with most on here, my oldest bit of kit is my leather biker jacket purchased 24 years ago when I was learning to ride (for the second time). Obviously the leather has shrunk over time as it doesnt fit anymore!! Fits my son though who has since claimed it as his own!
It's a toss-up between my BMW boots (about 17/18 years) or my textile jacket (15yr) both still in use. Both need replacing - boots chomped by dog; jacket just getting a bit old.
i bought an Italian ex army jacket about 35 years ago i know it's not biking gear but i used to wear it in the summer months..for the last 10 years or so it had sat in my wardrobe as it had shrunk about 2 sizes i couldn't bring myself to get rid of it a few months ago i gave it to a young guy who now uses it for fishing, it was a cracking jacket..they don't make them like that anymore
I still hav a pair of Frank Thomas bike boots and my shoei Helmet although both are in good order at 22 years old would it be safe.......?
23 Years ago when I started biking (17 years old and at college) I invested in a £200 leather jacket... No CE armour, but it is bloody heavy, apparently it took two cow skins to make. It is made in England and Bulldag brand. No lost stitches or broken zips (they are very chunk and well made) but my latest jacket from Triumph bought last year has two broken pocket zips and losing stitching to the inner lining. I bought it big as I would wear a jumper under it, and it still fits, although without the jumper. It would be a few years before it fits my son, and I dont use it for biking as I have newer ones with all the armour, but I get it out and treat it with leather food/nikwax etc. I love it because of the weight of it. I still have my helmet from back then, but it sits in the loft.