BSMC Gear Guide #39
By Gareth Roberts - 20 Dec 14

It's the last Gear Guide before Christmas, and we featured some tasty gifts for you to treat yourself to, or alternatively you should be leaving big unsubtle hints for. We've also found a couple of very useful and inexpensive stocking fillers, and of course, what would Christmas be without socks?
PRODUCT REVIEW MAPLE 1976 BLACK ON BLACK JEANS
Kelvar denim pioneer Dave Fairbairn of Maple Jeans has recently launched a Kickstarter campaign offering a range of British made selvedge denim to customers directly at wholesale prices. Bikers can currently buy a pair of Kevlar lined selvedge jeans for a very reasonable £178, whilst retaining the build and protective qualities of his £300+ premium range. They are available in indigo and black, in straight 1945 (comparable to Levi 501s), and slim 1976 (comparable to Levi's 511) cut.
I recently received my 1976 Candiani 13.5oz black on black selvedge. These are a lovely deep black with red and white stitching, and match up to the quality of my now year old and well bedded in 1979 indigo Maples. These come with double interlocked flat felled seams, hand hammered rivets at the stress points, deep cotton lined pockets, exposed selvedge ticket and rear wrench pockets, and a hand pressed "proudly made in Britain" leather patch.
I ordered my usual 32, but with the armour in were a little too tight, so I sized up and they fit perfectly with enough room for the armour and moving around the bike. They're a mid-rise jean which means you're not exposing your butt cleavage to the icy elements. They are warm and water resistant, already keeping me toasty and dry on short rainy commutes.
These are a smart jean, so are appropriate for work, and look good in the pub. As with all good selvedge denim they will mould to your body shape and get better with age. To my knowledge these are the only black Kevlar lined selvedge jeans on the market.
The worse thing about riding a bike is carrying all the stuff you need with you once you get off it. Your heavy armoured (or not) jacket slung over your shoulder, your helmet looped around your elbow, your gloves shoved in your pocket, and the bag you've packed too much into digging into your collarbone. This sweet little gadget means you don't have to carry it all around with you. You can tie most of it together and then lock it all to your bike.
It has 2 feet long strap with a 3mm stainless steel braided cable in the center, which locks to a 6.5in long by 3in wide Caribiner combination lock. You just feed the cable through your jacket and helmet and loop it onto the end of the Caribiner. You can then loop it through your spokes as a secondary lock. Perfect.
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/lock-straps-jacket-helmet-lock
DEXSHELL OVERCALF WATRPROOF SOCKS
What would Christmas be without a pair of new socks? I hate having cold feet on the bike, if my feet are cold, it's only a matter of time before I'm cold all over. There's only one thing worse than cold feet, and that's cold, wet feet.
The answer to my prayers (or whining) are the Dexshell Overcalf Waterproof Socks. This is a knee length waterproof sock with terry loop pile throughout that provide exceptional warmth. DexShell socks are 100% waterproof and highly breathable with extra thermal performance providing dry protection up to the knee.
They're fabricated with best-in-class construction and lamination technology to fit closely to the feet as usual outdoor socks.
The outer shell is 96% abrasion resistant nylon, with 3% elastane, and 1% elastics. They are Interlined with a Porelle waterproof breathable membrane. The inner sock is 90% acrylic, 10% nylon.
"DexShell is committed to developing and manufacturing the performance accessories for outdoor activities. DexShell products are developed to have the waterproof and breathable functions whilst keeping the wear comfort by using the patent pending technology and superb quality materials."
These are superb socks that will keep your pinkies snug in the most horrendous conditions.
www.dexshell.com