A bit of retail therapy..

It was a drizzly Saturday morning and with nothing planned for the day and some very boisterous children tearing around the house we decided to go shopping for some new trousers. Having done a lot more riding since deciding to do my test I was getting increasingly frustrated with my current trousers which were a couple of years old, had never fit very well (unless you like the baggy bottom look) and frankly leaked with even the lightest shower. Owning a very good jacket (Hein Gerike-gortex) meant my top half was always warm and dry however when I got off the bike after any rain and took my trousers off (revealing my running tights base layer)...well folks lets just say the wet look around the crotch is not a good one for any female and usually incites mutterings of 'Tena Lady!''

So off we plod in our small car to the nearest city which boasts two motorbike apparel shops conveniently located next door to each other. The first shop we went into had lots of choice for women's textile trousers so I picked some in the price range I was looking in and headed off for the changing room. Several minutes later, after trying to defend my dignity in the face of a flimsy curtain and two stampeding children, it became apparent that despite choosing the 'XL' these trousers were not going to fit. At this point I should point out that I consider myself at a size 14 to be an averagely sized woman. Upon asking the sales assistant if there was a bigger size I was told that the XL was the biggest size in that range. Feeling embarrassed and deflated I left the shop and hoped for more luck next door.

The very northern lady sales assistant next door was like a breath of fresh air. She recommended a pair of trousers which were a good price and had everything I wanted. Again I started off with the XL and they fitted everywhere except the waist which was tiny. I walked out the changing room where John was waiting saying 'they look great' only to pull my fleece up and show him the open fly!

However these trousers were available in a bigger size to order and could be delivered. I took a risk and ordered them and they arrived two days later and fitted. And when I say fit, I mean I actually look like a girl in them and not a michelin woman. After several rides (a few in the rain) I am dry, comfortable and happy! Win!

I have however learned a few things about buying motorbike gear as a woman:

1. If you think buying in a high street shop is difficult think again when going to buy gear for motorbiking. Leave any body self conscious issues you have at the door (and as a mother of two children I have many!) because bike gear seems to be engineered with Barbie-like proportions in mind.
2. With point one in mind conveniently forget what your usual size is because it will probably bear no resemblance to the size you end up in..instead judge by looking at the overall garment itself.
3. Seek out female sales assistants if you can particularly if they are bikers themselves. The lady in the second shop was able to recommend something from her own experience with it.

Happy biking ladies x (and gents).