2019-07-01_RiDE

How we tested them

Weadoptedourtwo-stage

methodologyfor testingthe jeans.

Firstly,editorMattworea differentpairfor

hisdailycommuteoversixdays.Herodesome

40 milesovera combinationofmotorway,fast

A-roadsandruralB-roadsona Honda

CBR650R.Werequesteda pairof34inwaist,

long-legfitmentfromeverymanufacturerand

specifieda relaxed,non-skinnystyleandfit.

ThesportyHonda’sridingpositionmeantit

wouldhighlightloworgapingwaistsandthe

tightkneeanglemeantthatanystiffnessinthe

materialorruckingbehindthekneewouldbe

highlighted.ThefairedHondameantthatsome

ofthewindblastwouldbetakenoffthelegs

buttherewasstillenoughtoassesstheir

windproofingabilitiesaswellashowcool

orwarmtheykeptMatt.

Secondly,wewantedtotestthepotential

abrasionprotectionofeachpair.CE

certificationtestingisa veryspecificand

involvedprocess.However,asusual,we

wantedtobea bitmorereal-lifeandgetan

ideaofhowtheymightprotecta riderina

slide.Sowedeviseda systemtodothis.

We took an old pair of sacrificial leather

trousers and filled the butt/crutch area witha

22.5kg bag of medium-sized gravel. We fixed

jubilee clips around the ankles so that we

could drag them behind a car. We then fitted

eachpairofjeansovertheleathers,hooked

themupto thebackofa four-wheeldriveand

pulledthemalonga tarmacroad.Wecarried

outfourseparatetestsoneverypairofjeans,

eachstartingofffromrest,acceleratingto

30mphandthen,brakingtorestagain.

Wecarriedoutmultipletestsbecausewe

wantedtoseehowthejeanswouldprotect

theskinintheeventofa higher-speedora

longer-distanceslide.Studyingeachpairafter

fourrunsshouldgivea reasonableideaofthis.

Wedidn’ttestthekneeareaaswefeltthat

thetestingprocedurewouldnotbeconsistent

enoughandthatthearmourwouldoffer

additionalabrasionprotection.

22.5kgbagof

gravelreplicated

rider

Metaljubileeclips
providedattachment
fortowrope

Our test lab — boot

of a Volvo XC90

Less product

test, more trendy

clothing boutique

Our test rig

about to head off

for another run

64 | JULY 2019

PRODUCT TEST