The Emperor's New Clothes

After a bloody tough winter commuting 36 miles a day on the 750, I decided to get some proper decent clothing for riding in. Don't forget this last winter 2009 / 2010 was the harshest winter on record in the last 30 years. So typical of me that it was my 1st full year as a committed biker!

I'd muddled through freezing fog, horizontal rain, snow and ice wearing a conglomeration of cheap shite purchased on a budget. The jacket and trousers had come with a "waterproof" tag on (when I bought them in summer), but I quickly realised that what "waterproof" actually meant was "if you buy and wear this crap in serious weather, you will get cold, wet and you will eventually die". That's what the labels should have read. I ended up putting waterproofs on over "waterproofs". I was like the Pilsbury Dough Boy and it was kinda difficult to move!

So, in February I decided to invest serious dosh in serious gear. A trip to Hein Gericke in Leeds found me investing £330 in a jacket and £275 in the trousers. All Goretex branded stuff and very nice too! The jacket has the all new singing and dancing "Lockout" zip up the front. This is a plastic invention that knits together and keeps all the nasty water and wind off your precious little bod and for the 1st few months this worked fine. We all know how brilliant Goretex is and I've ridden in some incredible downpours in full confidence whilst encased in this stuff.

Anyway, recently, the Lockout zipper system has been bursting open whilst riding. It's not supposed to do that (obviously), it couldn't have been the wind as The Bird has a full fairing and it had happened quite a few times (although thankfully never in the wet!).

So, I took the jacket back to the shop and explained. The guy examined the zip, made a quick phone call and gave me a brand new jacket! I was very impressed with the customer service!

However, the story continues....less that a week after I got the new jacket, the zipper snapped off in my hand and the bloody thing had burst open again!

So back I went....after a bit of deliberation, I asked for an exchange. I explained I'd lost confidence in this Lockout thing and wanted another style of jacket. I was quite persistent and after more phone calls by the staff, I was told I could exchange it for another type.
Nice one! There was a £400 jacket in the sale at £300, so I got that.....AND a credit note for for the remaining £30!

Nice one Hein Gericke, brilliant customer service!