Richa braces

When it comes to motorcycling trousers, we like the idea of braces. All the best trousers come with them. We're talking about brands like Rukka, Klim and Halvarssons. And if you're wearing a heavy-duty motorcycle trouser with the weight of a membrane, a thermal liner perhaps, and Level 2 armour you are going to need braces when you unzip from your jacket to prevent your pants from falling to the ground.

 

Often to shave pennies off the price, manufacturers don't supply braces, but we think they are usually a good idea. And in many circumstances almost essential.

 

If you have a bit of a tummy, and are wearing your pants below your natural waist line you will benefit greatly from wearing braces. But even if you've got a washboard stomach, we like the idea of wearing a trouser slightly on the loose side, and then supporting your trousers from the shoulders rather than from the waist. It just makes the ride much more comfortable.

 

But for some of these same reasons we also like the idea of braces with jeans. But there's another reason to wear braces with jeans.

 

If you wear a belt with your jeans you will often find that the jeans sit higher or lower, dependent upon what you are doing. The may well sit lower when you're walking around off the bike, and a little higher when you hitch them up on the bike. This can cause your jeans to look way too long on the street, and way too short when you're in the saddle. The other issue here is that the position of the armour will change as well.

 

Now wearing braces won't totally eradicate these issues, but they can mitigate and minimise them.

 

With a pair of braces you adjust them to create the ideal compromise. Not too long off the bike. Not to short on it. And always with a view to where the armour needs to sit when you're riding. Set the braces, and the jeans will forever sit at the correct height

 

Again, we prefer it when the jeans are worn a little on the looser side. If it's constantly a fight to do up, or undo, the top button, the jeans are too tight. And at some point you may need to accept that you no longer have the 32" waist you had at school. Relax. Accept your waist for what it is; and get yourself a set of braces!

 

The best way to affix braces is with buttons, although the Rukka system is pretty good too. Clip braces are not always so reliable. Indeed, I have lost count of the number of times Halvarssons' braces have pinged off the trousers when I've been adjusting them for a customer in the shop. One day I will take somebody's eye out, or relieve them of a tooth. It's going to happen.

 

But I don't think it's going to happen with these braces. The jaws of these braces close with the strength and ferocity of a Great White. You do not want to trap your finger in them; well not unless you fancy a visit to A&E. They are also super wide. And the elastic is super strong. You would have thought that it would be difficult for a grown man to get excited about a pair of braces. But I truly am.  They are the business. Despite my enthusiasm for them I suppose that I should still reserve a modicum of judgement, because if these mothers ping off we're going to be talking about implants and bridges.

 

Now Richa is a a funny company. They try to be all things to all people; and often that doesn't work for us, although we do really rate their gloves. But now, of course, we love their braces too!