Some of our retailers announce Xmas Hols hours

As we get notification of opening hours over the Xmas break from our retailers, we'll post 'em here :) Please check back for more details!

HOLIDAY OPENING HOURS HELD RETAILER UPDATE: Leeds and Leatherhead #Getgeared stores holiday hours 'Yule' need to know: Christmas Eve & New Year's Eve : 10 -4. Christmas day, boxing day & New Year's Day: closed. Back to normal Jan 2nd.

HOLIDAY OPENING HOURS HELD RETAILER UPDATE: Moto Central, Leicestershire: open as normal until 24th December when we are open 9am till 12pm. CLOSED 25th and 26th. Open 27th 9am till 5pm. CLOSED 28th. Open 29th and 30th 9am-6pm. Open 31st 9am-12pm. CLOSED 1st Jan. Back to normal hours from 2nd Jan.

HOLIDAY OPENING HOURS HELD RETAILER UPDATE: Helmet City Dorset. Closed Monday 22nd to Friday 26th. Open Saturday 27th every day through the new year holidays 10am till 4pm. Sale on!! Tea/coffee available.

HOLIDAY OPENING HOURS HELD RETAILER UPDATE: Gear4Gears, Twickenham, Surrey: 

Our Chistmas Opening hours are as follows:
WED 24th Dec 10AM - 2PM
THURS 25th Dec CLOSED
FRI 26th Dec CLOSED
SAT 27th Dec 10AM - 5PM
SUN 28th Dec 11AM - 4PM
MON 29th Dec 10AM - 6PM
TUES 30th Dec 10AM - 6PM
WED 31st Dec 11AM - 4PM
THURS 1st Jan CLOSED
FRI 2nd Jan BACK TO NORMAL


For a full list of Held UK stockists please click here
 

More to follow!
 

Held Tonale Winter Gloves- Add a heat pad for extra oomph!

For just £104.99 you could be the proud owner of a pair of Held Tonale Gore-Tex Winter Gloves and hence a pair of warm hands too. The unique feature of these gloves is the pouch for the strategic placing of a 're-chargeable' heat pad. These are mens gloves, for the ladies there are the very similar 'Johna' at £114.99.

Held Tonale Winter Gloves

• Waterproof through Gore-Tex
• Prepared for Held reusable heat pads
• Thermoplush fleece lining
• Knuckle armour

Beautiful Goatskin Palm

Two things make the Held Tonale Winter Motorcycle Gloves stand out: First, they are great winter gloves with a softer construction than the Held Arctic or Cold Champ. So, if you prefer a comfier feel in your winter gloves but you will not do away with Gore-Tex, these are great value. Second, and more importantly: These biking gloves come with a pocket in the lower cuff; Fit a re-usable Held heat pad into that pocket, and you WILL stay warmer and your hands stay nimble. Why? On the underside of your wrist your blood-flow is closest to the skin: That is where you cool down the fastest, or where external heat can maintain a comfortable temperature the most easily. Brilliant science in action!

These gloves are used for a commute of 50 miles by Motorcycle Monthly and MoreBikes editor John Milbank!

To see more about Held in the UK and our online catalogue please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

All year round jacket that won't break the bank

The Held 4-Touring jacket, mens and ladies 'cuts'- in sizes DXS to D3XL (Ladies) and S to 10XL for men! With prices from just £209.99 it won't break the bank. This jacket doesn't skimp out though on quality and features- including KNOX armour!

Held 4-Touring jacket in black / fluoro

Outer shell
• AIRGUARD 500D (100% polyamide)

Lining
• mesh lining (100% polyester)
• detachable thermal liner (100% polyester)

Membrane
• REISSA Z-liner (100% polyester with 100% polyurethane coating):
waterproof, windproof & breathable

Fit/features
• 4 external pockets
• 2 inner pockets
• internal cellphone pocket
• air-vent zippers front & back
• schoeller KEVLAR stretch panels under arms
• arm adjustment
• waist belt
• soft collar
• Connecting zip

Held 4-Touring motorcycle jacket selection of colours available

Protection
• EN 1621-1 CE-certified KNOX protectors at shoulders & elbows
• special foam padding at back
• optional EN 1621-2 back protector
• reflective sections

To see more about Held in the UK, a list of stockists and our online catalogue please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

COMPETITION TIME! Four pairs of Held gloves up for grabs

We've decided it's about time we organised some giveaways!  So, first of all let's introduce you to the prizes:

Two pairs of Held Arctic Winter Motorcycle Gloves

Held Arctic Winter motorcycle gloves to give away -
warm, waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex! RRP £109.99

• Gore-Tex winter gloves to beat wind-chill & rain
• Waterproof guarantee for the life of the gloves
• Highly breathable for warmer hands
• Extra Thinsulate layers to protect from wind-chill
• Superfabric palm panels & leather-covered knuckle armour
• Built-in rain wiper

Two pairs of Held 'Twin' 2-in-1 system 

Gore-Tex Winter Motorcycle Gloves

Held 'Twin' 2 in 1 Winter motorcycle gloves to give away -
warm, waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex! RRP £174.99

• Unique 2-in-1 System Gore-Tex Winter gloves
• Gore & Held innovation: Twin chamber gloves with Gore-Tex
• Winter Chamber: Full-on warmth for Winter conditions
• Wind-chill Chamber: Maximum wind-chill protection on upper hand
• Changed in seconds to suit morning frost & midday chill

Warm and dry: In collaboration, Held and Gore-Tex have innovated motorcycle Winter gloves that are both: Mega warm Winter gloves that are 100% waterproof and breathable thanks to Gore-Tex; and cold season gloves that give excellent wind-chill protection with top notch insulation on the back of the hand and the solid grip of a mid-season glove on the palm.

The competition:

It's simple.  Going to the NEC Motorcycle Show (www.motorcyclelive.co.uk)?  Held retailer Bikers World are exhibiting on stand 3F40 Hall 3A. They will have a great selection of Held gear as well as our very own Loz in attendance!  All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning a pair of the four pairs of gloves we have to give away is...

Come and see us on the Bikers World stand :)

• Visit the Bikers World Stand
• Snap a 'Selfie' with the Held gear
• Post it on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/heldriderequipment)
• And / Or Tweet it to us (@heldbikegear)Over the duration of the show we'll choose winners at random from the pics that are posted on our page / tweeted to us!  Let's light up Facebook / Twitter with your lovely Bikers World Held Selfies!

The gloves will be available to check out on the Bikers World stand along with a decent selection of Held.  Held's Loz Staples will be chuffed to show you around the gear.  :)

Don't let the comp put you off buying the gloves on the day!  If you're a lucky Bikers World Held Selfie winner keep your receipt and we'll refund you!

NOT GOING TO THE SHOW?  Fear not!  We'll be arranging more competitions after the show for those who don't get to go along.  So there's a chance for everyone to win coming right up.  :) 

So, if you are going to the show, make sure you get along to the Bikers World Stand, grab a selfie with the Held gear and pop it up on our Facebook or Tweet it to us.  Entering is as simple as a few clicks of the thumb.  ;)

3-layer Gore-Tex jacket for all year round motorcycling

If you're looking for a jacket that can cut the mustard all year round- keep you warm and dry when it's horrible weather yet cool and comfy when it's hot then the Held Carese II is worth the investment!

Held Carese II GTX Gore-Tex motorcycle jacket RRP £569.99

• Gore-Tex 3 layer technology - waterproof for life!
• Breathable: Coolmax mesh lining, 3D air mesh panels
• CE-approved Held SAS-TEC shoulder & elbow protectors

A Gore-Tex enduro style motorcycle jacket constructed with advanced materials to offer you the best in performance and comfort for those long expeditions across Continents. The Gore-Tex liner is 100% waterproof and windproof providing perfect insulation, whilst maintaining its highly breathable properties.

Stay safe: CE-approved soft shoulder and elbow protectors from SAS-TEC come with the jacket, with the option to upgrade to a Quatrotempi back protector too. The outer also offers abrasion resistance in the event of a slide.

The internal laminated jacket is now useable You can take it out of the jacket and use it as a lone waterproof rain mac/jacket for those journeys off the bike - essentially it is buy one jacket, get a waterproof over jacket free!

Held Carese II GTX colour variations

 
Technical info:

• DU PONT Cordura 500 D outer
• Detachable Gore-Tex Performance shell LTD liner
• Waterproof, windproof & breathable
• 8 Air-Vent zippers front, back & in the arms
• CE 1621-1 SAS-Tec soft shoulder & elbow protectors
• Temperfoam at back, upgradeable to Quattrotempi CE armour
• Coolmax inner lining
• Longer cut for touring
• 4 outside pockets, 2 of which are waterproof
• Front fold-away chest pockets which act as air vents
• Rear pocket to store Gore-Tex LTD liner
• 3 inside pockets
• Internal mobile phone pocket
• Waist belt
• Hip adjustment
• Arm adjustment
• Soft Collar
• Connector zip
• Reflector inserts
• Front air vent panel

For more information on Held in the UK and an online catalogue & dealer list please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Held wearing racer Josh Harland: European Junior Cup - Magny Cours Round 8 Weekend Report

Here's the final report of the season from Josh Harland- who has been wearing Held and doing well at the World Superbike rounds in the European Junior Cup:

I had been looking forward to the final round of the season at Magny Cours as it's a track I took pole position at the previous season and have had a lot of success at.

I headed into practice confident that I would find pace quickly ready for for qualifying 1.

Josh Harland

I managed to post the 4th quickest time in qualifying one, but I wasn't totally satisfied as I wanted to be on the front row.


I entered qualifying 2 knowing what I needed to concentrate on to improve my time. Unfortunately I spent the session unable to put a good lap together and found myself down in 9th position. Then in the final few minutes I was able to put together a good lap and post the 4th quickest time, improving by over 1 second and secure 4th on the grid for Sundays race.

Race day had arrived and so had the rain. It became clear that the weather wasn't going to change and we were going to have a wet race.

The conditions proved difficult as 2 riders crashed on the out lap, and 1 rider on the warm up lap before the race had even begun. Despite this I was confident I would be strong in these conditions.

I had a great start heading into the 1st corner in 3rd and I was able to drive through the inside taking the lead into the 2nd corner.

I felt confident that I could run a fast pace and by the end of the first sector I had pulled a gap of 1.5 seconds. As I went into the chicane at turn 4/5 on the change of direction I lost the rear and crashed out of the lead. Another 13 riders crashed out during the race.

I'm disappointed that the final race of the season didn't go as planned.

However, I'm glad I tried my best to fight for the win and showed that I can be aggressive in such a competitive class.

Due to the crash I narrowly missed out on what could have been 3rd in the championship. I ended the championship in 5th position which I still think is a great achievement after being taken out in two races this season, which ultimately cost me a potential 41 points.

I'd like to congratulate Augusto on winning the championship in great style and thank all the EJC riders for some fantastic battles and races this year.

Huge thank you to everyone that helped me this season:

THE TOOLBOX PROJECT for their support this round, HELD motorcycle equipment, ARAI helmets, my mechanic Simon who made sure the bike was perfect every weekend, my family for all the support and everyone for the messages via Facebook and twitter through this season.

I appreciate all you guys do for me!

I'd also like to thank every member of staff at the European Junior Cup for another great year and putting on such a fantastic championship and making me feel so welcome over the last few years.

I hope to be back competing in 2015 in European Superstock 600 where I can continue to progress as a rider.


We'd like to extend a big congratulations to Josh for a strong season which has seen him on the podium. Looking forward to 2015! For more information on Held, the gear Josh wears, please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Held wearing National Superstock 1000 racer Joe Burns at Silverstone

Following the good result at Donington and the character building BSB debut in Assen, Joe and his team were looking forward to an outing at Silverstone, the early October weather was its usual variable self, with dry and sunny conditions for Free Practice and Qualifying, rain on the Saturday followed by dry conditions for the race on Sunday.

Joe Burns at Silverstone- pic: Jon Jessop Photography

Free Practice ended with Joe in 5th place, 1.8 seconds of fastest man Danny Buchan, however the good news was that the team felt they could find more speed from the bike.
True enough Joe went out in qualifying and set his fastest ever time around the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit, and this with a setup that was not quite perfect, the end result was 7th on the grid, but with 0.5 seconds covering positions 3 to 7.

Sunday morning warm up and again Joe was 7th with a slightly larger margin, but generally things were looking positive for a good race, his 7th position on the grid being the outside of row 3, directly behind Buchan.

The race started well for Joe, he picked up 6th place by the end of lap 1 and then settled in to consistent lap times, by lap 6 he had secured 5th place and was in a tight group of three fighting over 3rd place, the result of this battle was a 5th place.

After the race Joe said’ “This was a tough race, the pace at the front of Superstock 1000 this year has been incredible, it seems like the top 6 riders are all making huge steps forward at every race meeting, it is great to be in amongst this group. 

The team is working hard to keep in the hunt, and once again I must thank all my sponsors, particularly JG Speedfit, Refresh Recovery and EACS, I am a little disappointed to have slipped to 8th in the Championship, but it is only by 2 points, roll on Brands Hatch.”

With this result Joe now lies 8th in the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship.
The next race takes place at Brands Hatch 19th October.

www.held-uk.co.uk for more information on the fantastic motorcycle leathers worn by Joe Burns

Held wearing Racer Joe Burns: his BSB Assen report

National Superstock 1000 racer and Held wearer Joe Burns  gave British Superbikes a go at Assen on a wildcard entry. He did rather well we think! Here's his report:

Assen in Holland was the scene of a 2014 debut ride for Joe Burns in the British Superbike Championship, the preceding week was spent working hard to prepare a bike that would comply fully to the BSB regulations, several late nights resulted in a departure to Holland with a bike that had been on the dyno, but not been track tested.

Free Practice 1 on a track that Joe had never ridden before ended with Joe 26th fastest and with a lot of time to find, the team worked through a number of set up adjustments and by the end of the session felt they knew more about the bike and its handling characteristics.

Joe Burns at Assen. Photo courtesy of John Jessop Photography

So to Free Practice 2, during this session Joe found almost half a second on his lap time, however everyone was moving forwards, consequently Joe was 27th quickest.
In Free Practice 3 Joe and the team clicked, Joe now understood the bike and the layout of the circuit, when the flag fell marking the end of the session he was 18th fastest and had made a 2 second per lap improvement in comparison to his earlier times.
Confidence was good for Qualifying, however Joe’s time did not improve over the one set in FP 3 with the result he complete Q1 in 24th place, missing out on participation in Q2 by 1 second.

The race day warm up saw Joe set a time that was 25th fastest, however the weather now began to play a part with Race 1 starting damp and then turning wet part way through, Joe started with a slick front and wet rear, he got a good start and by lap 2 was in 14th place, he then picked up a place per lap and by the eighth lap was in 9th position. However a combination of the weather and his rear tyre wear then intervened and unfortunately the bike slipped out from under him. No serious damage resulted, but the BSB rules stop you remounting and continuing in the race.

Race 2 took place in dry conditions and Joe started from 10th position on the grid a result of his lap time in race 1, placing him between Shakey Byrne and Stuart Easton, however this time the start was not so good and he fell back to 15th, however he worked his way forward to 13th place by lap 13, at which point disaster struck on the pit straight, a complete electrical failure stopping the bike. He coasted to the pit lane exit where sadly he parked the bike.

At the end of the weekend Joe said, “I knew this race weekend would be tough for me, arriving at a strange circuit with a bike that we had only completed the evening before our ferry booking was a big ask, however I am happy with the work we put in and I think that particularly my performance in race 1 proved beyond doubt that I can race with the top BSB riders. I really want to move up to a full season in BSB, but that is dependent upon my sponsors support.”

The next Superstock 1000 race takes place at Silverstone 5th October.

We're proud to support and supply Joe Burns- for more information on Held please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Our gear: the Held Masuda Fibreglass helmet

I gave the Gaffer a sideways glance as he asked me to put to one side my Held ST-6 full carbon helmet and use the Held 'Masuda'. I love the ST-6 and was reluctant, at first, to try out the sub-£200 helmet. 

However, as it appeared from the box I was immediately impressed. Held have an Italian designer on board now and the looks are great!

Held Masuda: German quality, Italian design £199.99

 First impressions:

Very comfortable, way beyond it's £199.99 price tag. A great fit, made perfect by the integral cheek pump system which allows you to pump it up to provide a PERFECT fit.

Held have improved on the integral sun visor too- pops back up with a single touch on the button. I was particularly impressed with the no-tools visor change, practiced a few times to get it right, now I can change it like a TT pit crew (!)... Certainly beats messing around with the visors on certain other brands, and busting a few side pods on the way...

Next to the chin- the cheek pump system. Big one to pump, little one to release air

Easy on-off visor change system

After testing:

I've now ridden over 600 miles in the Masuda and it's comfy as anything. The removable cheeks pads (which I've washed once already) and the Outlast lining (designed to regulate temperature) work well to keep the lid fresh as a daisy :) The investment by Held in the lining pays dividends too in terms of comfort on longer rides.

If you've never used an integral sun visor give it a go- perfect for the in-out UK sun and more importantly you can ride on into dusk without having to change visors / take your shades off!

Integral sun visor, breath deflector and plenty of air vents

 
Don't ask about wind noise as such- I ride a naked Cafe Racer and it's noisy! All I will say is that I also have an Arai and a Shark and the Held Masuda is no noisier!

I like the slightly smaller shell size as well, suits me and doesn't make me look like I've got a goldfish bowl on my head.. ;)

Really impressed too with the paint, nice chevrons on the top (see below) and i've washed it a dozen times or more with warm, soapy water and it still looks like new. 

 
All in all it's a great lid, with a price tag that offers exceptional value. Here's the official specifications:

• Washable cheek pads
• Clear, scratchproof visor
• Air-vents at front & chin
• Quick release ratchet chin-strap buckle
• Clear lacquer
• No-tools visor change mechanism
• Choice of 2 shell sizes for a perfect fit
• Clear, dark tint, silver & purple iridium visors available
• Inc. sun visor
• Pinlock ready visor
• Integral pump system

You can see more of the Masuda and the colours available on page 246 of our online catalogue:

NEWS: Burns Back On The Podium.

Latest BSB National Superstock 1000 news from Held wearing racer Joe Burns:
 

The team arrived in Donington Park highly motivated from the last result at Silverstone and with the determination to maintain the progress made with the performance of Joe and the bike. 

Free practice took place in dry and bright conditions and despite a traction control problem Joe ended the session 4th quickest with a gap to the top position of 1.274 seconds, the team used the time between free practice and Q1 to locate and fix the issues with the traction control. Qualifying 1 was completed with Joe in 5th position, but more importantly closer to provisional pole, the gap being just 0.865 seconds.
Qualifying 2 was run in cloudy but dry conditions and once again Joe was 5th quickest, the combined results of Q1 and Q2 left Joe in 5th with a gap to pole 1.226 seconds, but more importantly grid positions 2 to 5 were covered by just 0.392 seconds! A close race was in prospect.

Podium for Joe at Donington- photo courtesy of Jon Jessop Photography

In the race Joe achieved a great start and jumped straight into 4th place which he held through the first corner, at which point the race leader made a mistake and fell off, elevating Joe to 3rd. As the race developed it was clear that the leading trio of O’Halloran, Jenkinson and Burns were pulling away from the rest, however Lee Jackson made a big effort to catch the pack and on Lap 9 he managed to slip past Joe, however this swop of positions lasted only one lap, Joe retook 3rd place and showed his race craft by defending and maintaining the place for the last laps of the race. 

After the race Joe said’ “This is a great result for me, the team and all my sponsors, particularly JG Speedfit, Refresh Recovery and EACS, the season did not start as well for me as I had hoped but we have put in a lot of work, and today is the result of that effort. It was a good race for me and I enjoyed myself hugely, there was no way I was going to let Lee Jackson past me again, once in 3rd it was my place! I leave here really excited about the last races of the season.” 

With this result Joe now lies 7th in the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship.
The next race takes place at Silverstone 5th October.

To see more about Held motorcycle clothing and accessories in the UK please visit www.held-uk.co.uk, online catalogue too!

BURNS FINISHES IN TOP 6, AGAIN!

The Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship does not accompany the British Superbike Championship to Assen, consequently each year they have the opportunity to showcase the talents of the series riders at a major event in the UK, this year it was as a support race to the Hertz British Grand Prix MotoGP. 

Joe Burns at Silverstone in his Held leathers! Photo: Jon Jessop Photography

 Held wearer Joe arrived at Silverstone without his race engineer, who had broken his wrist at Cadwell Park the previous weekend, consequently the team was a man down. However Joe was confident that a good result could still be achieved. 

Free practice on Friday was encouraging, when the chequered flag came out Joe had set 4th quickest time, 1.8 seconds off pole, qualifying 1 took place later the same day and once again he was in 4th place, but the gap had closed to 1.254, so a step in the right direction had been made with the adjustments to the bike. 

Qualifying 2 ran on Saturday and Joe once again finished in 4th place with a significant closing of the gap to pole, 0.783 separated him from Danny Buchan, but more importantly he was only 0.042 behind Lee Jackson in 3rd place, it looked like a podium possibility for the race. 

The race took place late Sunday afternoon, and Joe had his best start of the season so far, by turn 1 he was in 3rd place and chasing the leaders hard, and maybe took a little too much out of his rear tyre, consequently he dropped to 5th place which he held until lap 8 when a safety car period was called, this allowed the pack to close up, and shortly after the restart Joe was passed by Hudson Kennagh, dropping him to 6th position, however it was a close finish with 4th, 5th and 6th crossing the line all within 0.29 seconds. 

After the race Joe said, “I am disappointed to have finished in 6th place, my qualifying pace was improving all through the weekend, my start was good and holding 3rd place for 4 laps boosted my confidence, but maybe the rear tyre was overworked and I lost a couple of places. Superstock 1000 is very close and at the front of the grid a tenth of a second is a huge amount of time, however I am taking away a lot of positives from this race meeting, and I am pleased to move into 8th place in the Championship table.” 
 
Joe Burns wears Held leathers. See more Held here

Held wearer Joe Burns: Superstock 1000 Cadwell report

The team arrived at Cadwell Park in a confident mood, testing during the previous week had gone well, and consequently a good result was a strong possibility. 

Joe Burns at Cadwell- photo courtesy of Jon Jessop Photography

In Free Practice Joe was 3rd quickest just 0.21 behind Jason O’Halloran, and 1.544 behind Danny Buchan, Qualifying 1 took place in bright sunshine later the same day, and initially all was well and Joe set 4th quickest time within 4 laps, however an unexpected rear shock absorber problem hampered the run, but he retained 4th quickest position despite only completing 6 laps, so a good result from the first day’s work. 

A brand new rear shock absorber was fitted prior to Qualifying 2 and once again Joe was ‘on the pace’ very quickly, he was just edged out of 4th quickest place by a late run from Hudson Kennaugh, just 0.014 seconds being the difference, so a 5th place start position was the result. During the qualifying run Joe was once again hampered by the rear shock absorber, which surprisingly showed the same problems he had experienced in Q1, a decision was made to switch to a K-Tech unit for the race. 

Overnight a new unit was built and installed in the bike, clearly this proved to be a good decision, during the Monday morning warm up on a damp track Joe simply rode away from everyone, setting the fastest time, 0.775 clear of the field. 

The weather forecast was for heavy rain, but this held off for the morning and the race was run in dry conditions, Joe started reasonably well, slipping one place to 6th a position he held right through the first 10 laps, but he was running very close to the riders fighting over 3rd place, however Cadwell is not an easy track for overtaking and Hudson Kennaugh seemed to be riding a ‘very wide’ bike! 

Sadly the race was stopped on lap 10, due to an accident. Clearly if this not happened Joe had the pace to move up at least one and maybe 2 positions, his lap times being better in comparison to the riders in front of him. So 6th place was the result. 

After the race Joe said, “This weekend has been very good, a lot of positives for me, my team worked through the issues with the rear shock absorber and we made the right decisions to go to a different manufactures unit, I was disappointed that the race finished early as I could see that the rear tyre on Hudson’s bike was badly worn, and I knew I could pass him, but it was not to be.” 

Joe is now 9th in the Championship standings. 

To see more about Held in the UK, including our online catalogue, please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

3-Layer ultra functional Gore-Tex jacket from Held

Introducing the Held Carese II:

Held Carese II 3-layer Gore-Tex Jacket in Black, RRP £569.99

Outer shell
• DuPont Cordura 500D (100% polyamide)

Lining
• COOLMAX breathable mesh inner lining (100% polyester)
• 3D air mesh panels (100% polyester) in back to promote air circulation

Membrane
• removable GORE-TEX 3-layer liner technology
• removable waterproof membrane inner jacket which can be used attached inside the jacket or as a separate over jacket

Held Carese II 3-layer Gore-Tex Jacket- another colour variation

Fit/features
• waterproof external pockets
• 3 inner pockets
• internal cellphone pocket
• map / document pocket
• 1 back pocket
• air-vent zippers in front, back & arms
• front air-vent zipper
• magnetic closure pockets double as air vents
• stretch panels at shoulders
• waist belt
• dual arm adjustment
• soft collar
• full-length back protector can be integrated into jacket lining

Protection
• exclusive EN 1621-1 CE-approved Held cloverleaf SAS-TEC shoulder & elbow protectors
• TEMPERFOAM back pad
• optional EN 1621-2 back protector
• Connecting zip
• 3M SCOTCHLITE™ reflectors

Sizes
S, M, L, XL, XXL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL

Colours
black
grey-orange
grey-black
grey-blue

You can view the Carese II on page 74 of our online catalogue

Top selling airflow summer motorcycle trousers from Held

Available in black or grey and priced at RRP £119.99 these trousers are the perfect companion for warm days on the bike. The Held Zeffiro II come in short, regular or long leg sizes and gents up to 5XL & ladies up to D3XL!! With great protection, plenty of cool mesh material and optional waterproof inner pants. Spot on!

Held Zeffiro II Summer motorcycle trousers in black

The official word:

This is the updated version of our best-selling summer airflow trousers. Sharper looking than ever before. Large airflow panels ensure superior cooling during the summer heat. Equipped with soft CE Level 1 protectors at the knees and prepared for the addition of a CE hip armour. 2 outer pockets.

Held Zeffiro II Summer motorcycle trousers in grey

Technical info:

• 600D Heros-Tec Polyester
• Breathable inner mesh lining

Features:
• 2 outer pockets
• Airflow mesh panels at thigh, shin and back of leg
• Hem & waist adjustments
• SAS-Tec Level 1 knee armour, adjustable
• Hip upgradable with CE Level 1 armour

You can add a waterproof inner lining with item Held H626289D

To see our online catalogue and a list of UK Held retailers please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Talan Skeels-Piggins Castle Combe Report

Talan enjoying the sun and getting focussed

The weekend of 21/22 June saw Talan Racing attend the two day motorcycle race meeting at Castle Combe, with North Gloucester Road Racing (NGRR). The circuit has special meaning to Talan as it was the venue that saw him get back on a motorcycle having been paralysed. The staff and instructors helped Talan to overcome the difficulties that paralysis has for riding two wheels, then it became home to The Bike Experience charity in 2011.

Saturday began with a much needed free practice. Due to time constraints and work commitments, the Team had not been able to make a track day at the circuit to sort out gearing, set up and re-acquaint themselves with the whole layout. Within a few laps, Talan had remembered his way around and was dropping in lap times. The plan was to try and get as close to the previous years lap times as possible. At the same race last year, Talan had been doing regular track days and his confidence was high. This year is all about rebuilding that confidence after the near fatal accident last August.

The weekend had a number of positives for the Team. The first was a two day meeting at the circuit and the second was that NGRR had allowed Talan to race in the Pre-Injection 700’s & 1300’s as well, which meant another possible four races. He wouldn’t be scoring any points in the extra races, but it was valuable experience in starts and racing against more powerful machines.

In all the races on Saturday, Talan proved to be quick off the mark and quick on the opening lap. In one race alone he managed to overtake 15 other bikes on the first lap, something that surprised the riders and officials alike. The same went for Sunday, with lap times coming down to the 1min 25.8sec best set last year, and then dropping into the low 1.25’s before finally being taken to 1min 24.2sec. Confidence has certainly been restored!

Talan and his Performance of the meeting award

The performance put in by Talan and the Team was recognised by the officials of the NGRR with the ‘Performance of the Meeting’ Award being presented to Talan after the final Minitwin race of the weekend. Another bonus from the weekend was the appearance, at the Talan Racing tent, of none other than John McGuiness, who popped in to chat with Talan and find out a little bit more about the bike and how someone who’s paralysed can still ride.

John McGuinness and Talan talking bikes

Talan Skeels-Piggins is the only paraplegic solo motorcycle racer in the UK. Talan founded The Bike Experience- which gets disabled people back on to two wheels. www.tbex.co.uk. Talan wears Held Rider Equipment.

What We Wear: The Held ST-6 full carbon helmet

The best way to start this blog about this great helmet is: 100% carbon helmet for under £270! Mine is the plain version, but it comes with colours on the black, too.

Held ST-6 full carbon motorcycle helmet for under £270!

It's light, it's strong, it looks great and it has plenty of features. But what's it like to ride in, across the entire year, over thousands of miles? Luckily we try and test as much of our gear as possible and this helmet has been a personal favourite of mine for over two years now. I'll talk about some bits that float my boat ;)

The Held ST-6 100% carbon helmet- MY first choice of lid

We've all got different shaped noggins, so choosing the helmet with the best fit is the most important factor, for me, anyway. One of the things that pleased me instantly about the Held ST-6 is the cheek pump system (See below). You can press away on the little button, just above where the chin sits and feel the helmet's insides pumping up, delivering a virtually perfect and reassuringly 'personal' fit every time you put it on. Taking it off is easy as a tiny button alongside the main one lets the air out before you take it off!

Held ST-6 cheek pump feature- perfect fit, every time

The visor comes Pinlock ready and Ive just fitted a pinlock insert that changes colour according to the light. Pinlock has made a huge difference  in terms of delivering crystal clear vision in any condition, as they always seem to. The helmet also has an integral drop down sun-visor, which has proved invaluable to me in those situations where the sun keeps appearing and disappearing!

One of the things I like most about this helmet is the easy visor change. No more broken side pods, and no hassle. I took the video below when I got the helmet and this video is the FIRST TIME I undid, and re-attached the visor. Easy!

Before I give you the official 'spec' for the helmet, below there's a photo collage I created to try and give you a feel for this awesome lid. I've covered about 5,000 miles in it, it's been comfy, easy to keep clean and caused lots of interest at bike meets. Very happy with it and certainly worth £269.99!

The Held ST-6 100% carbon motorcycle helmet in all its glory

Now, the official word:

100% carbon outer shell
Soft outlast lining for climate control
Clear, Pinlock ready, scratchproof visor
Integral sun visor
Air-vents at front and chin
Quick-release ratchet fastening
Quick change visor
Integral pump system for perfect fit
Air vents at front and chin
ECE 22.05 certified

To see the full range of 
Held Rider Equipment in the UK please click here

Perfect for Summer, ladies and gents versions: The Held Tropic II jacket

Looking great! This is the updated version of our best-selling summer airflow jacket. And this version looks better and sportier than ever before. Large airflow panels front, back and on the sleeves ensures superior cooling during the summer heat. Equipped with soft CE Level 1 protectors on shoulders and elbow and prepared for the addition of a CE back armour panel. 2 outer pockets and 2 inner pockets. RRP £124.99

Held Tropic II in blue

Held Tropic II in black

Technical information:

Outer shell
• HEROS-TEC® 600D fabric (100% polyester) Lining
• Mesh lining (100% polyester)

Fit/features
• 2 external pockets
• 2 inner pockets
• Cool mesh material in front, back & arms
• arm adjustment
• Optional waterproof inner jacket (Art. Art. 6396)
• Soft collar

Protection
• EN 1621-1 CE-certifi ed soft protectors at shoulders & elbows
• Special foam padding at back
• Optional EN 1621-2 back protector
• Connecting zip
• Reflective sections

Held Tropic II in grey

Held Tropic II in red

To see this jacket and more browse our online catalogue please click here

One of our coolest Summer Retro leather jackets :)

The Held 'Harvey', has that awesome retro look!  Ready for summer riding and leisurely times off the bike, the jacket is vented and comes equipped with highly effective, subtle protective D3O armour. the jacket is lovely soft cowhide, ultra comfy the FIRST time you slip it on.

The Held 'Harvey' retro leather jacket- super cool!

Super-cool details! The perfect marriage of style and motorcycle function! This is simply a great looking jacket: A slightly worn look to make it real from 'Day 1'; This jacket keeps you safe on the bike and it's got the looks for on and off the bike.

Another colour choice of the the Held 'Harvey' leather motorcycle jacket

Technical info:

Outer Shell:
• Soft cowhide
Lining:
• 100% polyester inner lining
Fit/Features:
• 4 external pockets
• 2 inner pockets
• Zips also adjust ventilation
• Soft collar
• Stone-washed look
• Hip adjustment
Protection:
• Revolutionary EN 1621-1 CE-approved D3O adaptive shoulder & elbow protection
• Special foam padding at back
• Optional EN 1621-2 back protector
• Connecting zip

Another colour choice of the the Held 'Harvey' leather motorcycle jacket

To see more of the UK range for Held and a list of UK retailers please visit www.held-uk.co.uk