Held Product Focus: Held Monsun Waterproof 1 piece

It's been a little damp of late. So damp in fact that good quality waterproofs are an essential bit of kit.

Held Monsun. RiDE tested it. No-one got wet.

May we introduce the Held Monsun- scorer of 20/20 for Waterproofness in a RiDE Magazine Test.

Product info:


• Highly recommended by RIDE magazine 
• Storm cuff protection 
• Zip and Velcro ankle overflaps 
• Quick change labyrinth zip 
• 3M Scotchlite reflectors 
• Fluorescent option

• Elasicated waist
• Available in large tummy sizes too
• Waist Belt
• Arm adjustment

For more information on Held products in the UK please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Cowhide, Kangaroo, Stingray- Explained!

"Made from cowhide! Made from Pittards leather! Made from Kangaroo Leather! Made from Stingray skin!"

Ever wondered what the difference is, and why? we take a look at the different products used in Held gear..


Leather

The traditional ‘go-to’ material for motorcyclists. While often not as practical or adaptable as textiles, leather still leads the way in abrasion resistance and, with the right care, is extremely durable. Leather garments should be fitted as tight as possible in order to firmly hold protectors in place. With wear, leather garments ‘break in’ and mould to the body. Held Rider Equipment uses the finest cowhide as standard, as well as kangaroo, goat, hairsheep and stingray leather in certain applications.

Held Street II Jacket- premium cowhide

TFL COOL™ leather

Revolutionary treatment for black leather which helps it reflect solar radiation in the same way that white leather would, keeping the surface up to 20°C cooler and the wearer up to 12°C cooler, without the impracticality of wearing light colours. 

TFL Cool leather on the left, not on the right!

Pittards leather

The hairsheep is a cross between a sheep and a goat only found in the mountains of some African countries. Its hide is soft and comfortable, like goatskin, but it has a more dense – and therefore hard wearing – structure which is ideal for glove making. Pittards are the leading producer of high-grade hairsheep leather. Moisture will cause normal leather to go hard, crack and shrink. We soaked two gloves in chemical sweat for 24 hours. The Pittards WR100 hairsheep hide glove was still very soft when compared to the cowhide glove of the same thickness. Plus it is also up to 30% more resistant to tearing and abrasion.

Held 'Calibur' glove with Pittard leather back

Kangaroo hide

Of the 48 species of kangaroo, many are protected. However the unchecked reproduction of largest breed has resulted in massive over-population and culls are therefore carried out under the supervision of the Australian government. Fortunately for motorcyclists, the hides make excellent rider equipment. 

Held Slade leather suit- with mix of Kangaroo and cowhide, with Titanium inserts!

Kangaroo hide is far more abrasion resistant than cowhide of the same thickness. This is because, unlike cows, kangaroos only sweat through their tail and therefore there are no pores in the hide. Kangaroo garments can therefore be lighter and provide more ‘feel’. Special tanning and drying methods mean kangaroo hide is resistant to moisture and so is less likely to loose its shape or degrade over time. 

Stingray skin

The most abrasion resistant material that is pliant enough to be used in the manufacture of gloves. Selected styles of Held gloves feature Stingray protection on the ball of thumb, knuckles and wrist, backed with shock absorbing gel pads in order to allow fallen riders to slide more easily with less chance of fractured limbs cause by rolling.When exposed to a 10 Newton load on an H22 friction wheel at Pirmasens testing Institute in accordance with DIN 53754, Kangaroo leather wore though after 4,000 revolutions, while stingray skin withstood a 20,000 revolutions.

Held Titan gloves- Stingray leather covered Carbon shell side & finger protection

For more information on Held in the UK, or to find your nearest dealer please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Held Gear Focus: The Sixty Six Wax Jacket

Sixty Six- That's how many years Held have been producing quality motorcycle gear. We've named this super wax-cotton retro jacket 'Sixty Six' to celebrate- the jacket itself is worthy of celebration- please read on!

Also available in Khaki or Black.- RRP Just £164.99 

• Waterproof, wax-cotton motorcycle jacket
• Waterproof, windproof & breathable
• EN1621-1 CE soft protectors at shoulders & elbows
• Back foam padding, upgradable to EN1621-2 protector
• Connector zip for trousers

Wax-cotton retro motorcycle jacket. What's good about it? The fit, the look, the carefree vintage feel. Ride up the Coast and celebrate Held Motorcycle Clothing's 66 year anniversary! Colour Black Beige; Also available in Army Green, which is spot on!

Here's the black one:

More technical information:


Waxed cotton outer shell
100% polyester inner lining
Waterproof, windproof and breathable membrane (100% polyester with 100% polyurethane coating)
EN 1621-1 CE-certified soft protectors at shoulders & elbows
special foam padding at back
Optional EN 1621-2 back protector
Hip adjustment
Soft collar
4 external pockets
3 inner pockets
Connecting zip

Just the job for that retro look! For more information on Held products and to locate UK dealers please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Held Gear Focus: GORE-TEX Performance Shell System

The GORE-TEX Performance Shell Ltd System is designed with serious miles and changeable condition in mind. It is the ideal system for hardcore Enduro Riding and round the world adventures, yet is equally at home on the daily commute.

How it works

1. Moisture vapour escapes
2. Rain and wind stay out
3. Outer material
4. GORE-TEX membrane
5. Lining
   
   The Ltd System differs from other GORE-TEX Applications in that the climate membrane is not permanently fixed in to the garment. Instead it is provided as a separate GORE-TEX inner jacket and/or pants which can be attached to the garment in order to protect against the elements, and then removed (and stowed in the our jacket pocket) for times when light weight and maximum ventilation is the rider's priority. Versatile, yet still 100% windproof, waterproof and breathable.
   
   Why the GORE-TEX system could be the ideal solution for you: 

Held Carese GORE-TEX Jacket

• Complete weatherproofing
• Excellent protection
• Outstanding ventilation
• Supreme adaptability
• Highly practical
• Low weight and small pack size of the liner
• Distinctive, Innovative style
• GORE-TEX membrane lifetime warranty

For more information on the Held product range and a list of dealers please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Held Gear Focus: Held Arctic Gloves

The Held Arctic Winter Gloves are a terrific seller and heaving with features to keep your hands warm, dry and safe- for under £100!

Here's a few words that will help sum up the quality of the gloves- they include: Goatskin, Scotchlite, Gore-tex, Thinsulate, Superfabric- all coming together like this:

• 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
• In-built rain wiper

For years HELD have produced the last word in winter gloves and won comparative test after comparative test. The HELD Arctic gloves are designed to stay on top of Mr. Frost: You get superior 180gms Thinsulate on the back of the hand to fight wind-chill, and remarkably the gloves retain the dexterity of far less warm gloves due to their construction. Safety is not at the margins either with Superfabric highly abrasion resistant palm panels and leather covered knuckle armour. If you get cold hands, these are simply: superb!

Winter Rating:
Warmth: 60 mins+ at 0C degrees/50mph
Protection: 5 out of 5 stars
Durability: 5 out of 5 stars

For more information on our products and to find your nearest dealer please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Product Focus: Held Warm n Dry Gloves

There's a definite nip in the air now which means we're starting to sell more Held Warm n Dry Gloves, RRP £119.99.

New Gore-Tex technology make these gloves awesome- mega warm yet thinner, to get amazing 'feel' from a winter glove. Here's the details:

Held Warm n Dry motorcycle gloves

• Fight wind-chill: Protected with Gore Thermoplush
• Gore guarantee for life-long waterproof performance
• X-Trafit construction: No risk of the lining pulling out!
• Highly breathable: Warmer hands!
• Leather covered knuckle armour, Scotchlite reflective piping
• Superfabric reinforced palm pads
• Integral visor wiper on left hand

Held Warm n Dry gloves- palm

The Held Warm 'n' Dry Gore-Tex motorcycle gloves do exactly what it says on the cuff! Designed to deal with wind chill, the back of the hand is protected with Gore Thermoplush, a clever fleece lining that combats wind-chill and on contact with the skin delivers a great warmth. It also does not tend to stick to the skin when hands are wet! The X-Trafit version of Gore-Tex means there is one layer less on the palm area: Better grip and better "feel" for the road are the result. What does it mean to you? Your hands stay warm without sacrificing the sensitive feel for which this Gore-Tex X-Trafit glove is renowned.

Stay Warm, Stay dry. In fact, guaranteed to keep you dry. 

For more information on Held in the UK and a list of stockists please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Held Gear focus: Hakuna Jacket

With the chilly weather rolling in fast our focus switches to being warm, dry, safe yet not sweaty!

The Held Hakuna / Matata trousers combination offers breathability, waterproofness, windproofness and style at an affordable price.

Motor Cycle Sport & Leisure Journo Bruce Wilson puts Held Hakuna / Matata combo. through their paces!

Held Hakuna Jacket

• Dupont CORDURA shell
• Highly abrasion resistant shell fabric
• HUMAX Z-Liner membrane with light thermal insulation
• Waterproof, windproof and breathable
• AIR-VENT zippers front, back & arms
• Zip-off side panels for max airflow
• COOLMAX mesh lining
• KNOX CE shoulder and elbow armour
• TEMPERFOAM foam back padding
• Back upgradeable with CE armour
• SCOTCHLITE panels
• ISO4916 safety seams
• Connector zip for trousers
• Fully adjustable

Take on the world with confidence in this cutting edge touring jacket. This jacket also has AIR-VENT zippers in the front, back and arms, zip off side panels, and a concealed AIR-VENT channel underneath the front zip for extra cooling when the going gets hot! With dupont CORDURA outer shell, COOLMAX mesh lining, and HUMAX Z-Liner membrane it is the ultimate in comfort for the long way round, down or up! It also packs a punch with KNOX CE armour at the shoulders and elbows, TEMPERFOAM at the back, upgradeable to CE armour. If you are after style, comfort and protection in a jacket that can take on continents and win, this is THE jacket for you!

Retails at just £269.99! For a list of Held Stockists visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Also available in Black / Grey and as above with orange trim instead of grey.

JOY FOR JEACOCK AT BRANDS FINALE

SUPERBIKES – Stockingford’s racing sensation and Held wearer Leon Jeacock ended his 2012 campaign in a blaze of glory at the Brands Hatch Racing Circuit in Kent over the weekend.  Taking part in the last round of the Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship, Jeacock was determined to end the season on a high note.

Leon Jeacock- good finale at Brands

Struggling in Friday and Saturday’s qualifying sessions, Jeacock started  Sunday’s race in 19th position and back on row 5 of the grid.  Making his typical  blistering start and holding position throughout the 14-lap race, Jeacock made up an incredible seven places to cross the finishing line in 12th position.

“Absolutely delighted with today’s result” said Jeacock “I struggled in qualifying which always makes the race hard work from row 5, but it all came together when it mattered and I am thrilled with 12th place”.

Sunday’s result meant another 4 points added to his tally, and overall Jeacock finishes in 16th place on the Championship leaderboard.

“It’s been a mixed bag this year” said Jeacock reflecting on his 2012 season “we’ve had some good results, some bad, some real bad luck and some brilliant top 10 finishes!  But I’m pleased with 16th place in the Championship overall, we have a solid Team now, all pulling in the same direction and it’s definitely made a huge difference with my racing this year.  We definitely have something great to build on and take forward into the 2013 season”.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to all of the Team for their support this year; Mike Dorey at BMC Racing for preparing a superb bike for me all year, Mum and Dad, my fiancé Jo Dearden, Craig and Lennie Collins, Kath and Richard Dorey, Jordan Hodgson, Richard Johnson, In Touch Sports Media and Marketing, and to my sponsors; Held Bike Gear, Nexx helmets, Advance Forwarding, Arbury Gates, Moto Central and Nuffield Health Nuneaton”.

Leon is actively seeking sponsorship for the 2013 season and would love to hear from anyone who may be able to help in any way. If anyone would like to get involved or receive a 2013 Sponsorship Portfolio, please do not hesitate to contact Leon directly at leon@leonjeacock.co.uk or Richard Johnson at richard@leonjeacock.co.uk.

Leon Jeacock is kindly supported by Nuffield Health & Wellbeing Centre Nuneaton, BMC Racing, Held Rider Equipment, LJR Race Products, Manbat Ltd, Arbury Gates & Railings, DP Brakes, Nexx Helmets, Moto-Central, Advance Bike Shipping, In Touch Sports Media & Marketing and The “#55” Club.
 

Images: Ian Ward www.bikesportpics.com

For more information on Held and a list of UK dealers please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

HARD BATTLE FOR JEACOCK AT SILVERSTONE

SUPERBIKES – Stockingford’s own track-ace and Held wearer Leon Jeacock found himself in the middle of a hard-fought battle for points this weekend as he took part in Round 11 of the 2012 Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship at the Silverstone circuit in Northampton.

Held wearer Leon Jeacock

 Friday – Free Practice & Qualifying 1
Miserable, drizzly weather hampered Friday’s free practice session, and despite feeling under the weather himself, Jeacock clocked up some pretty impressive lap times to finish sixth fastest at the end of the half hour session.

“Really pleased with that, the bike felt great even in the wet which isn’t the best of racing conditions but I’m pleased with how it all went and hoping we can continue that sort of form in this afternoon’s qualifying” said a satisfied Jeacock.

The rain had stopped by the time the first of the qualifying sessions started on Friday afternoon and completing a total of 10 laps, Jeacock took twelfth position overall.

Saturday –Qualifying 2
Saturday welcomed glorious sunshine and blue skies over the Northamptonshire circuit and the second qualifying session for the Superstock 600 riders saw Jeacock once again recording some very quick times to finish 11th quickest from the 36-rider field. That performance, added to his times from Friday meant Jeacock qualified for Sunday’s race in 11thposition, and starting from row 3 on the grid.

“Very happy with qualifying today” said a delighted Jeacock“bike felt really quick and really pleased to be off the third row tomorrow. Fingers crossed I can make a good start!”

Sunday – Race
Sunday’s race was declared dry and hoping for a good start from P11 on the grid Jeacock unluckily got caught behind a couple of fallers on the first lap, pushing him right back in 25th place. However, not to let this defeat him, Jeacock battled hard for the remaining 9 laps and managed to pick off a further 11 fellow competitors to take the chequered flag in 14th position.

“First lap didn’t make things easy!” said Jeacock “was hoping a good start would have put me right up in the running today, but I guess these things happen in our sport! Really pleased to have added some more Championship points to the tally though, looking forward now to the season close at Brands Hatch in a couple of weeks”.

Jeacock goes into the showdown of the 2012 Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship in 18th position on the Championship leaderboard. The season finale takes place at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent from the 12 – 14 October.

Leon, who celebrates his 24th birthday on Thursday, is seeking sponsorship for the 2013 race season and would love to hear from anyone who may be able to help in any way. If anyone would like to get involved or receive a sponsorship portfolio, please do not hesitate to contact Leon directly at leon@leonjeacock.co.uk or Richard Johnson at richard@leonjeacock.co.uk.

For more information on Held in the UK, and for a list of stockists please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Held Air N Dry Gloves- by Infinity Motorcycles

Keith, head man at Infinity Motorcycles in London has written the following review about our Air 'n Dry gloves:

It’s not very often that a completely new type of product lands on our doorstep at Infinity Motorcycles but this year saw the arrival of a new type of glove that was truly unique; the twin chambered Held Air N Dry.

Held Air n Dry Gloves

Held is a relatively new brand to us at Infinity Motorcycles but it arrived with an excellent reputation, especially in the glove department, so when I was given the opportunity to be the company test mule for these gloves I naturally jumped at the chance.

Like most year ‘round riders I own a variety of gloves, and quite often wear one pair into work and another type on the way home to best match the prevailing conditions. The design of these means that I can choose which chamber to put my hand in for the journey instead of carrying a spare pair of gloves with me.

Two chambers- vented and Gore-Tex

The gloves are gauntlet style with kangaroo skin used in the palms for strength and durability. Cordura is used on the back of the glove with hard plastic knuckles and vents on the fingers. They have a very easy to use wrist restraint, not at all fiddly like many I have come across, and there is a very hard ceramic material called Superfabric at the base of the palms which helps prevent wrist and shoulder injuries if it all goes wrong.

If you’re after a lightweight and very protective pair of summer waterproof glove then these are the ones for you. They won’t keep you particularly warm when the ambient drops into single figures, but when there is a slight chill in the morning air that usually means reaching for something without vents then these work brilliantly. For the ride home on the rare occasions (at least this summer!) that the sun is beating down then they also do the job in a refreshing and cooling way that usually only a pair of full on summer gloves will do.

Anyone who has been touring will know that carrying a couple of pairs of gloves is almost compulsory as the morning air riding through the mountains is a lot different to the afternoon air in the valleys. These do the job of both pairs brilliantly, and from my experience this year they are the perfect gloves for the soggy English summer!

Unsurprisingly I have had the chance to try these out in heavy rain and like any Goretex product they simply work. The narrow cuffs mean that they fit under the cuffs of my jacket which is the way to keep things dry. Personally I would like the cuffs to be a little bit larger, or maybe elasticated so that they could slide over my jacket sleeves a bit easier as it’s a fiddly task getting them  under the jacket cuffs, and largely pointless when it’s not raining.

That’s the only criticism I can offer of what is a genuinely brilliant product.

Keith Roissetter
Manager, Infinity Motorcycles, London.

Thank you very much Keith! to find out about Held in the UK and your nearest Held stockist, please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Held wearer Tom Weeden- Donington race report

On the back of a successful weekend at the Triumph Live race meet at Mallory Park, with Held wearerTom gaining his first  podiums of the season with a 1st and 2nd position, Weeden was certainly feeling confident going into round 7 of the Triumph Triple Challenge at Donington Park last weekend. After dropping to 5th in the championship standings at Cadwell Park, Tom was eager to score as many points as possible. 

Tom Weeden- looking forward to Silverstone

Tom set about learning the track in practice and put as many laps in as possible in the time available. He posted the 9th fastest time but was confident he could find a lot of time with new rubber on in qualifying. Weeden went almost 2 seconds faster in qualifying to put him 7th on the grid after being higher up the grid early on in the session. 

From the inside position on the grid Tom got off to a great start and slotted into 6th position into turn 1. He rode aggressively into turn two and went inside of two riders going into the fast Craner curve bends to move up into 4th position. He remained in 4th position as he rode a pretty lonely race trying to keep the gap back to 5th position at a constant second and trying if possible to catch 3rd position man Chrissy Rouse. 

Tom put in some very consistent lap times however by lap 7 of 10 the gap back to 5th had been closed to only 0.2 seconds. Weeden put his head down and tried to gap the rider behind him when on lap 8 the race was red flagged and stopped due to the rider behind him crashing out at the Melbourne loop. Tom was happy with 4th and had been moved up to 4th position on the grid where he hoped he could potentially challenge for a podium. 

Weeden got off to another brilliant start in race 2 and slotted straight into 2nd position into turn 1.  He remained in 2nd until lap 4 when he dropped down to 3rd after Phil Atkinson passed him. Unfortunately Tom had a huge moment coming out of the Melbourne loop that almost saw Weeden highside, luckily he managed to stay on the bike however he had a lost 2 seconds to the riders behind him on that lap. 

Tom dropped to 4th on lap 6 after championship leader Rob Guiver passed him. He held onto 4th position for as long as he possibly could however unfortunately he lost out on lap 9 due to a false neutral to drop back into 5th position. He remained in 5th until the chequered flag and was happy to have stayed on and scored some decent points, on another note 6th position was almost 7 seconds behind Tom. 

Weeden is next out at Silverstone, a track where he qualified 2nd on last year is hoping to push for a podium position. 





For more information on Tom Weeden please visit www.tomweeden.com.

For more information on Held in the UK and a list of stockists please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Living with: Held Cartagena Sport boots

I love my Held Shaku boots. Like RiDE magazine said about the Held Agron (Shaku boot with extras) 'It's the most comfortable boot I've ever worn'. So, I was reluctant when I was asked to try the Held Cartagena sport boot, RRP £134.99.

Having said that, when they arrived it was clear I was going to look more sporty from head to toe- like this: 

Cartagena- finished off the sport look nicely

Now before you say 'Power Ranger' Held do the gear in lots of colour combos- I just like to be seen from a safety point of view :)

I've now ridden over 1000 miles in them, through a lot wetter weather than I would normally like to in a sport boot, thanks to the lovely English Summer! On more than one occasion the road was ENTIRELY flooded, meaning the boots got a soaking. Here's how I got on with them:

Out of the box: 

 First impressions- look smart, really liked the comfortable sole- something that has lacked in boots I've previously owned. Lots of protection, liked the nifty little vents on the side.

See here for all the photos when the boot first arrived: Cartagena boots

Out on the road: 

The fit & comfort

I was expecting sore feet- as you'd get from new footwear. Especially as, by the nature of a solid, highly protective sport boot, they are quite hard. However! The fit was nice and a baptism of fire at a club racing event (walking around spectating, not competing!) left me feeling bewildered as to why my feet were unscathed. Not what I expected and pleasantly surprised.

The zips are 'YKK'- makers of fine zips, and the velcro is very strong and has remained in perfect working order despite lots of hammer and dowsings in water! Incidentally, I was surpised not to get wet feet with the amount of two inch deep puddles I went through over Summer. OK, I wouldn't wear these in wet, winter weather but when caught short during the awful Summer weather I was again pleased with their performance.

Comfy soft fabric mesh inner lining. Strong velcro

Sport boot squeak?

Yes! they did eventually develop that famous sport boot squeak in the ankle protection area, nowhere near the levels of Alpinestars and Sidi boots I've had in the past however. The squeak though was easily rectified with a two weekly little squirt-n-rub with GT85 (like WD40) that you can get from Halfords. Maybe not what the manufacturer would want to hear, but it works for me and cleans the boot at the same time!

Wear and tear

Over 1,000 miles covered in them, in the awful Summer in conditions you'd not usually put a sport boot through and they've been superb. Apart from scuffs down to clumsiness of the wearer (!) there's no stitching undone, no 'bits coming off' and nothing peeling. 

Detachable toe sliders- should you feel the need!

 I still don't find them as comfortable as my comfy Held Shaku touring boots- but I've worn nothing but the Cartagenas since I've had them- out of choice. The reason? They look smart, match my kit beautifully and were nice and light to wear, whilst offering excellent protection. In fact, if you watched Clare Myler in the Misano round of the Ducati 848 challenge she was wearing Cartagena boots.

If you're looking for a decent sport boot, these are brilliant. Also available in black and black / red (The Cartagena 'race').

For more information on Held in the UK and a list of stockists please visit www.held-uk.co.uk.

If you'd like your local dealer to stock Held- please drop guy@held-uk.co.uk a line, and he'll get on the case.

They've been talking about us, you know...

Our ears were burning, and we found out why!

Take a look at what they've been saying about Held in the motorcycling press:

We got some of these:

 Held Thunder Storm boots:

RiDE magazine: "Waterproofing- 10/10. Faultless on the road over nearly 2000 miles of mostly wet riding"


Held Agron boots: 

RiDE magazine tester: "Most comfortable boots I've ever worn"

Held 60 litre Roll bag

RiDE Magazine: "Best for big trips, RiDE Recommended"

Held Lungo Tailpack

Handle pops up trolley-style

 
Ride Magazine: "Best buy" 

Held Akira-Evo gloves 

Performance Bikes Magazine: "Really comfortable, no gimmicks, high quality"

Held Slade one-piece leather suit

Performance Bikes Magazine: "Pleasantly cool in Summer, decent detailing for the money"

All these comments in just one month. We're chuffed, of course.

For more information or stockists please visit www.held-uk.co.uk. If your local dealer does not stock Held and you'd like him too- email guy@held-uk.co.uk and we'll get on the case!

DONINGTON DISAPPOINTMENT FOR JEACOCK

SUPERBIKES – Stockingford’s track ace and Held wearer Leon Jeacock came away disappointed with 20th place and missing out on vital Championship points in Round 10 of the Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship, which took place at Donington Park over the weekend.

Jeacock: Dissapointed at Donington

Unveiling a brand new race bike in the BMC Racing Team livery, Jeacock qualified for Sunday’s race in 17th place, putting him on row 5 of the grid but despite battling hard crossed the line in 20th place.

“Its always a big ask to make up ground from row 5 despite a good start” said Jeacock, “But I tried my best, and yes I am disappointed not to pick up points this weekend, but that’s racing.  Onwards and upwards; we now need to regroup and refocus on the next round and hopefully we can make up for it at Silverstone”.

Jeacock goes into Round 11 of the 2012 Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship in 18th place on the Championship leaderboard with just two rounds remaining.  Round 11 takes place at the world famous Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire over the weekend of 28th – 30th September.





For more information on Leon please visit www.leonjeacock.co.uk. For more information on Held Bike Gear please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Donington Park- Racers wearing Held

We were privileged to be at Donington Park over the weekend, cheering on the racers wearing Held across five different race series.

Ducati 848 racer Sean Neary's Held Phantoms- Nice!

Here's a brief summary of how the Held wearing riders faired:

British Superbikes:

Scott Smart- 16th
Gary Mason- 20th

National Superstock 1000:

Seb Bulpin- DNF

National Superstock 600

Leon Jeacock- 20th

Ducati 848 Challenge:

Mike Edwards- 3rd, X2
Mark Cheetham- 7th & 8th
Sean Neary- 13th, 16th
Scot Adam- DNF

Triumph Triple Challenge:

Tom Weeden- 4th, 5th



Great racing as always, well done everyone!

www.held-uk.co.uk

Living with- Held Street II and Rocket II leathers

I've always had leather jackets, but never leather trousers, usually favouring textiles or Kevlar jeans. I was intrigued to see what I'd make of the Rocket II trousers in particular.


I've now clocked up a few hundred miles in the set- and been dealt a few curved balls by mother nature along the way...

Smart!

Out of the box

Lovely smell of new leather for starters. One of the first things I look for, and this goes back to a childhood obsession, is the zips. Over the years I always noticed zips- which ones were good, which ones weren't. My conclusion was that YKK always seemed to be the best, so I was pleased to see YKK throughout.


The next 10 minutes were spent examining the linings, stitching, the protection. Got to be sure I'm going to be happy putting trust in the gear. So far, so good..

First impression- excellent.

First try on

The Mrs spent 10 mins with the tape measure before these were ordered, so we could ensure the right fit. The trousers were spot on- but the jacket felt a little tight. Then I remembered- this is a Sport Jacket so it needs to be a hugging fit- no good flapping about in the wind. What amazed me though was after just  20 mins sitting in it at the PC it started to mould to my shape- how's that for supple leather!


The trousers zipped nicely to the jacket- keeping out the wind and meaning that everything would stay where it should be if I end up on the deck. I chose the white and black colours, although I could have gone for black (with a bit of white) or red, with a bit of white and black. Yes, I know, 'Stormtrooper' or 'Power Ranger' Or 'Stig'- heard it all before- but let me tell you it not only looks smart in white but also maximises being spotted on the road. When I've come across flat-cap wearing Volvo estate drivers I've been glad to be in white, believe me...

Velcro patches- for them there knee sliders- if you want

 

On the bike

For whatever reason, and I don't know why, but the hugging leather trousers felt superb on the bike. Maybe it was the lack of being buffeted, the way they felt supportive and therefore safe- of maybe I've discovered a fetish for tight leather.. ;)


The jacket's fit was superb too- again I noticed nothing flapped about- It all somehow felt streamlined and sporty- I guess it's supposed to!


I was expecting that it would all feel like a new pair of shoes- stiff, and a bugger to wear in. Wrong! as I mentioned earlier, nice and supple. The two inner pockets are just enough for cash, cards and phone and the comfort is enhanced by the stretch panels in all the places that need to stretch!


It's all double stitched too, and the armour in it feels very solid. So all good.

Looks 'The Biz', so I've been told..

 

After many miles

White needs a bit more cleaning that darker colours- in terms of you can see the 'muck' and flies more- but at least it means I don't ride around grimy!


A light wash down with a soft rag or brush and clean water does the trick. I always air the suit  well after a ride- and dried it out at room temperature after a downpour! (Was surprisingly dry when I expected 'soggy'). I am pleased with how it has moulded to my shape, even the shoulders- the more I wear it, the more comfortable it gets.


I have to say I do feel very smart in it, and it does seem to turn a few heads. What I need now is a new bike to go with it. Am thinking MT-03 maybe, or Z750..... we'll see :)


For more information please visit www.held-uk.co.uk where you can find stockists or browse the online catalogue

4th in the Championship for Held wearer Weeden

Held wearer Tom Weeden endured a difficult time at Brands Hatch for round 5 of the Triumph Triple Challenge last weekend. At his local circuit Tom was hoping to be able to push for podium positions to gain as many points as possible after walking into the meeting in 3rd position in the championship. The meeting was split into two racing on both the Indy and GP circuit configurations; with practice, qualifying and one race on the Indy circuit on Friday, followed by a practice on the GP circuit on Saturday and then a race on the GP circuit on Sunday. 

Focus on Tom people- in the middle ;)

 After two months without riding due to a gap in the season, Tom got off to a slow start in practice and it was clear a few of the other riders had been out testing the circuit in the layoff period. Tom was chasing a suspension set up as he did not feel comfortable on the bike, the team made changes in pit lane however the issues still presented themselves. It was later found out when Tom pulled back into the team awning that a mechanical issue with the rear wheel was the cause of the problem and as such the suspension data achieved was incorrect. Tom was on the back foot for qualifying after having such limited practice and set up time round the circuit. He could only manage to go 17th fastest and Tom was going to have to fight through from the back if he had any chance of scoring some decent points in the races. 

Tom Weeden- huge talent, huge promise

Tom got a great drive off the line in race 1 and was up into 12 positions by the end of lap 1. Unfortunately Tom was struggling with the set up of the bike, finding it hard to turn and lacking rear grip. He dropped to 13th on lap 4 and just could match the pace of the pack in front of him. Weeden held 13th place to the finish line and was very disappointed with the way the day had panned out. He made changes for the GP track practice session on Saturday and was feeling confident he could push for a higher placed finish on Sunday. Weeden went 8th quickest in the practice session and was starting to feel more comfortable on the bike after the two month absence.

Based on laptimes in race 1 on the Indy circuit, Weeden was to start race 2 on the GP circuit from 15th on the grid, however he remained positive and felt he had the pace to push for a top 10 finish to try and salvage some points from the weekend. He made another great start and was up into 12th by the end of lap 1. He continued to push and worked his way up into 10th on lap 2, going around the outside of one rider into Surtees and then getting the drive down Pilgrims Drop to move into 10th. By lap 5 he was up into 8th position and had closed the gap to the 7th position rider. On lap 6 Tom moved into 7th position and immediately set about gapping the rider behind him. 

 Weeden had pulled a 3 second lead on the rider behind by lap 8 and was running in a comfortable 7th position. However in the last two laps of the race one rider in front pulled in with a mechanical issue and another crashed out of 2nd place on the last lap. This pushed Tom up into 5th position and he had managed to secure a good few points after a very difficult weekend. Weeden is now 4th in the overall championship and will be looking to be further up the front next time out at Cadwell Park.  Tom will try his hand at road racing this weekend at the Aberdare Park road races in Wales, racing for Trickbits Racing, where Weeden is hoping to gain some valuable experience and possibly a podium visit.

For more information on Tom Weeden please visit www.tomweeden.com and for more information on Held in the UK please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

DISAPPOINTED JEACOCK BATTLES ON AT BRANDS HATCH

Stockingford’s very own ‘hot-rod’, Held wearing  Leon Jeacock battled hard at a sun drenched Brands Hatch over the weekend to finish Round 7 of the 2012 Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship in 17th place and just outside of the Championship points.
A fantastic start to the weekend saw Jeacock finish Friday’s official testing around the Indy circuit in seventh place:

“Testing went really well this morning” said Jeacock “the bike setup felt great and my lap times just kept getting better and better, extremely pleased to finish seventh”.
Saturday was qualifying day only this time around the GP circuit, 11th place in the first session and 15th place in the second session left Jeacock to start Sunday’s race in 15th position and row 4 on the grid;

“A bit disappointed to slip back to 15th after such a good result in testing on Friday” said Jeacock “but that’s where we are and we have to make the best of it.  The bike felt great on Friday and we’ve proved we can keep up there with the front runners, and that is exactly what I’ll be looking to do tomorrow”.

Raceday was unceremoniously bathed in welcome summer sunshine and despite a good start, Jeacock could make no impression on the field in front of him and crossed the finishing line in 17th place.

“Disappointed with that” said Jeacock “disappointed to finish outside the points but guess today just wasn’t my day”.

“There is a bit of a break in the calendar now for a month or so before the next round at Cadwell Park over the August Bank Holiday weekend.  We are struggling for funding and at this stage I am unsure whether I will be at Cadwell or not.  If anyone is able to help us out in anyway, please get in touch, any help will be greatly appreciated”.

Leon is actively seeking sponsorship to enable him to finish the 2012 race season and would love to hear from anyone who may be able to help in any way. If anyone would like to get involved or receive a sponsorship portfolio, please do not hesitate to contact Leon directly at leon@leonjeacock.co.uk or Richard Johnson at richard@leonjeacock.co.uk.

For more information on Held in the UK please visit www.held-uk.co.uk