Rukka and Gore-Tex

The technology in clothing has changed significantly from the waxed cotton jackets and plain black leather jackets of the Seventies and earlier. And the need for a waterproof oversuit is certainly not as great as it was compared to even 10 years ago. It’s perfectly possible to now have everyday riding gear that will keep you warm and dry (or cool and dry) without the requirement for panniers to carry extra clothing to cater for each and every weather condition. But how can that be so? How is it that one garment can cater for so many eventualities?

Well, quite frankly, it’s down to one material, Gore-Tex. Although the material for which the brand name in question is used was actually stumbled upon when Robert W Gore was experimenting in ways to stretch polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), way back in 1969. Robert, and his father Wilbert