Aerostich

Last updated
Aero Design & Mfg. Co.
Company typeSole proprietorship
IndustryCatalog/Online Retail, Clothing Design & Manufacturing
Founded1983
Founder Andy Goldfine
Headquarters Duluth, Minnesota
Area served
US & Canada, ships worldwide
Key people
Andy Goldfine
ProductsMotorcycle rider suits & accessories
ServicesSuit alteration & repair
OwnerAndy Goldfine
Number of employees
100 (2004)[ needs update ]
Website www.aerostich.com OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Aero Design & Mfg. Co., doing business as Aerostich Riderwear, [1] is a company based in Duluth, Minnesota that produces and sells motorcycle safety clothing and other motorcycle related equipment, such as GPS systems, luggage, and hand tools. It was founded in 1983 by Andy Goldfine, who is also the founder of the nonprofit Ride To Work, Inc. and was elected to a third three-year term as an American Motorcyclist Association board member in 2008. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

They are best known for the textile protective clothing they create, including the one-piece Roadcrafter suit and Darien jacket. [6] Some track day organizations, such as NESBA, allow riders to use textile suits such as the Aerostich instead of full racing leathers. [7]

The company was founded to produce a new recipe for armored all-weather protective clothing, combining these components for the first time: lightweight highly abrasion-resistant Cordura® nylon, breathable-waterproof Gore-Tex laminates, tape-sealed waterproof seams, multiple zippered airflow vents, large areas of reflective material, 'viscoelastic' energy-absorbing impact armor (a tempered slow-recovery foam), ergonomic pocketing and highly water-resistant zippers. These components had never previously been combined for use in motorcycle rider's gear.

By the end of the 1980s Aerostich's ground-breaking once piece Roadcrafter suit had become the benchmark which helped make synthetic armored textile rider's gear broadly market-acceptable. The purpose of that suit was (and is) to help make motorcycle commuting and utility transportation uses easier, safer and more comfortable. The company's product range expanded later with products for touring, adventure, and dual-sport riding applications.

Other influential and pioneering products included the first ever advanced-technology adventure touring and off-road oriented Darien jacket and pant (1987), the first ever use of the color high-vis lime-yellow in rider's gear (1999), the first breathable-waterproof three-digit glove raincovers (2000), the first electrically heated bib mid-layer (2009) and the first breathable-waterproof leather riding suit (2010).

In 2016, Aerostich founder Andy Goldfine was named Motorcyclist of the Year by Motorcyclist Magazine. [8]

The Aerostich catalog has been noted for listing humorous fake products, [9] such as a "magnetic baby onesie" for attaching infants to a motorcycle, [10] often at incredibly high prices.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorcycle personal protective equipment</span> Protective clothing and helmets for motorcycle safety

To improve motorcycle safety, many countries mandate the wearing of personal protective equipment such as protective clothing and helmets. Protective clothing may include certain types of jackets, gloves, boots, and pants. Jackets meant for motorcyclists are typically made of leather or specialized man-made fabrics like cordura or Kevlar. These jackets typically include padding on the elbow, spine, and shoulder regions. This was once quite bulky, but modern technology and materials have made it unobtrusive. Gloves are generally made of leather or Kevlar and some include carbon fiber knuckle protection. Boots, especially those for sport riding, include reinforcement and plastic caps on the ankle and toe areas. Pants are usually leather, cordura, or Kevlar. Except for helmets, none of these items are required by law in any state in the USA, or in any part of the UK but are recommended by many of those who ride.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Motorcyclist Association</span> Nonprofit organization

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is an American nonprofit organization of more than 200,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights. Its mission statement is "to promote the motorcycling lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling." The organization was founded in 1924 and as of October 2016 had more than 1,100 chartered clubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacket</span> Clothing for the upper body

A jacket is a garment for the upper body, usually extending below the hips. A jacket typically has sleeves and fastens in the front or slightly on the side. A jacket is generally lighter, tighter-fitting, and less insulating than a coat, which is outerwear. Some jackets are fashionable, while others serve as protective clothing. Jackets without sleeves are vests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chaps</span> Leather leg coverings

Chaps are sturdy coverings for the legs consisting of leggings and a belt. They are buckled on over pants with the chaps' integrated belt, but unlike trousers, they have no seat and are not joined at the crotch. They are designed to provide protection for the legs and are usually made of leather or a leather-like material. Their name is a shortened version of the Spanish word chaparajos. Chaparajos were named after the chaparral, from which they were designed to protect the legs while riding on horseback. Like much of western American horse culture, the origin of chaparajos was in the south of Spain, from which it then passed on to the part of New Spain that later became Mexico, and has been assimilated into cowboy culture of the American West. They are a protective garment to be used when riding a horse through brushy terrain. In the modern world, they are worn for both practical work purposes and for exhibition or show use. Chaps have also been adopted for use on motorcycles, particularly by cruiser-style motorcycle riders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorcycle Hall of Fame</span> American museum and database

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association, recognizing individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction, or motorcycling in general. It also displays motorcycles, riding gear, and memorabilia in two floors of exhibits. The American Motorcyclist Association board began planning the museum c. 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorcycle boot</span>

Motorcycle boots are associated with motorcycle riders and range from above ankle to below knee boots. They have an outside of a typical boot but a low heel to control the motorcycle. To improve motorcycle safety, motorcycle boots are generally made from a thick, heavy leather and may include energy absorbing and load spreading padding, metal, plastic and/or composite materials to protect the motorcycle rider's feet, ankles and legs in an accident. For use in wet weather, some boots have a waterproof membrane lining such as Gore-Tex or SympaTex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorcycle safety</span> Study of the risks and dangers of motorcycling

Motorcycle safety is the study of the risks and dangers of motorcycling, and the approaches to mitigate that risk, focusing on motorcycle design, road design and traffic rules, rider training, and the cultural attitudes of motorcyclists and other road users.

Motorcycle armor is body armor for motorcycle riders. It comes in a variety of forms, from traditional yellow foam to high-tech compounds capable of absorbing large amounts of energy. In its basic form an armored jacket will include shoulder and elbow armor, and many jackets can have an optional back protector added too. Trousers should include hip and knee protection, and sometimes a coccyx protector too.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbour (company)</span> English luxury fashion brand

J.Barbour & Sons,Limited, trading as Barbour, is an English luxury and lifestyle brand founded by John Barbour in 1894 that designs, manufactures and markets waxed cotton outerwear, ready-to-wear, footwear and accessories under the Barbour and Barbour International brands. Founded in South Shields, England, as an importer of oil cloth, J. Barbour and Sons Ltd became known for its waxed cotton jackets, a common element of British country clothing; some refer to any waxed cotton jacket, regardless of brand, as a "Barbour jacket". J. Barbour and Sons Ltd holds royal warrants for the supply of ‘waterproof and protective clothing’ from the Duke of Edinburgh (1974), Queen Elizabeth II (1982) and King Charles III (1987).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ride to Work</span> American nonprofit organization

Ride to Work is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(4) charitable organization devoted to increasing awareness of motorcycling as a transportation alternative, mainly through the annual Ride to Work Day. The organization was incorporated in 2000 by Andy Goldfine, the owner of Aerostich.

Alpinestars is an Italian motorsports and action sports safety equipment manufacturer based in Asolo, Italy. Its lines include specialized products for MotoGP, motocross, motorcycling, Formula One, World Rally Championship, WEC, V8 Supercars, NASCAR, mountain biking, and surfing, and motorsports-themed, non-sports clothing, with fashion design centers in Italy and California offering products for men, women and kids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurt Report</span> Motorcycle safety study published in 1981

The Hurt Report, officially Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures, was a motorcycle safety study conducted in the United States, initiated in 1976 and published in 1981. The report is named after its primary author, Professor Harry Hurt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muff (handwarmer)</span> Fashion accessory for keeping the hands warm

A muff is a fashion accessory for outdoors usually made of a cylinder of fur or fabric with both ends open for keeping the hands warm. It was introduced to women's fashion in the 16th century and was popular with both men and women in the 17th and 18th centuries. By the early 19th century, muffs were used in Europe only by women. It is also reported that the fashion largely fell out of style in the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leather jacket</span> Jacket made of leather

A leather jacket is a jacket-length coat that is usually worn on top of other apparel or item of clothing, and made from the tanned hide of various animal skins. The leather material is typically dyed black, or various shades of brown, but a wide range of colors is possible. Leather jackets can be designed for many purposes, and specific styles have been associated with subcultures such as greasers, motorcyclists, and bikers, mobsters, military aviators and music subcultures, who have worn the garment for protective or fashionable reasons, and occasionally to create a potentially intimidating appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Usage of personal protective equipment</span>

The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is inherent in the theory of universal precaution, which requires specialized clothing or equipment for the protection of individuals from hazard. The term is defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which is responsible for PPE regulation, as the "equipment that protects employees from serious injury or illness resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other hazards." While there are common forms of PPEs such as gloves, eye shields, and respirators, the standard set in the OSHA definition indicates a wide coverage. This means that PPE involves a sizable range of equipment. There are several ways to classify them such as how gears could be physiological or environmental. The following list, however, sorts personal protective equipment according to function and body area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waxed cotton</span> Sturdy fabric waterproofed with wax

Waxed cotton is cotton impregnated with a paraffin or natural beeswax based wax, woven into or applied to the cloth. Popular from the 1920s to the mid-1950s, the product, which developed from the sailing industry in England and Scotland, became commonly used for waterproofing. It has been replaced by more modern materials but is still used by the country sports community. There are two main drawbacks: waxed fabric is not very breathable, and it tends to be heavier and bulkier than modern synthetic waterproof materials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewis Leathers</span>

Lewis Leathers is a brand name of the oldest British motorcycle clothing company. D. Lewis Ltd, manufacturer of leather jackets which was established in the late 19th century.

This is a glossary of motorcycling terms.

Andy Goldfine, is an American businessperson, founder of Aerostich, and founder of Ride To Work nonprofit to support motorcycle commuting through its annual Ride To Work Day. In 2013, he was awarded the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award for his "generous and tireless support of motorcycling" with his business and nonprofit activities, and contributions as an AMA board member. In 2016, he was named Motorcyclist of the Year by Motorcyclist magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorcycle riding gear</span>

Motorcycle riding gear, or kit , is specialized clothing and equipment worn by motorcyclists. It usually serves multiple purpose at once, including crash injury protection, deflecting sun, precipitation or debris, keeping the rider warm, cool or hydrated, increasing visibility, expressing the rider's style or social identity, stowing cargo, and as a platform for wearable or embedded devices like wireless intercoms, GPS navigation devices, cell phones, or helmet-mounted displays.

References

  1. https://www.aerostich.com/aboutus
  2. "GOLDFINE ELECTED TO AMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS". American Motorcyclist Association. February 16, 2004.
  3. AMA BOARD ELECTS SMILIE CHAIRMAN, APPOINTS BURLESON -- Goldfine, Long, & Sutton re-elected as corporate Directors --. American Motorcyclist Association. February 18, 2006.
  4. "AMA ANNOUNCES BOARD ELECTION RESULTS". American Motorcyclist Association. February 18, 2008. Andy Goldfine Aerostich/Riderwearhouse Term expires: February 2011
  5. "AMA Board Member Andy Goldfine". Home » About the AMA » Board of Directors. American Motorcyclist Association.
  6. "BUSINESS DIARY; Fashion Forward". The New York Times. February 14, 1999. Forget dressing for success: Loud Suits Save Lives. That grabber of a headline comes atop an announcement of a new line of clothing in Hi-Viz Lime Yellow, a bilious but hard-to-miss color used on fire engines. The line is from Aerostich/Riderwearhouse, which says the new garment option is intended to serve the special needs of the urban and bad-weather commuter and others who value visibility and recognition'
  7. "Personal Equipment Needed". NESBA Rider's Manual (PDF). Northeast Sportbike Association. Winter 2008. p. 20. Leather or textile riding suits (i.e., Cordura, Kevlar, or Aerostich-type). No textile suits will be allowed in the Advanced group. Two-piece suits must zip together; full circumference is required. Airmesh-style suits (where you can see your skin through them) will NOT be permitted.
  8. Sep 27th 2016 - 7pm, Brooks Johnson | (27 September 2016). "Aerostich founder named Motorcyclist of the Year". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved 2020-02-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. "Roundup: Ups and downs", Cycle World, p. 34, January 2005
  10. "Parts and gear – Aerostich Magnetic Baby Onesie: Magnetic baby clings to 140mph motorcycle!", Motorcycle Cruiser, April 2016