[Closed] Do you wear protection / pads for XC riding?

no never. but if you want to then go for it

I wear a helmet most of the time, other than that no. Plenty of people do though.

Yes - pretty much always on winter (to keep my knees warm!) and generally in summer unless it's utterly scorching and I'm confident I wont be doing anything that will likely result in me coming off (or if I do, that it will be a soft landing!).

Si

Typically knee pads unless it's a proper XC slog.

No elbow pads or anything else, I just learned to fall on my knee. So far, so good.

Rarely.

Sometimes I think I should.

Generally when I'm trying to pick a soft spot to land.

Depends on what you mean by xc, on the main trail at Cannock almost always, but I might not if I was going for. 20+ mile bimble.

TBH though 99% of my riding is trail centres so I tend to wear helmet and knee pads pretty much all the time. Elbows if I can be bothered/think about doing something new.

Yes.

I had an innocuous-looking low-speed off on Penmachno when my front tyre pinged sideways off a triangular rock, throwing me to my side. My elbow hit another rock. It snapped off the elecronon (the tip) taking my tricep tendon with it. Reconstructive surgery and 3 months off the bike, and even some all-day-comfortable soft pads would have prevented it.

Worst of it is, Penmachno is crap...

Yep. Height of my fitness a few years back (don't laugh!!) I just innocuously washed the front out at Swinley on a corner and went down on a knee onto the hardpack with embedded stones. The effect was as if someone had hit the kneecaps with a baseball bat, and then rubbed a cheese grater over it, with curls of skin peeled back.

The bruising and subsequent infection cost me 3 weeks of riding in the best part of summer.

I now wear G-form knees for pretty much everything, and for BPW or Exmoor or whatever, proper hardshell knee pads and G-form elbows as well. Although I also wear leg warmers or tights over the top because I hate how they look. Tart, I know.

Usually wear knee pads for warmth and knee support from an old injury. Also don't want to have the hassle on dealing with injury when life must carry on. Wear elbows when racing or riding something new/big.
Modern pads are so comfy that it's no bother.

Just bought some knee and elbow pads in sale at Grizedale, have yet to try them out due to rain, but interested to see how they feel.

So, yes

I've been looking at the light weight stuff:

Race face DP30 Shorts and Nukeproof Crirical Enduro knee/elbow protectors.

I'm guessing from the reviews that these or similar should be comfortable enough for all day rides?

G form is worth a look. I really rate it.

Swinley/Afan/FoD yes. Local stuff, no.

G-Force

Is it one of the best or are they all pretty much of a muchness?

I think its the best for lightweight.
Works, comfortable and lasts. Worth trying on though as im an Xxl on kneepads and m/l for shorts.

Unless you are hammering it (pedalling wise) or its hot there's no real reason not to if you want to. I do if it's cold as knee warmers and I'm just cruising or if I'm messing around in the woods try new stuff. Not in the summer, too hot

I'm considering whether to get some too. I used to live near Weeksy and the local riding was downland type stuff. Now my local riding is steeper and rockier with a good few tracks used for enduro racing. I'll probably put it off until I crash and then regret it. ..

XC is like road cycling off road.

Helmet, lights for XC, RD and CX.

You know sh&t happens even when walking.
Know the Limits and ride defensively and alert but enjoy it.

DH well yes I would wear knee and elbow or even spine protection if I was going that fast. I don't DH or jump anymore.

Thanks for the feedback chaps.

I'll see what the lbs can get in for me to try.

Seems like people are saying no for summer though as it's too hot?

Define 'XC'. I know folk who would call most of the Surrey Hills and its trails XC but it still caused me more injuries than anywhere else and im bored with the pain so, yes, i now where elbow & knee pads.

Indeed, depends what you call XC. Some seem to think it's just roadies in lycra riding fireroads. Some think a trail centre is XC if it's not full on downhill. XC is used a bit as an insult to anything that is beneath them.

To me it's literally riding across country. Go all over the place. Might take in bridleways and footpaths, cheeky trails, singletrack. It's usually a long route or loop I'm after so with the pedalling involved I won't usually bother with knee pads. Though a rock strewn descent kind of area then might do.

And I don't consider trail centres XC. They're trail centres. A place like Afan I'd wear pads for. Plenty enough sharp rocks on Whites or Blade descent to smash your knees up at speed if you come off. Swinley on the other hand I've been known to not bother with the pads 😉 (though the cobbles may hurt).

XC is like road cycling off road.

No, it's really not.

You know sh&t happens even when walking.

Yes it does. And your risk assessment for riding involves wearing a helmet. To me the risks of serious injury from a low-speed crash are real so I choose to wear pads. The OP's 'spill' is giving them a similar pause for thought.

G-Force

you do look a bit silly out on the trail in that get-up

[img] [/img]

I'm a bit 'meh' about G-form's robustness to general wear and tear. The pad is fine but it's stitched to a thin lycra tube. Mine have been shredded by flat pedal pins when they catch as I wheel a bike, and the stitching has come undone so the pads are hanging off. I considered getting them stitched onto a new 'mount' (and still have them) but ended up buying new pads instead.

Seems like people are saying no for summer though as it's too hot?

I wear POC VPD elbows and currently use Dainese trail skin knees. Worn lightweight pads on overseas riding holidays when it's hit 40C. I might have a high discomfort tolerance but the pads never bothered me.

Helmet, gloves and lightweight knee pads every time.

I took a tumble the other week and had light bruising to my knees, they of be far worse if it wasn't for my pads

I have the light weight alpinestars ones and have got in the habit of wearing them all the time , except this morning when I left in a rush so guess what happens ? Rammed my knee Into my stem and have just spent the last hour crawling through plastic tunnels at soft play which was a bit sore .
Knee pads gloves and helmet from now on

Thanks again guys.

To me XC is riding all over the place - mainly the South Downs with a mix of natural terrain, fire track climbs, bridal ways, fast down hills (Not DH in that definition) grassy climbs and roots decent etc.

I've seen the Dainese trail skin knee pads on CRC and they look pretty decent.

Helmet, elbow and knee pads + Raceface DP30 shorts (or shoe inner soles folded) to protect my hips for most rides. If it's just a quick blast along the Speyside way then just a helmet. I have a significant ambition/skill mismatch and heal more slowly as I get older. It may look like overkill but it hurts a lot less and I get to ride more often.

[quote=four ]Thanks again guys.
To me XC is riding all over the place - mainly the South Downs with a mix of natural terrain, fire track climbs, bridal ways, fast down hills (Not DH in that definition) grassy climbs and roots decent etc.
For that, I'd not bother. I have a set of G-Form pads that I break out on my annual visit to a trail centre.

I've also sold pads to a guy that was doing the same type of stuff but was a carpet fitter to trade and couldn't afford to damages his knees as it would impact his earnings.

Crashtestdummy, how to do the g-form/trailskin compare?
My g-forms are more than a little tired (2+yrs service) but they fit the purpose I intended them for, out of the lightweight replacement options, the trail skins have caught my eye.

Or has anyone else changed from g-form and believe their new pad is 'really' an improvement? (yet still light weight)

I wear knee and elbow, bit stable door after the horse etc but broken elbows hurt!

This is where CRC really come into play, I ended up ordering about ten pairs of elbow pads from them, 5 styles in 2 sizes each. Its remarkable how different they all are in the fit. The POCs looked the best and were on sale but went back as they just didn't feel comfy for me.

Sorry g-form. I wash them 1-2 times a week and near two years old. Some stitching gone, but 661 last me 6 months max

Bliss minimalist knee pads when I go riding, helps to keep knees warm and free of mud

What ultra minimalist elbow pads are any good for disappearing?
[url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/bliss-arg-minimalist-elbow-pads/rp-prod128830 ]These Bliss ones?[/url]

Zippy, the G-forms are brilliant to wear as it's just like wearing thin arm/knee warmers, but the Dainese are almost "not there" in the feel stakes so on a par. Dainese kit seems to fit me well, BITD when I was a wannabe stormtrooper I had their hard arm and leg pads (and a full suit at one point), and all my motorbike kit is Dainese.

Its remarkable how different they all are in the fit

Agreed; POC arms work for me, POC knees don't. On 661 (D30) knees the straps rubbed me raw.

For me, no way i'd wear pads for XC stuff. I tend to be quite conservative (badge wearing mincer), but generally i'd rather be 10s slower on a decent than falling off.

I do however realise that to get better its going to require riding more technical stuff and more risk taking, so i have recently bought some midweight pads for that sort of riding.

fifeandy, I don't wear l/w pads for go fast DH, it's (mainly) against those stupid moments that cause the unexpected (or silly) falls, that happen no matter what

Crashtestmonkey, many thanks, you've sold them to me! (depending on fit)

I wear knee pads when ever I'm out on the bike off road. however, most of these "trail" pads lack any side protection. I've used trail skins since they were released and they have proved themselves. I wear elbow pads if I'm going on a long ride or doing an uplift day.

I don't but if you want to then it's your choice.

I got a set of knee and elbow pads for a trip to Chamonix a couple of years ago, not worn them or even thought of using them since. Rarely (as in less than 1 ride in 500) go to trail centres. To the STW riding gods, I'm a dyed in the wool mincer 😳

For me, no way i'd wear pads for XC stuff. I tend to be quite conservative (badge wearing mincer), but generally i'd rather be 10s slower on a decent than falling off.

Yep, I was the same, until the day i was following a slower rider, not paying attention briefly, 3 weeks out and potentially much worse.

It's a risk-'cost'-benefit equation, you choose where to be on it, and if the only option was hard shells I'd probably do without for the comfort front, but my G-flows are barely there, just like a thick knee warmer.

It's all down to your attitude to risk and injury.

If you spend a weekend pushing yourself on DHuro tracks then do a more xc or pedally ride, will you be riding any differently?

IME I didn't so have a bunch more scars and got some Dainese Trailskins pads, which I use almost all the time I don't want my bigger pads (which rub after 3 hours or 2 days consecutively).

Yes,

Firstly, because joint injuries are ****ing painful, and joint breaks can mean months off the and less than perfect repairs - I've got an elbow missing a tip and 60% range of movment to prove it.

Secondly, I just don't feel them when they're on, uttlerly used to it now.

I do. Various reasons but mostly, I've had some of my biggest crashes on simple trails (and some of my sorest knee-bashes have been in trivial crashes). Knees are sticky-outy, and it's no bother to wear pads really.

If you could run the numbers I reckon you're more likely to bash your knees than your head. Course, if you have to choose between a crippled knee and a crippled head you'll choose the knee, but that doesn't mean you want either.

Knee and elbow pads are fairly standard kit for me when riding off road. The older you get, the slower you heal.

I broke my elbow on a local ride a few years back, so always wear elbow pads now if I'm on any kind of MTB ride. I'm also now self employed so I can't risk not working.

If I'm out somewhere remote and rocky, or just really rocky I've bought a MET parachute. I've only worn it once though which means I need to go to rockier places.

I have knee pads, but generally only wear them on uplifts or on rides with one up and one down, in which case they'll stay in the rucksack until the climb is over.

No pads for normal trail riding.

Knee pads at Antur as its rocky, none at BPW as its soil mainly.
Full face and pads for uplift days and the odd DH or Enduro I enter.
Gloves all the time however.