[Closed] Minimum Rider protection advice for a newbie

I tend to wear knee+shin and forearm pads for steep rocky/rooty downhills. I've been over the bars three or four times in the last few years and I've never been able to do anything about it in terms of falling correctly - it's all been over before I know what's happening. The worst one was the last one (2 weeks ago) and it was the only one when I had pads on. I severely twisted my leg and could bearly walk for about a week. I also strained my shoulder. The pads didn't benefit me in terms of these injuries! I suspect I would have got off and pushed over the rooty section in question if I'd been pad free so make of that what you will. I'll probably be off the bike for at least a month in total, more likely 2. I'll probably continue taking my pads with me in the future; whether I'll be more cautious remains to be seen.

No Terry, me too. I'm rather fond of those slow mo moments.

If you're going to type your opinion for the world to read be prepared for criticism.

Finally. I do not think I am blinkered or unwilling to bring in new thoughts. On this topic however - I moved on some decades ago from crashing needlessly or frequently.

yunki - Member

what sort of riding are you doing to crash that frequently..?

Raced DH for 15 years, and been riding BMX a lot longer.
I rarely crash riding XC (maybe 2 or 3 proper crashes a year)

How does that make any sense? Like lost people I used to crash a bit, have picked up a few knocks over the (many) years. Then I learned how to ride better and stopped falling off. On my journey to staying-on I discovered a lot of things that I wish I'd have known to start with, and that would have helped me avoid a lot, but not all, of the pain. So now I find helpful ways of imparting those lessons.

I'm always looking for new things to add to the helpful stuff, but falling off "1000's of times" doesn't sound too helpful to me.

How does that make any sense? [b]Like lost people I used to crash a bit[/b]

😯 😕

maybe you should go teach DH racers your discoveries. 🙄

I'm afraid I genuinely have no idea what the **** you're on about. I'm not trying to teach anyone DH, or make any wider point. The OP was talking about just riding a mountain bike - I was trying to be helpful. Not sure what you're trying to do.

In the UK I crash rarely, and so only go with openface helmet & gloves in normal riding conditions. I might get caught out at some point, but I know the areas I ride well enough. From time to time there's the odd tumble, but nowt to worry over.

In the Alps, however, it's a different story. Much higher speeds, lots of open rocks, and a higher propensity to crach ('cos I'm nowhere near as good on a DH bike) means that I have the almost obligatory stormtrooper look. Pressure suit, full face helmet, knee pads, armoured undershorts. Despite that I still managed to rip my knee pretty badly with one pretty nasty crash.

Agree that crashing is most definitely a skill, the split second choice to roll/protect or flail wildly is a must have for any MTBer. Thinking that you'll never crash is more likely to upset/affect you more when it does happen, just accept it and move on. I love to push myself when riding, to go faster, gnarlier etc..etc, that's the whole point of MTBing ...for me anyways.

D28boy, slightly OT.
Where do you ride around your area? Whitchurch yes? I've never ventured that way before. Is it all Bridleways and easy to link a loop together?

Wear what you feel comfortable with, I'm a believer that if you want to improve you will have to crash a bit. Check out dirt fundimentals where Peaty is chatting about finding your speed round a corner, he suggests to keep hitting it faster until you have a little crash then you have found your limit and can back it down a fraction. +1 to whom ever it was that said they did Judo as a kid, so did I and I find I tend to roll and avoid injury (frantically touches wood.) I'm not convinced that knee pads do too much myself, they don't protect against the injuries you really need to avoid for that you need a knee brace which is a little far out price and lack of movement wise. I'd personally borrow knee pads, elbow pads and see if you get on with them, if you do great buy them you can't have too much protection. Finally I'd also get out and ride on really wet days, push your abilities cornering and get to know what the bike feels lie when the wheels slide un-expectedly. You might fall off quite a bit but it won't hurt so much if you pick somewhere nice and soft (wet grass) and you might learn how to save yourself from some of the more mundane crashes like when the front wheel slips out.

Iain

Just bought some Tomcats after smashing my knee on a big wet slab of limestone.