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[Closed] Protective gear: where will it end?

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The food is hot,

Would you like peas?


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 1:13 pm
 geex
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Pour my peas in Turner guys lap. It's his own fault if the water scalds him for being too stupid and not wearing the highest level of protection at the table.

Hopefully his injuries won't require mountain rescue getting all the way up to his high horse.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 2:21 pm
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only as selfish as the person who decides to not wear appropriate protection.

appropriate protection or taking inappropriate risks?  What if they were riding a red run, but only had an xc helmet on?

What if someone attempted a jump, but they weren't very good?  There goes Turnerguy, riding past someone with a broken ankle, tutting, because they weren't wearing knee pads.  Don't worry, someone else will help.  Mountain Rescue always do but, at a trail centre or the Surrey Hills, there'll be someone else along shortly.

I doubt you'd ride past, to be honest, you'd help.  You might be judgemental and hand out a lecture while you did it, but I would be surprised if you'd ride past without stopping.  I don't think anyone's that much of a ****.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 2:26 pm
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 You might be judgemental and hand out a lecture while you did it,

If I was lying there he could keep on going. Nothing would be worth that. I'd take my chances on the next passer by 😉


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 2:38 pm
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not wearing a helmet or appropriate padding is fine as long as your don’t expect anyone else to stop and help you if you have an accident…

I totally agree, unless a rider is in full ACU approved MX gear I just leave them to it when they crash. Let them get the slow, painful death they clearly deserve. FFS.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 2:58 pm
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i ride naked. its the purist way.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 3:01 pm
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. Let them get the slow, painful death they clearly deserve. FFS.

I would offer them some water though....


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 3:04 pm
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Every single time I have taken my armoured Leatt gloves off, I have nailed my pinkie fingers - one time giving myself an infection.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 3:07 pm
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Ah, I see the food is hot.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 4:18 pm
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Can you get me Jeff's autograph?


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 4:35 pm
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Worn knee pads and a trail lid for almost ever. Trail lid didn't stop me breaking my jaw and suffering concussion though, so now wear a Bell Super 2R - started wearing elbow pads recently too.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 8:11 pm
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I do assess whether I think knee pads are worthwhile or not and would err on the side of caution if going somewhere I didn’t know.  I have elbow pads but prefer not to wear them so save them for days I’m expecting rowdy.  I alternate between an open face and light full face again depending upon what I think is appropriate.

I wouldn’t usually bother with knee pads for something like a loop of Ladybower but I may one day regret this.

Agree with various others, push bike helmets are going to be sod all use in a direct collision with a car. It’s not what they’re designed for. They’re designed to cushion the impact of your head hitting the tarmac after the exciting stuff has happened and you’ve finished being a rag doll.  This is still a very important time to protect the head from impact but what makes a helmet good at that isn’t going to work against an a pillar to well.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 8:31 pm
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Troy lee superendurobro helmet and poc whatever they are knee pads. Sometimes wear gloves (depends if I can find the other one).

I had an off and if I wasn’t wearing knee pads It would be a trip in a helicopter. Instead I had massive bruising on my leg a few scrapes but an intact knee cap. Even then I struggled to ride on.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 8:35 pm
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I'm conflicted. I can't deny I think it looks pretty stupid trail riding in a full face. But I'm seeing an orthopaedic consultant tomorrow following breaking a vertebrae in May. I don't think a full face would have helped for that one but who's to say the next one,  if there is one, won't be like that one above^^^? I have an ebike now and with the latest lids like the Fox Proframe or the Bell Super DH with the next gen MIPS as well as the removable chin guard the heat climbing shouldn't be such an issue.

As it stands I'm getting pins and needles spreading through my hand and up my forearm so I'm hoping this isn't the end of riding for me. If it works out OK I think I'd be alright with looking like a dork if it increases my chances of prolonging my riding career


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 8:48 pm
 geex
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Wow. Didn't realise you were going through such a tough one. Hope things start to improve for you.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 9:03 pm
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I didn't think I was either until the pins and needles started last week and keeps getting worse. Can't deny it's a bit worrying.  And thanks.

On the plus side if this keeps going and I'm indulging in a bit of "gentlemen's relaxation" it will feel like someone else is doing it, won't even have to sit on my hand for half an hour. Every cloud!


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 9:10 pm
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I just wear a lid & gloves.

If I fall off I may as well just fall over I'm going that slow.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 9:26 pm
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I could hack across your neck with the thin bit, until the blood flowed across...

No, the food is hot, you'll need a tray.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 10:03 pm
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I wear anything from no lid to full pressure suit. It’s about risk assessment.

I’m more likely to wear a spine guard than a crash helmet.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 10:29 pm
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Full face and knee pads always. Add elbow pads occasionally. Some sort of hip protection would have been useful last weekend...


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 10:38 pm
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Couldn't be arsed putting my pads on for a local spin on Sunday. Now I've got a sore knee. Fact.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 10:45 pm
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No. no I can’t.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 11:12 pm
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I’m self employed now; anything more than gravel riding and I dress up like a multicoloured stormtrooper.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 11:22 pm
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Ok. I'm 50 now. Been fortunate to get away with just an xc helmet for years, but have been talked into taking decisive knee-pad purchase action.

What's recommended for reasonably lightweight, flexible pads. Ideally under £50ish.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 11:45 pm
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Knee pads and full face are my minimum for some DH runs that I know well .If it's somewhere new that I'm not sure about or somewhere like Antur then I'll don an upper body suit too.

For XC I'll wear lightweight knee pads and a regular helmet.

My knees are fairly shot so I try to keep 'em protected.


 
Posted : 04/09/2018 11:50 pm
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I wear kneepads for pretty much all my riding. Only takes a couple of seconds to put them on and I'm not bothered by riding in them. Being 40, self employed and not fancying months / years off my bikes with a stupid avoidable injury leads my thinking.


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 12:04 am
 colp
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What’s recommended for reasonably lightweight, flexible pads. Ideally under £50ish.

This month’s MBR has a group test on light weight knee pads, can’t remember which won sorry.

My lad swears by his 7idp ones, my old 661s have lasted years but are a bit warm.


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 12:25 am
 colp
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For me:

local loamy forest = Capra + enduro lid and knee pads

Revs & Leogang = Tues + D3, knee pads, Leatt pressure suit & neck brace


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 12:28 am
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I managed without Knee Pads when I was a beginner and didn't have a clue what I was doing and was crashing regularly on any tech. Plus riding a £300 bike.

5+ years later  I crash a lot less often, have got a lot better, and got a £2800 bike, it makes me think If I managed without them back then, why do I need them now ?

Maybe I just got lucky when I was a complete beginner not to break anything. Going straight into trail riding at places like Gisburn without any training or practice and on a cheap hard tail and with no protection other than an XC helmet and gloves.

Maybe I need to try some other knee pads out, the ones I've got aren't comfy.

The ones I've got, I find them uncomfortable for constant hours of pedalling and only use them if Uplifts are involved.


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 1:26 am
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Good luck with your back problems Davosaurus, fingers crossed it’ll all be ok!

I pretty much always wear knee pads after I washed out the front a year or two ago and my right knee put a dent in my top tube. That hurt!

After a bad crash sent me to A&E with a suspected spinal injury (due to some poor decision making on a fairly large drop) I rode with a pack with a back protector all the time. But recently I’ve accepted that I ride better without a pack. I’ll still probably wear it for gnarlier riding or where I need to carry stuff but I’m trying to move everything onto the bike and just go with helmet, gloves, knee pads.

And full-face for uplift days because I can’t see any downside.


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 9:51 am
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<div class="bbp-reply-author">trevmccdonald

I managed without Knee Pads when I was a beginner and didn’t have a clue what I was doing and was crashing regularly on any tech. Plus riding a £300 bike.

5+ years later  I crash a lot less often, have got a lot better, and got a £2800 bike, it makes me think If I managed without them back then, why do I need them now ?

Maybe I just got lucky when I was a complete beginner not to break anything. Going straight into trail riding at places like Gisburn without any training or practice and on a cheap hard tail and with no protection other than an XC helmet and gloves.

</div>

Usually as skill improves so does speed, even if you don’t notice it.

In my experience crashes are rare but can be a lot bigger. That said, lid and gloves are all I’d use at a trail centre.


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 11:06 am
 kcr
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not wearing a helmet or appropriate padding is fine as long as your don’t expect anyone else to stop and help you if you have an accident…

What's the appropriate level of padding to wear in order to qualify for help, in the event of an accident?


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 12:04 pm
 DezB
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I asked my lad if he wanted knee pads for his birthday. "No, they're gay".

So that's the facts of the matter.


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 1:36 pm
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I make sure to be fully kitted out when riding my turbo; pressure suit, full face enduro shlid with MIPs so i can breathe, neckbrace, gloves with those carbon knuckles that actually cut your fingers off when you crash, impact highs, shatter proof goggles

edit: forget my camelbak with full 5L bladder, spine protector, snacks, multitools, deraileur hangers for 5 different frames, shock pump, micro pump, CO2 inflator, spare tube, tyre levers, emergency cash... etc.


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 2:10 pm
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@kcr just dont approach MR if you would like some water even though you have a backpack with water in it.


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 2:12 pm
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I asked my lad if he wanted knee pads for his birthday. “No, they’re gay”.

So that’s the facts of the matter.

Whilst there is something cool when you see sick park edits of guys wearing the mandatory full facer and no other obvious protection (probably a neck brace and back protector hidden away to be fair), I'm more bothered about an ouchie than they probably are.

But let's be realistic, the only break I've had I happened not to be wearing any armour but it wouldn't have helped anyway. I've also had sore ones whilst wearing armour that would've been worse, but it's horses for courses. When I have it, I'll wear it if it's not getting in the way (too hot, rubbing, restrictive). If it's a big inconvenience, it gets left at home/in the car. Sometimes I'm going to get hurt.


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 3:01 pm
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 <span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">the only break I’ve had I happened not to be wearing any armour but it wouldn’t have helped anyway</span>

Perhaps ???

Speaking for myself I have never hurt my elbow in a MTB fall... HOWEVER I have found that wearing below pads I tend to use them when I do fall.  (Or perhaps I'm just getting better at falling)

Nearly all my "serious" falls have been where I least expected it and wouldn't have crashed if I'd been paying 10% attention.  (serious meaning a break.,lost teeth or similar)


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 3:54 pm
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Well I know wrist protectors exist but they're not comfortable so I wouldn't use them anyway.

And as I put my arm out, broke my wrist, but still smashed my head, I'm pretty sure trying to absorb the impact with an elbow would've gone worse.

I reckon a dropper post (or indeed stopping to lower my saddle beforehand) would've allowed me to get away with it completely though.

I think a lot of my falls are similar, but usually not serious so far thankfully!


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 4:28 pm
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Well I know wrist protectors exist but they’re not comfortable so I wouldn’t use them anyway.

And as I put my arm out, broke my wrist, but still smashed my head, I’m pretty sure trying to absorb the impact with an elbow would’ve gone worse.

Its not absorbing it on the elbow so much as rolling.... (at least for me)...

I find I have a natural aversion to hitting my elbows (which is quite possibly why I never hurt them riding 😀

I can't say this is entirely conscious ... but I have found that when wearing elbow protection I end up tucking and rolling not sticking out my hands and catching the back of my head but in a light way.

The one time in ages I took them off 5-6 wks ago I came off in a totally unexpected place. (AFTER the real part of the trail).. I can't actually remember the crash itself but did something bad to my wrist... and when I came to/remember I was lying face down and from the marks on my helmet and bruising and missing skin must have skid along on my chin and stomach.

I still can't ride without a wrist brace and they are bloody uncomfortable!!!  (TBH can't even hold a pen)

I can't say for sure (especially due to losing my memory of the actual crash) .. but I believe had I been wearing elbow pads I'd probably have rolled like to 20 falls before????


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 4:47 pm
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I find I have a natural aversion to hitting my elbows (which is quite possibly why I never hurt them riding 😀

I can’t say this is entirely conscious … but I have found that when wearing elbow protection I end up tucking and rolling not sticking out my hands and catching the back of my head but in a light way.

I remember one crash where I quite deeply grazed an elbow, and the main reason was I had a new helmet on I didn't want to have to replace, and was therefore quite determined to keep my head off the deck...

So I don't think I share your aversion to hitting my elbows! 😀


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 5:16 pm
 DezB
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Landing on elbows and f.o.o.s.h. are the best ways to snap that thin old clavicle and ain't no protection on the market preventing that.


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 5:22 pm
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Posted : 05/09/2018 5:42 pm
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i ride naked. its the purist way.

It's pink body armour, honest!


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 7:15 pm
 Euro
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Haro elbow pads and underpants??? 😀 😀 😀

Is this radster from STW crewgang???


 
Posted : 05/09/2018 7:56 pm
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