Anyone armor up for rides? What protective gear are you wearing?
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1,076 Posts
Only used a Helmet for yrs.
Got back into MTB last yr and upgraded to 2021 SJ (this summer) and found I was experiencing falls/close calls after clipping trees with 780 bars
and/or pushing tire traction limits (mud/loose over hard).
Added flexible knee pads and they saved me more than a handful of times. I rarely need them now, however I feel more confident knowing I have them.
For me they add a 3rd line of defense.
1st = Not loosing traction
2nd = Unclipping in time.
3rd = kneepads to lessen blow
NOTE: These knee pads are IMO the best compromise for light falls in dirt/gravel or small rocks. I do ride chunder, although not too often so for those that do, there are better options, albeit at the cost of comfort.
Got back into MTB last yr and upgraded to 2021 SJ (this summer) and found I was experiencing falls/close calls after clipping trees with 780 bars
and/or pushing tire traction limits (mud/loose over hard).
Added flexible knee pads and they saved me more than a handful of times. I rarely need them now, however I feel more confident knowing I have them.
For me they add a 3rd line of defense.
1st = Not loosing traction
2nd = Unclipping in time.
3rd = kneepads to lessen blow
NOTE: These knee pads are IMO the best compromise for light falls in dirt/gravel or small rocks. I do ride chunder, although not too often so for those that do, there are better options, albeit at the cost of comfort.
Joined
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21,567 Posts
Standard issue trail ride: helmet, knee pads, gloves, protective eye glasses
More aggressive rides (rockier, faster, more air time): lightweight full face, knee pads, gloves, goggles
DH: regular full face, knee pads, elbow pads, chest/back protector, gloves, goggles, two air ambulance memberships
More aggressive rides (rockier, faster, more air time): lightweight full face, knee pads, gloves, goggles
DH: regular full face, knee pads, elbow pads, chest/back protector, gloves, goggles, two air ambulance memberships
With my recent switch from clips to platforms, I’ve dedicated myself to wearing the knee & elbow pads that have typically lived in my gear bag for the past few years. All. The. Time.
I always wear glasses (prescription, so yeah) and gloves.
Guess I better consider an air ambulance membership or two.
=sParty
P.S. Oh yeah, and obviously I never ride w/o a helmet. Obviously. Never.
I always wear glasses (prescription, so yeah) and gloves.
Guess I better consider an air ambulance membership or two.
=sParty
P.S. Oh yeah, and obviously I never ride w/o a helmet. Obviously. Never.
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21,567 Posts
I was only half joking. We have two competing companies in this region of the country and there's no reciprocity between the two. Since you can't really pick who would come to get you I buy both memberships so I wouldn't have to pay out of pocket for a lift (~$30K so I've heard). It's not just for bike accidents so I was being a little dramatic there. We have two kids who play on sports teams, we go skiing (icy commutes to the resort during powder frenzy), and we drive on the highways a lot so it's to cover that too.
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21,567 Posts
Good question. I've never asked since we don't have pets that we would take into the wild. The air ambulance websites are pretty basic so neither company that covers this area say anything about pet coverage. They just say to call with any questions.
I ride rocky, rooty terrain in Maine. These days I wear elbow and knee pads, the only time I've needed them were the 2 days I didn't wear them. When I was more inclined to air things out (in my late 40s) I added a full face, core saver and at that time an EVS race collar which alas I did "field test" (and it worked as needed). Nowadays I limit the size drops I'll hit, but if I were to get back to racing or serious freeride I'd probably go back to that kit but swap a Leatt for the EVS.
Here in Australia emergency ambulance cover is around $100 for the entire family. Covers any type of emergency ambulance ride from any place in Australia. Ambulance services are state owned across Australia, and you membership in one state covers you in all states. It's also included in a lot of health insurance policies. It's free for health card holders.
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14,263 Posts
Weren’t those mostly for show? For lack of a better word.
Not sure how much protection they’d offer.
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607 Posts
Every ride:
Full face, knee pads, elbow pads
Skills/ jump days (which I’m trying to focus on this winter):
Add shin pads, back protector vest (I took out the chest protector, it was for mx roost)
XC green blue only and no jumps
Regular helmet, knee pads (this almost never happens to be the ride program)
I have to ride the full face all the time because i am an idiot and will crash on my face as soon as I am not wearing it, and because I’m Always out with kids, and they are for sure wearing their full face helmet, so I have to for example setting.
Full face, knee pads, elbow pads
Skills/ jump days (which I’m trying to focus on this winter):
Add shin pads, back protector vest (I took out the chest protector, it was for mx roost)
XC green blue only and no jumps
Regular helmet, knee pads (this almost never happens to be the ride program)
I have to ride the full face all the time because i am an idiot and will crash on my face as soon as I am not wearing it, and because I’m Always out with kids, and they are for sure wearing their full face helmet, so I have to for example setting.
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12,146 Posts
Every ride: Full face, knee/shin pads, back protector, mouth guard.
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236 Posts
On-body armor for me is only a single shin guard I put on my right shin because, well... I'm old and push up hills more than the youngsters and I got tired of the pedals taking chunks out of my skin. A helmet goes without saying, been thinking of a full face for trips where I might get up in speed. I'm tired of breaking my right clavicle and separating that shoulder, but there's no armor I'm aware of for that, so all I can really do is run big fat tires that slow me down. Air ambulance insurance is well worth it. I've had it for years. A Spot tracker emergency beacon is nice because I seldom ride with other people.
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1,367 Posts
Standard kit: halfshell helmet, gloves, knee pads
Full gnar kit: DH helmet or DH rated convertible, elbow/ arm pads, gloves with hardshell protection, goggles or glasses (i sweat too much to wear glasses all of the time or else i would)
bmx/ trials: regular helmet, armored gloves, arm protection, full knee/ shin/ ankle pad-set
Full gnar kit: DH helmet or DH rated convertible, elbow/ arm pads, gloves with hardshell protection, goggles or glasses (i sweat too much to wear glasses all of the time or else i would)
bmx/ trials: regular helmet, armored gloves, arm protection, full knee/ shin/ ankle pad-set
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