Thanks everyone for all your responses. Having read all the postings and thinking it over I'm going
to get some protection. Not the Rockgardn or the Dainese, but something a bit less cumbersome.
I skate almost every other day wearing elbow and knee pads, wrist guards, monitor and helmet. So, I
don't think I'll be too uncomfortable with armor on. Then again, if it shifts while I'm riding I may
change my mind.
Here are some responses to some of your comments. (Caution wear gogles when reading... : -) )
Quoted message said:think long and hard why you want this stuff. Surely if you aren't DH
riding
Quoted message said:you dont' need a full set up?
......
Quoted message said:Penny
Basically, looking for protection against spills. I'm not DH riding, but I do come across downhill
stretches filled with roots and rocks. I think my bike has bailed me out more than my skill. It
handles rather well.
Quoted message said:For XC riding, even technical XC riding, it's unneccesary, not to mention impractical.
Quoted message said:pete fagerlin
You may be right. I may feel more secure wearing something. Then again..maybe not. I'm not the most
skilled rider and still haven't practiced jumping off my bike yet. I'm thinking of buying a severely
used bike to practice on. I spent too much money on mine to think of letting it fall to the ground
repeatedly. I'm debating on whether this would be useful as well. May hurt myself just practicing,
even if it's on the grass. I'm in my mid 40's, not a spring chicken 20 year old.
Quoted message said:Canada is different tho, everyone wears it for everything up there.
Quoted message said:Everyone is going for the "Dew" look, its the new rage in style...
Quoted message said:- CA-G
If "Dew" mean spaz look, then that's for me. Even though I ride on the road more often (except in
the Fall), I never have worn any roadie styled clothing. I've had my share of stares from people
looking at how I layered my clothes over the years.
Quoted message said:Not sure if it's a style issue, the only Canadian riders I've met were the gals at the camp. they
all had pads, the Yanks did not. ....
Style is not important. I don't care about style either. Mostly see people I never know on the
trail. Even then, there aren't a lot of people out there. If they think I look odd, it almost feels
like a good thing.
Quoted message said:True, but it can save your ass when you really need it. I did a major superman endo way up in the
air at Mt. Creek and landed flat on my chest on a series of boulders. I cracked the chest protector
and it knocked the wind out of me. Had it not been there, I would have cracked my ribs instead or
caused more serious damage.
Quoted message said:- CA-G
Good enough reason to get armor. I'm thinking of trying some more challenging trails in NH or
Vermont. Need to learn to ride better then learn more about them before trying them out.
Quoted message said:I dunno. I've pretty much switched to platforms for all my rides and consequently started wearing
shin and sometimes knee pads on all of my rides. They aren't too impractical and I've definatly
gotten some use out of them. If the temp gets over 90 then it's a hard choice but otherwise they
aren't too bad.
I ride on platforms myself. Shin and knee pads seem to be a must. I may also spring for some arm and
elbow padding. Didn't really ride in the woods too much during the summer. Over-heating would
definitely be a problem in the middle of the summer.
Quoted message said:The stuff I wear for technical XC is
Quoted message said:Helmet (non fullface),Eyewear, Full finger gloves, Mouth guard, Elbow/arm
guards
Quoted message said:Knee/shin guards
Quoted message said:I wear a mouth piece for a couple reasons......
Quoted message said:Jack
Any style or brand of eyewear? I don't need sunglasses as it's rather shady everywhere on the trail.
Do you use gogles regular glasses?
Full fingered protection? Even in the summer? This makes sense because if you fall off you want to
have the leather to protect your whole hand. I may get some.
Mouth protection. Another great idea. Never would have thought of that. It's fairly cheap. I
could live with that. Jack, your post is going to cost me some money. But, it may some me some
teeth. Thanks!
Quoted message said:Do *you* crash a lot?
Quoted message said:Are those crashes generally bad?
Quoted message said:Do you anticipate upping the probability of such crashes in the future?
Quoted message said:Pete
I haven't crashed yet... that I can recall. I've only had the bike a year and have only taken it
out about 30 times or so. I know I'm due.
A few years ago, while on my road bike I ran into something and stopped suddenly. My groin area
smashed forward into the handle bar stem. Fortunately, the stem missed my scrotum by less than an
inch. Otherwise, I would have busted a testicle or two. Funny, we never talk about protecting that
area. I guess you can say the bike pants chamois offer some protection(?). Heard on Jay Leno years
ago that groin injuries are one of the leading injuries while biking. He made a joke that bikers
should be thinking of putting their helmet down there, and not on their head. I haven't seen this in
anything I've ever read. Has anyone else read this anywhere?
Quoted message said:Although I agree with most of the other respondants - body armour is a little OTT for general
mountain biking unless you have a specific injury etc, I thought I'd contribute something a little
more helpful. Yep the Dainese is pricey but it fits excellently and covers all the major bits.
The
Quoted message said:mesh construction isn't the toughest but if you look after it it will last and means that it is
only slightly rediculously hot to wear.
A post like this makes me want to at least try out the Dainese as I do have a shoulder problem.
Almost all the respondents on Mtnbikereview said the same thing. It's very comfortable. If I could
buy it and return it if it felt uncomfortable while riding I would do so. But, you really can't do
that with this sort of stuff.
Quoted message said:No armour. Take the pain, its character building.
Quoted message said:--Phil
A word of warning Phil. Don't ever crack this joke if someone falls off their bike and is in pain.
(I know you wouldn't) But, it happened to me. I tore my ACL 20 years ago playing basketball. One
player was joking about the incident while I was wrenched in pain. I felt like smashing his face
in. Fortunately, he stopped joking once he realized how serious my injury was.
Quoted message said:It's called foresight. Don't be bashful. Use it....
Quoted message said:Yeah, I could show you some scratches. And I could show you a cracked knee pad that surely would
have been my knee cap had it not been in the way! Plus I could show you a nice scar on my shin from
my flats (from urban with out them one evening!)
I've already gone through one (successful) knee operation. You were lucky. The rider I saw in the
woods also had a 'nice' scar. It was one of the meanest scars I've ever seen. It was 6 inches
long and at least 3/8th inch thick residing on his wrist. He had broken it rollerblading. He
wasn't wearing any wrist protection. You also can see a dramatic difference in the diameter of
his two wrist.
Quoted message said:Picked up the Fox 911 gear at pricepoint a couple of years ago. Been one of my best bike related
purchases, as it has helped KEEP ME ON the bike, and not layed up cuz some pointed rock pierced my
flesh. Dave (embrace technology!)
Fox seems like the brand to buy. Not too expensive, yet light and durable to do the job.
Quoted message said:Lizard skin shin protectors without the crappy plastic insert for the shins are great for the other
riding though. They keep the pedals and other junk from tearing at the flesh without adding bulk.
They go on like a big freakin' sock, without the sock part of course! It doesn't sound like you
need the full DH suit, period. A bit of overkill for XC riding. Not to mention unfreakincomortable
to wear for sustained periods. Have fun riding.
Quoted message said:K.
Lizard skins? Who makes them? I've read numerous postings over the past 2 years about them. I agree
a whole suit would be overkill and possibly uncomfortable.
Quoted message said:.... Common sense is the best protection you'll find.
--
Quoted message said:-BB-
Good Point. I live in NE where the leaves are starting to fall. This makes the trails more
difficult to navigate. I think it's been a matter of luck t hat I haven't fallen yet. This bike
seems to know where to go. I'm not that coordinated. My bike is a large size and I'm only 6 feet
tall. I could have gotten away with a medium. This would have given me even greater control on
rocky or rooty terrain.
Thanks again everyone! I'm off to find that rocky road. Stamkis
