Do bikers use armoured clothing?
 

Hey fellow riders

Do you use armoured clothing while riding your machine?

Yes, if you're doing (real) mountain biking, which in my hood involves riding over slippery head-sized rocks and stumps down 30 degree slopes. However, regardless of your protection, if you come off of your bike in this terrain, you're almost certainly in for a bunch of hurt.

On the road, of course not. Even a slow tumble off a bike on pavement can result in a fractured arm/wrist/clavacle, or a fractured skull or broken neck, even with 'armored clothing'. The key is to never fall off of your bike, or hit anything, or let anything hit you.

Basically no. Certainly not on the road, though I might wear some added protection mountain biking depending on conditions.

The reality is that armor can't protect you from the likeliest cause of serious injuries, so you have to rely on skill and luck.

If by "armoured clothing" you mean "should have been washed two rides ago" then yes.

Only when I commute.


https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CXxbfnQHo_Q/maxresdefault.jpg

:lol:

Only armor I wear is my helmet. I had some undershorts I used to wear while mountain biking, which had some mild padding on the hip bones and tailbone. Sometimes I'd wear elbow and knee pads. But most of that would prevent some bruising and abrasions...maybe. Not really armor nor would it offer much in a serious crash, certainly no protection against broken bones.

On the road, nada. Well, except the helmet.

Best "armor" for protection is your brain, use it wisely. Still stuff happens.

I will wear long socks mountain biking in areas with razor grass or other vegetation that scratches the shins.

I read about a guy that went off the edge of a trail, fell 60 ft I think, landed on his back and his camelbak bladder bust breaking his fall. He still suffered some injury, but not serious.

I wonder if the OP is a motorcyclist and has accidentally wandered into a bicycling forum.

Just good gloves for me. As a long time skateboarder and skater/rollerblader, if my hands are protected, they do a good job of protection everything else.

I do have fully have fully armored suits for motorcycling, but obviously too hot to wear on a bicycle.

I just wiped out the other day on the road right in front of a motorist waiting to turn right. My shoelace got caught in the crank. I guess I forgot to tie my shoes off to the outside.

No broken bones or bruises. Not even ripped clothes as this time of year I'm wearing layers and a goretex outer shell.

But in the summer, I've often thought of wearing knee pads and elbow pads. I don't think shoulder pads exist that are not hard plastic like what football players or BMX bikers wear. However, wearing all those things in the summer may get pretty sweaty and uncomfortable. Weigh the risks and probabilities.

:lol:

+1

twitter.com/regurgence_gear

-mr. bill

My thoughts exactly. I used to wear body armor when I rode a motorcycle, but nothing beyond a helmet on the bicycle.

Should have added that the only 'protection' I use while road riding is a helmet and gloves. Always use gloves; full-finger versions for the colder half of the year.

I occasionally see some folks riding on the road using full-face helmets. This is dangerous - your visibility and hearing is very restricted. Riding with a hoodie: same. You have to be able to look behind you.

As stated here by others, your best protection is awareness, caution and experience. I've been asked by some folks: how often you crash your bike? The answer is never, despite riding more than 300 days a year. Any crash on the road can be a catastrophic life-changing experience. So you don't crash - ever.

Sphincter tightening down hill canyon jumpers do , and 4 cross MTB Moto racers do too.. they crash enough to make it essential gear.

Must go through a lot of lube.

No, but I have Kevlar tires. Does that mean I can shoot at them?

Certain types of downhill riding requires being heavily armored. Offroad stuff where BIG falls are highly likely. Otherwise, no.


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Armoured Motorcyle Jeans

-mr. bill

There have been people working on developing kevlar lycra, and I presume we'll see more of it in the near future, if they can get the weight, flexibility, and strength right.

It probably won't protect much from broken bones, but may reduce road rash and, of course, help prevent indecent exposure :eek:

POC and Storelli make shorts with an 1/8 inch thick poron foam over the hips.

Storelli also makes a sliding shirt with similar pads in shoulders and elbows.

If it's cold, I'll throw them on for long fast descent.

Well yeah... to be safe is the best way to be safe! But not everything in our control all the time. So having a protective clothing is always a smarter and better option.