Armor?
12-19-21, 07:41 AM
#1
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Armor?
I’ve never ridden in armor. I’ve had a few wrecks but really, I’ve hurt myself a lot worse on road bike wrecks.
Anyway, I’ve been really interested in more and more aggressive riding lately. I’m hoping my riding style will remain focused on long days and big climbs, I do want to try harder down difficult obstacles and ride faster through what I can already do.
I understand that practice and mileage matters. I’m also getting a Canfield Yelli Screamy (aggressive hardtail) to replace my XC oriented Trek hardtail.
So what do you guys wear? Full armor and just strip down uphill? Is there a light armor that actually helps more than it hinders?
Is it all shin/knee and forearm/elbow? I seem to land on my hips.
What’s helpful? What’s useless? What’s minimum? What’s overkill? I really don’t know where to start.
Thanks.
Anyway, I’ve been really interested in more and more aggressive riding lately. I’m hoping my riding style will remain focused on long days and big climbs, I do want to try harder down difficult obstacles and ride faster through what I can already do.
I understand that practice and mileage matters. I’m also getting a Canfield Yelli Screamy (aggressive hardtail) to replace my XC oriented Trek hardtail.
So what do you guys wear? Full armor and just strip down uphill? Is there a light armor that actually helps more than it hinders?
Is it all shin/knee and forearm/elbow? I seem to land on my hips.
What’s helpful? What’s useless? What’s minimum? What’s overkill? I really don’t know where to start.
Thanks.
12-19-21, 08:45 AM
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A lot of that is personal judgement... you can wear it all or none. How often you crash, the risk of injury for the type of riding you do, your age and susceptibility to injury (or really long recovery), etc...
Last spill, I landed square on a rock with my knee. So of coarse, now I'm looking into knee pads. Then I'll wear them and never hit my knees... isn't that how it goes? When I rode trails with my moto, I wore it all (knee/elbow/hip pads, back/chest protector, neck brace).
As of today, I'm only wearing a helmet and considering knee pads riding mostly XC. If I had more DH or park stuff, then I'll likely gear up accordingly.
Last spill, I landed square on a rock with my knee. So of coarse, now I'm looking into knee pads. Then I'll wear them and never hit my knees... isn't that how it goes? When I rode trails with my moto, I wore it all (knee/elbow/hip pads, back/chest protector, neck brace).
As of today, I'm only wearing a helmet and considering knee pads riding mostly XC. If I had more DH or park stuff, then I'll likely gear up accordingly.
12-19-21, 11:28 AM
#3
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I started wearing light knee pads, ISX Flows, 2 years ago. They are light and flexy enough that I don't bother taking them on and off while riding, don't bother me. I can say I haven't hurt my knees in any wreck since buying them but it is hard to say if I would have without them, better safe than sorry though. I'm getting old and injuries take a lot longer to heal these days so it is worth it.
12-20-21, 01:21 PM
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padded shorts maybe?
12-22-21, 01:43 AM
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A month ago I posted this thread in MTBR...
https://www.mtbr.com/threads/proteck-your-neck.1196586/
The EWS study linked there found that, aside from helmets which are a given...
knee and elbow injuries are common but easy to armor
Shoulder and hand injuries are common, take longer to heal, and hard to armor effectively
Neck, back, and pelvis injuries are uncommon but drastic.
There are tons of options for pads. You can get full chest protectors, backpacks with spine protectors, neck rolls for FF helmets. Like you I was kind of trying to figure out what's really worthwhile. A few weeks after that post I broke my thumb in a very stupid commuting crash (stopped to take a photo and lowsided) and some armored moto-style gloves would have prevented the damage. But what were the odds? Well, probably pretty good. It's not the first time I've broken a finger, though it's been a long time.
https://www.mtbr.com/threads/proteck-your-neck.1196586/
The EWS study linked there found that, aside from helmets which are a given...
knee and elbow injuries are common but easy to armor
Shoulder and hand injuries are common, take longer to heal, and hard to armor effectively
Neck, back, and pelvis injuries are uncommon but drastic.
There are tons of options for pads. You can get full chest protectors, backpacks with spine protectors, neck rolls for FF helmets. Like you I was kind of trying to figure out what's really worthwhile. A few weeks after that post I broke my thumb in a very stupid commuting crash (stopped to take a photo and lowsided) and some armored moto-style gloves would have prevented the damage. But what were the odds? Well, probably pretty good. It's not the first time I've broken a finger, though it's been a long time.
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12-22-21, 07:02 AM
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Full finger gloves have been standard for me since the 90’s. That includes road racing. I think I took them off for time trials, so long ago I can’t remember.
Even without wrecks, it’s a dry skin thing. Yes, touchscreens can be annoying. That’s probably why I go on spectacular rides with very few pics.
Even without wrecks, it’s a dry skin thing. Yes, touchscreens can be annoying. That’s probably why I go on spectacular rides with very few pics.
12-22-21, 08:05 AM
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I wear full fingered motorcycle gloves and tactical elbow pads underneath my jersey on my gravel bike which I ride mostly on roads. The elbow pads is completely obscure and hidden under my long sleeve jacket nobody would notice I'm wearing them.
I know a lot of roadies avoid armor like a plague but I think it's important. Road accidents can be worse due to the vehicular contact factor and higher speeds. I have one bad accident so far but so far only broke my elbow and roach rash elsewhere, most painful on the finger so I started wearing full fingered gloves and elbow pads.
I tried wearing yoga knee pads as well as tactical knee pads but these are uncomfortable to pedal long periods if you're not wearing pants. Maybe OK for MTB but not okay with road biking. I'm still on the lookout for knee pads, like I still haven't tried knee pads for indoor basketball use. They look comfortable and seem dual purpose for protection against UV rays as well. Interesting fact, I never injured my knees so far on a road accident. I have hurt my groin, butt, both elbows, hands, but never the knees.
I know a lot of roadies avoid armor like a plague but I think it's important. Road accidents can be worse due to the vehicular contact factor and higher speeds. I have one bad accident so far but so far only broke my elbow and roach rash elsewhere, most painful on the finger so I started wearing full fingered gloves and elbow pads.
I tried wearing yoga knee pads as well as tactical knee pads but these are uncomfortable to pedal long periods if you're not wearing pants. Maybe OK for MTB but not okay with road biking. I'm still on the lookout for knee pads, like I still haven't tried knee pads for indoor basketball use. They look comfortable and seem dual purpose for protection against UV rays as well. Interesting fact, I never injured my knees so far on a road accident. I have hurt my groin, butt, both elbows, hands, but never the knees.
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12-22-21, 05:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cubewheels View Post
Yeah, that's a massive downside.
It looks like Rockbros is selling MTB-specific knee pads that also look like the yoga pads I bought earlier. Might try this one out.
They look like ones I've been considering... The full lower leg coverage seems a great idea (my shins are very tender...) but using them in summer .... ugh, seem very hot ... brutal hot and desert grade sun & temps here in the back country between Apr & Oct - where I would need them, Daily 95 - 105+ F
ebay link : https://www.ebay.com/itm/173648671661?var=472324937496 I believe I've seen them on amazon also...
Ride On
Yuri
Originally Posted by cubewheels View Post
Yeah, that's a massive downside.
It looks like Rockbros is selling MTB-specific knee pads that also look like the yoga pads I bought earlier. Might try this one out.
They look like ones I've been considering... The full lower leg coverage seems a great idea (my shins are very tender...) but using them in summer .... ugh, seem very hot ... brutal hot and desert grade sun & temps here in the back country between Apr & Oct - where I would need them, Daily 95 - 105+ F
ebay link : https://www.ebay.com/itm/173648671661?var=472324937496 I believe I've seen them on amazon also...
Ride On
Yuri
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12-27-21, 06:10 PM
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Full finger gloves have been standard for me since the 90’s. That includes road racing. I think I took them off for time trials, so long ago I can’t remember.
Even without wrecks, it’s a dry skin thing. Yes, touchscreens can be annoying. That’s probably why I go on spectacular rides with very few pics.
Even without wrecks, it’s a dry skin thing. Yes, touchscreens can be annoying. That’s probably why I go on spectacular rides with very few pics.
i cut the tip off my forefinger glove if I'm riding with music so I can swipe it if an annoying song pops up.
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12-27-21, 06:12 PM
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I’ve never ridden in armor. I’ve had a few wrecks but really, I’ve hurt myself a lot worse on road bike wrecks.
Anyway, I’ve been really interested in more and more aggressive riding lately. I’m hoping my riding style will remain focused on long days and big climbs, I do want to try harder down difficult obstacles and ride faster through what I can already do.
I understand that practice and mileage matters. I’m also getting a Canfield Yelli Screamy (aggressive hardtail) to replace my XC oriented Trek hardtail.
So what do you guys wear? Full armor and just strip down uphill? Is there a light armor that actually helps more than it hinders?
Is it all shin/knee and forearm/elbow? I seem to land on my hips.
What’s helpful? What’s useless? What’s minimum? What’s overkill? I really don’t know where to start.
Thanks.
Anyway, I’ve been really interested in more and more aggressive riding lately. I’m hoping my riding style will remain focused on long days and big climbs, I do want to try harder down difficult obstacles and ride faster through what I can already do.
I understand that practice and mileage matters. I’m also getting a Canfield Yelli Screamy (aggressive hardtail) to replace my XC oriented Trek hardtail.
So what do you guys wear? Full armor and just strip down uphill? Is there a light armor that actually helps more than it hinders?
Is it all shin/knee and forearm/elbow? I seem to land on my hips.
What’s helpful? What’s useless? What’s minimum? What’s overkill? I really don’t know where to start.
Thanks.
depends on your percentage of uphill to downhill. I've lashed pads to my camelback pack
pack so I'll have them for the descent before
12-28-21, 09:34 AM
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you don't want to crack a knee-cap. Wifey did that while out in Boston 1 nite w/ her girlfriends. tripped on some cobblestone & landed on a curb. snapped in half. met them at the ER some time later. her friends recounted the screaming. if you broke a knee-cap like that out in the woods, pretty sure you'd need to be extricated by first responders. Wifey required morphine & surgery
some time after Wifey's accident, I landed on a knee, right beside a pyramid shaped rock. a near miss! started hunting for knee pads after that but never found something comfortable. seemed like they were all made for skinny legs/knees. those shin guards look good. I guess they stay in place cuz they go all the way down to your ankle?
steep rough trail called "bear paw"
the landing spot
the minor damage
big band aides back in the car, felt good for part two of my riding that day
some time after, I was intrigued by what this guy was wearing for dirt biking. looks like pants w/ knee pads. but looks too heavy for cycling
some time after Wifey's accident, I landed on a knee, right beside a pyramid shaped rock. a near miss! started hunting for knee pads after that but never found something comfortable. seemed like they were all made for skinny legs/knees. those shin guards look good. I guess they stay in place cuz they go all the way down to your ankle?
steep rough trail called "bear paw"
the landing spot
the minor damage
big band aides back in the car, felt good for part two of my riding that day
some time after, I was intrigued by what this guy was wearing for dirt biking. looks like pants w/ knee pads. but looks too heavy for cycling
01-07-22, 09:19 AM
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went down this morning but wound up on my back, breaking thru the ice. it's all good until it isn't, right? studded tires are fine, unless the tread fill w/ compacted snow, lifting you off the studs. I knew this water would be deep, in fact I heard "running water" in the distance! I stopped but as I put a foot down, I slipped & went down. made a little hole near the big hole, in front of the flooded area
01-10-22, 09:22 AM
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it worked fine, plus it's all I have. should I assume you would recommend a fat bike? lots of ppl think only fat bikes can ride in the snow but it's not true. plenty of ppl have been riding in snow before a fat bike was invented. plenty more will continue to do so. also lots of fat bikers fall when riding in the snow
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01-10-22, 11:34 AM
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It looks like the right bike would have been one of those Russian nuclear icebreakers
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01-10-22, 12:32 PM
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but like I wrote, the reason I fell, was because I stopped & put a foot down. the compacted snow, in my boot tread, over ice, was unexpected, my bad
& what are we gonna tell these guys ...
Last edited by rumrunn6; 01-10-22 at 12:42 PM.
01-10-22, 02:07 PM
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it worked fine, plus it's all I have. should I assume you would recommend a fat bike? lots of ppl think only fat bikes can ride in the snow but it's not true. plenty of ppl have been riding in snow before a fat bike was invented. plenty more will continue to do so. also lots of fat bikers fall when riding in the snow
01-10-22, 05:06 PM
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01-11-22, 08:11 AM
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My misunderstanding. Thought you crashed on that bike.
But fat bikes with studded tires don't go down on ice.
But fat bikes with studded tires don't go down on ice.
01-11-22, 08:24 AM
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for example, see post #15 here: https://www.bikeforums.net/winter-cy...e-warning.html
Last edited by rumrunn6; 01-11-22 at 09:49 AM.
