Helmet choices

[v8 jago]

omega man said:

neil_bolton said:

As an aside, anyone riding a full face on XC or road will look an absolute dicksplat, full faces are for the BMX track, jumping or DH'ing; when you see the XC kerrrrrazy riders with their knee/shin pads and the helmets you're suggesting rock up to Cymcarn and then just ride the XC, they just get laughed at.

I dont wear a full face helmet when XCing but i do wear knee/shin pads, TBH I dont give a st if anyone laughs at me for it after i saw a guy have his knee cap ripped off at Afan last year, it really was an advert for them!

Edited by omega man on Friday 22 August 13:41

I wear elbow and leg pads most of the time as some kink of protection, If it was comfy enough i would buy a body suit to save me from ending up in hospital for months as i have had a broken back and if i fell of on my back it wouldnt be worth thinking about so if i have got my camel back on its a bit of cussion and as i have my other pads on i have a chance of trying to land on my pads. I suppose its like some lads you see out that say im not wearing a helmet it makes you look like a wr. (only till you fall off into a tree)

[neil_bolton]

omega man said:

neil_bolton said:

As an aside, anyone riding a full face on XC or road will look an absolute dicksplat, full faces are for the BMX track, jumping or DH'ing; when you see the XC kerrrrrazy riders with their knee/shin pads and the helmets you're suggesting rock up to Cymcarn and then just ride the XC, they just get laughed at.

I dont wear a full face helmet when XCing but i do wear knee/shin pads, TBH I dont give a st if anyone laughs at me for it after i saw a guy have his knee cap ripped off at Afan last year, it really was an advert for them!

Edited by omega man on Friday 22 August 13:41

All very well saying that, but I could trip over the pavement, smash my teeth out, bugger my knees up, and crack my head open.

However, wearing an helmet and pads whilst walking down the street would just be silly - you accept risks based on experience.

I'm not saying you shouldn't wear what you like, but theres a reason why many don't ride the pads, as they are hot, restrictive and generally a real pain in the arse.

I know I could do some damage if I came off, but its all about relative risk - I know my lot'll be up sometime, but I'd rather enjoy my ride free and cool, than be carting around loads of padding.

If I turned up to an Ice Skating rink with full Ice Hockey kit on, but we were only skating round and round, would you laugh? Its the same premise, and thats why I said what I did.

You're all welcome to wear what you like, but seriously, unless you're either riding completely out of your skill level, or just plain ste on a bike, you should be able to get round the Cymcarn XC and Freeride (and to an extent the DH course) without ripping off bits off your body.

[omega man]

neil_bolton said:

You're all welcome to wear what you like, but seriously, unless you're either riding completely out of your skill level, or just plain ste on a bike, you should be able to get round the Cymcarn XC and Freeride (and to an extent the DH course) without ripping off bits off your body.

Never been to Cymcarn and dont know how difficult/dangerous it is so I cant comment, I do agree with most of the stuff you said actually, there is risk in everything and you just have to assess it and see!

I also forgot i have a weak knee after an accident so thats why i wear pads and yes, i am plain ste on a bike
(Is Cymcarn good btw? im always looking for new places to go!)

[neil_bolton]

omega man said:

neil_bolton said:

You're all welcome to wear what you like, but seriously, unless you're either riding completely out of your skill level, or just plain ste on a bike, you should be able to get round the Cymcarn XC and Freeride (and to an extent the DH course) without ripping off bits off your body.

Never been to Cymcarn and dont know how difficult/dangerous it is so I cant comment, I do agree with most of the stuff you said actually, there is risk in everything and you just have to assess it and see!

I also forgot i have a weak knee after an accident so thats why i wear pads and yes, i am plain ste on a bike
(Is Cymcarn good btw? im always looking for new places to go!)

I would agree in your case then, if a hit to the knee would cause an existing injury to get worse, then thats great. I rode over in Canada with a chap who had to wear upper body armour (i.e. shoulders, chest plate, back plate) because his heart is slightly below his sternum, and any impact to that area without the armour significantly increases the risk of a heart problem!!!

As for Cymcarn, its hardly the most taxing of courses - not like say, The Wall at Afan (the descent I mean, especially at Warp Factor 9), but it is great fun! Most UK stuff is pretty tame, and any trail centres can easily be ridden by all abilities.

Most crashes are not caused because the course is too difficult, its usually by a mistake by the rider, causing them to crash.

Most of my crashes are a result of bad weight placement, too fast for the particular point in the trail, or just plain stupidity

I've hardly ever been on a trail where I just go over something and go "Feeeeeeeck me". The only places where I've seriously shat my pants are some of the double black trails in Whistler, or the hidden DH tracks in Squampton

[omega man]

neil_bolton said:

omega man said:

neil_bolton said:

You're all welcome to wear what you like, but seriously, unless you're either riding completely out of your skill level, or just plain ste on a bike, you should be able to get round the Cymcarn XC and Freeride (and to an extent the DH course) without ripping off bits off your body.

Never been to Cymcarn and dont know how difficult/dangerous it is so I cant comment, I do agree with most of the stuff you said actually, there is risk in everything and you just have to assess it and see!

I also forgot i have a weak knee after an accident so thats why i wear pads and yes, i am plain ste on a bike
(Is Cymcarn good btw? im always looking for new places to go!)

I would agree in your case then, if a hit to the knee would cause an existing injury to get worse, then thats great. I rode over in Canada with a chap who had to wear upper body armour (i.e. shoulders, chest plate, back plate) because his heart is slightly below his sternum, and any impact to that area without the armour significantly increases the risk of a heart problem!!!

As for Cymcarn, its hardly the most taxing of courses - not like say, The Wall at Afan (the descent I mean, especially at Warp Factor 9), but it is great fun! Most UK stuff is pretty tame, and any trail centres can easily be ridden by all abilities.

Most crashes are not caused because the course is too difficult, its usually by a mistake by the rider, causing them to crash.

Most of my crashes are a result of bad weight placement, too fast for the particular point in the trail, or just plain stupidity

I've hardly ever been on a trail where I just go over something and go "Feeeeeeeck me". The only places where I've seriously shat my pants are some of the double black trails in Whistler, or the hidden DH tracks in Squampton

Im jealous that youve been over to Whistler! cheers for the info though, I agree, the wall has an excellent decent! have you ever ridden the black run at cli-MachX? that is the best trail ive found in the U.K. so far (including Scotland) and it has that "st you pants" feel at some points

[neil_bolton]

I've not - where is that?

[P-Jay]

neil_bolton said:

I've not - where is that?

North Wales, just down the road from Coed. It's a stunning trail (with lots of semi-official Freeride) Only rode it once and came back with a brusied Coccix (sP?) and hip. It's man-made but only just, incredibly rocky and fast.

[omega man]

It’s near Machyntleth in the very south of Snowdonia, mid Wales area here’s a link to the site: http://www.dyfimountainbiking.org.uk/climachx.html Its a good route and that last 2.5km of downhill is awesome! Its definatly worth a visit and is driving distance from coed-y-brenin if your there for the weekend.

[v8 jago]

I might just convert a wheelie bin to fit me if i want to ride that then Then i can leave my pads at home..
Ive done a double black at stainburn and i know they are fecking hard, Like double hard.