XC Body Armour
Discussion
Anyone got any views on wearing lighweight body armour for XC trails? I've had a couple of close-calls recently and I'm not getting any younger, flexible, lighter or immune to pain. Looking for the 'grail' of freedom of movement/cool/protective, of course!! Some of the trails we're hitting are remote with no mobile network coverage.
I sometimes use 661 Kyle Strait knee pads. I tend to only use them when I have to as they still rub a bit (esp in wet weather) and restrict movement slightly. Still by far the best xc pads I've personally tried though. And the protection is really good.
The most annoying thing about them is that you need to remove your shoes to put them on, making it a bit of a tedious process.
No doubt some big swinging ball bag will be along to tell you to MTFU etc
All I can say is that I don't have the luxury of taking sick days away from running my many multi-nationals when I bin it on some rocks.
The most annoying thing about them is that you need to remove your shoes to put them on, making it a bit of a tedious process.
No doubt some big swinging ball bag will be along to tell you to MTFU etc
All I can say is that I don't have the luxury of taking sick days away from running my many multi-nationals when I bin it on some rocks.Another one for Kyle Strait knee pads, but not sure about elbow pads.
I'm not going to suggest the MTFU option, but it might also be worth getting some skills training which may make a huge difference to your confidence and overall riding. I've had a couple of sessions with different coaches and they've really helped in getting away from bad habits.
I'm not going to suggest the MTFU option, but it might also be worth getting some skills training which may make a huge difference to your confidence and overall riding. I've had a couple of sessions with different coaches and they've really helped in getting away from bad habits.
jshell said:
Was more kinda thinking of pressure suit armour or body protection with option to pack pads in camelback for the downhills. Anyone use torso protection for trail riding?
I'm in the "more protection the better camp" through bitter experience, but I've got a pressure suit I wear for DH and it's a huge bulky thing, it's bearable for DH, but it would drive you mad trail riding. I think one of the bigger player make a trail armour type thing - almost like a 'cool' baselayer with some soft pads sewn into it. Might be 661, that might work.
I would wholeheartly recommend elbow pads, you hardly feel them and elbow injuries are very difficult to repair I've learnt.
I picked up this little gem a couple of years back, 3 operations, 9 months off work, 100+ hours of physio, and my arm will never go straight, or bend back fully, hurts every morning and constantly if it gets cold - armour wouldn't have stopped me braking it (I doubt it anyway) but it would have been far less of a break and I wouldn't have had to have a lot of forest removed from it and it would have healed a lot quicker.
I'm riding in Scandinavia most of the time and it got over 20degC once last year, so f
k it, I've just ordered this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod... £65 quid and if it's a PITA then I can just sling it on ebay... :thumbsup:
If it's too hot I can just peel off other, lighter layers and go with it.
k it, I've just ordered this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod... £65 quid and if it's a PITA then I can just sling it on ebay... :thumbsup:If it's too hot I can just peel off other, lighter layers and go with it.
jshell said:
I'm riding in Scandinavia most of the time and it got over 20degC once last year, so fk it, I've just ordered this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod... £65 quid and if it's a PITA then I can just sling it on ebay... :thumbsup:
If it's too hot I can just peel off other, lighter layers and go with it.
Overkill for XC in my opinion but each to their own. Let us know how you get on with it.k it, I've just ordered this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod... £65 quid and if it's a PITA then I can just sling it on ebay... :thumbsup:If it's too hot I can just peel off other, lighter layers and go with it.
I can't compete with P-Jay's injuries above but I have come a nasty cropper once before where basic protection would have saved me a lot of pain and discomfort.
I was hammering down the final xc descent at Cwmcarn on a beautiful summer's evening last year when my front wheel got deflected somehow and I went down hard. Lost a lot of skin from my right knee and elbow though there were no broken bones. The next few weeks were quite unpleasant as the wounds repeatedly scabbed over then re-opened on movement.
All this would have been prevented with some XC knee pads and elbow pads. I now use 661 gear which seems good so far. I dare say I would have still had some bruising but it was the abrasions that really stayed with me from that fall.
The annoying thing is it wasn't a technical or tricky section in any way, I've done much trickier stuff before and after without incident - just goes to show it can happen at any time.
I was hammering down the final xc descent at Cwmcarn on a beautiful summer's evening last year when my front wheel got deflected somehow and I went down hard. Lost a lot of skin from my right knee and elbow though there were no broken bones. The next few weeks were quite unpleasant as the wounds repeatedly scabbed over then re-opened on movement.
All this would have been prevented with some XC knee pads and elbow pads. I now use 661 gear which seems good so far. I dare say I would have still had some bruising but it was the abrasions that really stayed with me from that fall.
The annoying thing is it wasn't a technical or tricky section in any way, I've done much trickier stuff before and after without incident - just goes to show it can happen at any time.
I wear that exact Brand X pressure suit for DH and it's bloody warm! Fair play to you but I'd not even consider wearing it for XC stuff.
Kyle Strait kneepads are the mutts nuts. Or the IXS Assualt combined knee/shin - they're the most comfortable/light of that type I've found.
EVOC make some biking rucsacs with EC-approved built-in back protectors. I've got one and it's a great pack for bigger rides. Wore mine all through an Alps trip although I didn't "test" it
Kyle Strait kneepads are the mutts nuts. Or the IXS Assualt combined knee/shin - they're the most comfortable/light of that type I've found.
EVOC make some biking rucsacs with EC-approved built-in back protectors. I've got one and it's a great pack for bigger rides. Wore mine all through an Alps trip although I didn't "test" it
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