Spine protector

[Terrence79]

I have been thinking about getting a couple (one for me & one for the missus)recently mainly due to her having a habit of going over the bars regularly. We do a lot of XC/trail center stuff as well as flying down the Malverns at 40+ mph but don't tend to use camelbacs as we aren't out for too long and bottle cages do the job.

A friend at works son recently broke his back in 2 places following a bad crash which has made my mind up but im not sure what to go for as no local shops seem to stock anything.

Anybody have any experience of one of these or similar, any advice greatly appreciated.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

Tom

[anonymous-user]

havent used them but my only advice, as obvious as it is, would be try before you buy. i doubt shops will accept returns for stuff like this and if it doesnt fit 100% it will be murder. where do you draw the line though?, neck brace, arm protectors, leg protectors, pads, shell, full face etc etc. personlly i would spend the money on tuition and a skills course but it sounds like you are fairly experienced (40 mph? really?!) so that might not be money best spent.

[Terrence79]

I will be drawing the line at a spine protector, we have knee elbow and shin pads for when we go to the Alps but dont tend to use them in the uk, I dont feel the need to go any further as ingeneral broken bones repair themselves but spines can be different and dont want to take that risk if not using the camelbac (that offers some prtection when full of water).

Im interested as when she goes over the bars its usually rocky sections and it only takes a rock in the wring place & it could be very serious.

Trying out first is proving a problem as most shops dont seem to stock anything (around here anyway(worcesterhire)).

40+ mph easily on the Malvern hills if you follow the skyline, My last gps recorded 39.5mph and I wasn't really going for it untill about half way down!

Tom

[anonymous-user]

you might have some success coming south a bit, try leisure lakes or noahs ark.

[robpearson]

I've got an older version of this:

http://www.forcefieldbodyarmour.com/product/sport-...

I use it snowboarding, and have the matching upper body suit that covers shoulders and arms too. Barely notice it under the jacket, and have worn it a few time cycling too. If you have a TSA/Ellis Brigham near you, they might have some stock to take a look at.

[a11y_m]

Slightly different approach, but what about something like the EVOC Freeride Trail backpack? I know you say you don't wear bags, but the beauty of this is it's got a CE-rated (CE-certified according to EN 1621-2) back protector built in. You can also remove the protector and wear it by itself, or even use the bag without the protector.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/evoc-freeride-trail-protec... - good price at the moment.



Me and the missus both have them. She uses hers all the time but I only use mine on bigger rides and the Alps.

[SixtySpeedTwin]

Ive got one of these,

i use it on my motorbike but its sold as a MTB protector too.
Its very comfortable as it articulates at the waist.
Dianese stuff is available from nearly all decent motorcycle dealers or their own shops.

[gp1699]

a11y_m said:

Slightly different approach, but what about something like the EVOC Freeride Trail backpack? I know you say you don't wear bags, but the beauty of this is it's got a CE-rated (CE-certified according to EN 1621-2) back protector built in. You can also remove the protector and wear it by itself, or even use the bag without the protector.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/evoc-freeride-trail-protec... - good price at the moment.



Me and the missus both have them. She uses hers all the time but I only use mine on bigger rides and the Alps.

really like the look of this, looks like it would be good for boarding too!

[a11y_m]

gp1699 said:

really like the look of this, looks like it would be good for boarding too!

Funnily enough we also use ours for boarding too! The bag's not fully waterproof though but it's still very useful. Another point is that the "bag" section can be unzipped from the back panel/protector and stuffed into the washing machine - comes up like new on a 30degC wash...

[Terrence79]

a11y_m said:

Funnily enough we also use ours for boarding too! The bag's not fully waterproof though but it's still very useful. Another point is that the "bag" section can be unzipped from the back panel/protector and stuffed into the washing machine - comes up like new on a 30degC wash...

Cheers for the replies, im going to try and get my hands on some in the shops (will just have to travel I think!) I like the look of both the Dianese & the forcefield versions. on the evoc backpack - can you use the back protector on its own or just with the bag? the bag looks very big aswell?? which puts me of a bit.

Tom

[Terrence79]

oops just re read the post on the evoc bags which answers that question!

[a11y_m]

Terrence79 said:

oops just re read the post on the evoc bags which answers that question!

I'd add that although it looks big, it's not that bad. You can't get away from the fact that the bag's got to be as long as the back protector itself, but it's not that bulky. The compression straps work very well so it's good for smaller rides too. I choose to keep mine for the bigger rides purely as I've got another couple of bags that refuse to die...

As an example, this was with a medium load of waterproof jacket, couple of tubes, LOTS of tools, food and a 3L bladder:

[Terrence79]

a11y_m said:

I'd add that although it looks big, it's not that bad. You can't get away from the fact that the bag's got to be as long as the back protector itself, but it's not that bulky. The compression straps work very well so it's good for smaller rides too. I choose to keep mine for the bigger rides purely as I've got another couple of bags that refuse to die...

As an example, this was with a medium load of waterproof jacket, couple of tubes, LOTS of tools, food and a 3L bladder:

Your right it doesnt look too bulky in that picture (where is that by the way?)

[a11y_m]

Terrence79 said:

(where is that by the way?)

From memory it was somewhere above Les Gets. We spent a few weeks in Morzine and Chamonix last summer, from Morzine you can use the lifts to access other areas (the Portes du Soleil area). Highly recommended

[mph1977]

hmm , from my professional experience , it's usually either limb injuries or neck injuries from big offs on bikes rather than thoraco lumbar spinal injury :- last couple of cyclists i've looked after from a spinals point of view; one was a roadie taken out by a truck and was a c5/6 complete , and the other a CXer who went over the front who was a C5 incomplete (central cord) and mashed up face .

both had normal cycle helmets on which saved them from head / brain injuries but a back protector isn't going to save you from neck injuries and unlike the back protector/body armour worn by horse riders; bikes don't have a habit on stepping on with with 3/4 of a tonne of muscle ...

your head = cauliflower inside a bowling ball supported by the cauli stalk ...

[Burrow01]

mph1977 said:

hmm , from my professional experience , it's usually either limb injuries or neck injuries from big offs on bikes rather than thoraco lumbar spinal injury :- last couple of cyclists i've looked after from a spinals point of view; one was a roadie taken out by a truck and was a c5/6 complete , and the other a CXer who went over the front who was a C5 incomplete (central cord) and mashed up face .

both had normal cycle helmets on which saved them from head / brain injuries but a back protector isn't going to save you from neck injuries and unlike the back protector/body armour worn by horse riders; bikes don't have a habit on stepping on with with 3/4 of a tonne of muscle ...

your head = cauliflower inside a bowling ball supported by the cauli stalk ...

My personal experience is 3 broken ribs from going over the bars (without a back protector), knocked myself out, but luckily did have a helmet on - liking the look of those back protector rucksacks

[a11y_m]

mph1977 said:

hmm , from my professional experience , it's usually either limb injuries or neck injuries from big offs on bikes rather than thoraco lumbar spinal injury :- last couple of cyclists i've looked after from a spinals point of view; one was a roadie taken out by a truck and was a c5/6 complete , and the other a CXer who went over the front who was a C5 incomplete (central cord) and mashed up face .

both had normal cycle helmets on which saved them from head / brain injuries but a back protector isn't going to save you from neck injuries and unlike the back protector/body armour worn by horse riders; bikes don't have a habit on stepping on with with 3/4 of a tonne of muscle ...

your head = cauliflower inside a bowling ball supported by the cauli stalk ...

IMO MTBing is very different to road-riding or CX: there's usually a lot more lumpy objects (rocks, tree stumps, etc) to land your torso on than on smooth tarmac or dirt tracks. It's calculated risk though: a neck brace (which protects the most vulnerable area) is a very restrictive device to wear, even some DHers don't wear them because it restricts them looking down (or so I heard from some at the weekend. Back protectors are far less restrictive hence there's a higher chance more folk will wear them, even though they'll not help in worst-case neck injuries - it's not out of the question to wear a back protector on normal XC riding I guess.

Most of the injuries seen at Fort William DH are limb injuries with the serious ones being a complete mix of back and neck injuries. Luckily I've not been involved in retrievals so far!

[Terrence79]

I'm after something that provides similar or better protection than a backpack just to help take any impact if she goes over the bars, nice and light so your not restricted when riding ie lighter than a backpac otherwise we might aswell just use one . We went to les arc last year where she went over the bars onto some large rocks (biking down a mountain stream) It was only the backpack that saved here from serious injury but she still had a sore back for the rest of the trip.

Edited by Terrence79 on Tuesday 15th May 15:40

[Poloding Along]

Sounds like you might want to take a look at the reason's why she's going over the bars so often.

It's been something that I've had an issue with in the past but for me it came from panic braking too heavily on the front, not catching on rocks or anything. Had to actively force myself to try stay off the front brake and put weight further back allowing the rear wheel to bite more.

And ye, Morzine and that area are definitely worth the trip, looking forward to being back this summer.

[a11y_m]

Terrence79 said:

I'm after something that provides similar or better protection than a backpack just to help take any impact if she goes over the bars, nice and light so your not restricted when riding ie lighter than a backpac otherwise we might aswell just use one . We went to les arc last year where she went over the bars onto some large rocks (biking down a mountain stream) It was only the backpack that saved here from serious injury but she still had a sore back for the rest of the trip.

Edited by Terrence79 on Tuesday 15th May 15:40

TBH I think for what you desire, one of those EVOC bags is a good solution. Not as bulky/restricting as some protectors, but gives that extra protection that a rucsac doesn't.