Body armour/protective gear advice...

[L.T.G]

where did the good old days of being a 20 year old Wolverine go?.........

 

I've never thought of myself as being a knee/elbow pad, body armour person....

I didn't think I ride hard enough to warrant wearing any..

Yesterday,I learned it's not how hard you ride but how hard you fall that justifies wearing said gear.

a little drop off I've done dozens of times, AND did just prior to the incident caused me to be in a fair amount of discomfort yesterday and it's worse today.

My elbow/forearm is like a healthy chicken breast, skinless.

My hip/thigh got bashed and the side my chest/rib cage too, sneezing feels like being smacked with a sledgehammer on the chest.

So, I've decided to invest in some protection.

Knee and elbows to start...

suggestions please,  as to where to get good gear and not be ripped off because I've got no idea what this stuff should cost?

[V12man]

My hip/thigh got bashed and the side my chest/rib cage too, sneezing feels like being smacked with a sledgehammer on the chest

Typical if the feeling broken ribs give - visit your gp for assessment and some pain relief and consider taping them up for a week or two.

 

I recently bought a camelback kudu for the enduro events and so on - after a fall that gave me kidney bruising for about a.month - despite a water filled camelback landing - it has a built in back protector so might help a bit (still untested)- my 661 knee and elbow pads did a good job in that off - would have been ugly without them.

 

Pads came from diald and the kudo from sportsworld - pretty much the only one I could find locally. I also looked at the evoc enduro bag with built in back protector - but liked the camelback more.

[Paul Ruinaard]

I have had exactly the same experience - fell hard last Sunday. Roasties on hip, knee, elbow and tender ribs.

 

I have also ridden with knee pads and elbow pads they are really just insurance. THey make you more confident and less concerned about the consequence.

 

We were out at Buffelsdrif yesterday and I was thinking how much more comfortable I would have been with a set on, as Lycra is not going to protect anything.

 

Dainese make good knee and shin pads, Six Six One as well. Go and try some elbows on as they must stay in place. You cant have them moving and slipping.

 

Also there are the thixotropic ones - they harden on impact, so they are a lot more flexible. I haven't used them. Cyclelab sem to stock them.

[keithbe]

Great post!

 

So I have a friend that's just started making use of the PWC track in Johannesburg. Intermediate rider and fair to say a little bit chicken like hitting some of the trails full tilt for fear of losing a few teeth or broken bones on some of the edge of koppie trails and some tough to get around hair pin berms.

 

Question #1 - would my friend look like a knob, at PWC, with some body protection?

 

#2 - would a full face helmet, worn by my buddy at PWC, put them into the category the direct opposite, female body part, of a knob?

[L.T.G]

Great post!

 

So I have a friend that's just started making use of the PWC track in Johannesburg. Intermediate rider and fair to say a little bit chicken like hitting some of the trails full tilt for fear of loosing a few teeth or broken bones on some of the edge of koppie trails and some tough to get around hair pin berms.

 

Question #1 - would my friend look like a knob, at PWC, with some body protection?

 

#2 - would a full face helmet, worn by my buddy at PWC, put them into the category the direct opposite, female body part, of a knob?

Thanks for the feedback so far guys.

Keith.... tell your mate to wear what he wants to.. even a FF helmet. A mouth with no teeth will be nothing compared a little initial ego bruising if he's feeling slightly knobish.

Screw what others think.

[L.T.G]

best place to get G-form? (brick and mortar store if possible, I'd like to try on to make sure of fit)

[V12man]

best place to get G-form? (brick and mortar store if possible, I'd like to try on to make sure of fit)

Give the Trailhead a visit - or ping Robodog

[keithbe]

Thanks for the feedback so far guys.

Keith.... tell your mate to wear what he wants to.. even a FF helmet. A mouth with no teeth will be nothing compared a little initial ego bruising if he's feeling slightly knobish.

Screw what others think.

Yip. I, mean my friend, get there early enough to miss the crowds. Best I, the other guy, start strapping up.

 

All the best on your endeavours L.T.G

[L.T.G]

Give the Trailhead a visit - or ping Robodog

 

Yip. I, mean my friend, get there early enough to miss the crowds. Best I, the other guy, start strapping up.

 

All the best on your endeavours L.T.G

[Amberdrake]

I wear Elbow pads while doing anything more than workshop ride on MTB(yes I have considered it for road bike but managed to override that reaction) I currently strap on shin pads too, been looking at some Leet 3df Hybrid Knee pads.

I have a full face for when I am planning a ride where ill be pushed. 

I always get funny looks, I smile big showing my intact teeth

[Amberdrake]

On topic of cost, padding starts at R800 and goes up. Can be expensive, but they are usually much more robust than helmets. IMHO medical bills and future pain avoided is worth it.

[L.T.G]

  IMHO medical bills and future pain avoided is worth it.

this

[V12man]

this

Wait... you might land up doing things you wouldn't without the padding..... 

[L.T.G]

Wait... you might land up doing things you wouldn't without the padding..... 

 

[Thermophage]

IMHO the G-Form are uncomfortable.

The Leatt Airflex (their lightweight pad that is similar looking to the G-form stuff) are amazingly comfortable...in that you forget you;re wearing them, even on 60km+ rides.

I've taken many a tumble and they have held up well and have protected me as well.

Hard to find at a bike shop, easy to find at a Moto-X shop.

[Amberdrake]

Leatt stuff can be ordered from any bike shop, or contact Bibi here on hub.