Body Armour

[wavedancer]

I think it is time to give myself a little extra protection. Getting better in general about falling down and have been wearing some hip-padded shorts, but today's nothing-special fall involve a very painful hit on the outside of my knee. I noticed that most of the people riding the trails where we went were wearing shin and arm guards. So what have any of you found to be comfortable and protect well? I have short legs, but not skinny thighs I'm thinking that if I can feel a little more protected if I do fall, I may be able to develop more confidence on the rough stuff.

Linda

[Pebble]

I recently thought the same thing and ended up getting the Fox Launch Pads (knee/shin). A couple of rides on them and they're not as bulky as I imagined, have excellent ventillation and great clip system. They are surprisingly comfortable to pedal in as well.
But I did have some issues with rubbing above my knee. Only talking two rides though & I have a feeling that they need to sit a bit higher to what I had them, which would possibly solve the problem.
On the downside I noticed the stitching on the side of one of the elastic straps is already coming off. I've emailed the store where I brought them to see what the next step is - exchange etc, hopefully it's a warranty issue.

In summary I do like the fox launch pads but they have potential comfort issues and quality control (stitching looks good I just got a dud I think). And I reckon you could do better: Race Face (also known as Roach) Rally FR pads have heaps of good reviews and other's I'd maybe look at are the Mace Tectonic.

Prior to that I've had the 661 veggie knee wraps and found the stitching at the back used to rub badly & they were not comfortable.

But yeah I've found that wearing knee/shins gave me a secure sort of feeling, not invincible just secure. Haven't taken the step to elbow guards yet.

If you are riding clipless pedals you may also like to consider just knee guards instead of knee/shin as they are probably more comfy for pedalling. Knee/Shin is probably recommended if you're using platforms.

[TerraNik]

I have a pair of RaceFace/Roach FR shin/knees... They're pretty good. I find that when I pedal they don't slip or anything, but they are pretty bulky... A little difficult to pedal in, but you get that when you're wearing a whole bunch of plastic on your legs!!!!! I've been investigating getting the TLD T-bones or 661 Kyle Straits (just knee pads) for those not-so-rocky tracks. I've heard that they are really comfortable and give adequate protection.

I also have the RaceFace/Roach FR Elbow pads which are great... When riding they don't move at all, and although they get a bit hot I can hardly tell they're there in terms of comfort. Again, a little trouble bending at the elbow in them, but you don't do too much of that when you're riding!

I have no idea how they'll hold up in a crash... Hopefully I won't have to find out!

[Pebble]

The stitching came loose or something after 2 to 3 rides in the fox launch pads and the particular strap started deteriorating pretty quickly. So I sent them back & opted for a store credit rather than replacement.
Comfort factor - I think I may have been wearing them lower than I should have been (ie should have been more over the knee or something) and that probably would have taken care of the rubbing issue.

Thinking of trying Roach (or Race Face it's known as now) Rally FR pads. Concerned wether they will be much bulkier than the Fox Launch - anyone know?

Otherwise these look pretty good (Mace Tectonic) and sort of low profile, but provide the back calf protection too: the design was drastically changed for '07 though so having 2nd thoughts.

Interested in other suggestions as well as per Wavedancer's original thread.

[tattiefritter]

I have some RaceFace FR ones as well which I bought to wear on a biking holiday in Spain, they were comfortable enough on descents but too warm and annoying on the long climbs. The trails were very rocky there (and I'm used to rocky) but I didn't find they boosted my confidence as such, I rode as I normally do as the protection isn't that extensive really - they won't stop a broken wrist. One of the guys fell off and his nice dainese knee armour moved, so he hit his knee anyway! I have short legs and got their smallest size, fine in length and fine for the knee straps but the back of leg straps were a little short for my cyclists calves! The small elbow pads were a very good fit.

But.....I'd never bother wearing them in the UK, even though I ride on some pretty rocky, slippy, slimy tracks and do my fair share of falling. I don't want to rely on them for confidence which may happen if I wore them all the time. I also couldn't be bothered taking them on and off on climbs/descents, I'd end up carrying them for nothing. I'm not entirely convinced that putting armour on will stop you being scared (fear of falling is a good thing). Learning to handle your bike properly (say by going to a skills class) will probably do more for you - I know a skills class did a lot for me personally.

Armour is becoming more prevalent, we turned up at one of the UK forestry centres with specific built mountain bike trails and I've never seen so much armour (and the XC trails are smooth and pretty non-technical, no need for armour), particularly on women - I'm waiting to see them on roadies next.

Sorry, that was a bit of a rant, but I think that people coming into MTBing now see all these pictures of people wearing armour and think thats what you need to wear. When I started it wasn't the case and you just got on with it (ee them were the days! ) and learned to not fall off - there is a definite attitude difference.

So... RaceFace: I found them comfy, very warm, seemed to stay put but I never really tested them by landing on them, heavy.

Others I tried:

Dainese: a lot lighter, more mesh and cooler, but hated the fit, felt flimsy in comparison to the RaceFace.
661: Similar to Dainese but heavier and not as well made.

[madisongrrl]

It is really not necessary to buy body gear for standard mountain biking. I think it just gets in the way, its heavy, expensive and hot. The only thing that has ever given me confidence is riding more singletrack, riding with people who are better than me (watching them do difficult sections) and learning more about the techniques used in mountain biking.

Examine the situations when you hit the dirt. Think about what happended, why did it happen and how could you have approached it differently? And if your not sure of something, dismount and walk it. Then you can determine if you want to ride it or move on to the next thing. Good luck.

[SadieKate]

I absolutely believe in the right protective gear in the right situations. Sometimes all it does is let you relax a little more which means you ride the obstacle and gain some confidence. There are skills clinics which won't let you ride without -- even for skills that some might not call extreme.

Gear comes in all types and categories. I just ride technical singletrack. I do not ride downhill or take huge jumps or risks. But there are times that a little light protection helps a lot. I carry these knee and elbow guards in my hydration pack and have put them on for technical sections - and take them back off for the easier aerobic stuff.

I use Skinz knee guards - very light and comfy so can be ridden in XC applications.

And plain old Fox Launch elbow guards.

Everybody's head is in a different place and if a little Armour helps them gain confidence and learn without being hurt, go for it. I don't care how many times you watch someone, you have to take the plunge and a little armor can help your mental attitude preventing a fall. Even a minor fall or brush up against volcanic rock or sandstone can do some damage. Gauge what your risks are against the type of riding and temperature, and try to find something that you will be willing to wear.

[Pebble]

I don't think it's so much about confidence, sure you feel more protected and perhaps gain confidence from wearing armour but in the end I want to wear it for different reasons. Mainly because I ride on my own. I value my knees, and I have a couple of young kids to look after at home so downtime would not be very nice.
If I wear it and never fall off well I guess I'll consider myself lucky. I still think it's worth having and using if you want to. Just like helmets never used to be mainstream and not everyone wore them if they had the option, perhaps armour is going the same way, becoming more widely acceptable as the standard, probably due to DH & FR influences in the sport.

I reckon there are probably alot of people, and new riders in particular who would like to wear some form of armour even in xc races, but in the end worry too much about what people thing and end up going with the main stream.

It's unfortunate that most of us have to have some kind of incident before thinking "what if" or "i wish i had armor" and then the pain is soon forgotten again.
From a womens perspective if pain wasn't forgotten I don't think anyone would be having more than one kid

I think I'll be deciding between the mace tectoninc, & race face FR.

[wavedancer]

It's true that nothing builds confidence like practice and skills training. I have done a couple of skills sessions and definitely want to do more. The reality is that I'm taking up this sport a little late (I'm 57) and already have osteoporosis, so a little extra protection is probably prudent.

I try to analyze what happens on my falls, but sometimes it seems to be boom! I'm down! So far no severe damage, just lots of hematomas. I love riding single track, though, and while I would love it if all the trails were smooth, buff, swoopy, with the occasional ramped boulder, that's not always the case. I still walk a lot of loose twisty downhill stuff, but I know that much of it I could roll down. Just looking for a bit of insurance as I let myself do it.

I have not had much luck in finding guards locally to try on. I tried some 661 knee and knee-shin guards, but they were still too big, even in a small. At one shop I picked up a set of kids scooter pads! They look like they might give some decent knee protection and they even came with elbow guards. For $12.95 for the set I figure I'll give them a try!

The Skinz look interesting. SK, do you use the ones with the hard shell in them or just the nylon and neoprene? Has anyone tried Rockgardn guards? Rockgardn
They seem to have some different size options.

Once again, thanks for all the suggestions.

Linda

[SadieKate]

I just use the basic knee right at the top of the Body Armor section. It looks like the same product is made in children's sizes.

[tattiefritter]

Everybody's head is in a different place and if a little Armour helps them gain confidence and learn without being hurt, go for it. I don't care how many times you watch someone, you have to take the plunge and a little armor can help your mental attitude preventing a fall. Even a minor fall or brush up against volcanic rock or sandstone can do some damage. Gauge what your risks are against the type of riding and temperature, and try to find something that you will be willing to wear.

Your absolutely right SK, I'll get off the high horse I seem to have found myself on!

I've been riding a couple of years now and armour wasn't common at all then, very rare for XC type riding so it didn't enter my head to want it. Its still very rare anywhere except the purpose built trails in UK forestry centres. I do have to wonder whether I would be so blase about it if I was starting now. One of the things I want to do next year is learn to jump a bit,not high or big just a bit and I'll likely have armour on for that. Voluntarily launching of the upslope of a jump is something I'm not great with at all Drops of a foot or two aren't so bad but jumps (shudder).

If I ever decide to do full on downhill then I'll be first in line for the stormtrooper suit!

[mtngirl]

I have started using knee/shin guards and elbow guards when i'm riding on particularly technical stuff and i will continue to do so until i think the chances of falling are small. It's not that uncommon for me to fall and it usually means scabs and/or bruises and w/my pads my body looks better afterwards. I've seen many mtn bike girls w/really scarred up legs and i'd like to avoid that. Also, getting up in age i notice that it takes longer to heal. I did however, find a way to get hurt even w/the pads! About a month ago i was coming down San Juan mtn and fell into a bush and darn if a sharp branch in the bush didn't rip the top of my ear apart by poking right in the ear opening of my helmet. I ended up w/about 15 stitches to put it back together. I'm all good now w/a teeny scar, but trying to avoid completely wrecking my body.

[Pebble]

I've ordered a set of Race Face Rally Free Ride Pads, will report back next week after I've had a chance to have a ride etc. If the knees work well I'll consider wether I need elbows or not.



and should have a set of these on the way too!

[DirtDiva]

Well, if you're riding those nasties, you definitely want the shin coverage!

[Pebble]

My first impression was: Gee these look bulky and they are also darker grey than they look in photos. They seem slightly heavier than the fox pads too.

And the verdict is

I rode for about an hour or so (18ks), it had rained late yesterday so there was some mud on parts of the trail (otherwise it was mostly dry). Temperature today is supposed to be 36deg C, I went out about 9am before it got too hot.

I did the tops straps fairly loose to start with, one pad started croaking so after going up and down the hill I tightened them up. No chafing behind the knee at all which was my main concern when I wore them around the house.

The pads are hotter than the fox launch ones, they are bulkier, but they are really comfortable to pedal in.

Only problem is mud flicking up and for some reason it likes to get into the pads above the knee - that can lead to irritation, I found a couple of red marks just above my right knee which feel tender now that I'm back home, only thing I can put it down to is the mud that got in as the inside pads are soft as. I reckon most pads would probably have the mud problem though - fox ones certainly would as the top opens up just like the RF pads.

Coasting down hill I could feel the cool breeze coming in, but nothing like it did with the foxes - I imagine the Race Face DH version may have better front venting as it has more of a baffle system similar to the fox launch pads allowing more air flow.

In the end I reckon if you live in a hot climate you're probably used to riding in it enough not to worry about having sweaty legs - it didn't seem to make me feel any hotter overall.

And if you pedal heaps then these are worth a look, if you have big legs / calves you should probably try them on first as the straps can be on the short side. Also if you don't like burly looking pads they're probably not for you.

Protection, Comfort, that's all I ask of them, and seems to be what I'll get!

Big ugly leg - showing the mud that got in....


Gee they don't actually look that bad in a photo! Look bulkier from my point of view.