Body Armour

[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.

[tattiefritter]

Pebble,

they do look super bulky but not bad when looking at yourself in a photo, I found the same thing!

I got quite a bad rubbing above one of my knees on the first outing as I wore the top straps a bit looser for pedalling up hill - big mistake, it allowed them to rub. I put some bodyglide round my knees next time I wore them but since then tightening the upper straps properly was enough to stop them rubbing when I was on holiday - though I didn't wear them on long climbs.

The elbows are very comfortable if a little warm because of the solid black stretchy bit you put your arm through (sorry my descriptive powers are a little lacking) and I found them really hot, like I was riding wearing long sleeves. I was wearing them in Spain though and us Scottish people are not designed for the heat so that probably had something to do with it!

[Pebble]

If I do end up looking into elbows I'll probably hunt around for just an elbow (no forearm protection).

Bodyglide - I've heard of that a few times on forums - is it like Vaseline?