Peter88
Veteran
- Location
- Failsworth
Protection
- Thread starter Peter88
- Start date
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Panter
Just call me Chris...
- Location
- Sittingbourne, Kent
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
If anything I'd say your links were to DH oriented stuff, which may be a bit sweaty/cumbersome on XC rides. Look at 661 Kyle Straight, or Veggie stuff.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=30894
These look like a bargain
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=39496
Muddy Ground
New Member
Not wishing to sound rude, but have you thought of doing a 'basic' skills course? My wife sent me on one recently, and I learnt more in three hours training than I have in several decades worth of mountain biking. I was very dismissive of the thing initially, especially as it was being run by a girl, but she had skills beyond us mere mortals. I'd not do the very basic "what is a bike" version, but the intermediate to advanced are very good, especially the singletrack / energy management ones. Believe me, there's a world of difference between what you or I do on a Sunday and what a professional does by way of routine riding.
If I had the choice between spending money on shin pads or a course, I'd do a course every single time.
Also don't forget the more gear you have, the greater the danger is of hitting the "All gear, no idea" zone!
MG
If I had the choice between spending money on shin pads or a course, I'd do a course every single time.
Also don't forget the more gear you have, the greater the danger is of hitting the "All gear, no idea" zone!
MG
According to the anti helmet brigade you are more likely to come a cropper if you wear protective gear. I agree with Muddy Gear, in fact my Daughter in Law just did a course in France and was convinced of it's benefits, she has raced for many years and been National Points winner and I think is still ranked number one in UK for Vet women, so if she can benefit as Muddy says us mere mortals.
david1701
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Bude, Cornwall
rule 52......
Rule #52 / Padding or body armor of any kind is not allowed.If you find you need it, try pointing your bike up the hill for a change.
http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/
Rule #52 / Padding or body armor of any kind is not allowed.If you find you need it, try pointing your bike up the hill for a change.
http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/
Kirstie
Über Member
If you want to know about energy conservation then ride singlespeed....
Muddy Ground
New Member
Yeah, one of the guys we had as a teacher rode a singlespeed - he'd just completed the Trans Rocky alone on one. In terms of energy management it was more about maintaining speed without pedaling, so laying the bike down whilst standing up type of thing. They showed us that falling off is more about the tyres not being correctly loaded, poor body position or not enough speed.
Really - don't buy / waste money on protective gear until you've looked into the course option. How many cross country racers do you see wearing shin pads etc.? Bet ten pounds to a penny they do more extreme stuff than 99% of us here. Have you seen XC courses these days? I rode one in Belgium that had harder sections on it than I found coming down Snowdon recently. And look at Dalby's XC course.....
MG
Really - don't buy / waste money on protective gear until you've looked into the course option. How many cross country racers do you see wearing shin pads etc.? Bet ten pounds to a penny they do more extreme stuff than 99% of us here. Have you seen XC courses these days? I rode one in Belgium that had harder sections on it than I found coming down Snowdon recently. And look at Dalby's XC course.....
MG
zizou
Veteran
Knee pads are not essential but they are useful for preventing banged or bloody knees, the sort of injury that might not be serious but makes cycling until it heals quite difficult. A skills course is always a good recommendation but even with great skills you are still going to fall off sometimes.
661 kyle straits are probably the most popular choice and i'd recommend them too. Comfortable and pretty good protection. If you ride clipless then you dont need shin pads. if you ride pedals with sharpish pins then they can become more useful.
I've never tried elbow pads on their own, one of my friends uses them and he seems to have problems with them falling down or moving out of place when on a rough descent
661 kyle straits are probably the most popular choice and i'd recommend them too. Comfortable and pretty good protection. If you ride clipless then you dont need shin pads. if you ride pedals with sharpish pins then they can become more useful.
I've never tried elbow pads on their own, one of my friends uses them and he seems to have problems with them falling down or moving out of place when on a rough descent
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
Zizou makes some good points. OK, so we can all come out with replies that "If you rode well enough you won't fall off, so learn to ride etc etc"
I had a bad fall a couple of years back. It knocked my confidence so badly it took me months to trust myself on a loose rocky descent. Even then I would stutter down it gingerly, which we all know is counterproductive. I just got myself back into riding something like when I binned it, big style, on a steep downhill riding over loose hardcore, and stuffed a brick end into the tender spot just under my kneecap.
I was on the point of giving up completely and selling the bike, but my son lent me his Kyle Straits and dragged me to a local quarry. Within half an hour I had plucked up enough courage to do a couple of chutes, and by the end of the week I was able to be a bit braver.
Now, whenever we go to a trail centre, I'll pack some pads, and wear them in the skills park to get a bit bigger/faster etc. On certain trails I wouldn't ride without them, as the confidence they give me is the difference between getting off and carrying the bike, or riding a tough section.
If the OP needs that boost of confidence, then a cheapish lightweight pair of kneepads may well be the answer.
I had a bad fall a couple of years back. It knocked my confidence so badly it took me months to trust myself on a loose rocky descent. Even then I would stutter down it gingerly, which we all know is counterproductive. I just got myself back into riding something like when I binned it, big style, on a steep downhill riding over loose hardcore, and stuffed a brick end into the tender spot just under my kneecap.
I was on the point of giving up completely and selling the bike, but my son lent me his Kyle Straits and dragged me to a local quarry. Within half an hour I had plucked up enough courage to do a couple of chutes, and by the end of the week I was able to be a bit braver.
Now, whenever we go to a trail centre, I'll pack some pads, and wear them in the skills park to get a bit bigger/faster etc. On certain trails I wouldn't ride without them, as the confidence they give me is the difference between getting off and carrying the bike, or riding a tough section.
If the OP needs that boost of confidence, then a cheapish lightweight pair of kneepads may well be the answer.
U
User482
Guest
This is a gross misrepresentation of the concept of risk compensation.
MTBers deliberately take risks - it's part of the appeal. So if you're looking to push the boundaries, then some protective gear is sensible. Nothing to do with whether or not it's sensible to wear a helmet on the road.
Zoiders
New Member
- Location
- Ice Station Zebra
If it's a good club you shouldn't have to pay to do a course elsewhere the expertise should exist within the club and people will share it with you.
Despite what people think a lot of good riders got that way by riding a lot, not because they payed to be instructed how to do so.
How do you think the "instructors" got to that level?
Despite what people think a lot of good riders got that way by riding a lot, not because they payed to be instructed how to do so.
How do you think the "instructors" got to that level?
GilesM
Legendary Member
- Location
- East Lothian
I would suggest that the more flexible pads would be better for XC type riding, as already mentioned, something like the 661 Kyle Straight would be pretty good, I'd recommend going to a good bike shop and try different pads on, see which ones you are happy with.
GilesM
Legendary Member
- Location
- East Lothian
I'm sure the best riders could learn something from a top instructor, however as I'm just about to book a course with Dirtschool (Chris Ball's company) I'll let you know if it was money well spent, best bit is my employer pays a sports bonus, so it won't actually cost me anything.
Zoiders
New Member
- Location
- Ice Station Zebra
I still have issue with this concept that you have to shell out cash on instruction to be good at every activity.
It's just doesn't chime with my experience of certain sports, MTB-ing simply for pleasure becoming a monetized industry where everyone thinks they have to stump up for lessons just seems a bit odd.
It's just doesn't chime with my experience of certain sports, MTB-ing simply for pleasure becoming a monetized industry where everyone thinks they have to stump up for lessons just seems a bit odd.