Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about it.

[Mikie]

Old School , Old School, Old School . . . but, now I'm getting old . . .

With as much chunky as I am riding more and more, my AARP Card will prolly NOT protect me on some of the chunk I seem to be riding more and more. I rarely shuttle, but when I do I drink Dos Equis, no wait! Wrong Pitch!

Be nice to have some protection gear I can haul up with me on my climbs, no TOO burdensome to haul up, but enough to protect shins, elbows and whatevah on the chunky descents. I'm still the guy who wears roadie shorts and a jersey so I need help getting caught up on what works and what to stay away from.

Can my imtbtrails brothahs and sistahs help a guy out?

 

[Rob S.]

Re: Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about

You're gonna look like all the other punk ass whipper snappers.
At least now people won't be confusing the two of us.

 

[mike]

Re: Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about

Hey, boss,

Good on you for minimizing hospital time and maximizing relaxed fun. You don't really need true DH gear; lots of options for trail riding out now which are more comfy and less obtrusive.

G-form pads are very popular and some of the most minimal out there. I can see them being better than nothing and easy to tote, but I prefer more pro.

No need to go with a plastic knee/elbow cap with the newer forming materials used in POC, some TLDs and others. The POC pads I got a few months ago are the best I've used, but priced commensurately. These are my third set of pads for trail riding. This is what I think are the most important criteria:

1 pad's ability to stay in place during stacking
2 protection
3 minimal dependence on rubber elastic
4 cool enough
5 ease of putting on

I wash out my pads after every ride, because salt will destroy elastic. I don't wear them on the way up the hill, just tech downhills. (As u know, Mikie.) I strap knee pads to my bars and put elbows in the pack riding up the hill. Taking shoes off is a slight inconvenience, but that's the price I pay for the fit/design I want.

Another knee style (Troy Lee, etc) have a super light "pad" you put on before your shoes, then strap the armor part on over that without taking your shoe off.

And of course ones that simply strap on, which have been the least effective at staying in place for me.

If you ride with SPD-style shoes, it's probably moot because you can most likely slip a pad on over your shoe. Five Ten Impact or similar shoes for flats are too much shoe to stretch a pad over IME.

Try to find knees that have a strap over the top of your calf and below the joint. Knees are famous for falling down, and this is a key feature to avert that. Remember that every elastic strap will loosen over time due to salt and UV light. You most likely can do without a knee/shin pad; just get a good-fitting knee. Add a tall sock for good PO and minor shinburger protection.


Pads are great for bolstering your confidence, but don't get intoxicated with it. Many padded-up riders get hurt. Wrists, hands, shoulders, ribs, backs, and hips are just as likely as any body parts to take a hit, but there's only so much you can realistically protect...

 

[Mikie]

Re: Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about

What about the Race Face Ambush Knee and Elbow Gear?

 

[rossage]

Re: Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about

I use the G Form elbow and knees pads for those rare occasions when I do pad up.

 

[Neccros]

Re: Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about

I have a brand new set of Pro Tec shin/knee pads and forearm/elbow pads I wanna sell...

Lemme know if interested

 

[Mikie]

Re: Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about

I have a brand new set of Pro Tec shin/knee pads and forearm/elbow pads I wanna sell...

Lemme know if interested

Are they Pro-Tec Pinner LT's?





If so...
What size?
How much do you want for them?

 

[Neccros]

Re: Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about

Yes the shin/knee ones are Pinners but the elbows are Huckers.. <a class="postlink" href="http://www.cycle-route.com/images/products/large/1/1976.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.cycle-route.com/images/produ ... 1/1976.jpg</a>

Was thinking about $60 for both? both in the original bag, never even tried on. Got them through a friend and ended up not trying dirt jumping.

I beleive they are both large

 

[Mikie]

Re: Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about

Yes the shin/knee ones are Pinners but the elbows are Huckers.. <a class="postlink" href="http://www.cycle-route.com/images/products/large/1/1976.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.cycle-route.com/images/produ ... 1/1976.jpg</a>

Was thinking about $60 for both? both in the original bag, never even tried on. Got them through a friend and ended up not trying dirt jumping.

I believe they are both large

Cool, I will take them. No doubt you live in OC, right?
Be nice to have them for tomorrow, but the logistics will probably not work out.

Thanks Neccros! I'm gonna PM you...

 

[herzalot]

Re: Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about

and ended up not trying dirt jumping.

Hey me too!!!! :wave:

Mikie - you need to understand that the truly cool DHers and bike park riders wear only a full face, a neck brace and knee pads. Make sure you wear a tank top (or singlet as our Aussie and English brethren call them) and never wear arm/elbow pads even though that's the first thing that usually hits the ground. If you really, really want to be cool, get rid of the gloves too! :twisted:

 

[7Mary3]

Re: Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about

The best way to see if they are a fit is to personally try them out..I ordered a few through Jensons and they never fit..what i thought as manly MEDIUM arms turned out to be girly SMALLs.

 

[Neccros]

Re: Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about

The pads I have are L/XL

 

[herzalot]

Re: Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about

Be nice to have some protection gear I can haul up with me on my climbs, no TOO burdensome to haul up, but enough to protect shins, elbows and whatevah on the chunky descents. I'm still the guy who wears roadie shorts and a jersey so I need help getting caught up on what works and what to stay away from.

Can my imtbtrails brothahs and sistahs help a guy out?

NEVER EVER EVER wear body armor if you are wearing lycra shorts. The entire MtB universe will implode into some sort of anti-fashion vortex. AT LEAST put some surf trunks over them if you must wear your favorite tighties. (See Niner WFO review for fashion tip).

I too have been on a life-long quest for elbow and forearm protection that doesn't weigh much, is easy to put on , and actually stay in place when I fall. I have been carrying the TLD somethin somethins and they seem to fulfill that need. They are light, they stay in place as well as any and they aren't too hard to put on (although I do take off my watch and gloves). Buy them tight. I think mine are mediums.

<a class="postlink" href="https://www.troyleedesigns.com/products/5250-02" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://www.troyleedesigns.com/products/5250-02</a>

I was wearing Race Face knee pads and found them light and comfortable too - for knee pads - but then I realized that when I fall, I tuck and roll over my elbows and forearms and rarely touch my knees, so I am the height of anti-fashion by wearing elbow guards but no knee guards. I am talking a typical trail ride. If I am shuttling or riding park, I either wear knee pads (clipped in) or full knee-shin combo (flats).

 

[mike]

Re: Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about

The best way to see if they are a fit is to personally try them out.

+1

I wore mine around the house before using them and ended up taking the elbows back for a larger size.

I agree with fitting them as small as you can. They will loosen over time.


Lycra and knee pads, sounds like a functional winner to me. Especially with knee socks. Seriously, I sometimes don board shorts over biking shorts along with pads before descending, as lycra is a pretty poor defense against flogging bushes and sliding on the ground. Whatever I wear climbing the hill will be wet at the top, so this works well in that regard, too.

 

[7Mary3]

Re: Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about

I have these 661 Rage..seem to run a size bigger..I'm 5'9" 167 lbs and I use a S for arms and M for knees.. These are really nice.

 

[RS VR6]

Re: Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about

I got the 661 Rage also. Got them from Chainlove. I also got them a size too big. I had to get small.

 

[7Mary3]

Re: Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about

I would err' on the smaller size as it will expand/stretch over time..but not to snug that you are losing feeling..put them on at the store and walk around..

 

[Neccros]

Re: Downhill Gear . . . . yeah, I'm actually thinking about

Mikie,

Your pads are in the mail! Just waiting for the tracking number from my helper elf...