How much do you value your body?

[MrSpike]

Just curious, as to how much Armour/pads people on here wear when riding. Whether it be free-riding, Downhilling, Dirt jumping or street.

For me - When I was at Interschools in Thredbo I wore a full face, armor suit (spine guard, chest plates, elbow pads and shoulder pads - all in one) and knee shin pads. As well as gloves and goggles. I wore this for DH and 4X. Only recently when riding I haven't been wearing the Armor suit or a full face. But I have only been jumping small things recently. If I go free-riding or DH I will be wearing the full she-bang.

I find that wearing the armor suit makes me feel more secure.

How about everyone else?

Kane

[Doggy]

Due to the fact that I do manual work (Im a sparky) I need my body, therefore I think nothing of wearing full face, knees/shin guards, dianese pressure suit and gloves. If I have to take time off work due to a serious MTB related injury it usually costs me between 3 - 5 grand in wages and I would rather have the security of armour then the loss of wages

[fatass]

If it's local downhill, push runs and hot it's a pisspot, goggles and gloves, might chuck in kneepads depending how im feeling. Cold shuttles is the full shebang, tld body, kneepads, fullface. Cold push is all, normal push is full face, goggles, gloves and knee's and normal shuttles is that + armour depending on track.

[chu]

well i always wear armour but not always race suit or pressure suit or whatever you call them i only wear them when i am racing because i tend to stack a lot and i need every bit of protection that i can get at those times because, well i have broken 3 bones this year and had 4 bouts of surgery and have a 5th one coming up. i know that armour probably doesnt matter if you fall like a sack of potatoes but other than that just chin pads, helmet, gloves and clothes. i do value my body highly because when i am broken i cant ride and when i cant ride i got nothing else so yeah:)

[Air time erik]

Depends on how I feel about the track, if i am comfortable with it, doing push runs so on, little to no amour, other wise its 661 jacket, leg amour, fullface, and goggles.
A full Face is a must always!

[DJR]

For all riding, gloves, helmet and knee/shins (don't want my pedals eating my shins)

DH/FR gets a fullface+goggles, gloves, elbow/forearm guards and knee/shins. Getting body armour very soon after casing a jump and having a slight bruise on my chest which made me realise i should be wearing armor because that could have been a lot worse! Was wearing pads at the time and landed on my elbows and knees, lucky for the pads my knee swelled up and hurt for a couple of days and now it's fine, but i'd hate to have landed on my back on a rock or something without body armour.

Of course you'll get the ppl in this thread saying armour is useless because it just makes you go harder and stack more, but honestly i'd rather be wearing the armor than take that attitude and get nailed by a rock or something because i was being too careful and went too slow, endo-ing in the process.

[dcrofty]

Few more replies here too
http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?t=106711

I personally wear full armour mostly now as I work a manual job and (sorry to name drop a bit here) I'm learning to ride the North Shore in Winter and its bloody slippery and technical.

[BrumbyJack]

Due to the fact that I do manual work (Im a sparky) I need my body, therefore I think nothing of wearing full face, knees/shin guards, dianese pressure suit and gloves. If I have to take time off work due to a serious MTB related injury it usually costs me between 3 - 5 grand in wages and I would rather have the security of armour then the loss of wages

Yep, don't have the "it wont happen to me" attitude...

I got smashed up XC skiing of all things (usually harmless) at the end of August... I've been off work since then and wont be back until at least mid February. It makes it tough when there are bills to pay etc.

I've been back on my MTB for about 2 weeks, but it will be a while before I can do anything seriously off road... when I do it will be armour galore!!!

FWIW I'm going to Canada skiing in 11 days (for 7 weeks) but I couldn't work anyway, so it doesn't change anything (already booked when I got hurt). My employer won't let me come back until I have a medical clearance and I've still got major shoulder problems.

[dcrofty]

FWIW I'm going to Canada skiing in 11 days (for 7 weeks) but I couldn't work anyway, so it doesn't change anything (already booked when I got hurt). My employer won't let me come back until I have a medical clearance and I've still got major shoulder problems.

Please tell me you have travel insurance

[BrumbyJack]

Yes, I do...

But beware, it wont cover you if you are hurt RACING. Unless your specifically organise it before you take out the insurance. I was racing when I crashed.

Hence why my daughter is not doing any DH MTB races before we leave :( We are both covered for racing while we are away.

Next year I will make sure she is covered for racing BEFORE and AFTER we leave.

[dcrofty]

Yes, I do...

But beware, it wont cover you if you are hurt RACING. Unless your specifically organise it before you take out the insurance. I was racing when I crashed.

Hence why my daughter is not doing any DH MTB races before we leave :( We are both covered for racing while we are away.

Next year I will make sure she is covered for racing BEFORE and AFTER we leave.

Yeah, I read my fine print and discovered that little gem as well. Glad to hear that you are on the ball with all that stuff. There are some nasty stories around about uninsured air ambulances back from North America.

Last time I went OS with a recent injury the travel insurance people were kind enough to take the time to ring me and tell me that if I hurt myself skiing I wouldn't be covered. So no skiing for me (on a trip that included Whistler, Banff and Lake Louise)

[BrumbyJack]

I can't really aggravate my injury, so there shouldn't be any "pre existing" type of issues with my shoulder. I'd have to totally re injure it. (I literally smashed it) They are aware of the injury (well the broker is anyway).

My employer is just being anal... I have to be able to lift about 20kg at full reach above my head... I can't even get my arm there on it's own yet :(

I only started physio a week ago because it took that long for the bones to heal, so its just hard work ahead of me now.

[NoFearNick7]

For Thredbo i'll be wearing just a Full Face, Goggles, Shinnies and Elbow guards if my budget supports them.

Thredbo is a lot steeper and rockier than everything else around here though, so I would generally just wear a dirt lid and shinnies depending on what i'm doing.

If I were to be riding 4x i'd wear a full face, shinnies and elbow guards.

[Christo]

About $300 an hour, PM me...;)

[NoFearNick7]

About $300 an hour, PM me...;)

HAHAhAHA ROFL! Best call ever! Thats fairly pricey by the way.

[derelikt]

About $300 an hour, PM me...;)

Upper class hooker eh?

[Viv92]

HAHAhAHA ROFL! Best call ever! Thats fairly pricey by the way.

And you'd know how?















You were asking for it. :p

[DJninja]

djing- Helmet
Downhill- Full Face and shinnies

When I first started downhill I didn't have a fullface and used to do runs with a normal lid. Wouldn't even think of doing that anymore.

[NoFearNick7]

And you'd know how?

You were asking for it. :p

:rolleyes:........;)

[i like dirt]

I've always worn Fullface, goggles, gloves and kneepads for just push runs at my local or Racing. I've been considering getting body armour but I don't really have a choice now. My dad won't let me race next season if I don't wear body armour.

[faceplant666]

Well some days all i wear is a shirt pants skate helmet and shoes and my trusty wrist guard. Other times when riding DH mainly (tracks i dont ride often) Knee guards goggles helmet wrist guard shirt and shorts mainly because thats all i can afford and also because its what is most comfortable. However to me it is VERY important to protect my wrist as It has been broken four times in the same place and another fracture may reslut in plates and screws:o hmm...the boinic man

[wolverine26]

hey mate, i just wear the sixsixone helmet(sick) and the gloves. i find the gloves good as because then if you stack you dont get those annoying grazes on your hands!! and there nice to ride with! cheers mate

[Hamo]

Most of the time, for downhill I'll wear Fullface and gloves.. depending on how I'm feeling... If I'm feeling rather unco, I'll probably wear Elbows and kneeshins too...
I did break my sternum while not wearing armour downhilling... but I just feel very uncomfortable in armour, and I love feeling a but less restricted while riding downhill... and I tend to be a lot more carefull now since I've had a few injuries.

As for work... I ended up going to a training course the day after I broke my sternum (wasn't too fun) but I could never have done any manual work after that for a couple of weeks atleas.. But I'm just riding more carefully I think now

[xc_machine]

Full face, gloves and knees at DH, Bmx Helmet around town or trails... Not really that fussed on protective gear.

[morgo_mpx]

i don't usually wear any protective gear. i wear a helmet when going to street rides sometimes but that is mainly so i don't get fined by the cops.
On my current bike i have three sprockets on the front but im am so glad my new bike is gonna be ss because i was about 4mm away from damaging my acheles tendon when the back of my foot when through the teeth in the outer sprocket.
I will be getting some shinnies, gloves and a new helmet though because i am kinda accident prone.

[Dug]

Full monty for DH thats all
Helmet and gloves for XC and elbow pads on some rough technical trails.
Thinking about having a go at 4X next year and full armour would be applicable here.

[Ham]

well for street and dj a pair of levis, gloves and helmet normally suffices.

for dh i just wear my full face, goggles, gloves and shinnies.

for the rest helmet and thats about it although if im going to be doing some fr type stuff i may take shinnies with me.

i use clips most of the time so i dont use shinnies to often.

[bluewonder2]

It really depends on how hard you intend to ride.

Needless to say, always wear the appropriate helmet ( I wear a Giro Xen). For me that extends to gloves (full fingers, half fingers seem to miss the point a wee bit) and eyewear (glasses/ googles, Don't have goggles, but always wear my specialized specs.

If you are racing dh, then don't cut corners- go the full battle suit.

I guess it gets tricky when I am "just riding".

Well, when I am at You Yangs I wear knee/shin guards, and thats about it. Sometimes I carry a camelback, so I guess that doubles as back protection, all be it minimal.

Otherwise, it's just the clothes on my back.

[Wonder Boy]

word of advice
you cant put a price of your body
it is your most precious thing
you cant cut corners in taking care of your body

[JakeGorey]

Today, DJ-ing, it was hot so i took off my shirt and just rode with a helmet.. hardcore i know. (sarcasm).

[beaty]

I work full time so have to be careful at times, but i always wear a helmet (downhill: Fullface for sure. Bmx: always wear my protec helmet). Also just knee/shin gaurds and gloves.

[Ruckus_Lord]

Helmet sometimes. Shoes maybe.

[JaRedy]

Most of the time, for downhill I'll wear Fullface and gloves.. depending on how I'm feeling... If I'm feeling rather unco, I'll probably wear Elbows and kneeshins too...


I feel the same


It depends for me...
if what I'm riding has the petential to really f*** me up if I crash then I will wear my full-face, gloves and knee/shin guards...
(I usually always wear my shinguards though...)
at DH races I wear my full-face, gloves and knee/shin guards and elbow pads...I only do that becasue I'm really bad under the tiniest bit of pressure or competition, and my crash rate goes up by 111.3%

I dont wear body armour becasue I can't afford it at the moment.