who wears elbow / knee protection?

danlightbulb

I had an off yesterday, the simplist of rock gardens at Cannock, ridden it loads of times. Nevertheless my front wheel got stuck in a slight hollow and I went over the handlebars, landed on my right elbow bone and man its hurting today.

Anyway, this has got me thinking should I wear some basic elbow and knee protection. I had thought it overkill until now, I guess its like a helmet, you only need it when you have a crash.

Just wondered what other people do, I do see probably 10% of the riders wearing these at Cannock but most dont.

Thanks

bennett_346

I wear knee protection on every ride, but only lightweight flexy stuff. Can't bear chunky stuff.




They're G-form pads, they're soft and flexy then harden upon impact. They work very well and they're cheap, i'd reccomend them.

danlightbulb

Yes something lightweight would be ideal, I only ride XC trails. Any links would be appreciated.

YeehaaMcgee

I use knee pads quite often, since I'm paranoid about messing up my knee again. I also have elbow pads, but find them a bit clumsy, so I only wear them after hurting my elbow, to protect it whilst it heals.
Nothing worse than landing on an elbow that you've already taken the skin off the previous week.

Majski

I pretty much always wear my kyle strait knee pads - even for XC. For DH trails I mostly just wear my knee pads, but if it's a bit gnarly or wet and slippy i'll wear any combo of my 661 race knee / shins, 661 evo elbows and a 661 core saver. I found having the elbows / core saver combo is much more flexible than a pressure suit

Thewaylander

Said it before, you can cause serious dmg to your knee's at even slow speed, i think you'd be mad not to wear some for how cheap they can be. I've seen people being carried down trails on stretchers all over from not putting on pads as there knee's have taken a hit.

Titanium Tom

I depends on where you feel vulnerable! In the summer it is the bare elbows that worry me. I bought a pair of the 661 elbow pads and they are cheap and great.
If I'm wrapped up in layers I tend not to wear them but they still fit over clothing. I don't seem to worry too much about knees but I guess as you say in your original thread "you don't know you need it until you have an off!"

TT

cooldad

Nope.

warpcow

I'm a serial knee-basher, so wear my Kyle Straits for about 90% of riding. As Thewaylander says, you'd be surprised how much damage you can do even at low (or no) speeds. When it comes to how bulky they might need to be, you should think about how much protection you want/need from cutting type damage.

AMcK

I never bothered until I had an off over the bars in a rock garden section at Innerleithen in March, and split my knee open quite badly (although rideable).

So bought some 661 knee pads as a result and wouldn't be without them - had a similar off quite recently (always rock garden!!) landed heavily on the same knee, no damage whatsoever, except to my confidence. I'd like some pads for that.

YeehaaMcgee

AMcK wrote:

my confidence. I'd like some pads for that.

Armour for your confidence? No problem, just talk to your local urban chemist.

hiswitsend

Had never thought of them until I went to have a look at the Strathpuffer Lite course; presence of lots of rocky stiff made me reconsider and now have the same g-form stuff that Bennett_346 has. Worn them twice and are as noticeable as my playtex 18 hour girdle

cooldad

Hiswitsend wrote:

Had never thought of them until I went to have a look at the Strathpuffer Lite course; presence of lots of rocky stiff made me reconsider and now have the same g-form stuff that Bennett_346 has. Worn them twice and are as noticeable as my playtex 18 hour girdle

Mention rocky stiff and your girdle in the same post might have outed you.

hiswitsend

cooldad wrote:

Hiswitsend wrote:

Had never thought of them until I went to have a look at the Strathpuffer Lite course; presence of lots of rocky stiff made me reconsider and now have the same g-form stuff that Bennett_346 has. Worn them twice and are as noticeable as my playtex 18 hour girdle

Mention rocky stiff and your girdle in the same post might have outed you.

*ahem... that should have been rocky stuff...honest!

paul.skibum

Knee pads always (661 Kyle Strait) - I said to one of my mates the other day when he asked why I was putting them on for a gentle ride with him and his GF "they are in the car, if I dont put them on and need them I am going to feel a right tit" plus they are easy to pedal in and dont get too hot so no issues.

I have elbows (well actually as I found out last summer I have some very small 661 chicken knee pads that barely fit my arms I cant imagine who they are designed for!) but only where them for bike park riding with my FF helmet.

leaflite

I always wear my 661 kyle strait knee pads too.
They dont affect my pedalling ability at all, so I see no reason not to wear them. Whilst not giving massive protection, they have let me get away with a few bruises instead of what would have probably been a blood injury on several occasions. They are very reasonably priced too. I think 661 have stopped making them or changed the name for this year though.

MDobs

Don't wear either although I have been thinking about knee pads recently, but will only get them if I start to do more techy riding instead of the straight forward XC I ride normally. Having popped my collar bone out playing football before I'm more concerned about doing that again than banging my knee/elbow, and pads won't help me there.

gezebo

I don't wear either. There is no right or wrong, just make your own mind up!

mcnultycop

I've just got back from picking up some knee pads after an off at Llandegla last Friday. I'll be seeing how I get on with them on my local trails next week (if they dry up).

cooldad

mcnultycop wrote:

I've just got back from picking up some knee pads after an off at Llandegla last Friday. I'll be seeing how I get on with them on my local trails next week (if they dry up).

Should have bought the dry pads not the wet ones.

Northwind

I always wear my knee pads, there's almost no downside and there can be quite a lot of upside. Funny that most people think wearing a helmet is essential even though they're not all that effective, and you're relatively unlikely to take a hit on the head, but you get such different responses with knees.

Elbows isn't so simple as your arms operate a bit differently to knees and so it's harder to make a pad that protects, stays in place, but doesn't restrict or sweat or squeeze- most downside, with most pads. You can go with something like POC Bones, which are incredibly good, but very expensive and make you look like a stormtrooper a bit, but most elbow pads have at least a few drawbacks.

paul.skibum

A quote (from Bikram the yoga dude) - "you can mess with the gods, you can mess with me but don't mess with your knees"

So much stuff in your knees that can get fudged up by the simplest spill the stabilising and protective effect of a simple knee pad is a no brainer for me.

My second ride this spring (once the snow cleared) I stepped over the bars rolled a little on my ankle as I landed and had to drop a knee, hard onto a pointy rock. Blood and more if I hadn't been wearing my 661's, witht hem on I just winced, jumped up and rode on.

Woody80

Always wear knee pads (smashed my knee up in a motorbike off) and put elbow pads on for DH stuff with the FF. Some of its for protection but there is also a confidence boost to hit stuff harder - not literally hopefully!

Not much of a downside either unless it's wet and gritty and the pads scrape the skin off your legs but it heals in the end.....

snotty badger

Nearly always wear knee pads, only longer rides that I haven't, 40 miles+ cause a little bit of chaffage so I take the gamble and ride with more caution.

gingerrob25

Normally wear my 661 rhythm elbow pads for most things rougher than xc as they arn't to bulky

Also thinking about getting some knee pads, but can't decide on a pair yet

felix.london

Where knee pads (Kyle Strait) & elbow protection (Subgear) for all rides (except pub/shop etc)

danlightbulb

Thanks for your input guys. Looking for something lightweight, not a hard cap thing really. How do these ones look?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=39366
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=61029
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=30731

leaflite

I would reccomend these, if you can find the 2012 model and in your size:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24933

DodgeT

Similar here, always wear my kyle straits (knees). Put them on and forget that they are there, they are really comfy. Been a few times i've been grateful they were there.

For gnarly stuff, stick a sub top (inc elbows) and FF on. Would ideally like some basic elbow protection though for general duties. I have some chicken wings but don't really like them.

welshkev

i wear kyle strait earth knee pads, glad i do as well as i came off about 2 months ago and cut my leg open through my pads!!!! if i hadn't had the pads on who know's what i would've done - but it definately would've involved a trip to hospital :shock:

felix.london

danlightbulb wrote:

Thanks for your input guys. Looking for something lightweight, not a hard cap thing really. How do these ones look?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=39366
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=61029
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=30731

I would recommend spending a little more if possible

The 661 Kyle Strait (Replaced this year by the 'Rage') are very good knee pads but you'll be lucky to get them for less than £40. I wear mine all day with no issues at all. They stay in place and once you've broken them in a bit you forget you're wearing them

I've heard good things about the 'Riot' Elbow too