Body armour in the Peleton

alan_sherman

Crashes. Too many. So will we start to see riders wearing a bit more protection so they can get up and ride again? Will the UCI allow it? Will we start seeing sprinters 'pad-up? God knows what it feels like to hit tarmac wearing lycra at 40 mph.

I've hit the deck only a couple of times and always wear mitts so my hands are protected, I could see ankle, elbow, hip and knee protection (even if only abrasion protection) may be of use.

Leather chaps perhaps? Maybe for riders from Bavaria.
Leather elbow patches? That would fit with the hipster look that is taking over mainstream cycling.
Knee patches would be hard, and give horrible tan lines.

pottssteve

Too heavy and not aero, so I don't think so.

above_the_cows

pottssteve wrote:

Too heavy and not aero, so I don't think so.

Certainly not for Cheng. Cheng IS body armour.

type:epyt

(easier not to bother)

ben@31

Above The Cows wrote:

pottssteve wrote:

Too heavy and not aero, so I don't think so.

Certainly not for Cheng. Cheng IS body armour.

Can you even get injured when cycling at such a slow speed? It would be like toppling over at a standstill

ManOfKent

alan sherman wrote:

Crashes. Too many. So will we start to see riders wearing a bit more protection so they can get up and ride again? Will the UCI allow it? Will we start seeing sprinters 'pad-up? God knows what it feels like to hit tarmac wearing lycra at 40 mph.

I've hit the deck only a couple of times and always wear mitts so my hands are protected, I could see ankle, elbow, hip and knee protection (even if only abrasion protection) may be of use.

I met someone a couple of months ago who'd started looking seriously at the possibility of producing lightweight pads to be made from kevlar or similar and worn under the kit on thighs and elbows, to provide some protection from road rash. He'd lost most of the skin from his back in a stage race in the US (whilst wearing the yellow jersey) and decided something that could enable him to ride on after sliding along the road would have been a good idea. He saw it being most useful in crits, for amateurs who aren't paid to get hurt.

I don't see why the UCI wouldn't allow that kind of innovation, although there's a big difference between protection from abrasions and preventing the kind of injuries that did for Phinney, Froome, Frank and Contador.

frisbee

Airbags. They use them in motogp.

ddraver

XC racers don't use it. Even enduro riders wear very little. The benefits just don't outweigh the negatives...

Daz555

ManOfKent wrote:

I don't see why the UCI wouldn't allow that kind of innovation, although there's a big difference between protection from abrasions and preventing the kind of injuries that did for Phinney, Froome, Frank and Contador.

I doubt they'd ban it but the pro riders would not wear it because of the aero, heat and weight penalty - unless they were forced, as with helmets which have exactly the same problem.

rob churchill

Armour, probably not. But a few strategically placed panels of cordura in your shorts/jersey would have next to no weight, comfort, or aero penalty. I could see that catching on.

rick_chasey

Solution is to crash less.