Mountain Biking - Protectors

ok, i'm basically an XC rider, but i also love technical trails and downhilling...

last year i had 4 crashes and hurt my shoulder 3 times (just scratches and bruises and bleeding, no breaks) and broke both my left and right index fingers...

i bought shin/leg guards last year and like them a lot - the lightweight Dianese with 3-velco straps for easy on-off.

i also have basic full-finger gloves (Answer) with thick reinforced pads for finger support on the back side, but they're really not much protection.

so the question is:
are there any other protectors i should really consider?
* thicker more protective gloves? i don't really know what there is
* elbow pads? i don't really seem to hurt the elbows much
* full face helmet? they are SO expensive and since i would only need it some of the time i would think i would want the removable kind (i think someone makes one) but doesn't seem like it's worth it for mostly XC and occaisonal downhill - i mean i'll have to carry that extra weight and sweat with it on too
* torso? there are various chest/torso intergrated shirt/jackets. they all semm pretty expensive.
* back supporter or whatever those guys wear fo rmotorcross - who really needs that?
* is there any was to get just shoulder protection without having to buy an expensive and heavy motorcross type suit?

i guess better gloves and maybe shoulder pads i would be the most interested but i don't know what's avaiable...

Full face helmets are cheap dude! You can find them for less than 75 bucks now... cheaper than some XC style helmets. To my knowledge there's no shoulder protection unless you buy a full chest protector. I'd worry more about my knees/legs, my face/head, and maybe my elbows, but I don't usually injure those too much.

Full face helmets are cheap dude! You can find them for less than 75 bucks now

really? i was in the LBS today and glanced at their helmet and they only had 2 - both from Giro i think - and one was $180 and the other $238! anyway, i guess there must be more out there and i haven't look since about 3 years ago after my big crash where i broke my nose, chipped 2 teeth and ripped my lower lip up...

are there any that are lightweight enough for XC riding - i.e. not heavy AND ventilated enough to do a long climb in?

or is there something where the chin guard can be easily removed for general XC riding and then snapped in place for a donwhill?

You can buy chest armour that has some shoulder protection. 661 has one as does every company I believe. I don't think you can JUST have shoulder. The chest armour is small and light and only offers the smallest protection so I don't imagine it is too cumbersome.

Giros are expensive. There are cheaper brands out there. Netti and Mace both have helmets that are 140 cdn. Cheap, protective AND good ventilation may be another issue.

The giro switchblade is the only helmet I can think of that would suit that criteria, I'm not sure about the look of it without the shield though. Price Point (http://pricepoint.com/product121.html) has them for $119, which isn't that bad.

-Midd-zon

Look on MTBR.com for the 661 Full Bravo. I've got one of those helmets. I don't wear it for XC riding, but I wear it when I plan to go big. Pretty comfortable, well ventilated.. and worth the extra weight for the teeth/bones you may save.

Last time I came down a rocky hillside I almost dove my knee into a boulder. Since then I've been afraid to go back to that trail w/o proper knee and shin guards.

If you want an inexpensive full face, check out Bell's Rythm Pro. I think I paid $45 usd for mine! I occasionally wear my knee/shin guards, but they're pretty damn hot, and I haven't crashed hard in awhile (just jinxed myself).

I don't wear elbow pads, but usually wear a long sleeved jersey, doubt that'll do much in a crash, but it helps with tree branches.

Full fingered gloves, I have a bit of a glove fetish, and own more that I could possible ever wear through. Currently, my favorites are some Answer.

That's about it for my personal protection, with the exception of the crucial prayer to God before every ride!

BTW, that's $45 united states dollar, not "used".

L8R

i agree with middi zon giro full face i ve got one for summer and one for winter here in canada the bike helmet was 250 bucks and my snowboard helmet was only 150 bucks but it has less vents and a hard plastic shell if i could put up with the heat i would have just bought the snowboard helmet giro rules great warrenty if you crash there is a replacement program DONT GO CHEAP ON A HELMET think about it sure you could get a full face helmet for 45 bucks its worth 45 bucks save up get a good helmet, also fox make a great forearm elbo pad that is very comfy light and functional (inexspensive) shin and knee well im a six six one guy there great pads and helmet for that matter, i forget the name of the company but armordillo is the name of the back protector i wear its nice a little pricy but so is spine surgury