Crash protection!

[bobk544]

Can anyone recommend any crash protective biking shorts, or any other crash potection gear they use to help prepare for those inevitable crash/es.

I got back on this "protective gear" kick after almost losing it yesterday on the Crescent trail - C&O to Bethesda, a nicely paved trail, very fast in places and as soon as i started enjoying the scenery a bit too much, i went off the trail onto the gravel/dirt siding, and thankfully remembered an important saying, "don't try to ajust to quickly, just ride it out, that's how most of the crashes happen" but remembered that immediately after trying to adjust and really had a scare for a few seconds, a passing biker said "you ok man?", so it must have looked pretty intense, happened too quick to remember what i did exactly, whew, but now i'm on the crash protection kick again!

I found this on the web after reading about them in the MTB forum:
http://www.bikemania.biz/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DOMINO%5FCS%5F400

I am really happy to find these shorts and will definitely buy them as soon as i can be sure that there is padding for the outside edge of the thigh area where i got pretty scrapped up last time i wiped out!

After the last crash, wher i cracked a rib, man that's a strange feeling/ healing process, i went to Dick's sporting goods - Fairfax Va and got some pretty good wrist and elbow protectors, use on every ride, they're really for roller bladers but work good for road or mountain biking, cost about $50. Since then i've been looking for some knee pad protectors after slamming my knee into a rock at Fountain Head MTB park in Fairfax, but havn't found any that are comfortable to use, the roller blader version is too restrictive and mainly for standing up straight anyway, but if you've had any experience with a good knee protector i'd sure like to hear about that as well

Good riding all
BobK

[Tom Stormcrowe]

Upper Body:
http://www.bikebandit.com/nav/chestprotectors?a=623873+622991

Knee and shin:
(http://www.rscycle.com/s.nl/it.A/id.12866/.f?sc=11&category=826&engine=adwords!7475&keyword=%28bike%2Bknee%2Bshin%2Bguards%29&match_type={ifcontent:content}&gclid=CJbC66P4uI0CFQGPWAodYwHgLg)

[markhr]

the dainese stuff is nice but tends to run very small

http://www.dainese.com/eng/coll_mtb.asp

661 also seems to be popular

http://www.sixsixone.com/Catalog_661Bike.aspx?id=3AB70A83-4099-4B4A-8A70-3B82BE710DED

[Stujoe]

http://www.stujoe.com/robocop.jpg


;)

[BLIZZ]

i went off the trail onto the gravel/dirt siding, and thankfully remembered an important saying, "don't try to ajust to quickly, just ride it out, that's how most of the crashes happen" but remembered that immediately after trying to adjust and really had a scare for a few seconds, happened too quick to remember what i did exactly,
BobK

Remember the saying....the best Defense is a strong Offense.
You did it the way it is supposed to be done. Don't fall and you don't need protective gear. {other than the ones that make sense, Helmet and gloves} If you have to suite-up, to ride a bike, you will soon grow tired of the extra baggage.

Instead work on your bike handling skills untill you are proficient enough to respond without thinking or having to remember.
Take a class, ride off road, practice stopping quickly,ride on gravel and wet roads in a controlled area, so if you are surprised in the middle of a corner by gravel on the trail or a stopped rider or a wet spot or simply run off the trail. It will be nothing new and you will feel comfortable in the gravel and dirt.
You may not be able to eliminate all your falls, but can significantly reduce the number and severity.:)

[Tom Stormcrowe]

Remember the saying....the best Defense is a strong Offense.
You did it the way it is supposed to be done. Don't fall and you don't need protective gear. {other than the ones that make sense, Helmet and gloves} If you have to suite-up, to ride a bike, you will soon grow tired of the extra baggage.

Instead work on your bike handling skills untill you are proficient enough to respond without thinking or having to remember.
Take a class, ride off road, practice stopping quickly,ride on gravel and wet roads in a controlled area, so if you are surprised in the middle of a corner by gravel on the trail or a stopped rider or a wet spot or simply run off the trail. It will be nothing new and you will feel comfortable in the gravel and dirt.
You may not be able to eliminate all your falls, but can significantly reduce the number and severity.:)

This I tend to agree with 100%! I've used the skills I've picked up single tracking on the road bike too, to avoid crashing, like losing traction in a curve, or getting squirrelly on a loose surface or accidentally riding off the edge of the road.:eek: Don't forget about hopping a hole or big bump in the road either!

[BLIZZ]

Don't forget about hopping a hole or big bump in the road either!
Excellent point.
Learing to bunny-hop or at least un-weight the bike is a very good riding skill to have in your bag of tricks.
There may be times you just can't maneuver around an object.{such as bad expansion joints leading onto and off bridges}.
Also saves wheels & tires from damage.

[bobk544]

Thanks for the inputs all, i think i've found the shorts i'm going to get:

http://www.bikemania.biz/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SKINZ%5FDS100BK

excellent price too, now to find some upper arm/shoulder protection, maybe there's a kelvar patch that can be ironed on right at the upper arm/shoulder area, that's another area that took a pretty good hit last crash!

Thanks for the sixinone reference, that's some awesome looking stuff, wish i had that armor back in my dirt bike days could have saved alot of skin!

When you're riding thru D.C. traffic, past parked cars buses, next to rock cliffs and deep drainage ditches, ie Chain Bridge Va, you need all the protection you can get!

Good biking all, glorious riding today!

50 miles today thru Wahington D.C, Alexandria and back to Vienna!
40 or so miles yesterday from D.C to Bethesda, back to Vieena!