Mountain Biking - Protection, who wears it, what about your bike?

Lately I've been kicking up a bunch of rocks that are shredding my shins and seat post tube. How many people are wearing shin guards? Is there anything around for the Seat Post tube. something like the sleeve for the chain slap guard? I can cut up a beer can insulator and zip-ty it on, might look funky, but so do I. :eek:

peeling blue tape!

I don't wear shin protection - too hot and cumbersome for my liking. Plus my shins are already so thrashed it's not like another gouge or two is going to hurt anything.

For the seat tube, you might try silicone tape. Good protection, no sticky residue, and probably won't look too janky.

http://www.amazon.com/RESCUE-Self-Fusing-Silicone-Tape-BLACK/dp/B000ZTK6CI

Is there anything around for the Seat Post tube.
could try using an old tire tube and some zip-ty's

Are the rocks just chipping finish or actually denting metal? For dent protection, you could use camper-mount foam tape (http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/3MAutomotive/Aftermarket/Products/Product-Catalog/?PC_7_RJH9U5230GE3E02LECFTDQCEK3_nid=91V8CRB3LCgs8HQGKGFHC1glNZ3NSJRKRMbl)then cover that with electrical tape in a color to match your frame. Or just tape (or a couple layers of decal stock to match) if you don't need to get so carried away.

95% of the time, no shin guards for trail riding. If I really plan on pushing my technical ability, I put them on, more for the confidence boost than anything else. And I wear them for jumping and messing around at the BMX track. Slipping a pedal is no fun and neither is sliding across the ground on your knees.

Its my Carbon fiber frame that is getting beat up. I am assuming that it is easier to break through than metal. Anyone know?

Being at college, it is a great idea to wear protection.... you never know whats around at these parties..


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I put frame protection strips on my bike in key places. All I wear for protection is gloves, glasses, helmet.

My buddy (who is very anal about his bikes) uses the clear 3M film that auto places use to cover hoods, bumpers, headlights, etc. It works really well and is very hard to notice. Plus you can buy it in a sheet and cut to fit your application.

Being at college, it is a great idea to wear protection.... you never know whats around at these parties..


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I put frame protection strips on my bike in key places. All I wear for protection is gloves, glasses, helmet.

Gotta watch out for those swamp thing women in WV. Make you turn all green and lumpy.

I only wear knee/shins for downhilling; although I probably should wear them more, seeing as how my trailbike has the same carnivorous pedals as my DH bike. As with the OhCryptidOne, my shins and calves are so tattooed and dented from numerous makes of pedals that it hardly matters any more.

My buddy (who is very anal about his bikes) uses the clear 3M film that auto places use to cover hoods, bumpers, headlights, etc. It works really well and is very hard to notice. Plus you can buy it in a sheet and cut to fit your application.

That's probably the most elegant solution. I use clear moto number plate background for cable rub areas. It's tough stuff. Heating with a hair dryer makes application on curved surfaces easier.

Old tube with 14 mismatched day glo zipties FTL

Lately I've been kicking up a bunch of rocks that are shredding my shins and seat post tube. How many people are wearing shin guards? Is there anything around for the Seat Post tube. something like the sleeve for the chain slap guard? I can cut up a beer can insulator and zip-ty it on, might look funky, but so do I. :eek:

Did you say seat tube? How'd you get rocks there? I used have all sorts of funky stuff thrown at my face and downtube before I put in an SKS Shockblade front fender.

Did I mention I ride shared use trails (HORSE, bike, people).

tk

Its my Carbon fiber frame that is getting beat up. I am assuming that it is easier to break through than metal. Anyone know?

Yeah, most off-road CF down-tubes are armored now because of issues like that. You can get a down-tube protector which will just zip-tie on. Eventually a rock will manage to comprise some fibers with a good hit.

I'm cursed with a good faster bike these days. Stinking lemon and orange sized stones kick up and kareem off my shin and through the triangle. My old HT's had a bottle cage as natural protection. This F/S frame is naked there. Even though the bike is two years old it was unmarked there prior to 6 weeks with me. Crap!

I wear a shoulder brace for my right shoulder, but other than that I don't generally wear armor other than a helmet, though I should wear at least knee pads.

I'm cursed with a good faster bike these days. Stinking lemon and orange sized stones kick up and kareem off my shin

Daggum, dood! You must have some wickedly gnarly tires to p/u lemon and orange sized stones!

how much would you pay for some regular (nothing special) armor? like everything you would need.

Daggum, dood! You must have some wickedly gnarly tires to p/u lemon and orange sized stones!

Its that Kenda Karma that shggy keeps telling me to loose. I think the problem has more to do with my new found wicked speed that I DH with. I once killed a jack rabbit 30 yards off the trail with one of them stones. :innocent:

Being at college, it is a great idea to wear protection.... you never know whats around at these parties..



Nothing wrong with raw-doggin' a few randoms.

I'm cursed with a good faster bike these days. Stinking lemon and orange sized stones kick up and kareem off my shin and through the triangle. My old HT's had a bottle cage as natural protection. This F/S frame is naked there. Even though the bike is two years old it was unmarked there prior to 6 weeks with me. Crap!And the rocks are not hitting the down tube?

Here are some pictures. Thanks for making me think shiggy, but the downtube seems to be immune at this point. But I think covering it is a good idea. I have a friend who works at a Honda dealership, I'm hoping to score some scraps at his hand.