Do all PROS use body armor?

I used to never wear any upper body armor, and rarely elbow pads. If I wore elbow pads, it would be slim style foam ones that really did nothing except for protect against a minor abrasion. This included racing.

A couple months ago I picked up a dianese upper body suit for when I was racing on fast courses where the possibility of injury was going to be high in a crash. I figured it would be hot, bulky, and restrict my movement.....but it wasnt at all. I actually found it comfortable, not very hot, and wasnt bulky in the least. Besides a slight amount in the shoulder cups, you can barely tell its on under a jersey. And I dont notice it when I ride, and it doesnt restrict my movement at all. It can get a little hot when you stop riding and go back into the parking lot, but when you are riding and have a breeze on you there is no complaints.

Since I bought it, ive worn it every time ive gone downhilling, including at easier and smaller mountains where I was sure I didnt need it. It has saved my ass so many times now, I just really like to wear it.

The first time day I had it on, at diablo I overshot a long, flat kicker that went into a turn. I came in way too hot, landed dead flat and missed the berm completely. Barring me wrapping my bike around a tree, I just kneeled down and slid out basically on my fore-arm only, on super rough sharp gravel. I know if I hadnt had an arm pad on from the dainese I probably would have cut my entire arm up down to the bone. Another time at jiminy, I came down a steep chute that had a bridge after it crossing a river. I pumped the chute, hit the bridge and went to lightly corner off of the end, and my front tire just dissapeared from under me on the wet wood. I fell off the bridge and plowed into the side of the river bank, making my chest smash into my stem. It hurt to breath, cough, or flex any muscle around my chest for about a week, coming from my sternum. If I didnt have the chest protector from the dianese, god knows what would have happened.

is the dianese suit worth the money or would it cut to just get a 661 pressure suit?

Has anyone tried something like the Rockgardn neck roll? neaky:

Shepherdwong said:

Has anyone tried something like the Rockgardn neck roll? neaky:

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that is the exact neck pad that i saw this past weekend.
almost nonexistant weight.
and the rider says he never feels it when it's worn.

dhbuilder said:

that is the exact neck pad that i saw this past weekend.
almost nonexistant weight.
and the rider says he never feels it when it's worn.

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Awesome I think I'm going to have to buy one. My ratio of Lawn Darts to total crashes is alarmingly high.

hungryleprican said:

is the dianese suit worth the money or would it cut to just get a 661 pressure suit?

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IMO, it depends on fit. If you can, try befoe you buy (very difficult, I know). I don't like how 661 stuff has fit me in the past (too loose), so I use Dianese upper armor and MSR V-top pants. I like armor to fit fairly tightly so as not to move during a crash. I also always wear long sleeve jerseys and long pants. I wouldn't ride DH without them. Too many crashes.. too much pain and time off the bike. At 35 (36 in a few days), I don't heal as fast as I once did...

35 ?
why you're still just a kid.

would a medium be too big for me? (im 5'7")

hungryleprican said:

would a medium be too big for me? (im 5'7")

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Medium is probably fine depending on weight.

I don't wanna look into anything too small but not tooooooo big
it can be big so I can grow into it but thats to a certain extent.

edit- im 130 lbs too if that helps

hungryleprican said:

I don't wanna look into anything too small but not tooooooo big
it can be big so I can grow into it but thats to a certain extent.

edit- im 130 lbs too if that helps

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Medium will be fine.

I have a 661 pro pressure suit, and I like it. Last year I wore a moto style roost protector, and altho it was had a little better airflow, the pro suit definitely has better coverage and isn't hot while you're moving. Plus the integrated elbows stay put better than all the separate pads I've owned. An additional plus is that the backplate allows pretty normal use of a camelbak. The roost protector always felt funny w/ a camelbak b/c the shoulder straps would slide around.

I seem to have a problem when wearing body armour... I plow like a tractor and think a lot less. Every time I've eaten sh*t with body armour on, I've been out for a good long time.

Without it, I'm a bit more of a sissy... and I think that's a good thing.

To each his or her own, though... I prefer seeing people wear it.

I'm 5'8"/135lbs and wear a small Dainese safety jacket if that helps.

A 35mph slide on my shoulder in Switzerland that I could walk away from instantly paid for my armour in my eyes.

hungryleprican said:

I don't wanna look into anything too small but not tooooooo big
it can be big so I can grow into it but thats to a certain extent.

edit- im 130 lbs too if that helps

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You would do well in a Med Dainese, but a Med 661 would probably be too big.

Initially I tried to get the 661 to fit, but the pads (even on the small) would not stay in place. I went with the Dianese, and have not looked back. FWIW, I wear a Med Dianese, but would wear a small 661. I'm female, somewhat broad shouldered, 5'5", 135 lbs.

WHat about the 661 core saver? Any one got one? Looks like a neat system. Problem I face is extreem heat and humidity, and the simple fact is that if its hot- my lazy arse won't wear it. Does dianese or anyone else have a similar system? Whats the rockgarden website? (no google findies). Cheers!~

dhbuilder said:

35 ?
why you're still just a kid.

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Tell that to my knees... and ankles... and shoulders... and hands... :

If any big dudes out there are looking for a Dainese Jacket I have one. It doesnt fit me right.

J5ive said:

WHat about the 661 core saver? Any one got one? Looks like a neat system. Problem I face is extreem heat and humidity, and the simple fact is that if its hot- my lazy arse won't wear it. Does dianese or anyone else have a similar system? Whats the rockgarden website? (no google findies). Cheers!~

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www.rockgardn.com

Dainese has two short suits, one with shoulder protection and one without.

Rockgardn makes a Flak vest without shoulder protection.

Considering the cost of medical attention in the present day, pretty much all armor is cost effective. Personally I use the Fox launch upper body suit and love it. Excellent fit and protection. Comfortable too. The best armor I've seen that's not Dainese. Quit a bit cheap too, I think.

I can't figure it out. Iv'e always wear armour and still manage to brak bones. 1st was a broken collar bone with upper body suit 2nd a broken arm with upper body suit and this season one more broken collar bone and wrist wearing a shuttle pro suit. I will still ride protected next season because I feel safer and more confident with it on and it probably did and has saved me from more body damage.

I hate wearing my dainese purely because of fit. Once you get riding you don't notice it but I feel more relaxed and calm when I ride without it. Every now and then when I feel like it will give me more confidence or I want to ride balls out I put it on and it doesnt really help.

dromond said:

Considering the cost of medical attention in the present day, pretty much all armor is cost effective. Personally I use the Fox launch upper body suit and love it. Excellent fit and protection. Comfortable too. The best armor I've seen that's not Dainese. Quit a bit cheap too, I think.

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I use the Fox Launch suit also, I run a medium, and im 5'8, 135 lbs. The only problem I had with fit was the elastic around the wrists, I had to cut it out because it was cutting off my circulation. I havent been able to race it yet because Snowshoe got rained out, but I liked it while I was riding around before it rained.

Just ordered 661 medium suit
thanks transcend for your help

hungryleprican said:

Just ordered 661 medium suit
thanks transcend for your help

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Err i am not sure at all about sizing on 661, my comments were for dainese. good luck.

ah whatever I'll grow into it in like a month anyway

CBJ said:

After checking out my Dainese shuttle suite and seeing all the scratches in the plastic I am very happy that I ride with body amour. Opposit Profro I have broken two collarbones both time with out my amour.

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i dont mean to flame, but how can armor protect against a broken collar bone?

armor helps against lacerations, contusions and localized impacts, but i dont see how armor can help against twists and "high leverage situations" where breaks and sprains are likely.

case and point:

DOGSOMETHINGOROTHERDH said:

I can't figure it out. Iv'e always wear armour and still manage to brak bones. 1st was a broken collar bone with upper body suit 2nd a broken arm with upper body suit and this season one more broken collar bone and wrist wearing a shuttle pro suit. I will still ride protected next season because I feel safer and more confident with it on and it probably did and has saved me from more body damage.

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i suppose it's clear i dont think much of armor. i view armor as another reason why many people to ride above their skill level. armor , much like gobs of suspension travel, provides a false sense of security that allows people to take risks that they may not be prepared for.

accidents happen and that is an excellent reason to wear armor. however, thinking that armor is gonna keep you in one piece when you are trying to progress too fast is asking for a world of hurt.

ps unless your fly the union jack the word is spelled A-R-M-O-R.

Robusto said:

I use the Fox Launch suit also, I run a medium, and im 5'8, 135 lbs. The only problem I had with fit was the elastic around the wrists, I had to cut it out because it was cutting off my circulation. I havent been able to race it yet because Snowshoe got rained out, but I liked it while I was riding around before it rained.

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I had the exact same problem and did the exact same thing. A perfect suit other than that, I think. I am 5' 11" 175 pounds and wear the large.

chuffer said:

i dont mean to flame, but how can armor protect against a broken collar bone?

armor helps against lacerations, contusions and localized impacts, but i dont see how armor can help against twists and "high leverage situations" where breaks and sprains are likely.

case and point:



i suppose it's clear i dont think much of armor. i view armor as another reason why many people to ride above their skill level. armor , much like gobs of suspension travel, provides a false sense of security that allows people to take risks that they may not be prepared for.

accidents happen and that is an excellent reason to wear armor. however, thinking that armor is gonna keep you in one piece when you are trying to progress too fast is asking for a world of hurt.

ps unless your fly the union jack the word is spelled A-R-M-O-R.

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Armor definatley protects against broken collarbones. Im positive you could still manage to break it while wearing it, but Its definatley less likely. The same way that football shoulder pads will help with that, If you didnt have those you would see people breaking their collarbone once a game. Sure , a dianese or fox isnt as thick as football pads, but they still have a quite substantial padded shoulder cup with hard plastic as well as some having padding against the collarbone to help with a direct impact (like clipping your shoulder on a tree.) Ive broken my collarbone, and it doesnt take much. I know the dianese suit has the two buckles that connect the chest pad to the shoulder, and when those are cinched down it will limit the forward- to back rolling of your shoulder, but not affect moving your arms.

Having the shoulder pads hit the ground and disperse and lessen the impact, along with the upper arm pad would help a lot to start with. Then , your shoulder is kept stabilized by the chest plate, back plate and arm pad all being cinched togheter with the buckle, which would disperse a forward type of blow to your whole upper body. This is as oppsed to your bony, unprotected shoulder smashing right into the dirt/rocks/trees.

A.P said:

Armor definatley protects against broken collarbones. Im positive you could still manage to break it while wearing it, but Its definatley less likely. The same way that football shoulder pads will help with that, If you didnt have those you would see people breaking their collarbone once a game. Sure , a dianese or fox isnt as thick as football pads, but they still have a quite substantial padded shoulder cup with hard plastic as well as some having padding against the collarbone to help with a direct impact (like clipping your shoulder on a tree.) Ive broken my collarbone, and it doesnt take much. I know the dianese suit has the two buckles that connect the chest pad to the shoulder, and when those are cinched down it will limit the forward- to back rolling of your shoulder, but not affect moving your arms.

Having the shoulder pads hit the ground and disperse and lessen the impact, along with the upper arm pad would help a lot to start with. Then , your shoulder is kept stabilized by the chest plate, back plate and arm pad all being cinched togheter with the buckle, which would disperse a forward type of blow to your whole upper body. This is as oppsed to your bony, unprotected shoulder smashing right into the dirt/rocks/trees.

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i always thought a collar bone popped when the shoulder gets whacked forward or down. the scenario i am most familiar with is the over-the-bars and onto the shoulder crash. i just dont see armor doing much in that case. spreading out the impact a little, sure, but if you are falling from more than six feet in the air and land on your shoulder, armor or no you are likely going to the ER.

IMHO, the best defense again bone breakage is fourfold:

1. high bone density (read: diet)
2. strong and limber muscles
3. know how to crash and
4. know your limits.

having posted this I am almost certainly going to crash terribly tonight due to pushing my limits too far while not being warmed up or limber. later at the ER the doctor will, of course, tell me that i am suffering from osteo porosis and that this contributed to my injury...nothing like a good jinx.

Collarbones usually break from landing on the end and having it flex, not from a direct impact.

Football shoulder pads WILL help to prevent a direct impact or flex type injury (16 years of football here). Dainese and the like help with direct impacts (not much) and with the bending type break (very helpful) due to the shoulder cup spreading the impact and not directly hitting the collarbone end.


edit for clarity.

To chuffer if you read what Profro and I are talking about the amour no amour has something to do how we ride. I ride better with amour he better without.

However I do agree with Transcend that the shoulder cup helps spread the impact and the same with the other cups on the suite. You can even see it as the bruises looks different.

Any other vest options? 661, rockgardn and the dianese models are all not imported to australia!~

I just dislocated my shoulder this weekend, and luckily I was wearing my pressure suit for the first time since I can remember, and I'm pretty sure it saved me from a broken shoulder or collar bone. I still can't believe I walked away with just a dislocation...Go body armor for direct impacts...with trees....at 30mph :

J5ive said:

Any other vest options? 661, rockgardn and the dianese models are all not imported to australia!~

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I can ship you the vest if you really want one.

I am bumping this thread as a reminder.

Yesterday, during my race run at Snowshoe, I got a violent reminder of why I put on body armor.
I hit a jump in the woods at full speed and caught a rut on the takeoff. It sent me to the right and as soon as my wheels touched down, I put my right shoulder straight into a big tree. All I heard was the loud pop that was my shoulder cup against the bark. It threw me violently off the bike, and I came down hard on my left knee pad.
My shoulder hit so hard that my entire right arm went numb.
When I took my armor off, I have all these indentions from how hard the cup got pressed into my shoulder. Today my arm is sore from my shoulder, through my forearm, and my wrist is sore as well. My back and neck muscles got tweaked from getting twisted, and my knee is sore. But I walked away, and even eventually got back up and finished my run. If it was not my for my armor, then I would be in a cast right now for sure, and now I will be back on the bike in a day or two. Strap up.

Jeremy R said:

If it was not my for my armor....

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Well this story is tainted. JeremyR can't jump, so don't listen to him. No one should wear armor. :looney:

profro said:

Well this story is tainted. JeremyR can't jump, so don't listen to him. No one should wear armor. :looney:

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You should have armored up before you hit that A-frame jump at Dark Mountain.

Come on now. Snowshoe (in the wet) is one thing, but Dark Mtn. is over the top technical. Thats not a fair comparison.