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Protective gear. What is really necessary?

AlCapone

AlCapone

Monkey
Apr 5, 2009
192
0
North Bend, WA
So this summer I'm going up to Whistler for three days with two of my friends. I'm not sure what protective gear is really needed. I'm going to wear gloves and a fullface, but are shinguards and upper body armor needed? I don't have any of it, and I don't want to spend $150 on **** I don't even need. Renting isn't really an option because it costs $35 a day for chest/arm/leg protectors. What should I buy?
 
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demo8razor

Monkey
Mar 31, 2008
250
0
i would say shin and knee protectors would be the first one i would purchase. i just wear a full face, shin protectors, and sometimes forearm protectors, i don't even wear the shin protectors when i ride locally
 
AlCapone

AlCapone

Monkey
Apr 5, 2009
192
0
North Bend, WA
One of my friends went there last year and didn't crash once. He rented a pressure suit and didn't really need it. I'm buying a fullface and I have gloves. Nobody I ride with uses any protective gear other than gloves and a fullface when riding locally either, so I don't want to spend $60 on something I'll only use a couple of times. Would soccer shinguards work for three days? Lol that would be ghetto.
 
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demo8razor

Monkey
Mar 31, 2008
250
0
they would be just shin, i guess you could also look at just knee, more for a crash then peddles hitting your shins
 
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ebarker9

Monkey
Oct 2, 2007
848
242
Well, if your friend didn't crash, you certainly won't either. Sounds like even a helmet is more than you really need.
 
DirtyMike

DirtyMike

Turbo Fluffer
Aug 8, 2005
14,437
1,017
My own world inside my head
The most basic you need would be a Helmet, gloves, and good shoes.

The basic you "should have"
Good gloves, Good FF helmet, Good knee/shin guards, good elbow guards.

The "Proper" you should have
Same as above, add good chest/spine protection, Wrist guards, Leatt brace.





Oh Oh Oh Oh, almost forgot, a good pair of Pycra shorts with a great Chamois in it to keep your nutts dry and keep them from slapping around.
 
Bicyclist

Bicyclist

Turbo Monkey
Apr 4, 2004
10,152
2
SB
I think shorts and a jersey should be worn too, but judging from a certain picture of you at Fontana DirtyMike you don't seem to agree. :D
 
Mtbike

Mtbike

Monkey
Jul 28, 2004
232
0
Indiana
Spending $200 or $300 on protective gear is a lot cheaper than the hospital bills that you incur when you crash.

Remember it is not a matter of "IF" you crash, it is "WHEN" you crash.
 
drkenan

drkenan

anti-dentite
Oct 1, 2006
3,441
1
west asheville
Armor sucks to wear (hot, bulky, etc) but I can specifically remember 5 separate times that I would have probably gone to the hospital had I not been wearing it. At least 5...so it's probably a good idea. Trust me from experience - several hundred $$ is a lot cheaper than a decent injury.
 
norbar

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,364
1,602
Warsaw :/
You can get used to good armor (ie. dainese jackets) and it's not as hot. Also helicopter trips to hostpitals are really damn expensive. My insurance covered for a snowboard crash healthcare but somehow they weaseled out of the transportation and I ended with 1500 euro bill on my ass... Imagine that instead you can get a new boxxer + all the protection you need ;)

BTW. I think it's stupid to select the protection for the trail. Either you tend to push it hard (or think about sex/cheese/flowers all the time and forget that you are riding) and you crash often on most tracks or you try to stay within your comfort zones and you crash rarely.
 
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demo8razor

Monkey
Mar 31, 2008
250
0
as far as by the trail, locally, we do not have anything too crazy as far as dh goes, it could be ridden with a xc bike or all mountain for sure, maybe just a little rougher ride. that is what i meant by locally
 
AlCapone

AlCapone

Monkey
Apr 5, 2009
192
0
North Bend, WA
After I buy a fullface, I'll have $100 max to spend on gear unless my parents chip in (I'm 14 so I don't have a job). That means I'll buy leg guards. I could buy arm guards, but I'm thinking they'll be a waste of money because I'll never wear them again. Hardly anyone in Rampage wore protective gear and they got up and rode away. (I know, not a good comparison. They're pro's)
 
CRoss

CRoss

Turbo Monkey
Nov 20, 2006
1,329
0
The Ranch
Just a FYI a friend crashed last week on a nice groomed out dual slalom course. He got a cut on his forearm. They cleaned it out and had some stitches, did everything they could. A few days later he was back in the hospital with the cut infected, had a IV drip for a few days and is off the bike until the end of the month. He did not get hurt in the crash except for the cut.

I can think of about a half dozen incidents in the past year that could have been avoided with protective gear. Another friend with out gloves had a minor spill and pealed the skin back off both palms of his hands. It is not just bone breaking injuries the protective gear protects you from. It is all the abrasive things you land on that shred skin.

But you are 14 and indestructible so you do not need any protective gear.
 
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blackspire

Monkey
Jul 19, 2007
115
0
AlCapone said:
One of my friends went there last year and didn't crash once. He rented a pressure suit and didn't really need it. I'm buying a fullface and I have gloves. Nobody I ride with uses any protective gear other than gloves and a fullface when riding locally either, so I don't want to spend $60 on something I'll only use a couple of times. Would soccer shinguards work for three days? Lol that would be ghetto.
Click to expand...
Err, didn't really need it? Because he didn't crash? Well he probably didn't need a helmet, gloves or any kind of protection at all since he didn't crash. So why even bother wearing it, as long as you don't crash.

Imo for a downhill trip you should bring a full face, some kind of spine protection, knee and shin guards, gloves and neck brace.
 
Scrub

Scrub

Turbo Monkey
Feb 4, 2003
1,453
119
NOR CAL, Sac/CoCo County
Yeah at 14, going to Whistler for 3 days, and your buddy didn't crash when he was there, it sounds like you'll be doing what he did then...just sitting around wishing you could ride as good as all the other people there with pads on. Get some pads and save yourself from getting hurt and sitting in the village hurt.
 
Mtbike

Mtbike

Monkey
Jul 28, 2004
232
0
Indiana
norbar said:
You can get used to good armor (ie. dainese jackets) and it's not as hot. Also helicopter trips to hostpitals are really damn expensive. My insurance covered for a snowboard crash healthcare but somehow they weaseled out of the transportation and I ended with 1500 euro bill on my ass... Imagine that instead you can get a new boxxer + all the protection you need ;)

BTW. I think it's stupid to select the protection for the trail. Either you tend to push it hard (or think about sex/cheese/flowers all the time and forget that you are riding) and you crash often on most tracks or you try to stay within your comfort zones and you crash rarely.
Click to expand...
sex/cheese/ flowers is exactly what I think about when I am not riding or thinking about riding.
 
mccdh

mccdh

Monkey
Sep 9, 2008
181
0
Comox
One tip with buying a race jacket pressure suit. DAINESE! Ive ridden up the logging road in mine with a jersey and it was warmer but really not that bad. A lot of the cheaper suits you find will lack the comfort and quality. Its worth going the extra bit for a much better product. I used the 661 Pressure suit lastyear and hated it. Now when I shuttle,chairlift,race I use my Dainese suit and love it.
 
dap

dap

Chimp
Jul 25, 2006
78
0
Central, NY
Does Whistler offer gear rentals? Maybe this would be a better approach to allow you a one time deal for gear and get all the protection you need. Also, not to get too much into this but just because a pro doesn't wear gear and walks away means nothing. It's not because they are pro its because they are LUCKY... PERIOD. Best of luck and enjoy Whistler.
 
AlCapone

AlCapone

Monkey
Apr 5, 2009
192
0
North Bend, WA
Whistler does do gear rentals, but it's $35 a day not including a helmet (which I already have) I think my parents will chip in some. I'll probably just get the 661 Assault suit, cheap shinguards, and just wear a long sleeve jersey instead of arm guards.
 
elRey

elRey

Turbo Monkey
Jun 5, 2005
1,120
0
the portland-bellingham connection
If your parents care about your well-being they should get you some knee/shin guards at the very least. If they don't care then do yourself a favor. I would go for elbow/forearm pads as well until you can get something like a pressure suit. Riding in Whistler for three days i can almost guarantee you are going to crash at least once, and thats all it takes to ruin a weekend, or an entire summer. Don't let that keep you from shredding.
 
stoney

stoney

Part of the unwashed, middle-American horde
Jul 26, 2006
21,591
7,238
Colorado
I didn't need armor, right up until I hit a tree and dislocated my shoulder and clavicle. That was with my armor on. If I hadn't had my armor on, I likely would have shattered my shoulder.
But no, you don't need armor.
 
Straya

Straya

Monkey
Jul 11, 2008
863
3
Straya
How would you feel if you crash on your first run and injure yourself?

Whistler is awesome and if you miss out on any time riding there because of a preventable injury it will suck big time.

If money is really an issue then get full gear on your first day there. After that way you have an idea of what the trails are like and you will have a much better idea on whether you will need it for the rest of your trip.

Helmet and knee shin as a bare minimum though.
 
JewBagel

JewBagel

Monkey
Apr 22, 2008
229
0
oregon
I was in the same position as you 6 years ago and I bucked up and paid for it. The following summer my friend was in the same position but didn't get the armor. He ended up crashing and nearly died(lost 30% of his blood and broke his C6 & C10 in his neck) right in front of my eyes at the bottom of A-line. He wasn't wearing a full face or much else in the way of body armor and is now missing 5 teeth and spent a few months going back to the plastic surgeon to get his face close to where it was before as well as 3 months in a Halo.

Some people may ride with out it and say it isn't necessary but there is a reason the majority of the people up there in line are wearing it. It is hot and can be annoying, but when you are hammering down the trails having a blast you hardly notice it. I wouldn't ride there with out a full face, goggles, gloves, knee/shins, and a body armor jacket w/arm protection. I go even further and wear 5.10 boots for the ankle protection and super stick to pedal ability, padded shorts, and gloves with built in wrist support. It can't protect against everything but it will sure help save your ass and keep you riding.
 
stumpjump

stumpjump

Monkey
Sep 14, 2007
673
0
DC
Having ridden at Whistler before I would say buy as much safety gear as you can possibly afford. They do not accept US insurance up there in the village so you will pay out of your arse if you get hurt. My friend had to get 11 stitches and it cost him just over 700. Pads would cost less and make for a better/longer trip. As far as being uncomfortable/hot, I would say man up and deal with it.
 
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