[BmxConvert]

I've had tons of people tell me I need to wear pants as they provide more protection.
I really started getting **** after clipping a tree and getting raped by my rotor and being able to play with my bone.
Here are a couple of fun pictures:

There are a handful of guys that are telling me that injuries such as mine are the reason they only ride in pants. I think it's a load of crap. I bought some Fox Huck pants to keep me warm at the top of SkiBowl as I tend to freeze, but otherwise wear shorts.

 

[Mo(n)arch]

Dude, that looks nasty!

I'm also riding in shorts, because of the warm clima we got here. Last year most of the time I rode in some Matix Surfshorts and they were just perfect. This year I'm wearing Dakine Chorus shorts and they are much warmer while pushing up the track (well, that was obvious) For the colder time of the year I'm considering to buy a pant, mainly because the trails are getting wet and muddy in the fall. These should be a good solution:

If it gets too hot in your pant, you can zip off the legs.
You can even wear a pant on the drivetrain side and a short on the other one.
Problem solved!

 

[captainspauldin]

what kind of pads are you guys wearing that you need pants for them to stay in place?

Knee pads? i've had them slide down and do some damage to my knees w/shorts on.. I only have 1 pair of pants and haven't really crashed in them yet. I have the same problem as huck banzai(to a lesser extent, I'm 6' 4"), moto pants tend to fit like capri's on me, I had to get 2 sizes bigger than i normally wear to get an acceptable length..

 

[yuroshek]

I wear the kyle strait knee pads. They tend to slide down when you crash... whats the point of that?

And now for my sweet huck to trees crash....

My knee was HUGE! but my knee pads stayed in place.

 

[JimLad]

Soft knee pads won't do anything if you hit a rock, that's why I changed to the tld lopes. Those can be guilty of slipping too though, I have to adjust them regularly.

Pants are good for when its wet underfoot as it stops my armour getting mucky.

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

i wear shorts all year, even in the winter.

are you like that kid in Jr. High that didnt wear a coat to the bus stop because he thought he was to cool for one?

 

[aaronjb]

I still have to pedal my bike. Therefore, shorts.

Until the sport I participate in is called "motocross", I'm wearing shorts.

 

[jonKranked]

to anyone complaining about knee pads shifting...

get a pair of POC VPD knee pads. they don't move unless you want them too. Also great for pedaling; won't slide around or slip down.

 

[Inclag]

I just want to be cool like all the WC pro's and based on this past weekend everyone on the podium wore shorts.


On a serious note, for the most part I wear shorts since it's usually pretty hot come summer but have pants for the fall or when it's mucky.

 

[Sandwich]

i like shorts for ventilation and because all this crap is so expensive and durable that two pairs or shorts have lasted me the last 5 years.

I think pants provide better protection, especially in the case of a slide. I love the nylon TLD style shorts as they're ultra durable...but I would imagine they'd chafe or be really hot full length.

It's a bit give and take though- you wear full length shin pads with shorts or knee pads with pants and I think it's moot. I'd bet the pros wear pants since A) it's slightly more aero or easier to get aero, and B) more room for logos/"Kit" appearance.

 

[IH8Rice]

are you like that kid in Jr. High that didnt wear a coat to the bus stop because he thought he was to cool for one?

there was no bus for me. and no, i wore like 5 layers on my body and sometimes wore shorts. my lower half is usually never cold, thats how i can wear shorts riding all year. plus my Dainese knee/shin pads take up a lot of my lower legs and keep me somewhat warm.

 

[captainspauldin]

to anyone complaining about knee pads shifting...

get a pair of POC VPD knee pads. they don't move unless you want them too. Also great for pedaling; won't slide around or slip down.

How's the sizing, I heard they run small?

 

[DownhillR3]

I see in alot of races (mostly WC races and important ones) Many people ride with their (pajama) pants. Is there a reason for this, I figure its mostly because sponsors want them to, but, Why should sam hill have to ride pants in 95 degree WC weather. I live in NJ, hardly the hottest place ever, and only a few people in pro class wear pants, everybody else is shorts. I will run them if its cold or muddy and ****ty (to stay cleaner) Not all pros wear pants, obviously (<quote material)

I only wear pants when Downhilling and I ride in the same enviroment/mountain as you... all person preference my friend.

 

[jonKranked]

How's the sizing, I heard they run small?

i went off the sizing chart on their site, got the large, and the fit is perfect. they do fit more snugly than other pads, but that's actually a good thing.

 

[etabs]

i usually always wear shorts no matter what the weather is like (rainy/muddy...). i have a pair of troy lee pants and i just find them to be way to baggy so i just stuck with my shorts. But this year im riding for a team sponsored by scott clothing and our kits are all pants since were suing the moto stuff, and i must say i am really liking them. They're really skinny mx pants and they feel way better than the troy lee pants i have.

 

[demo 9]

I only wear pants when Downhilling and I ride in the same enviroment/mountain as you... all person preference my friend.

Thats just so nobody can see who u are

 

[NWS]

Y'all a bunch of pansies in your fabric coverings. If you're not riding naked, you're carrying extra weight.

 

[RajunCajunNC]

Would naked count as running a skin suit, and thus banned by uci, or would it not fall under that? Actually curious about their rules as far as t-shirts go, after seeing that no one really runs short sleeves for wc rounds. Is there a rule like bmx where elbows have to be covered?

 

[Lelandjt]

Would naked count as running a skin suit, and thus banned by uci?

Yes. Last year at the first Snowmass Mountain States Cup race Mike Kreger raced in tighty whities, to a decent time. He was given last place do to the "enough fabric to pinch" rule which is both a UCI and USA Cycling rule. Ghey in my opinion, and not for the reason you'd assume when talking about a guy in public wearing tighty whities.

 

[Transcend]

A lot of them wear pants to hide knee braces and the like...

 

[jonKranked]

A lot of them wear pants to hide knee braces and the like...

so they are falling apart?






seriously though, why the choice on knee braces?

 

[landcruiser]

Some of us need knee braces after multiple surgeries...

 

[norbar]

Never tried pants. I use a lot of protection so Im hot enough. No need for something extra. Though the way my twenty6 pins sharpen I may regret that soon.