PPE

[alan93]

So its that time of year again. We begin to pay our Les Gets deposits and start to think, "hmmm, I should really look into getting a full face and some combination of elbows, shoulders, knees and toes protection" in the hope of lessening the inevitable pain of (in the wise words of Dan) running out of talent mid corner.

This video seems to sum up the key areas that require protection while mountain biking pretty comprehensively.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfkBN3r2yE0

So I'm open to suggestions, recommendations of what people have had good experience with. Budget is about 100 to 200 for a full face and at the very least elbow and knee pads.

[cathalferris]

My Les Gets protective gear:

SixSixOne fullface : about €80 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/661-comp-helmet-2014/rp-prod113734
SixSixOne elbow guards: about €20 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/661-comp-elbow-guards-2013/rp-prod72483
RaceFace knee/shin guards (d30 material) : €100 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/race-face-flank-leg-d3o-guard-2013/rp-prod89278
Nukeproof Spine protector: €100 (sastec material) http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/nukeproof-critical-armour-spine/rp-prod68527
Oakley goggles: €38 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/oakley-o-frame-mx-goggles/rp-prod16140
Oakley darker lens: €10-€40 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/oakley-replacement-lens-o-frame-mx/rp-prod16158

You can get cheaper knee pads for sure, I got the fancy ones as I wanted ones that were comfy

I'll be adding a proper pressure suit at some stage when I find one that has the d30 stuff in the shoulders/arms/kidneys as well as the back, for when I run out of talent or stamina...

[Psycholist]

If you're planning on doing a lot of DH style stuff then it's well worth putting the money into good pads, mostly because you'll have to wear them for a lot more time than you'll be crashing for... Eye protection is a very good idea too and for some reason the Oakley goggles are reasonable value, which contrasts remarkably with their sunglasses. You probably will need to see about getting contact lenses to use with the goggles (The only way to find out which works best for you is to try a few brands though. I found the Accuvue ones to be so comfortable I couldn't feel them at times, but they can go cloudy in as little as 4 hours, while the Specsavers ones were less initially comfortable, but I could wear them for a full day and still see properly).

I'm happy with the brand X knee and elbow pads and a normal helmet because they get used once a year, though once my Canyon gets sorted I might have to see about upgrading that. Also keep in mind that having some armour on will not stop you getting broken badly in crashes, so don't rely on any of this to keep you out of hospital, they're a lot more comfortable sliding along the ground than your skin is though ...

[rdhma]

For those more inclined to trails than big DH, very low cost pads here:

http://dx.com/p/elbow-knee-pads-set-38210

http://dx.com/p/yw-021-motorcycle-sport ... air-167042

[cathalferris]

Found a supposedly good pressure suit with the d30 pads inside: 219 dollars US-only though, http://www.leattshop.com/body-protection/adult-upper-body-armor/body-protector-3df-lxl.html

[Psycholist]

That looks like a nice setup. the killer is that it's something you really need to try on before committing that kind of money. I'll be in the US next April if you can't find anyone shipping to Ireland before then (Need to check luggage limits, but it's only for a week anyway, which can be done with a carry-on bag)...

[Joejoebeans]

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/e ... p-prod7088

That's the body armour I'm using. Cheapest I could find and it's pretty damn good. The only fault I found is that the sleeves are a little short so the elbow pad doesn't quite cover my elbow. Might try to resew it before France.

I have a pair of shinguards that I'll be replacing so you can have my old ones if you want. They don't quite cover my knee but I am a long streak of misery so it's hard to find things that fit properly. I'll bring them to Wicklow if you want to try them

[Joejoebeans]

I'll be adding a proper pressure suit at some stage when I find one that has the d30 stuff in the shoulders/arms/kidneys as well as the back, for when I run out of talent or stamina...

Sure what would you want with kidney protectors

[Arse]

I'll second the one joe posted - I've had the same for about, ooohh, 8 years. Have had the zipper replaced as the old one corroded at one point. It's gotten me through some nice spills along the way.

[alan93]

I have a pair of shinguards that I'll be replacing so you can have my old ones if you want. They don't quite cover my knee but I am a long streak of misery so it's hard to find things that fit properly. I'll bring them to Wicklow if you want to try them

That'd be great alright thanks! I'll be trying the clubs new fox ones too to see what I prefer.

I've ordered the 661 helmet.

How necessary is the chest armour/compression suit?

[Joejoebeans]

Given what happened to me I'd say pretty damn important. It's unlikely that you'll get badly hurt but on the off chance you do end up in a bad crash in can do a lot to help

[neil_]

I have a pair of 661 knee+shin guards going unused (size medium).. Never been crashed on, only been used by me in les gets 2 years ago and tom in the foxhunt earlier this year.. €15 if anyone wants them

[alan93]

earlier this year.. €15 if anyone wants them

Which of these are they similar to (I know the models might have changed over 2 years).

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/661-comp-knee-shin-guards-2013/rp-prod72482

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/661-race-knee-shin-guards-2011/rp-prod57615

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/661-rampage-knee-shin-guards-2013/rp-prod72480

[neil_]

earlier this year.. €15 if anyone wants them

Which of these are they similar to (I know the models might have changed over 2 years).

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/661-comp-knee-shin-guards-2013/rp-prod72482

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/661-race-knee-shin-guards-2011/rp-prod57615

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/661-rampage-knee-shin-guards-2013/rp-prod72480

Similar to the second one.. I can send you some pictures if you're interested

[alan93]

Yea i might be alright, so long as they fit

[TomTorode]

If alan doesn't have em I will. I know they fit me and they're pretty comfy.

[nathybren]

Given what happened to me I'd say pretty damn important. It's unlikely that you'll get badly hurt but on the off chance you do end up in a bad crash in can do a lot to help

Well you were staggeringly unlucky. The pressure suit would probably have protected you from a landing to a rock but the combination of a pre-existing condition and a blunt force impact (which no suit will protect you from) was what really did you in.
Knees, elbows are probably the most important thing to protect. 90% of crashes will have no effect if you protect them because you tend to put them in front of you when you go down.
No doubt though, if you can spring for it, a pressure suit provides a lot of reassurance when you're riding big shit. To the point where it will actually make you faster.

[neil_]

Here we go..
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/ ... 6dde51.jpg
I'll give first refusal to Alan seeing as how he posted first - if he doesn't want them they're yours Tom (for €15, or €15 worth of ice cream)

[alan93]

What flavour ice cream?

[neil_]

money flavour

[Rock Souled]

The only thing I can really think of is that if you are going for 'knee pads' make sure they cover part of your ankles too. I had a 'pedal slip' one year that many on here will attest to being a bit of a doozy. {edit} I said 'ankle' I meant 'shins'.

[FartingFury-]

My two cents:

Ali Express does some body armour (yeah, sorry, I seem to be recommending them a lot lately...) on the cheap. A lot of it is counterfit, so I'd avoid those - I'd rather they spent the extra $0.50 making it better rather than printing somebody else's logo on it (nobody's gonna see it anyway).

Also, never NEVER fully open the zip. It seems to be a universal truth that they corrode and will never go back together...

Also, everybody bring a cheap rain-coat (maybe a Lidl/Aldi special), waterproof pants and a roll of duct tape. Sexy it is not, but that day it rained in Les Gets I was warm, dry (except for my feets) and having a great time...

On contacts, I use monthly day-and-night lenses and don't find them to be a problem - some people have asked if several days of dust ruins them... It does reduce their useful life by a few days but other than that I've found them fine.