Body Armour...am I getting myself at it?

[Steve_W]

After splatting at the weekend, it's knocked my confidence a bit, and since getting back into riding, I desperately want to air the quarter pipe like I used to all the time in my teens (glory days)...but I'm older and less pain resistant, so am I losing the plot by thinking of wearing body armour?  I wanna air, but not hurt myself!  It seems common to hurt your stomach and/or chest if you hang the back wheel, and I wanna get my aerials right before I go back to normal pads...thoughts please!

(I have visions of coming in the skatepark, padding up for 20 minutes with all these kids watching me, expecting a Dave Mirra like performance, then after an hour I get an inch of air!)

[zed4130]

it does affect you mate ,i twisted my foot backwards 5 years back  and ive never been the same    but it does come back just wear all the gear  you only get one brain  or half in my case 

[highrisedrifter]

There was another thread on here a few weeks back that morphed into a 'pads or not' debate. The general consensus was pads are a good idea because, as you say, we are older and less pain resistant nowadays.

I'm sure getting some and I don't care if I look a tit wearing them.

Sorry, even more of a tit is what I should have said. 

HRD

[aerostylie]

Try a baggy sized hoody and wear the armour underneath, I've done this at Epic and it wasn't too noticeable, looked like I had a great six pack though!!

I know what you mean though being all padded up when you see kids with no lids, pads airing everywhere, they have no fear the buggers   Full face and pads for me all the time

Here's the armour I've used but in bright yellow, £40squid off evil bay


Paul

[Steve_W]

Right, that's it then, body armour me up!  I'll sweat like a paedo in a playground with that lot on under a hoody though!

Still, at least I won't be posting on here asking if anyone wants to donate a pancreas to me after my lever caught on it and yanked the bugger out!

Do you have the link for eBay?  Cheers!

[highrisedrifter]

Try this site, it's where i'm going for my stuff. This link is for some nice armour.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx'modelID=7088

HRD

[aerostylie]

Here you go re the GP Dixon armour link, and yes you will sweat buckets:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dixon-GP-Racing-Moto-X-Motocross-Body-Armour-Protection_W0QQitemZ170093858587QQihZ007QQcategoryZ42507QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

[harris]

i got some body armour like that to flog.

[MeddlE]

Try this site, it's where i'm going for my stuff. This link is for some nice armour.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx'modelID=7088

HRD

I own and use the Brand-X body armour and it's fekkin brilliant.

[priv]

i'd 2nd what meddle said


have a look herehttp://http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Categories.aspx?CategoryID=221


priv


edit: oops it's the same as HRD's link

[Stace]

Steve,

Speak to Dan (Harris) see what he's got to offer before going to ChainReaction, better to give your money to the Rad family unless you have to !!

Although to be fair, I don't think it'll fit, you fekin great oaf ! 

[Dingobmxer]

I use a 661 pressure suit with a few modifications, you look like an american footballer if you dont wear a big jersey  over it though 
  DINGO

[Dark Diggler]

i got some body armour like that to flog.

What u sellin Dan?

[Steve_W]

Cheers all!  So if you have summat for sale Dan, I dunno if it'd fit me I'm a bit of a big'un, I weigh in at anywhere between 15 and 15 1/2 stone (although I want to get down to about 14 for riding) and I'm 6'2.  So, if you have something that might fit me, I'd deffo look at it to buy!

My god the missus is gonna get it when I walk into the bedroom with that lot on, full face helmet, full pads and a horses handbrake!

[TwoBobRob]

Steve, do your homework on this......  what you're looking for is impact protection as apposed to stone deflection....

So, all MX amour is basically useless for us as its designed to deflect roost from the bike in front, not absorb/redistribute force from a slam.  What we should really be using is in fact gridiron or ice hockey kit as this is directly designed for bashing/getting bashed.  I used ice hockey armour for a while after my first big vert slam, but found that learning to slam was actually more valuable than trusting the kit which was dehydrating me almost to the point of collapse.

The pressure suits available now are more useful to us, Meddle wont ride without his and the boost in confidence this gives him is actually making him slam less  (not that he's aware of it) and his riding continues to progress well 

Treat yourself to the biggest set of pads you can find  ( I use ProDesign) and practice slamming/sliding, it's worth learning.

And remember the Golden Rule;   If you stick it out, you're gonna break it....!

Ride on   

[muttley]

I stack every week at Charlton matey and believe me you learn how to make it less painfull IE getting away from the bike quicker.

[Steve_W]

Nice one for the advice Rob!

Do you have any links to the type of gear I want to look for?  Actually I already have some pro design knee and elbow pads, with shinpads from UGP, which all do the trick, so it's torso that I need to protect.

I'd be greatful for any advice!  Cheers, Steve.

....Just did a bit of a search...you mean like this?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx'modelID=12034

[TwoBobRob]

Nice one for the advice Rob!

Do you have any links to the type of gear I want to look for?  Actually I already have some pro design knee and elbow pads, with shinpads from UGP, which all do the trick, so it's torso that I need to protect.

I'd be greatful for any advice!  Cheers, Steve.

Sorry bud,  i'm out of the loop on this. I don't wear body armour anymore.  I hear the 661 pressure suit is ok. Meddle swears by whatever it is he wears.  Downhill MTB stuff will work.  Aside from that, all I can say is grit your teeth and get on with it!!!!  If you're continually hanging your rear wheel, then the problem is with your head.....

As you air, you've gotta get your head in. Front wheel landings are where its at these days.  And if you're hanging your front wheel up, hold on tight!!   

[Stace]

Steve, do your homework on this......  what you're looking for is impact protection as apposed to stone deflection....

I don't think Steve's too worried about stone deflection, he's used to it, had to put up with kids throwing stuff at him since he was small 

[Steve_W]

Definitely a rear wheel hangup problem, i've only really hurt myself badly twice in my years on a bike, both times from hanging the back wheel up, what a bitch, my lines, speed & approach are all ok, I 180 fine in the air, but it's deffo a brain issue!  I'm gonna keep practicing lower down the ramp, and on the vert ramp (obviously nowhere near the top) just to make sure I'm landing front first.

Anyway, I'm determined to get some O2 before I pop my clogs!

Cheers!

[aerostylie]

So, all MX amour is basically useless for us as its designed to deflect roost from the bike in front, not absorb/redistribute force from a slam. 

Hi ya Two bob. I didn't realise that and will deffo take that on board. Think it was more of a confidence thing to bulk up as much as possible but yeah you're right, take ideas off the high impact sports. Nice one

Paul

[Steve_W]

Stones thrown at me, swearing, kicking my bike as I go by, I'm getting my dad onto them! 

[MeddlE]

As has been posted before, get yourself the Brand-X, it's only £60 and it does as good a job as the 661 or Azonic which cost £100.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx'modelID=7088

Meddle wont ride without his and the boost in confidence this gives him is actually making him slam less  (not that he's aware of it) and his riding continues to progress well 

Ahh, thanks big guy.

[Steve_W]

Cushty, cheers Meddle...

[TwoBobRob]

Chaps, one thing I should say before I get embroiled any deeper and get myself into trouble.....

Wear whatever you want. At the end of the day its just gotta make you feel better on the bike. We can't wrap ourselves in cotton wool, nor should we. its a mans sport and it always has been. We have to take the slams to progress and what we do to deal with that is our own business. MX armour and full pads for some, leopardskin thong and nowt else for others, its all cool. (kind of...)