[Closed] Do you wear protection / pads for XC riding?

no never. but if you want to then go for it

I wear a helmet most of the time, other than that no. Plenty of people do though.

Yes - pretty much always on winter (to keep my knees warm!) and generally in summer unless it's utterly scorching and I'm confident I wont be doing anything that will likely result in me coming off (or if I do, that it will be a soft landing!).

Si

Typically knee pads unless it's a proper XC slog.

No elbow pads or anything else, I just learned to fall on my knee. So far, so good.

Rarely.

Sometimes I think I should.

Generally when I'm trying to pick a soft spot to land.

Depends on what you mean by xc, on the main trail at Cannock almost always, but I might not if I was going for. 20+ mile bimble.

TBH though 99% of my riding is trail centres so I tend to wear helmet and knee pads pretty much all the time. Elbows if I can be bothered/think about doing something new.

Yes.

I had an innocuous-looking low-speed off on Penmachno when my front tyre pinged sideways off a triangular rock, throwing me to my side. My elbow hit another rock. It snapped off the elecronon (the tip) taking my tricep tendon with it. Reconstructive surgery and 3 months off the bike, and even some all-day-comfortable soft pads would have prevented it.

Worst of it is, Penmachno is crap...

Yep. Height of my fitness a few years back (don't laugh!!) I just innocuously washed the front out at Swinley on a corner and went down on a knee onto the hardpack with embedded stones. The effect was as if someone had hit the kneecaps with a baseball bat, and then rubbed a cheese grater over it, with curls of skin peeled back.

The bruising and subsequent infection cost me 3 weeks of riding in the best part of summer.

I now wear G-form knees for pretty much everything, and for BPW or Exmoor or whatever, proper hardshell knee pads and G-form elbows as well. Although I also wear leg warmers or tights over the top because I hate how they look. Tart, I know.

Usually wear knee pads for warmth and knee support from an old injury. Also don't want to have the hassle on dealing with injury when life must carry on. Wear elbows when racing or riding something new/big.
Modern pads are so comfy that it's no bother.

Just bought some knee and elbow pads in sale at Grizedale, have yet to try them out due to rain, but interested to see how they feel.

So, yes

I've been looking at the light weight stuff:

Race face DP30 Shorts and Nukeproof Crirical Enduro knee/elbow protectors.

I'm guessing from the reviews that these or similar should be comfortable enough for all day rides?

G form is worth a look. I really rate it.

Swinley/Afan/FoD yes. Local stuff, no.

G-Force

Is it one of the best or are they all pretty much of a muchness?

I think its the best for lightweight.
Works, comfortable and lasts. Worth trying on though as im an Xxl on kneepads and m/l for shorts.

Unless you are hammering it (pedalling wise) or its hot there's no real reason not to if you want to. I do if it's cold as knee warmers and I'm just cruising or if I'm messing around in the woods try new stuff. Not in the summer, too hot

I'm considering whether to get some too. I used to live near Weeksy and the local riding was downland type stuff. Now my local riding is steeper and rockier with a good few tracks used for enduro racing. I'll probably put it off until I crash and then regret it. ..

XC is like road cycling off road.

Helmet, lights for XC, RD and CX.

You know sh&t happens even when walking.
Know the Limits and ride defensively and alert but enjoy it.

DH well yes I would wear knee and elbow or even spine protection if I was going that fast. I don't DH or jump anymore.

Thanks for the feedback chaps.

I'll see what the lbs can get in for me to try.

Seems like people are saying no for summer though as it's too hot?

Define 'XC'. I know folk who would call most of the Surrey Hills and its trails XC but it still caused me more injuries than anywhere else and im bored with the pain so, yes, i now where elbow & knee pads.

Indeed, depends what you call XC. Some seem to think it's just roadies in lycra riding fireroads. Some think a trail centre is XC if it's not full on downhill. XC is used a bit as an insult to anything that is beneath them.

To me it's literally riding across country. Go all over the place. Might take in bridleways and footpaths, cheeky trails, singletrack. It's usually a long route or loop I'm after so with the pedalling involved I won't usually bother with knee pads. Though a rock strewn descent kind of area then might do.

And I don't consider trail centres XC. They're trail centres. A place like Afan I'd wear pads for. Plenty enough sharp rocks on Whites or Blade descent to smash your knees up at speed if you come off. Swinley on the other hand I've been known to not bother with the pads 😉 (though the cobbles may hurt).

XC is like road cycling off road.

No, it's really not.

You know sh&t happens even when walking.

Yes it does. And your risk assessment for riding involves wearing a helmet. To me the risks of serious injury from a low-speed crash are real so I choose to wear pads. The OP's 'spill' is giving them a similar pause for thought.

G-Force

you do look a bit silly out on the trail in that get-up

[img] [/img]

I'm a bit 'meh' about G-form's robustness to general wear and tear. The pad is fine but it's stitched to a thin lycra tube. Mine have been shredded by flat pedal pins when they catch as I wheel a bike, and the stitching has come undone so the pads are hanging off. I considered getting them stitched onto a new 'mount' (and still have them) but ended up buying new pads instead.

Seems like people are saying no for summer though as it's too hot?

I wear POC VPD elbows and currently use Dainese trail skin knees. Worn lightweight pads on overseas riding holidays when it's hit 40C. I might have a high discomfort tolerance but the pads never bothered me.

Helmet, gloves and lightweight knee pads every time.

I took a tumble the other week and had light bruising to my knees, they of be far worse if it wasn't for my pads

I have the light weight alpinestars ones and have got in the habit of wearing them all the time , except this morning when I left in a rush so guess what happens ? Rammed my knee Into my stem and have just spent the last hour crawling through plastic tunnels at soft play which was a bit sore .
Knee pads gloves and helmet from now on

Thanks again guys.

To me XC is riding all over the place - mainly the South Downs with a mix of natural terrain, fire track climbs, bridal ways, fast down hills (Not DH in that definition) grassy climbs and roots decent etc.

I've seen the Dainese trail skin knee pads on CRC and they look pretty decent.

Helmet, elbow and knee pads + Raceface DP30 shorts (or shoe inner soles folded) to protect my hips for most rides. If it's just a quick blast along the Speyside way then just a helmet. I have a significant ambition/skill mismatch and heal more slowly as I get older. It may look like overkill but it hurts a lot less and I get to ride more often.

[quote=four ]Thanks again guys.
To me XC is riding all over the place - mainly the South Downs with a mix of natural terrain, fire track climbs, bridal ways, fast down hills (Not DH in that definition) grassy climbs and roots decent etc.
For that, I'd not bother. I have a set of G-Form pads that I break out on my annual visit to a trail centre.

I've also sold pads to a guy that was doing the same type of stuff but was a carpet fitter to trade and couldn't afford to damages his knees as it would impact his earnings.

Crashtestdummy, how to do the g-form/trailskin compare?
My g-forms are more than a little tired (2+yrs service) but they fit the purpose I intended them for, out of the lightweight replacement options, the trail skins have caught my eye.

Or has anyone else changed from g-form and believe their new pad is 'really' an improvement? (yet still light weight)

I wear knee and elbow, bit stable door after the horse etc but broken elbows hurt!

This is where CRC really come into play, I ended up ordering about ten pairs of elbow pads from them, 5 styles in 2 sizes each. Its remarkable how different they all are in the fit. The POCs looked the best and were on sale but went back as they just didn't feel comfy for me.

Sorry g-form. I wash them 1-2 times a week and near two years old. Some stitching gone, but 661 last me 6 months max

Bliss minimalist knee pads when I go riding, helps to keep knees warm and free of mud

What ultra minimalist elbow pads are any good for disappearing?
[url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/bliss-arg-minimalist-elbow-pads/rp-prod128830 ]These Bliss ones?[/url]

Zippy, the G-forms are brilliant to wear as it's just like wearing thin arm/knee warmers, but the Dainese are almost "not there" in the feel stakes so on a par. Dainese kit seems to fit me well, BITD when I was a wannabe stormtrooper I had their hard arm and leg pads (and a full suit at one point), and all my motorbike kit is Dainese.

Its remarkable how different they all are in the fit

Agreed; POC arms work for me, POC knees don't. On 661 (D30) knees the straps rubbed me raw.

For me, no way i'd wear pads for XC stuff. I tend to be quite conservative (badge wearing mincer), but generally i'd rather be 10s slower on a decent than falling off.

I do however realise that to get better its going to require riding more technical stuff and more risk taking, so i have recently bought some midweight pads for that sort of riding.

fifeandy, I don't wear l/w pads for go fast DH, it's (mainly) against those stupid moments that cause the unexpected (or silly) falls, that happen no matter what

Crashtestmonkey, many thanks, you've sold them to me! (depending on fit)

I wear knee pads when ever I'm out on the bike off road. however, most of these "trail" pads lack any side protection. I've used trail skins since they were released and they have proved themselves. I wear elbow pads if I'm going on a long ride or doing an uplift day.

I don't but if you want to then it's your choice.

I got a set of knee and elbow pads for a trip to Chamonix a couple of years ago, not worn them or even thought of using them since. Rarely (as in less than 1 ride in 500) go to trail centres. To the STW riding gods, I'm a dyed in the wool mincer 😳

For me, no way i'd wear pads for XC stuff. I tend to be quite conservative (badge wearing mincer), but generally i'd rather be 10s slower on a decent than falling off.

Yep, I was the same, until the day i was following a slower rider, not paying attention briefly, 3 weeks out and potentially much worse.

It's a risk-'cost'-benefit equation, you choose where to be on it, and if the only option was hard shells I'd probably do without for the comfort front, but my G-flows are barely there, just like a thick knee warmer.

It's all down to your attitude to risk and injury.

If you spend a weekend pushing yourself on DHuro tracks then do a more xc or pedally ride, will you be riding any differently?

IME I didn't so have a bunch more scars and got some Dainese Trailskins pads, which I use almost all the time I don't want my bigger pads (which rub after 3 hours or 2 days consecutively).

Yes,

Firstly, because joint injuries are ****ing painful, and joint breaks can mean months off the and less than perfect repairs - I've got an elbow missing a tip and 60% range of movment to prove it.

Secondly, I just don't feel them when they're on, uttlerly used to it now.

I do. Various reasons but mostly, I've had some of my biggest crashes on simple trails (and some of my sorest knee-bashes have been in trivial crashes). Knees are sticky-outy, and it's no bother to wear pads really.

If you could run the numbers I reckon you're more likely to bash your knees than your head. Course, if you have to choose between a crippled knee and a crippled head you'll choose the knee, but that doesn't mean you want either.

Knee and elbow pads are fairly standard kit for me when riding off road. The older you get, the slower you heal.

I broke my elbow on a local ride a few years back, so always wear elbow pads now if I'm on any kind of MTB ride. I'm also now self employed so I can't risk not working.

If I'm out somewhere remote and rocky, or just really rocky I've bought a MET parachute. I've only worn it once though which means I need to go to rockier places.

I have knee pads, but generally only wear them on uplifts or on rides with one up and one down, in which case they'll stay in the rucksack until the climb is over.

No pads for normal trail riding.

Knee pads at Antur as its rocky, none at BPW as its soil mainly.
Full face and pads for uplift days and the odd DH or Enduro I enter.
Gloves all the time however.

...none at BPW as its soil mainly.

I'm sorry but WTF?!! Or does BPW now stand for something else?

No. Usually don't wear potection in Alps either but I have a dent in my shin where it hit a rock as my pads where in my backpack as it was a hot day and an easy trail 😳

Note my protection has full shin and forearm protection as such a bit much for uk xc. If I had soft pads I'd probably wear them more

It comes in cycles (pun intended). I'll have a spill and hurt my knee or elbow, then wear pads for months as a result. Eventually confidence gets the better of me and I stop wearing pads....until I have a crash and hurt myself (again).

Currently I'm only wearing knee pads for more technical riding, but not general XC. I hardly wear elbow pads at all.

I stopped wearing pads for XC last year - and then had a ridiculous washout on a loose flat chalky corner. Hit the top tube so hard with my knee that I dented it!

I don't wear pads for commuting but that's only two minutes of dirt downhill (with jumps and drops and steeps) and most of the rest on tarmac.

3 levels of knee pads, 2 of elbow, open or full face helmet, gloves always. I make the decision on what to wear depending on where/what/how I'll be riding. Typically something like....

XC bimble = light knee pads and open face helmet
Trail = middle knee pads, light elbows, open face helmet
BPW / Uplift = big knee / elbow pads (not hard shell), full face helmet

I didn't used to wear anything other than helmet and gloves, but as I get older I'm more risk averse and I definitely heal slower, plus time off bike.

I've started wearing my Fox #Enduro™©® knee pads when I ride off road stuff, even just local pottering. I've had a couple of stupid offs over the last few months that wouldn't have been as much of a PITK* and kept me off my bike if I'd had them on. Elbow pads if I'm having a go at a DH race**. I always wear my lid and gloves.

* pain in the knees.
** 'racing' is too strong a word to use in this context 😆

chiefgrooveguru - Member

I stopped wearing pads for XC last year - and then had a ridiculous washout on a loose flat chalky corner. Hit the top tube so hard with my knee that I dented it!

This is the thing about knees... I was off the bike for weeks one time because of a wee step-off, just by pure bad luck I knee'd the shifter. Knee pad would have meant I didn't even feel it.

I have a set of the lightweight Fox Launch Enduro pads that I use nearly every ride, and a set of hard shell Nukeproof pads that I use for more technical rides - though I'm thinking of getting some lightweight pads to use the rest of the time. I'm the first to admit I'm (very) accident prone, but like most people have said, elbows and knees damage easily and take a long time to heal! As for worrying about what you look like, each to their own I suppose, but I ride for me, not for other people. Fit is important though - I was recommended some TLD lightweight elbow pads which I found horribly uncomfortable, despite two mates who swear by them - definitely try before you buy, or use someone like CRC with a good returns policy.

I have the Bliss Minimalist knee and elbow pads, which I often wear, should wear them all the time really... I had a stupid off end of October, had knee pads and Evoc back protector, landed on my elbow, fracture and skin graft. Elbow pads were fine 'cos they were in the car... 😳

I don't like knee pads over bib longs as they don't stay in place and don't really like bib shorts/long socks option, so tend to go without knee pads mostly in winter.

Personally I don't for anything, but then again I'm a certified XC-shredder 😆 and that includes trail centres, XC riding & racing, Dyfi Enduro kind of events and bigger natural days out.

But judging by the proliferation of elbow, knee & shin pads not to mention full face helmets at Llandegla on Sunday I'd imagine it's almost the norm for the majority of "mountain bike'ists" out there.

I don't unless I'm doing a 'day out' somewhere like a trail centre. Even a pathetic fall can have unfortunate consequences. This generally means when I'm not bikepacking but am riding away from home (though I did wear them for one bikepacking trip... was like having knee warmers)

Came off in the mud on a local trip a few weeks ago, landed against a tree. Hit my kneecap on the tree, hurt a lot. Couldn't cycle to work for a couple of days after that. Knee pads would have helped a lot, but seems a bit much for the local muddy XC pootles that I normally go on

I bought some bliss elbow pads but haven't worn them yet

Nope, natural stuff near me is mostly moorland so rocks are a low risk. Never bothered in places like the lakes or trail centres either.

For me it has always been about comfort. The type of riding i enjoy is marathon so comfort of pads has always been a concern. If you find some that work then fine.

Most people I see at trail centres these days seem to be armoured up. Full faces and the like are quite common. Probably less out of place than me in lycra, spds and a roadie lid on an xc bike.

What is 'XC'?

One riders XC
[img] [/img]

Another riders XC
[img] [/img]

And usual trail riding for me (not my pic):
[img] [/img]

Just a Johny

All of that looks like XC to me

For me that'd be no pads for 1&3, but i'd be taking it very easy down 3.
And pads for sure on 2 because that course looked damn hard and i'd be falling off a lot.

I'd be walking 2 & 3 🙂

I always helmet and unless it's just a gentle spin along the canal I always wear light knee pads too.

Mainly to protect against small impacts and grazes. I seem to pick these up quite often so some light protection gives just enough bump absorption top allow me to just dust my self off and get back on the bike.

They are light and not very bulky and feel fine even on super hot summer days and its a compromise I'm happy to make.

OP - if you want to wear them, wear them. It's your body and you'd be gutted if you ditched the pads because you thought you shouldn't be wearing them (based on what others do/don't do), had a tumble and hurt yourself worse due to no pads.

I don't differentiate between different rides that I do. Whatever I'm doing it's likely they'll be some arsing about, jumping off stuff, hopping over stuff, taking corners too quickly etc. All of which increases risk.

So I always wear kneepads, gloves and a helmet (full face if uplifting, but this is rare). I'm using Dakine Slayer kneepads at the minute and really like them.

Used to have some padded Fox shorts that protected my upper legs. Found them pointless.

XC is used a bit as an insult to anything that is beneath them.

To me XC is riding all over the place - mainly the South Downs with a mix of natural terrain, fire track climbs, bridal ways, fast down hills (Not DH in that definition) grassy climbs and roots decent etc.

my definition.

DH - You ride something like a motorbike without an engine (triple crown forks) and probably own some Troy lee gear. basically grown up BMXing

XC. You wear lycra, probably on a HT 29er and dont go down many made-made trails or much singletrack. (You're a secret roadie)

Mountain Biking - You ride down AND up everything you can, for fun, fitness, love of the wild etc.

Enduro - Like Mountain Biking, but you take it seriously, have 'all the gear' and do enduro races

Don't wear pads, but did consider them for trips like those to Morzine.

All are what some might call XC. Just getting out and following trails, which could be anything from fireroad, to Glentress Red but no real big air, to Lake District/Cairngorm 6 hours away from civilisation rides to mostly non gnarcore paths around the PdS.

But then a former women's DH world champion told me that what I do is Enduro. Which it probably is (I'm not going to argue), but that term to me now means multi-stage DH. I think the Germans/Swiss would call it Marathon-Tour (well some of it).

All of that looks like XC to me

Some XC racers were telling me that the scene is losing quite a few competitors recently because courses are getting too technical and people are having accidents. This also explains the growing popularity in cyclocross as those racers move to a different discipline. Not sure if other racers are seeing that.

Knee pads for pretty much every off road ride as I seem to like doing very silly things that I'm not skilled enough to pull off. I feel half dressed on the odd occasion I forget them these days!

Every time I don't wear pads I crash or bump myself and wish I had them on so I wear them even on road only evening short training rides. Foxhead light elbow pads and bliss minimalist knee pads. So light you don't know they're on and super easy to wash. That's my XC / Trail setup most of the time. Generally if I wear them I don't crash.

If I'm going up to more gnar I have thicker D30 knee pads which have definitely saved a certain A&E trip / smashed knee. I generally ride with bigger knee pads on in the summer though because speed increases, the ground hardens.

I cringe when I see people riding full on gnarly xc / enduro style trails in only lycra but each to their own. I'm self employed though.

I didn't wear pads when I started riding until the day I learned to jump a small tabletop and I celebrated my achievement by buying myself a pair of knee pads and booking onto a jumps and drops skills course. Best money I spent on my bike.

I started wearing knees and elbows 6 months ago. Initially I felt like a numpty, especially on the ride to the trails. But now it's just the norm.

I wear POC VPD 2 elbows, which work great. And POC VPD Air knees, which also work great. I've not taken a fall since wearing them, but I had a really nasty graze on my elbow that took weeks to heal and hurt like a mofo before I got the elbows - that was the motivation to get some. I've ridden one day without the elbows since, and scratched it up on barbed wire, which was typical.

I started wearing knee (and sometimes elbow pads) when I started attempting more ambitious stuff in Greece, so about four years ago. Pretty much any fall there is on to rocks, so it made sense for me, especially as sometimes I'm miles away from civilisation and pretty much always on my own.
Sometimes it's around 35 - 40 degrees there but the temperature doesn't really seem to make them uncomfortable, even when climbing.
Anyway, since then I've started wearing knee pads on pretty much every ride, even in the grim north, as there'll always be something I fancy attempting that will catch me out.

Maybe I should, but I don't wear them unless my ride is a big hill with a rocky descent. I pretty much wear them so that I won't worry about falling too much, there are always injuries you can pick up with them on. I do find them a bit of a nuisance when pedalling - maybe I should get some lighter weight ones, but even then I'd be taking them off in summer.

The only time off a bike injury I've had was a broken wrist, so no amount of elbow padding would've stopped it. I won't ride proper trails without a dropper post now...

Not for me in general. Have a set that I'll take if I'm doing difficult stuff further afield.
I get that the pads are barely noticeable these days but I'd have more of an issue having to wear shorts with them over the bibs, which I don't like. Kneepads and just lycra really is a special look that I'd have to draw the line on.

Bought a set of Raceface Charge lightweight knee protection, didn't wear them for ages, caught my knee on a hidden rock on a muddy, windy Wiggle ride, still didn't wear them 2 days later a tree root took my rear wheel on my local singletrack and landed on already bruised knee. Started wearing them and find them fine, more like knee warmers with a little bit of padding on the knee area. They are not going to save your knees from a hard fall on rock but they don't look like you are out for a full day doing downhill.
I can wear them most of the time, apart from the hottest day of the year.