[Closed] Protection - how much

I wear a helmet (most of the time)

And more importantly – how judgey are you when someone doesn’t conform to your chosen level?

Not at all. People can wear whatever they want.

Helmet, always unless it's a bimble down the sea front. Camelbak offering some back protection - nearly always as have spare tubes etc in it - broke spine badly 4 years ago.

Knee and elbow pads for trail centers or natural trails I don't know well, or are a bit gnarly. XC training run, no pads.

A mate of mine never wear's a helmet, road and off road. I'm sure his concussion and balance issues when he was knocked off (broke neck too) wouldn't have been as bad, nor a nasty cut sustained when he went over the bars on his MTB. Not much skin and muscle on your scalp.

Helmet, open face for most stuff, full face for uplift/DH
Knee pads, thin for general riding, big for Uplift/DH

Both as a result of being hospitalised as a result of not wearing previously.

Don't care what anyone else wears.

Helmet always, knee/elbow for trail centres.

I'm looking at various padded compression layers for trail centre/uplift days. There's lots of trail side furniture to hit and rocks etc to land on, they're not very forgiving 😀

I wouldn't be surprised if we see airbag compression layers within the next few years, lightweight versions of those available for motorcyclists.

Open face helmet and lightweight knee pads for general riding. FF, bigger knee pads and upper body armour (newer lighter weight variety, arms can zip off if required) for DH.

I wear a helmet most of the time and knee pads most of the time.
Unless Im on my road bike, where its just a helmet. Oddly its on the road bike Im way more likely to end up with a serious injury.

People are really crap at making ratioanal judgements when it comes to risk.

Lightweight full face all the time, only exception might be when doing some distance ride taking in roads, i'd go open face for visibility...
Its saved me twice already.. once into a tree...and a week or so ago i ended up upside down on my head on a hard pack gravel trail
same trail made me start wearing knee and elbow pads... if i hadn't have had a few layers on id be off the bike for a while with lots of lost skin, as it was, the base layer and jersey took most of it, but still ripped skin off underneath, this was at 17mph according to gps. i had similar injuries coming off on chalk at low ish speeds. So knee and elbow pads are a no brainer.
I have taken bruises to my hip/flanks a few times, and would like to get some sort of padding there.. have also opted to ride with my top(s) tucked in...a little extra protection by the time my hip bladder is belted up

Don’t care what other people wear.
Open face helmet and knee pads, possibly elbow pads if somewhere rocky.
I’m not exactly “sending” it, so for my bimbles I think my protection is proportionate.

I used to subscribe to the full storm trooper look for uplifts, then crashed and broke my arm.

I'm sure I would have come off worse in the same crash without the FF and armor, but that would have been mostly superficial.

And without the armor I probably wouldn't have felt so invincible.

So now I just swap helmets and wear knee pads with the full face.

Open face helmet and knee pads for all mtb, probably should own a full face etc. for the 1-2 uplifts I do a year mind.

I put a helmet on for all riding, regardless of ride type, even riding round the block to bed in pads!

Oh and I couldn't give a monkeys what other people wear, though I sometimes question the chap I see commuting in a motorbike helmet in the middle of summer 🙂

The worst injuries I’ve ever sustained on a bike was when I was wearing the most protection I ever have too.

Protection made me feel invincible and I rode like a dick.

I rarely wear a helmet now and crash less.

If I’m going “out out” on the MTB then a helmet and gloves. Otherwise just gloves. But then I’m not super rad and my local trails aren’t that rocky. I once wore some knee pads in Morzine/Les Gets, but I didn’t like them so that was that.

Couldn’t outwardly give a hoot what other people wear, though I’d be lying (as I suspect most people would be) if I said I didn’t ever form an opinion that I kept to myself: for example, obviously if I see someone with a helmet loosely perched on the back of their (or their child’s) head I despair for their misguided faith.

Helmet always. Knee pads when out for mtb trails. Full face on uplift. Don’t care about others.

Helmet always. Got some knee pads somewhere but never use them.

Commuting: helmet + gloves.

Normal riding: as above + kneepads + EVOC bag with integral back protector.

Unfamiliar trailcentre and daft stuff (Golfie etc): as above + thin elbow pads.

Alps: open-face helmet swapped for Giro Switchblade, same kneepads, same EVOC bag, swap thin elbow pads for more substantial hardshell ones.

DH/uplift: DH helmet, upper DH pressure suit thing with back, chest, shoulder and full arm protection, impact shorts, cmobined knee/shin hardshall guards. Full power ranger look.

Others can wear what they wish, no skin off my nose (or arm or leg or head).

Always a helmet (open face), no exceptions. Knee pads 95% of the time on the MTB. Since messing up both elbows in separate crashes I've also started wearing elbow pads after the last one, still recovering from it. Backpack has a protector in it, wear it on most rides. It's pretty rocky and rooty where I do most of my riding.
Never really done any proper DH these past couple of years but I'd probably get a full face for that if it becomes a regular thing which it might this year.
Started riding in just a helmet and have been adding on more protection after each bigger crash now that I think about it.

Helmet as always, wearing fox proframe front/back protection just now due to having a few rib breakages over the last 2 years, also wearing knee pads, funnily enough the one time i didn't i put a hole in my knee to the kneecap, still have no feeling in half the knee!

Thinking of a full facer as well, just doing so much trail centre stuff like BPW, FoD, Wind Hill, etc that it seems to be time to face facts on that risk, and also thinking of hip padding as by my hips aren't doing too well, reading back i should probably go back to golf!

Depends what i'm doing, but like most in here; open face and enduro kneepads for trail/XC, park riding.

Full face, DH knee pads, elbow sleeves and recently a chest and back protector for DH.

The elbow sleeves are just there to hopefully prevent cuts and grazes more than anything, if I'm wearing a jacket I don't usually bother with them.

Used to bother me, but playing around at LUBP i've become accustomed to seeing people send stuff with zero protection. It's a personal thing. However seeing an adult making their kid wear a helmet and not wearing one themselves has always baffled me.

Depends, most of the time it’s just normal helmet when riding locally. If we venture a bit further afield I’ll wear knee pads too. Gloves only when it’s raining or too cold without.

Racing is mostly open face & knee pads, FF when it’s in the rules.

That’s about it. Holiday/uplifts is a mix also, if it’s proper bike park (not BPW, more like whistler) then it’s FF days.

Didn't think of commuting.

I don't wear a helmet when riding "the commuter" (Boris-bike-alike step-through), the odds of a crash are probably the same or less than walking and I've concluded that car drivers treat you as more human without it.

I do wear a helmet when commuting on a proper bike though. mostly because it means I'll be out for a lunchtime ride or something, but also it feels wierd without it!

However seeing an adult making their kid wear a helmet and not wearing one themselves has always baffled me.

Kids come off more often (not true for all adults!) and don't have fully-formed skulls or brains, so broadly speaking an impact is both more likely and more consequential. Plus there are some unique scenarios: eg when a child is in a rear seat, if the bike topples then the adult can get their limbs out but the kid is strapped in and can't stop their head being sent sideways onto the ground.

Adults regularly damage their brains (and increase their risk of falling to the ground) with alcohol yet they tend not to let their kids do the same…

Trail helmet always on the MTB. Full knee and elbow pads if somewhere like Morzine (been once).

Normally just a soft knee pad to help against scrapes and stings on my usual rides, which I'd probably describe as "gravel plus"*

Road, helmet

Brompton, usually helmet

Boris bike, usually no helmet

*pat. pending - Stuff you could do on a gravel bike but is much more fun on a MTB.

Always wear a helmet and knee pads off road. Never wear a helmet if riding on roads or going for a towpath or Middlewood Way Bimble though. Not tried elbow pads, but don’t know why.

Whatever I feel like tbh! Always helmet, even though I'm quite realistic about how much they really do. Kneepads almost always (because I've had some of my nastiest crashes on little easy XC rides, and knees are delicate and exposed.

I'm a bit erratic with my elbow pads and fullface though, I don't think there's really any rhyme or reason to how I choose. Usually if I'm uplifting I go full face, unless I don't. Elbows I used to wear every ride but now less and less (which got quite annoying when I crashed 3 times on the same elbow in 4 days and kept tearing all teh bandages off!)

Helmet, knee pads and gloves pretty much always. Full face for DH or very occasion enduro race. Would probably form an internal judgement based on what others wear but can’t imagine being bothered enough to comment on it...

(too late to edit- I'm reasonably sure that in terms of outcomes, if you wear only one bit of protective kit it should be kneepads rather than a helmet- your brain is pretty well protected both by anatomy and by reflex, but your knees are totally in the firing line. Obviously you'd rather have a crippled knee than a crippled brain but the likelihoods are going to be pretty different. And good kneepads are really very effective.

Not recommending not wearing a helmet; just observing that "I always wear a helmet" and "I don't wear knee pads" might not make a lot of statistical sense. I doubt that any of my protective gear has ever saved me from a really big injury but I'd bet money that my kneepads and gloves have saved me from way more middling ones than my helmets.)

I wear more now than I used to. I also have a Switchblade in the camper for Alps duties after I had an off the bike moment in Verbier but still haven worn it.
I'd like to think I've progressed into a faster but better rider, despite all the offs, cuts and bruises

Same trail

2004

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Last year

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Open face helmet, I'm not doing uplift or gnarly enough stuff for a full face, yet.

Knee pads - I did have a lightweight pair of fox pads but after a not huge off (front wheel let go on a newly surfaced berm, got ejected sideways/otb) where I banged my knees pretty badly, I invested in some proper ixs pads with actual armour, they're soo much better and just as comfy.

A pair of the matching elbow pads are on the shopping list, would wear them for the bigger days I have planned this year.

Looking at the photos Tracy has posted up (great shots BTW) its interesting to wonder if fashion / social media has altered what we wear. Now you can get decent looking / functioning knee and elbow pads and not look out of place. They also make you look like a "proper" rider. In fact on the older photo I see your using toe clips which would be tricky to unclip from in a panic. I can remember messing about 20/30 years ago riding daft things on very poor performing bikes with no skill at all and not even a helmet. None of us worried about protective gear or steep head angles and tiny wheels with crap tyres/brakes etc.

Whereas now I've got a lot more skill, a better bike and wear more protection.
I dont fall off any more or less.

So is it just fashion / exposure to social media that's changed that ?
Or have we changed our attitude to risk taking ?
Or do we just want to look like a pro rider and own all the gear ?

I ditched the toe clips after my first trip to Verbier, well after the first day.
I did try clipping in for a day but realized it shouldn't have been in Finale.

In my case its more functional what I wear rather than fashion. Or more than likely what was on the sale rack😉

Roadie helmet on the mtb, very xc and no air. Don’t wear a helmet on anything else, road, commute, cx unless it’s compulsory for the event.

I don’t care what other people want to wear on their bikes, unless it’s some ridiculous colour clash, it’s none of my business, live and let live, etc

Always a helmet, gloves and knee pads off road.

Commuting, helmet and usually gloves.

Testing the bike up and down the road - nadda.

Pub run and Touring bike no helmet, lanes etc.. if in towns then usually a helmet.
Road bike, as in faster, Road helmet and gloves
Off road, always a helmet and gloves, bimble will have lighter helmet and fingerless gloves.
Enduro events, a ‘more coverage’ heavier helmet, gloves, knee pads and light armoured t-shirt (light chest plate and evo shoulders), rucksack with back pad.
Used to do DH in full face and pressure suit, shin pads, elbow pads etc.. was unpleasant - now reckon lots of current Enduro tracks are the same as our old Dh tracks!

Pub run and Touring bike no helmet, lanes etc.. if in towns then usually a helmet.
Road bike, as in faster, Road helmet and gloves
Off road, always a helmet and gloves, bimble will have lighter helmet and fingerless gloves.
Enduro events, a ‘more coverage’ heavier helmet, gloves, knee pads and light armoured t-shirt (light chest plate and evo shoulders), rucksack with back pad.
Used to do DH in full face and pressure suit, shin pads, elbow pads etc.. was unpleasant - now reckon lots of current Enduro tracks are the same as our old Dh tracks!

Testing bikes outside, rarely anything but worst two accidents I’ve seen have been people general mucking about outside a house and pub, both had significant head damage.
I’ve only broken bones on XC runs...

Helmet, knee pads and gloves on every MTB ride. Full stormtrooper body armour, full face lid and DH knee pads for BPW and the like.

Bright orange helmet complete with red LED for commuting, gloves too.

Helmet and gloves are the basics for me. Knee pads if im wearing shorts at a trail centre but not if im in troo's. Chin bar gets clipped on helmet if im doing an uplift as well as knee/elbow pads. Anyone else can wear what they like as far as im concerned

its interesting to wonder if fashion / social media has altered what we wear. Now you can get decent looking / functioning knee and elbow pads and not look out of place

Absolutely, I think it now looks more normal to ride with knee pads than without. The trend in NZ seems to be riding without but this is the exception to the rule, hence the Pinkbike bitchfest.

I can't remember last time I rode MTB without knee pads, but not sure if I've even taken the elbow pads out of the package.

Pretty much every crash involves knee impact, so they're worth wearing. Elbows not as likely to take a hit, so it's worth feeling more free. Each to their own, as long as they're wearing a helmet.

Proper full face for uplift days. Never been tempted by those lightweight 'enduro' full faces. Seem to be the worst of both worlds.

I wear a pisspot on the commuter bike, a bloke i see riding to the station winds me up as he wears a hard hat with a chin strap, looks gormless and probably is if he thinks its gonna do him any good.

I wear a pisspot or a pie case when riding off road, recently gave my brother my pie case so I need to get another one but mostly I wear my Pro-frame as I try to spend as little time as possible pedaling or with my wheels on the floor.

Always gloves. Helmet only at trail centres or group or night rides.

If I'm out on a "ride" xc-helmet type helmet and gloves, any more and I'd feel to protected go faster and hurt myself even more 😟😟. Just using a bike for transport, nothing just my normal clothes.

I wear what's suitable according to the weather...FF/knees at least at a bike park.. usually body armour unless it's boiling, if not elbow pads .. I wore full body armour day 2 of trancend last year but mainly because it was the last dry layer in the tent

Trail centre - depends I guess was out yesterday in jeans and shirt and chinless Bell 3r...

Do I care what others ride? Not so long as they don't complain if I drag them off a trail by their feet if they break their back when I'm paying for uplift. [OK not really but couple of months ago a rider in light XC gear decided to follow the kids - after being warned not to .. didn't even get 1/2 way across a 20' gap jump and apparently fractured his spine. Trail closed for 4 hours waiting for ambulance and uplift stopped to let the ambulance through if/when it arrived.

I remember reading years ago about the incidence of injuries / impacts on various body parts for motorcycles. We could guess bicycles would be similar.

It went in order of most likely to take an impact ( IIRC):
Feet, hands, knees, elbows, legs, arms, head, torso

Due to some underlying health issues I'm dressed like Robocop for all but light XC / marathon stuff.

I don't care what other people wear or any comments I might get either. It's personal choice as far as i'm concerned and different circumstances require different responses to risk.

Helmet gloves kneepads, where I ride kinda needs it. FF at uplift like Revs or Antur. Interestingly (or not) never worn arm/elbow protection Don't care what other people wear/don't wear, why should I?

Road/commute - helmet and gloves.
Town/shopping/towpath bimble - Nowt.
MTB - helmet

And people can wear whatever they like, though I do admit I smile at the fella who commutes into Birmingham in a full face and DH body armour.

I do admit I smile at the fella who commutes into Birmingham in a full face and DH body armour.

I've driven in Birmingham, he sounds under dressed TBF.

normal open face skid lid and gloves when riding trail centres, genearal xc and commuting for work. I also wear a yellow hi-viz gillet if riding on the road or in rush hour traffic.

If it's just a nip to the shops or to the pub I don't bother, just put a beany hat on if it's a bit chilly.

I forgot to put my skid lid in the car once for a visit to Cwmcarn. I didn't even realise I wasn't wearing it until I saw my shadow in front of me on the climb up Twrch. Felt a bit naked and vulnerable after that - and also a bit of an idiot 🙁

XC, open face helmet and gloves. Regular trail rides, add kneepads. Bikepark, add full-face helmet.

Always helmet on me 'ead, don't use knee/elbow pads. Don't notice or care what other people use.

Helmet and gloves for everything.

I've got some old stormtropper-esque Race Face knee / shin combos for uplift days - like Fort Bill

Trail centres: sometimes I wear knee pads most of the time I don't, but NWs argument makes absolute sense.

Elbow pads I've never got on with, tried them a couple of time and they did something weird to the nerves in my hand which either made my fingers numb or in one case locked my ring fingers on to the bars!

but NWs argument makes absolute sense.

Not to me - I've banged head (and shoulders) far more than knees. In fact, I think I can only remember hurting my knee once, and that was only because the crash moved my miniscus tear into a painful position.
But, that's me, obviously our crash reactions are different.