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Just recieved some troy lee designs t-bone knee pads, after much carefull consideration and reading loads of reviews saying they "never need adjusting", and "they're so comfortable you forget your wearing them" what a load of bosh.
They are as stiff as wood, i had a knee op a few years ago and the splint i had to wear from the hospital was more comfortable, i pulled them on strapped them up and bent my knees and they just slid down my legs.
Im glad CRC have put a free returns label in the box because thats exactly wha I'lll be doing with them.
You have clearly bought the wrong size, and you haven't actually tried them on a ride. So really, what do you know?
They are as stiff as wood
That's the padding. It protects you in a crash.
I bought a size large as specified on troy lees website and as it turns out the top of the sleeve is tight round my thigh and the bottom sit baggy round my calf, if i tighten it up with the strap it bunches it all up. Going a size either way will definately make them worse.
And yes i figured the padding was there to protect me in a crash (took me a long time though) but seriously they dont bend.
If they feel crap standing up im pretty sure they'll feel crapper on a ride and then I'm £50 down as i wont be able to return them. 😕
If they feel crap standing up im pretty sure they'll feel crapper on a ride and then I'm £50 down as i wont be able to return them.
That's what most people assume before they go for a ride in them and then they realise they had assumed incorrectly. They aren't plush and comfy when stood around compared to say a kyle straight, but the extra stiffness means they don't shift around and do a good job of protecting you in a crash. Once your pedalling you dont notice.
I have a pile of knee pads lying around, most of the most common and popular models and these are top of the list, joint favs with the fox, which are more comfortable but a bit softer. I prefer the fox for "aggressive xc" and the tld for dh and riding the big bike.
Can't say anything about the fit though. I've had two pairs of large which fitted okay, but for my last pair I went for xl which were an even better fit as I have stupidly large thighs.
Don't take my, or everyone elses word for it though, send them back and maybe try the fox or nukeproof pads which are both quite plush and comfy.
That's odd: I know a number of people who swear by them.
I hate to be the one to say it, but too tight round the thigh and too loose round the calf? You need to ride more!
Did you find your t bones went through a bit of a bedding in phase? I've had shed loads of pads of all different varieties over the years and I've never put a pair on that felt this weird. my kyle straits were sweet from day one i just find they pinch the back of my knees towards the end of a long ride
too tight round the thigh and too loose round the calf
Are you sure you're wearing them the right way up?
lol yes they're the right way up 😆
Are your [i]legs [/i]the right way up?
Well they aren't gonna fit everyone right. My recomendation would be for the Nukeproofs. Just as comfy as Kyle straits, but with a hardcap like the fox, but with more sizes for better fit for your ahem, dainty proportions.
mine were rubbish too...now wear fox launch pads and they are super comfy.
I think Matt Simmonds was less impressed with the Nukeproofs- he broke his knee wearing a set 😉
NorthwindI think Matt Simmonds was less impressed with the Nukeproofs- he broke his knee wearing a set
Really? I mean, I was actually right there when it happened....He dug in hard on a race run on one of the most technical trails you can imagine, a trail that is just solid rock and steepness crossed with roots. I didn't hear him mention the knee pads, and no reasonable human being would have.
The spill he took on his first run, and walked away from was one of the most insane things I've ever seen. Ever.
Ive used a lot of the stuff on the market The T-Bones were pretty stiff to begin with and i was initially unsure but when riding the bike they were fine. Now have some of the new Troy Lee KG 5400 ones though and they are fantastic.
Heh, fair enough muddy- I've only had second hand that he was having a proper grump about them afterwards, but I wasn't there so thanks for the correction.
[url= http://www.pinkbike.com/video/189428/ ]2 mins 10 secs[/url] in. This was his first run, I was about 20ft above him. How he did not break something I'll never know. Obviously the video flattens this out the track is nearly vertical here.
I think something like 80 people ended up in hospital over the race weekend. As I said, the track is just rock and root, there is no nice place to crash.
Can't see the vid, was that the mental front flip where he ends up on the road?
That's the one.
My experience with the tbones is they don't feel great off the bike but on the bike they're fantastic