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Im currently off the bike having separated my clavicle from the rest of my shoulder in an OTB incident in Les Gets.
Ive stretched the ligaments and its slowly returning to normal. I was wondering other than not falling off, what armour can i use to protect my shoulders.
At time of injury i was in Ion knee and elbow pads which i like and wearing an Evoc backpack with a back protector.
Obviously comfortable is good, but protection is better. Im happy to buy new kit and sideline what ive been using if thats the solution.
I ride Welsh trail centres, Antur and Revs and the Alps once a year.
Thanks
Ian
I asked this a few weeks ago, in a not dissimilar situation to you. Answer was don’t crash but if you insist, learn to fall properly.
Or muscle up.
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/collarbone-protection-du-jour/
Answer was don’t crash but if you insist, learn to fall properly.
it does sound like we are being dicks... but the reality is you prbably didnt break your collarbone by landing on it, but by landing and then having your own bodyweight/momentum twist/yank it until it snaps. No armour will prevent that.
I've broken my collarbone twice. Once from putting my arm out (classic fail) and once from a direct hit with no twisting involved. Just me landing full force on my side.
In the second crash shoulder protection would certainly have helped a lot.
There’s not much protection you can use, clavicles are literally the upper body crumple zone that give before other areas do in an accident, force just transfers through from point of impact to them, and if it’s enough force, they break.
You just struggle to protect that area as well due to the shoulder being a ball and socket joint that requires freedom of movement, same with shoulder blades, etc, so you can’t just armour around it.
Not much (any?) armour will help but strength and mobility work will - and have many other benefits especially as you get older.
i did my ac joint years ago, the Mr/doc said no pads or guards would aid a shoulder, crash less.
i had an over the bars a few weeks ago, luckily it was at speed so i had time to think about my landing, i rolled slightly in my superman flight and avoided a direct hit, with a hard hit on my lower shoulder blade. arm/shoulder was useless for a week, painfull blade and a back Rib, went to a&e for xrays, no breaks, 2 weeks of painfull sleeping, i'm back swimming and riding 3 weeks on.
shoulders are a right pain to fix.
In my experience shoulder armour helps prevent cuts and abrasions, but not so much the separating/ dislocating/spraining etc and bone breaks.
Just hurts more when you do break your collar bone and the medics need to get you out of the armour.
In my experience shoulder armour helps prevent cuts and abrasions, but not so much the separating/ dislocating/spraining etc and bone breaks.
This, saying that the cuts and abrasions still bloody hurt so it is worth having.
Just hurts more when you do break your collar bone and the medics need to get you out of the armour.
Don't they just cut it off, unless you mean painful to the wallet as you need to replace it?
Not a lot you can do for the clavicle apart from learn to fall better (trying not to sound like a dick while saying that). It’s designed to break first as they heal much quicker and better than your scapula. Some kind of D30 soft armour might help with direct impacts a bit such as trees, etc so always worth a try.
The fact that the clavicle is designed to break or is more likely to break does not mean that body armour will not mitigate some of the impact. Especially if taking a direct, non twisting hit.
100% Tarka top is what I have and I have crashed tested it by landing on my shoulder and it did its job. Spread the force of the impact and luckily I got away with bruising and swelling. Without it, my shoulder would have been worse.
The different pads are removable so I just have the back protector in for Enduro races and add the shoulder and chest protector back in for uplift days.