Dirt Rider . Net Text Version Home
Pages: 1
Asterisk - First Ride
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)
Posted by: MX-727
Well, just got my new braces and had a chance to ride with them and I'm kind of upset.
I'm mad at myself for waiting so long to get these braces. 
I set the braces up in just a few minutes. Very simple to adjust the limit screws. I couldn't believe how good the braces felt. I also had forgotten how easy it is to put on MX pants without velcro grabbing the liner. I just simply put my gear on. No trying to sneak the pants past the velcro or turning the pants inside out and rolling them up my leg. I was dressed and ready to ride the quickest I've been in a long time.
The braces felt good. They are a bit wider than I'm used to, but after a few corners, I was used to them and had no trouble gripping the bike.
The only problem I had is that I may have overtightened the laces a slight bit and as such, I have a small (dime size) spot on the back of my leg, behind my knees, that has been rubbed a bit raw. Any help on adjustments that eliminate that would be apperciated.
All in all, I'm ecstatic about the fit, comfort and quality of the braces. I think I'll eventually get over the fact that I wish I would've got the braces a long time ago. In the meantime, I'll be mad at myself. 
Posted by: Okiewan
Humm... are you wearing the underliner?
Make sure to attach them from the bottom up... I bend my knee to help locate them on my lower leg, making sure I have full range of motion.
It's not the lace clasp doing that is it?
Posted by: BillyWho
Nice tittle mx, I was afraid to look for a second LOL. The small dime size circles are probably the black rivot heads that hold the buckles onto the liners. You may have them a little tight, but if they don't bother you, the tighter the better ( to a certain point :D ) or should I say if you have to go one way or the other, go on the snug side.
Posted by: Jaybird
I know some guys who ride in shorts while wearing the Cells. 
Crazy, aint they? (grin)
I found that the underliner is the key to success.
Posted by: MX-727
I thought you'd like that Billy.
I was wearing the underliner. I need to fiddle with them today. The spot is on the tendon on the back inside of both legs. I'll have to check if it's the rivet, but it doesn't seem to be in the right place. It may be that I didn't pull the underliner up far enough on my leg and there was some extra material that bunched behind my knee. It almost seemed that the underliner was too big, but the braces felt just right. (XL for both).
I also may have put the braces on a bit too low and the bottom of the top lace got into the hinge of my knee.
I still am amazed though at how comfortable the braces were and how easy it was to ride with them. I was worried because I'd read the post about not being able to walk with the braces on. I ended up tightening the range of movement quite a bit. I think am right around halfway up the window with the indicator and can walk fine.
What was the difference in the hinge and how can I tell if I got the new one?
Great product Billy.
Posted by: Thump
So did you sell your "other" braces? LOL
Glad you like em', I won't ride with out them.
Posted by: MX-727
One guy here is interested and a friend at home is trying them out. For what I want for them, the EVS is good and much better than knee pads, but comparing list prices of the braces, the Asterisk is a no-brainer, worth every extra dime.
I just got around to seeing what the problem could be and the bottom of the upper lace is rubbing on that inside tendon. I can't move the brace further up my leg, so it appears that is where the lace is going to be. I'm fairly confident that I didn't get the underliner far enough up my leg. I ended up with much more material folded over the bottom of the brace and only an inch or so folded down over the top, which means there was too much material bunched around my leg. As soon as the underliners come out of the laundry, I'm going to fiddle around more.
Any thoughts on that theory?
Posted by: Jaybird
Todd,
I've been watching your evs sale post. I wish you would get a buyer soon! I have some that I want to pawn off....errr....sell as soon as yours are gone.
(j/k about the pawn off.....some know just how I feel about the issue...they are Much better than nothing at all )
Dave, I don't ride without mine now. Well, I did give the evs' a couple of comparative rides after my purchase, but they fit the boxes they came in much better than on my knees now!
Posted by: MX-727
I know what you mean. Almost hard for me to sell them since the Asterisk are sooooo much better.
Talked to Billy today and he's going to send me some different underliners. What service.
Posted by: MX-727
Sorry it has taken so long to update, but I rode two more times that week and since I hadn't healed up, I couldn't tell if things had improved.
Talked with Billy and he ended up sending me a couple of different sizes of underliners plus the update for the hinges and cables. Outstanding service. I can't emphasize how nice it is to deal with such great people. Reason enough to buy Asterisk braces in my mind.
Anyway, I got the different underliners and wearing one size smaller really helped. It also appears that in an effort to make sure the brace was secure, I was overtightening the lace at the point closest to my knee. This was impeding movement of my knee and causing the brace to cut into my leg at a point above my knee and along the inner tendon where the first lace was.
By loosening that first lace and wearing the smaller underliner, the problem has vanished and I was able to wear the braces for 5-6 hours with no discomfort.
FWIW, if you are thinking of getting braces, the Asterisks are the best I've ever tried and the customer service puts them over the top.
Thanks again, Mister™
Mister™ is a registered trademark of billywho™. All rights reserved. Portions ©2002, billywho™. Unauthorized use is a no-no.
Text Version Home
vBulletin Copyright ©2000 - 2009,
Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.
vB Easy Archive Final ©2000 - 2009
- Created by Stefan "Xenon" Kaeser
