How equipped are YOU?

OK thanks, I found it under accessories section. That looks pretty similar to the other link given earlier. Does anyone feel that this will prevent injuries? It looks like under a hard hit, your neck would just snap back and squish the foam down. Is the foam very stiff?

A few years back (maybe 5-6) there was an article in a road racing magazine about back protection. This doctor; who was also a rider/weekend racer, designed a back protector with the intention of totally isolating the spine from any impact at all. He said ANY back protection is better than none, but a flat protector still transmits the shock to the spine. He came up with a hollow channel design that would transmit the shock to the rib area on either side of the spine, as well as the usual padding on the full back. Dainese (sp?) leathers from Italy hopped on his idea if I remember and their back protectors have his design. The road race guys wear these things under a skin tight leather suit, so I would imagine comfort is an issue you can put out of your mind.

I really need to dig up that old article...I'm pretty sure he had another idea about an air-bag cervical collar thing that would be depoyed with a kill switch if you happened to leave your bike in a hurry. It was on the lower rim of the helmet; it could easily be detatched from it and used as a standard cervical collar on the way to the hospital. It wasn't even noticeable on the helmet, until it was needed. Ran off of a co2 cartridge, I think.

And last but not at all least, looking through a baseball catalog I saw these things. "ALL-STAR" brand OSI fiberglass technology, custom fit protection. These are forearm, wrist, and foot/ankle batting protection pads ranging from $12 (wrist) to $25 (foot/ankle). They are like a fiberglass cast material encased in material, with velcro/elastic straps. You just get them wet, put on whatever part of your body you want to protect, wrap it with an Ace bandage to conform perfectly to your shape, and 20 minutes later it's done. The forearm one looks like it covers all the way from the elbow to the wrist on a normal sized adult.
(The normal elbow guards for batter protection look so much better than what we have too, and cheap. These don't have the pathetic thin cross straps that never hold elbow guards in place, some look almost like a sleeve you put your arm through. Considering batters need a longer range of motion than we do, I think these would work for us. I'm going to order some stuff, if I like it I'll let you know.)

Glad you brought this up...protection is not a joke.

Good post Ti

Thanks. I ordered both the neck guard and the senior back guard today. I agree that protection is cheaper and better than broken body parts. Lets say hi on the trails instead of at physical therapy :uh:

I am going to look into the back protector as well and I'll tell my dad about it. (He isn't on as much.) :D Does anyone have a link to the site w/ the pics of the back protector? and the price etc...

Thanx.
Dirt Monkey Jr.

Thanks for the info Wraith! After my header last year, saftey products have been BIG on my mind lately!

Another Great Back Product!

Check Out www.Dainese.com

Look under MTB and Safety Jacket. The Back Protector is great and has kept me out of the Clinic many times!!:) I manage a Downhill MTB shop and this required uniform for all of my staff. If we didn't no one would ever come to work!!! We all wear it them under our CP, they breathe well and feel great.

On a different note has anyone noticed that many of the top pros dont seem to wear much protection at all. They have lots to lose if they are injured and can't race. I have a theory that many of these athletes convince themselves that will not get injured and that wearing extra protection is a sign of mental and physical weakness. If they feel this way they will not be able to perform at the highest level.

Just A Thought? Anyone agree!

BCKDXR
'01 KDX 220

Originally posted by Titanium

I really need to dig up that old article...I'm pretty sure he had another idea about an air-bag cervical collar thing that would be depoyed with a kill switch if you happened to leave your bike in a hurry. It was on the lower rim of the helmet; it could easily be detatched from it and used as a standard cervical collar on the way to the hospital. It wasn't even noticeable on the helmet, until it was needed. Ran off of a co2 cartridge, I think.

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That sounds like more of what I was looking for. That would be a step in the right direction. But how about someone just makes a suit you can wear that turns you into the Mars Lander ? I'm not kidding, ever see the giant pyramid-like airbag that surrounded the Mars Lander? How about a suit-bag like thing that you activate when you think you are in BIG trouble? Maybe by a bite activated switch or similar. Car airbags are getting much cheaper, if I had something like that I could beat Vuillemin! (just kidding there). Don't tell me it won't be a "man's sport" or something, I'll be happy to be a girl if I can feel safer. :-)

Great thread fellas.

Milk, why don't you go to your local kareoke bar and rent a blow-up sumo rasslin outfit. You could be safe as can be and still wear any frilly little thing you want to underneath.:)

I'd be interested in seeing how badly, if at all, this equippment increases the risk of concussions. If you stiffen everything up than you might not have enough give to avoid head injuries, which are also very dangerous.

Just a thought, I've had two concussions in the last six months, three total, so first on my list of "things to prevent" is bruising my brain, it's black and blue already.

Originally posted by DeanPrice475
I'd be interested in seeing how badly, if at all, this equippment increases the risk of concussions. If you stiffen everything up than you might not have enough give to avoid head injuries, which are also very dangerous.

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ZERO. The neck brace still lets you have a decent range of motion and it is still only a pad. Plus to get a concussion your head has to hit something. You get a concussion from your helmet hitting something, then your head hitting the inside of the helmet, then your brain hitting the inside of your skull. Since we aren't even up to your neck yet and you already have the concussive (sp?) hit, the neck brace doesn't even come in to play here.

I think since you have had two concussions you are a little sensitive and just want to be on the safe side. I can say that a neck brace like the ones talked about in this thread will not contribute to any more risk of getting a concussion then not having one. I will also say that it will help lessen the effect of a compressive hit or a bending injury to your neck. How much? I doubt if even the manufacturer knows but something is better than nothing.

MikeT