priorities in protection

Unicycles and Equipment
1

With my new MUni I will also need some body armour - I have none at
the moment. At the very least I need shin guards to go with the spiked
pedals, but I think I’ll pad up some more with ankle (bone)
protection, knee caps and wrist guards.

Do you think I have my priorities right? Helmet? I am riding as
technical as my abilities allow so I UPD frequently but mostly
controlled. The terrain is gravel and rocky at times (and grassy parts
-> not much danger). It includes some “steep” but short ups and downs.
Hey I think I need to make that inclinometer to quantify such
statements.

Oh and does anyone have experience with 661 4x4 integrated knee/shin
protection guards? I will have 170 mm cranks so I was wondering if the
integrated guards restrict movement too much, as opposed to separate
shin guards and knee caps.

Klaas Bil

2

If I were to only get shin pads or helmet, I would go for the shins for sure. Yah yah, I always wear my helmet in the trails, but if I’m only going out for a stroll, I know there’s a good chance I’m not gonna get a head injury, judging by my previous falls, and the likes.

I would ddefinetly come home bleeding from 15 more scars to each leg from those god-forsaken pedals with out the shin pads though!

Disclaimer: Sofa recommends wearing helmet even while walking

3

AS I read my last post I forgot to add something. I would for sure get a helmet, but if money were the problem, I’d get the shins first, while I save up for the helmet

4

After riding at a nice set of trails close to my house yesterday with a group of mountain bikers, I came to one conclusion. Buy a helmet.

5

I’d recommend helmet and wrist guards before you hit the trail. Roots and hills can send you flying forwards and backwards. helmets also protect your head from low flying tree branches and bird poop.
Shin guards next (you can wear long pants with thick socks to reduce the pain a little bit if you get a pedal in the shin)
If you can get a shin/knee combo that fits go for it. Then elbows and forearms.
I’d suggest always wearing a helmet but that’s just me.
:slight_smile:

6

kLaas,

I wear one piece 661 leg armor and use 170mm cranks. I wouldn’t ride without leg armor. Definately go with the that kind of arrangement. I don’t find them binding at all even in hot weather. Movement is fine, they just squeek a little, but that’s “no biggy”. Just make sure you have the right size.

I am 5’9" so if your @ that height, then there shouldn’t be any restriction.

Work the maze.

7

Re: priorities in protection

Hi Klaas,

My standard attire for muni rides consists of wrist guards, knee + shin pads
plus a helmet. I’d say that wrist guards are a must for any riding at any
time but then I need my hands in working order for my job :wink: The helmet
debate has been done to death so I won’t go in to that one… You’ll be glad
of pads the first, second, third etc. time your front foot comes off the
pedal and it [the pedal] rakes your leg. They’re also go for helping on the
confidence side of things too.

The 661 pads are very good and don’t hinder movement too much. The outer
material on them has been toughened up recently which was the one gripe I
have with my older set. The straps are a bit more fiddly to do up than Roach
ones but, that said, are probably better IMHO. It’s important to get the
right size though, so Roger should be able to help you and there’s a sizing
chart somewhere around the gear selector on the 661 web site @

Happy (and safe) riding on your new beast!

Cheers,
Neil

----- Original Message -----
From: “Klaas Bil” <klaasbil_remove_the_spamkiller_@xs4all.nl>
Newsgroups: rec.sport.unicycling
To: <rsu@unicycling.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 04, 2002 11:15 PM
Subject: priorities in protection

> With my new MUni I will also need some body armour - I have none at
> the moment. At the very least I need shin guards to go with the spiked
> pedals, but I think I’ll pad up some more with ankle (bone)
> protection, knee caps and wrist guards.
>
> Do you think I have my priorities right? Helmet? I am riding as
> technical as my abilities allow so I UPD frequently but mostly
> controlled. The terrain is gravel and rocky at times (and grassy parts
> -> not much danger). It includes some “steep” but short ups and downs.
> Hey I think I need to make that inclinometer to quantify such
> statements.
>
> Oh and does anyone have experience with 661 4x4 integrated knee/shin
> protection guards? I will have 170 mm cranks so I was wondering if the
> integrated guards restrict movement too much, as opposed to separate
> shin guards and knee caps.
>
> Klaas Bil
>

> rec.sport.unicycling mailing list -
www.unicycling.org/mailman/listinfo/rsu

8

Re: priorities in protection

“Klaas Bil” <klaasbil_remove_the_spamkiller_@xs4all.nl> wrote in message
news:3d24c6e0.4032701@newszilla.xs4all.nl…
> With my new MUni I will also need some body armour - I have none at
> the moment. At the very least I need shin guards to go with the spiked
> pedals, but I think I’ll pad up some more with ankle (bone)
> protection, knee caps and wrist guards.
>
> Do you think I have my priorities right? Helmet? I am riding as
> technical as my abilities allow so I UPD frequently but mostly
> controlled. The terrain is gravel and rocky at times (and grassy parts
> -> not much danger). It includes some “steep” but short ups and downs.
> Hey I think I need to make that inclinometer to quantify such
> statements.

As always depends what you’re doing, if your riding involves a lot of
hopping / jumping / drops, some kind of leg guards are the way to go, if
you’re mainly keeping the tyre on the ground I wouldn’t bother.

I don’t really do much of the clever hopping stuff at the moment so
personally I don’t bother with leg guards. I’ve got spiky pedals on my muni
and very scary atomlab pedals on my coker and I’ve never landed with them
hitting my shins yet. If you intend to hop high and do big drops it’s
probably a lot more likely so you might want them.

For my style of riding, I’ve hit wrists a bunch of times, that definately
has to be priority number one, especially considering how much hassle not
being able to use a hand would be. I’ve grazed my elbow quite bad once but
it’s hard to see how you could fall off and damage them in any permanant
way, so I’d only bother with wrist guards.

I’ve hit my head 3 times in total, again this might be something to do with
riding style, at least one of them was to do with riding a coker off road
and falling off at coker speeds on bumpy ground. I always wear a helmet on
any long rides, partly cos it keeps your head warm in cold weather and stops
me getting the top of my head sunburned in hot weather.

knees I’ve hit a couple of times maybe, hurts like a bastard, but doesn’t
happen very much at all and hasn’t had any lasting effect so I don’t bother
with knee protection. Personally I’ve never hit my shins so I don’t have
anything on there at all.

active ankles or other ankle things, if you have problems with your ankles
already you might want some kind of ankle things but they sound like loads
of hassle to me.

I try to wear the minimum amount of protective gear, cos it always seems
like so much hassle having to put on all this stuff just to go for a ride.

Joe

9

The best way to avoid unicycling injuries is not to unicycle.

However, it’s better to die than never to live, so we choose to do these dangerous things. Given that, it is a personal trade off of safety against comfort, convenience and expense.

The piece of protective equipment I use most often (in the literal sense of it protecting me during a UPD, rather than the wider sense of just wearing it as a precaution) is my gloves. I seldom ride without gloves, especially on the Coker, or when muniing.

Helmet? I wear one usually but not always.

Shin guards? I wear these when riding in conditions which are at the top end of my ability level. They do give me more confidence, they protect me from brambles and twigs as well as the pedals, and they are not uncomfortable.

Elbows, wrists etc.? If I were doing jumps and stuff, I suppose I might invest in some. However, I don’t want to ride out looking like an Imperial Stormtrooper, so I’m not keen to armour myself up too much.

Each to his/her own.

10

Re: priorities in protection

as an aside to this discussion, you’ll always hurt yourself in the place you
haven’t protected, my worst injury so far is a bruised rib which is still
hurting 2 weeks after the event, although it only hurts when I cough now, so
it is getting better, but not a nice thing to happen. I don’t see how I
could have worn any protection that would have helped in this case though.

Joe

11

to quote our motorcycling brethren…
‘the helmet law sucks! let those who ride decide’
i’m noticing a fascinating divide in this discussion
one the one hand there’s the gung ho:

“I try to wear the minimum amount of protective gear, cos it always seems
like so much hassle having to put on all this stuff just to go for a ride.”

and on the other hanfd there’s the sensible approach

"I’ve hit wrists a bunch of times, that definately
has to be priority number one, especially considering how much hassle not being able to use a hand would be. "

i’d be argueing an age split if only those two quotes weren’t taken from the same post!

i took a knock on the knee UPD’ing from the giraffe and the knee is stiff and sore today
i doubt if knee-guards would’ve stopped that
i did skin the knees during another episode and the knee-guards would definately have prevented that
trying to arrest a fall with your wrists is such an instinctive move, it makes sense to protect them
the head is so important, it makes sense to protect that also
(hey, it contains the pie-hole, it’s important ok?)
the rest is probably up to the amount of pain you’re willing to put up with
a smile is mandatory

:slight_smile:

12

RE: priorities in protection

> to quote our motorcycling brethren…
> ‘the helmet law sucks! let those who ride decide’

That’s fine with me as long as your ability to no longer work for the rest
of your life, due to a brain injury, doesn’t end up increasing my insurance
cost or taxes. Since it apparently does, I think this is why most states now
have helmet laws, even though they are not popular with a lot of riders. I
fully support your (and my) freedom to get injured, as long as I don’t have
to help pay for it.

Yes, the helmet debate has gone on a long time, and it won’t likely go away.
Even when we switch to 700c for track racing, it will probably rear its ugly
head again due to the higher speeds.

In unicycling, we require helmets for certain events to protect the hosts
and the unicycling organizations. Attitudes toward helmet use (and liability
in general) vary widely from country to country, but they are very severe in
the United States.

Personally, I wear a helmet for basically all outdoor riding (I do artistic
indoors). The helmet is neither heavy nor uncomfortable. If yours is, time
to get a new one. You can find great helmets for as little as $25 or even
less. I just bought a nice one for $35. Helmets also protect my balding dome
from the sun.

I do not ever expect to fall on my head, just as I never expect to be in an
auto accident. However you don’t get to decide on those things. Try as you
will to prevent them, they may still happen, totally beyond your control.
Though I can hope any future auto accident will be caused by another driver,
I will likely not have this luxury in a unicycle crash :slight_smile:

Your wrists heal. Your shins heal. Your knees heal. Though they may heal
less than perfectly, they will probably still function. Your brain does not
heal. You only have to hit it good & hard once to have a major permanent
change in your lifestyle. So I recommend a helmet for anything on rough
terrain, and for anything fast. This means any form of MUni and Trials,
racing, and even commuting or cruising on Cokers.

I also recommended helmets for the High Jump and Long Jump competitions we
have at our conventions, though this did not pass as a rules requirement.
Those two events generally end in dismounts, unlike most other events, so
are likely places where people may get hurt.

For those attending NAUCC and UNICON, Remember you will be required to wear
kneepads, and gloves or wristguards for all forms of racing at both
conventions. In addition, all riding at the Snoqualmie Summit (site of the
MUni and Trials events) will require helmets. This is the policy of the
Summit Hiking and Biking Center and is not open for debate.

Stay on top,
John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
2002 NAUCC and UNICON Referee
jfoss@unicycling.com

Go to NAUCC and UNICON 2002! www.nwcue.org

13

Up until recently I didn’t think much about ankle protection but that has all changed. I have badly sprained my ankle so I can’t ride and I don’t know for how long :frowning:

What dangerous stunt was I performing? A regular dismount that’s what. The Nike footwear I was wearing had no ankle support and I put all my weight on my miss placed my foot and that was it, one sprained left ankle.

I’ve been in touch with Roger about Active Ankles so I don’t have this happen again. This got me thinking though, just because I’ve never hit my shins or knees I had better not tempt fate and 661’s may well be on the shopping list as well. And my wrists, I broke one years ago (weight lifting not unicycling) and that’s no fun, maybe I should add some wrist guards rather than just gloves.

Of course if I don’t protect my head I’m running the risk of wasting money on the rest ‘cause I’ll not ride if I get a bad hit there will I.

We all have a responsibility to protect ourselves so we don’t burden others. Take my son, after I sprained my ankle he had to help out around the house, hold on that’s not a bad thing, bad example he needs to do more around here. You know what I’m saying.

It’s not a matter of if more one of when you get an injury.

Cheers, Gary

14

Re: priorities in protection

> i took a knock on the knee UPD’ing from the giraffe and the knee is
> stiff and sore today
> i doubt if knee-guards would’ve stopped that

Armor spreads impact over time (padding) and space (rigidity). Knee pads
might’ve reduced the stiffness and soreness.

> i did skin the knees during another episode and the knee-guards would
> definitely have prevented that
> trying to arrest a fall with your wrists is such an instinctive move, it
> makes sense to protect them
> the head is so important, it makes sense to protect that also
> (hey, it contains the pie-hole, it’s important ok?)

> i want to stay as close to the edge as i can without going over.
> out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can’t see from the
> centre.
> ~Kurt Vonnegut, jr.

You can see stuff if you go over the edge that you’d never see from the edge
or the center.

15

Well Muggins here has never once in many many years smacked his shins with the pedals - at least not badly enough to worry about. So I didn’t bother with shin protection when I went out for a ride yesterday with my new (DDG) studded pedals.

And shin protection would have made no difference whatsoever when I did a spectacular sideways wipe out as I was riding across a slimy slope and the studs hit my inner ankle bone. Looks like I’ve been attacked by a vertically challenged vampire!

Ouch!

16

Re: priorities in protection

On Mon, 08 Jul 2002 11:49:03 GMT, “Joe Marshall” <localhost@127.0.0.1>
wrote:

>as an aside to this discussion, you’ll always hurt yourself in the place you
>haven’t protected, my worst injury so far is a bruised rib which is still
>hurting 2 weeks after the event, although it only hurts when I cough now, so
>it is getting better, but not a nice thing to happen. I don’t see how I
>could have worn any protection that would have helped in this case though.

Not that I advocate more types of armour than we already can choose
from (or have to don mandatory in certain events), but on
www.sixsixone.com a full body armour suit is featured. Depending on
how your rib got bruised, wearing it might have helped.

Klaas Bil

17

What kind of Helmit do you guys recoment?? I go with a Pro Tech Skate Boarding style of helmit for 3 reasons They are cheap, have plenty of sticker space, and 3 they protect your brain.

What do you guys ride with??

18

Re: priorities in protection

“Klaas Bil” <klaasbil_remove_the_spamkiller_@xs4all.nl> wrote in message
news:3d29fac2.1300444@newszilla.xs4all.nl…
> Not that I advocate more types of armour than we already can choose
> from (or have to don mandatory in certain events), but on
> www.sixsixone.com a full body armour suit is featured. Depending on
> how your rib got bruised, wearing it might have helped.

yeah, seen that, it’s way too hot for unicycling fast though.

Another thing, when I ride to work I don’t wear wristguards. That’s because
I ride well within the boundaries of my ability so that I don’t fall off.
Not having wristguards on is a useful reminder of this. I haven’t fallen off
on the way to work at all this year. Having said that I know I’ll fall off
tomorrow now.

Joe

19

i’ve been promising myself a helmet for some time now
maybe it’s time to actually do something about it
does anyone know of a helmet that will make sense for both riding and rock-climbing?
not that i’m THAT much of a miser, when it comes to my head i’m happy to spend
i’m just curious to find out if i can kill two birds…bad expression
u know what i mean

20

RE: priorities in protection

> does anyone know of a helmet that will make sense for both
> riding and rock-climbing?

Technically, there probably isn’t one. I don’t know enough about climbing to
have an opinion, but my guess would be that a climbing helmet would offer
more protection than a bike helmet, and probably for multiple impacts. That
said, you probably won’t want to wear a climbing helmet while cycling, as it
may not ventilate as well.

Bike helmets are cheap. Get one of each.

JF