After another stupid fall (front wheel wedged @ slow speed in a rocky hole, completely covered in dry leaves like the rest of the trail) where I bumped my knee - the bad one, of course... - on the sharp edge of a rock I've come to the realization that even if I don't practice freeride / enduro / DH I'd better add some hard stuff between my knees, elbows (and maybe shins + wrists) and the rocky obstacles that abound in the mountain trails around our village.

Been looking around and there's a cr*pload of different brands and models.
I'm looking for something I can wear while pedalling (if possible) and that doesn't look like it was designed by some scifi-fanboy from Skywalker Studios...

Moreover - do those wrist braces really help? I've got a bad right wrist already (legacy from my skateboarding days).... last thing I need is to bust it for good

Thx for your valuable input, as always....

Ciao

Paul

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661 or Race Face makes really good protection. But order soon if you want any Race Face products, they went out of business as of yesterday. For wrist protection I wrap my wrists as I find wrist guards limiting which is NOT what you want when biking.

IXS also makes good protection. My brother in law has these, He claims they are good for pedaling, light weight and breath fairly good. I mostly have storm trooper protection for DH.

The best thing to do is to try a few different models and see which fits you the best.

I've used a few different types. I found these from 661 are quite fit and forget for general riding. Price isn't too bad either.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=30870

slightly off topic....RACEFACE went under? wow. That's quite the news.

I remember being 13 and dreaming about owning a sweet pair of Raceface cranks, definitely a staple in the industry.

It sucks I know. The name will most likely be bought out by one of the big brands (Giant, Spesh) and turned into an in house brand once they relocate the manufacturing to Asia. I doubt the quality and durablity will remain the same though. As of now all employees have to leave by friday afternoon save a few to help with the liquidation.

Yup - keep your eyes peeled for some lowball offers... I'm hoping to score some good priced stuff to pimp my Ti XC...

Paul

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. (BRAIN)—Running into financial turmoil, Canadian component brand Race Face is no longer in business. A receiver took over operations on Saturday and has shut down the company. Race Face’s bankers, Scotia Bank and Roynet, appointed Grant Thornton Limited as the brand’s receiver over the weekend.

In a letter to Race Face employees dated March 14, Grant Thornton Limited announced that it was terminating all Race Face employees at its New Westminster factory, and at its operations in Taiwan today.

"As the receiver will be shutting down the operations of Race Face Components Inc. immediately, your continued employment is no longer required and, therefore, the receiver on behalf of Race Face Components Inc., hereby terminates your employment, effectively immediately," the letter stated.

Calls seeking comment from Grant Thornton Limited were unanswered.

“It came as a big surprise to all of us,” said John Pentecost, who was Race Face’s component/protection marketing and product manager. “There were about 50 people laid off here in New Westminster today and we were told that another 20 people in Taiwan were also terminated.”

Pentecost said the banks had begun to require their sign-off on all outgoing funds about four weeks ago. At the time payroll payments were current, although many of the employees hadn’t been reimbursed for traveling expenses and company payments into the Canadian healthcare system were reportedly behind.

“For some of the people traveling to Taiwan and down to the States on sales calls, they are owed $3,000 or more of traveling expenses. I’m owed about $2,000, none of which we will see,” Pentecost said.

Race Face officials met with creditors and its receiver today. Officials at Grant Thornton said they intend to dispose of Race Face as a single entity and may rehire back some essential employees to assist in the sale of the company.

—Matt Wiebe
mwiebe@bicycleretailer.com

I (and a lot of the guys I know) use 661 Kyle Straight knee pads. They are not the lightest/smallest but are very comfortable. Happily wear them for hours and fine for pedalling in. They don't have a hard shell layer so are quite flexible.
You can also get a version with the D3o protection: http://www.sixsixone.com/d3o.aspx

I've never used wrist braces/guards for riding. I do for boarding and they do help, but I think that type would restrict movement too much for MTB, and there is too much material across the palms. Not sure how effective the lightweight wrist supports are.

I have a pair of those and can recommend them. They aren't overly hot or heavy but protect quite well. I leave them on all the time, even when doing big climbs, and just undo the thigh strap above the knee (I do it up in reverse so it wraps around the front) for unrestricted knee movement. When I am ready to descend, I just do the top back up again. That way I don't need to carry them around on my backpack.

LOL those are the Star Wars models I was referring to
C'mon - I'm almost close to 50 y.o.
These others are another model I could wear at next year's carnival bash (or at the next riot)



Paul

I use both the 661 or Race Face FR ones depending on what I am doing. If it's a full face and body armour day then the Race Face with shin protection come out, if it's a trail day 661 Kyle Straits.

There is a new 661 version which uses the D30 intelligent padding stuff. I'd probably try those as an all day trail riding type knee pad if I was buying new ones now.

Who spoke about Race Face having good quality? Their bottom brackets are in a league of crapness that can only be beaten by Truvativ! Wouldn't put any of their hardware near my bike.

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As a MTB company it is sad to see them go, and lose another option when buying. But have to agree I've never been overly impressed with their components.
It's just personal experience, but friends always seem to have more trouble with their BBs and cranks compared to Shimano.
Only RF kit I currently have is a jacket, I do quite like that!

Ive tested and tried over many years.
661 knee pads for light XC/ lots pedalling. BUT if u have proper crash, they tend to slide off knee easily, be warned i did my knee in this way.

FOr DH/ pedal i recommend the TLD knee/ shinones...I pedal easily and they are much more secure than knee pads.

Best test is to try on and simulate pedalling for restriciton, then try to pull down shin as per crash to test.
go shred

It is quite a cool jacket, and I also quite like the Race Face pads I have... Maybe they should have just stuck to software. They did seem to do that better than hardware!

I had a pair of Atlas cranks many years ago that were bombproof. I haven't had any hardware since but I always had the opinion they were top gear. I could only guess that their downfall of quality and over expanding may have something to do with going out of business. Still sad to see them go.

Jaysus... I received them today ( the Kyle Strait 661s)!
Tried them on...looked like I was guarding the goal in some sort of hockey match.... They'd better protect better than what they look like!

Thx for all the help, guys

Paul

They'll definitely look (and work) better than a cast or bandage in any case

+100!

:-)

Paul

the 661 D30 stuff is the way to go! light weight, non bulky and it works.

i originally had the kyle straits knee pads, but my knees were basically rubbing together when pedalling they were so bulky! especially when riding stuff like mega avalanche with plenty of sit down pedalling.

definitely a worthy upgrade to the D30's...