Mountain bike riding is all fun and games until you fall hard and find yourself covered in scratches and bruises. Any kind of sport, whether done in leisure or competitive events, require the right set of protection. At that point, you could only wonder what protection you missed out on. So you inspect your bruises, check if you obtained more scratches, and start wondering what you should wear on your next ride to better protect yourself…
What body armour do you need for downhill mountain biking? When doing downhill MTB rides, you should be armed with the following safety gear: helmet, gloves, knee and elbow pads, glasses or goggles, and body armour. For extra protection, you may also opt for undershorts, which protect your pelvic and hip area, and neck braces to go with a full-face helmet.
In this article, we provided a brief discussion of the importance of wearing body armour and how this affects your safety and performance as a biker. We also listed the essential safety gear you should wear for a comfortable, secure, and protected MTB riding. On top of this, you may also consider wearing the additional gear we enlisted below during one of your extreme mountain biking sessions.
The Importance of Wearing Body Armour
Downhill mountain biking may be considered as a fun weekend hobby for bike fanatics. But it is also deemed as an extreme sport that may result in injury or even broken bones if you are not armed with the right set of gear.
Most downhill mountain bikers suffer from abrasions (also known as grazes or scrapes with minimal bleeding) and contusions (or bruising) which can last and hurt much longer than a harmless scratch.
Lower Level of Risks and Injury
While a set of safety gear does not guarantee 100% protection, this can reduce the impact or risk level of injury and even increase your rider confidence. If you only ride on weekends as most bikers do, then it is safe to say you want to go back to your normal life without any bruising or injury on your body. You also would not want to display a crooked set of teeth especially when your job entails face-to-face conversations with clients. Suffice to say, a good set of MTB body armour can help keep you protected and presentable.
Weather Protection
More so, safety gears are essential for rainy season or wet conditions. Whether you are competing or just riding on your usual trail, a simple pair of goggles can help you retain proper vision, sleeves can protect your elbows and knees when you slip, and a helmet in place can prevent head damage when you crash.
Essential Gear For DH MTB Protection
Helmet: Open Face ($25-$300) or Full Face ($100-$450)
Being first on the list, the helmet is a no-brainer essential protection for downhill mountain biking. In fact, it is a must even if you are just on a leisurely ride. This is something you wear at all times, regardless of your riding lifestyle. This works by diffusing the force and the energy of the impact, thereby reducing the force applied to your skull when you crash.
There are two types of helmets to choose from: an open-face or half-shell, and a full-face. An open-face helmet protects the side, top, and back of your head, while a full-face helmet has an additional chin-guard to keep your cheeks, chin, mouth, and face well-protected and scratch-free. A perfect fit should protect your head from rotational forces when you crash. Opt for a durable and lightweight helmet so it does not shake and disrupt your riding.
Gloves ($7-$80)
A good pair of MTB gloves will protect your hands from scratches, lost skin, abrasions, hand fatigue, and sweaty palms on the handles. This gives you a better grip, control, and comfort. It is especially handy to wear gloves during one of your downhill bike rides, considering all the jumps, hops, abrupt brakes, and handlebar control you will do.
Choose gloves that provide padding to your palm to prevent injuries and fatigue. Make sure they are durable enough to withstand any kind of impact. MTB gloves come in different sizes. Find one that fits snugly to prevent slipping off from your hands while riding.
Pads: Knees ($13-$115), Elbows ($16-$50)
Pads can protect your joints mainly your knees and elbows by absorbing, delaying, or dissipating the impact of the force when you slip and crash. When it comes to MTB protection, you want to look for a “CE Level 2” padding product. This means the product is relevant to most MTB and moto gear, providing protection to a certain degree when worn.
You want to be extra picky with pads and pick something that fits you perfectly. This can be done by purchasing from a physical store rather than opting for online-bought pads, which may give you the wrong size and fit. For more convenience, you can go for zipped or velcro pads so there is no need to take off your shoes each time.
Glasses ($10-$180) or Goggles ($30-$200)
Some bikers neglect the importance of wearing eye protection gear during downhill mountain biking. But this is something you should not overlook. For one, biking glasses or goggles protect your eyes from potential mud splashes and keep your visuals good and intact in the rain. They also prevent debris and small elements from getting into your eyes, especially when you are zooming past trails.
Glasses offer moderate protection, while goggles go all the way to your back for a snug fit, giving your eyes a higher level of protection. Keep in mind that cheap drugstore glasses do not undergo inspection for UV protection. And since you are protecting one of the most sensitive parts in your body, the best choice is to buy from an authorized bike store that offers quality safety gear.
Body Armour ($50-$475)
There are four types of body armour that you can use for downhill mountain biking. There is the Spine Only, Torso, Torso with Short Sleeves, and Full Upper Body.
A Spine Only offers great spinal protection while offering arm mobility. Like Spine Only, Torso body armour also provides protection for the spine, plus some chest padding. If you want more protection on your shoulders, it is best to go with a Torso with Short Sleeves body armour. Lastly, the Full Upper Body type provides full-length arm protection.
Body armours are typically made of a thin layer of breathable material, while the paddings (chest and shoulders) are made of varying materials including foam, hard plastic, special impact foams (which harden on impact), or a combination of all those materials. You will find the zipper usually either on the side or on the front of the body armour for easy reach. Lastly, the elastic velcro strap around the waist helps keep everything in place.
Additional Protective Gear
If you want extra protection or you plan to go on extreme downhill MTB rides, you might also want to consider these items below:
Undershorts ($13-$20)
This is something you wear under your actual bike pants. It primarily provides hip protection, thanks to its side padding. Some also have padding on the crotch area, which provides extra protection during big jumps. Undershorts are not worn simply to look rad but to actually protect your sides and your pelvic area when you fall off your mountain bike.
You use your hips a lot when you ride. It would not hurt to give them some TLC as much as you can. Undershorts should feel snug while giving you hip mobility for riding comfort – pretty much like how cycling shorts fit, but with padding.
Neck Braces ($200-$800)
These are only worn together with full-face helmets. They help by stopping compression or over-flexion of your neck during rough rides. This also protects your vertebrae and spine from damage by dissipating force. Anything that impacts the head also impacts the neck, and at times, the spine. Therefore, you want to take extra care of your neck at all times. A neck brace is handy to have especially during extreme rides.
Conclusion
The right set of body armour will not only protect you from injuries and harmful or disruptive trail elements but would also allow you to ride comfortably at all times. To find the right type and get the best fit for every gear mentioned above, it is best to purchase from authorized bike accessories rather than online. This may take more time, but this is nothing compared to the protection and safety it will serve you for the rest of your riding days.
