Body armour. Again!

[JoeBlow]

A year on and I'm still struggling to find the perfect body armour. I've just returned a TLD RockFight as it it did not offer adequate rib protection (It also made me look like an aged Star Wars Stormtrooper ). I'm waiting for delivery of a TLD 7855. This seems to come the closest to what I need. I'm old and don't bounce like I once did. I took a tumble last week and noticed a recurring theme. I ALWAYS seem to come away with at least one bruised rib. Never serious but enough to put me painfully out of action for a couple of weeks which is particularly annoying as I have a new bike, more freedom than before and in consequence more enthusiasm. I ride mostly at FOD although I do plan a trip down to CwmCarn shortly. My incidents typically tend to be at low speed on technical terrain which means I have a tendency to land on my side or hit the bars.

Will the 7855 suit my requirements? Personal experience and views appreciated. The Leatt Stealth I bought last year is very comfy but offers no protection for the ribs.

Al

 

[JoeBlow]

I thing I am resigned to the Star Wars Storm trooper look but it should be well ventilated and offer specific rib protection. If you look into the TLD RockFight there are some that say the side protection is more to do with padding for the buckle than actual rib impact protection.

 

[dcxs]

I gave up on trying to look sensible and got the Leatt 6.5 pro back and chest protector. It has so far worked surprisingly well regarding weight and heat management. Its only the back part that looks a little goofy as its massive. I plan on complementing it with the shoulder and elbow part of a Leatt 4.5 evo

 

[steve_sordy]

@JoeBlow I have never worn as much armour as you, but I used to keep getting rib injuries when I fell off. Then I worked out it was the beefy elbow guard that was doing the damage! I changed to a slimmer elbow guard. No more rib injuries. Something to consider at least.

 

[JoeBlow]

@JoeBlow I have never worn as much armour as you, but I used to keep getting rib injuries when I fell off. Then I worked out it was the beefy elbow guard that was doing the damage! I changed to a slimmer elbow guard. No more rib injuries. Something to consider at least.

Possible but I do not think this is the reason in my cases. I have the Leatt Stealth but don't tend to wear it. Not sure why it's comfy enough but no rib protection whatsoever.

 

[Plummet]

The armour is an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. Its not going to compensate for poor crashing technique.

What you need to do is learn to breakfall and ninja roll to dissipate the energy.

 

[JoeBlow]

The armour is an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. Its not going to compensate for poor crashing technique.

What you need to do is learn to breakfall and ninja roll to dissipate the energy.

At almost 80 years of age? Give me a break Even if it were feasible it would not have helped in my latest situation. Almost stationary in a confined space with no where to go and off the side of the bike. But thanks.

 

[Purple parznip]

A year on and I'm still struggling to find the perfect body armour. I've just returned a TLD RockFight as it it did not offer adequate rib protection (It also made me look like an aged Star Wars Stormtrooper ). I'm waiting for delivery of a TLD 7855. This seems to come the closest to what I need. I'm old and don't bounce like I once did. I took a tumble last week and noticed a recurring theme. I ALWAYS seem to come away with at least one bruised rib. Never serious but enough to put me painfully out of action for a couple of weeks which is particularly annoying as I have a new bike, more freedom than before and in consequence more enthusiasm. I ride mostly at FOD although I do plan a trip down to CwmCarn shortly. My incidents typically tend to be at low speed on technical terrain which means I have a tendency to land on my side or hit the bars.

Will the 7855 suit my requirements? Personal experience and views appreciated. The Leatt Stealth I bought last year is very comfy but offers no protection for the ribs.

Al

Leatt.

 

[Mikerb]

Virtually all "soft" armour provides little or no protection for the rib cage. Armour prioritises neck/spine and upper chest, and is reasonable effective wherever there is firm bone structure such as shoulders and hips because the high impact foam needs a hard background in order to at least spread the impact. I am afraid it is up to you to help protect your ribs when you fall. I appreciate at your age you will not be as athletic as someone of younger yeas but that is no reason why you cannot learn to roll. ( I am 75 so no spring chicken either!)

 

[JoeBlow]

Virtually all "soft" armour provides little or no protection for the rib cage. Armour prioritises neck/spine and upper chest, and is reasonable effective wherever there is firm bone structure such as shoulders and hips because the high impact foam needs a hard background in order to at least spread the impact. I am afraid it is up to you to help protect your ribs when you fall. I appreciate at your age you will not be as athletic as someone of younger yeas but that is no reason why you cannot learn to roll. ( I am 75 so no spring chicken either!)
I think you may have missed the part where i said there was no where to roll. I'll say again just so that we are all clear. My falls tend to happen at slow speeds in technical terrain and where there is no where to roll to. Typically it's narrow single track with roots and rocks and within a narrow rut. Last incident was on a trail I have done many times but for some reason, new bike perhaps, I was hesitant. I may even have changed my mind about a line, who knows. I was going slow, the front wheel hit something and I was tossed to the left before there was time to think, respond or do anything. These are not dramatic falls, they are silly little errors of judgement but they happen and I would like some protection for such instances. Current armour I have seen does not provide this. I'm not hurtling down steep slopes with gaps and jumps. No amount of practice and ninja tactics would have helped. Although well intentioned this does not help me with my original question. Even if I was world class ninja some decent protection would be nice

 

[JoeBlow]

I may have been a little curt and sarcastic, apologies, but to get back on track, I'm looking for recommendations for protection that includes protection for ribs for those rare situations where my ninja skills are having an off day.

 

[Plummet]

The armour is an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. Its not going to compensate for poor crashing technique.

At almost 80 years of age? Give me a break Even if it were feasible it would not have helped in my latest situation. Almost stationary in a confined space with no where to go and off the side of the bike. But thanks.

When i bring this up, everyone has excuses why they shouldny learn or why their accident breakfalling wouldn't have worked.

Yet, I am here as proof that it does work. I have been pushing the limits and crashing regularly for 30 years on the mtb and walk away from seemingly significant injury inducing crashes with very few injuries.

As an example last year I had a head on with a car at 30kph, No body armour that day, ninja rolled down the side of the car automatically and walk away with bruising.

Even at 80 the old dog can learn new tricks.

My main point regarding the armour is that you wont find one that stops you hurting your ribs if you fall badly. No armour exists that will protect fully. The better protection is learning techniques to better fall.

 

[JoeBlow]

When i bring this up, everyone has excuses why they shouldny learn or why their accident breakfalling wouldn't have worked.

Yet, I am here as proof that it does work. I have been pushing the limits and crashing regularly for 30 years on the mtb and walk away from seemingly significant injury inducing crashes with very few injuries.

As an example last year I had a head on with a car at 30kph, No body armour that day, ninja rolled down the side of the car automatically and walk away with bruising.

Even at 80 the old dog can learn new tricks.

My main point regarding the armour is that you wont find one that stops you hurting your ribs if you fall badly. No armour exists that will protect fully. The better protection is learning techniques to better fall.

I assume you were wearing a seat belt? I'm looking for the seat belt. Ninja skills or no ninja skills. Not sure what ninja skills you applied in that situation. I also suspect that the riding skills you possess do not involve small falls at slow speeds as in my situation. Regardless this is drifting from my original search for advice.

From your comments I take it you wear no armour because your ninja skills are so well honed. And by the way I'm not denying that developing falling skills is a bad thing so please do not frame my comments in that way and resist the temptation to patronize me. I am well aware of the limitations of MTB protection which is in fact the essence of my post.

 

[Gila Man]

I’m not sure what company makes it but, this may be your best option.

 

[JoeBlow]

I’m not sure what company makes it but, this may be your best option.

View attachment 188121

Ha ha you could be right

 

[Plummet]

When i bring this up, everyone has excuses why they shouldny learn or why their accident breakfalling wouldn't have worked.

I assume you were wearing a seat belt? I'm looking for the seat belt. Ninja skills or no ninja skills. Not sure what ninja skills you applied in that situation. I also suspect that the riding skills you possess do not involve small falls at slow speeds as in my situation. Regardless this is drifting from my original search for advice.

From your comments I take it you wear no armour because your ninja skills are so well honed. And by the way I'm not denying that developing falling skills is a bad thing so please do not frame my comments in that way and resist the temptation to patronize me. I am well aware of the limitations of MTB protection which is in fact the essence of my post.

Oh, I wasnt clear. I had a head on with a car at 30kph while riding my e bike. There was zero time to react, the guy turned in on me and hit the corner of his front fender at full speed without braking.

My subconscious rolling skills kicked in and I rolled down the side of the car then landed on the ground a d walked away. My bike was broken bit I was not.

That particular ride I wasnt wearing armour because it was seemingly an easy ride with only a very short road section.

I have 2 types of body armour. The full robo cop 661 type and the dharco softshell type. Both good armour, though they both wont fully protect against poor crash technique.