What are the Pro's thinking?

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May 23, 2012, 09:11:33 PM

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Total Voters: 287

[RAFChris]

Is it just me or does anyone else think that some of the guys at the top of our sport are playing a very dangerous game and setting a horrendous example to people by NOT wearing full body armour when they train/race/appear in videos?

Sam Hill being one major culprit. I understand that these guys are GOOD and they don't crash that often, but they are the role models for the next generation of riders and racers and if people see the pros not wearing leg/shin/arm protection then they will start to copy it and all that will do is get people injured and put them off the sport.

The BIGGEST contradiction I've seen is guys racing DH with NECK BRACES but NO arm/elbow/leg protection... it's madness!

[domino0]

I personally dont think they are setting a bad reputation, its up to people themselves to make their own decitions, everyone has their prefereneces. I myself, always wear knee pads, but wear knee/shin when doing most DH, A full face for all DH and goggles, i have body armour but use it only for my coaching and harder tracks, eg, fort william or when trying new things. I woulld however love a leatt brace which i would wear most of the time im not using the armour, but tht brings up the other problems, PRICE

[RAFChris]

That's a fair enough point Dom, but the whole point I'm trying to make is that DH is a dangerous sport by it's very nature. The body armour is designed to do it's job and protect riders. If you're going to wear some then why not wear it all?

The Pro's in any sport are the trend setters... they set the standards to be aspired to by everyone else, and as such they should be beyond reproach. They all USED to wear body armour, it's only been recently (the last year or so) that they have taken to not wearing it. I honestly don't believe that a set of elbow/arm guards will make enough of a difference to slow you down so I won't accept that as a reason that the pro's don't wear it.

In other sports that have a high level of personal danger involved there are mandatory levels of protective clothing to be worn (Ice hockey for example) and at the SDA races they ALSO have these rules in force, which sets up a contradiction from the ruling bodies.

At the end of the day, each to their own, but PERSONALLY, I feel that the Pros should be wearing their armour and setting the example to the younger generation that It is part of the sport, it's how you keep yourself safe and manage risk and it's not uncool.

Anyway, rant over, lol!

[domino0]

Yeah understand completely where you are coming from, but you have to remember, the PROS didnt set out to be "trend setter" they are just doing what everyone else is doing, riding their bikes FAST. If you think about it like that, they have the choice, they didnt choose to be trend setters, and i dont think they should go out of their way and wear it if they dont want to. The reason they are up there is beccause they are good not because they want to be trend setters, however good they look 

[lvnyk]

The BIGGEST contradiction I've seen is guys racing DH with NECK BRACES but NO arm/elbow/leg protection... it's madness!

Madness? Shins, elbows etc. heal (ok, if things go really wrong, you may not be able to race any more, but at least you can walk).
Preventing spinal injuries is much more crucial.

[RAFChris]

Yeah I understand that but If you're going to wear a NECK BRACE, then why not stick on some elbow and knee padding? It's like wearing a crash helmet but no leathers when you're a motorbiker and saying skin heals, necks don't.

Personal view anyway.

[iain1775]

totally agree Chris
apart from the neck brace but no pads example - a broken arm or leg will 9 times out of 10 heal and be perfectly okay after a relatively short period of time.
A broken neck however may 9 times out of 10 lead to possible permanent disablement of some description
After a helmet a neck brace (for the pros) is the most important, like Dom says - for the rest of us it is an expensive luxury whereas pads etc are quite cheap. Still though they should set an example and wear pads as well.
Maybe if the UCI stopped worrying about skinsuits and enforced something about protection?
Hate to say it but the Athertons are the worst example - training on roads in US with no helmets (and listening to music I think?)  - duh! and even after that occured check the Atherton Project and other vids - again no helmets when dirt jumping etc. You would think being pros they would take some caution when 'messing around' after all it could be their careeer over if anything happened (...and Rach definately cannot fall back on being a commentator if the racing finishes!)

[lvnyk]

I can't really remember any pros not running knee pads, while racing, at least. As for the elbow pads ... yeah, i cant really remember any of them wearing them :)

Maybe if the UCI stopped worrying about skinsuits and enforced something about protection?

A few years back, we had a rule, that every contestant in a national cup race had to wear a backprotector, elbow pads etc. It didnt really help, i remember Filip Polc coming to visit our local race and having to stuff a piece of cardboard under his jersey, people would wear cut socks pulled over their elbows ... eventually the rules were changed, apart from helmet the elite class can now wear whatever protection they feel comfortable in.

I do believe this plays quite a big part in downhill racing, it is a mental game, and if one doesnt feel comfortable riding with elbow pads, it would be quite a hindrance having to race with something that obstructs your motion, causes armpump etc.

However. It's not all that bad. Last year in Maribor there was more or less only CG running a Leatt, now we are a year later, I would estimate at least 30% or more WC riders wearing them, unfortunately none of the top runners (except for the Yeti boys).
More or less everybody is wearing knee pads, as for the elbow pads, I really do not believe they are all that crucial.
If it were up to me, I would however make knee, back and neck protectors mandatory. The materials in these sorts of protectors today are so advanced one cant even feel them, so there can really be no excuses.
However, if people are prepared to have palms (since blenky won schladming, half of usa is running gloveless), shins and elbows badly bruised, it is up to them.

Hate to say it but the Athertons are the worst example - training on roads in US with no helmets (and listening to music I think?)  - duh! and even after that occured check the Atherton Project and other vids - again no helmets when dirt jumping etc. You would think being pros they would take some caution when 'messing around' after all it could be their careeer over if anything happened (...and Rach definately cannot fall back on being a commentator if the racing finishes!)

Well put.

[bong69uk]

If they aint happy wearing elbow pads cos they are uncomfortable and restrictive they so need to discover the brand of POC,i took my new vpd joint elobow pads out tonight and they rock,they really as comfy on my elbows as my kyle straits are on my knees, even more comfy i'd say than the 661 d30 evo pads!

[Thompy]

i hear what your saying but what do you wear when racing? (i mite of missed it in your post)

i know from my experience that its all about the mental aspect as said already i know guys wearing everthing under gods earth and guys rocking lids ands knee pads thats it it all depends on what you feel most at home in come race time to put down your best i know i wear my 661 lid and kyle strait knee pads if i wear anymore i feel hindered by it....

Bong has a point with that POC stuff its supposed to be the danglys... maybe i'll end up rocking it out sometime but at the min i'll stick to what ive got

[nickfry]

I totally agree with the example that the pro's set for the younger generation. You only need to watch a game of premiership football and see the 'stars' abusing refs, diving all over the place and general agressive behaviour, then go down the local park and you'll see all the kids (4+!!) doing exactly the same. Then watch a game of premiership rugby and see how they respect the official's authority and then go to a local club and see the same respect on the pitch there.

I was speaking to one of my lads mates yesterday when we were going caving, and I asked him if he wore a helmet when he was out on his bike (knowing full well that he didn't), and he said that he didn't even own one 'cause "helmet are for nerds". People like G A and Sam Hill can make body armour cool.

IMHO I do think that the pro's have a responsibility to set a good example if only to help me to keep my boys safe!!!!!

Nick

[McMeta666]

I used to play Ice/roller Hockey a few years ago and we would only wear leg armour and gloves while practising. As a result we would go easy on each other in terms of checking but checking wasnt the really the scary thing while playing with no armour it was full power slap shots where the ball or puck was cappable of doing 50mph+ easily. So we went on playing for a few years until one game i charged an opposing player to block his slap shot on goal and got the ball full into the side of neck which was like someone just flicking off the light switch. acording to everyone else i just dropped like a sack of spuds and was out for good 30s, all i remember is just charging the guy then waking up on floor. Needless to say the next weeks pratise everyone turned up in full armour.

As a result i get the feeling it often takes a scare or bad injury for someone younger to wear armour.

[iain1775]

regarding protection being uncomfortable so it would be difficult for the UCI to make it mandatory - look at F1
The FIA enforced the HANS system for neck support, most of the drivers were initially against it saying it was restrictive and dangerous
1 serious crash (to Robert Kubica??) where the G forces were so huge it was reckoned the HANS device not only saved his life but meant he could pretty much walk away unaided and all the drivers suddenly embrace the idea so much more

I imagine Mountain biking going a similar way in respect to the neck brace etc
as the bike technology gets better and speeds increase over increasingly unforgiving terrain this safety equipment becomes more vital
Unfortunately it usually takes a nasty accident for people to realsise the benefits of this stuff

[RAFChris]

i hear what your saying but what do you wear when racing? (i mite of missed it in your post)

i know from my experience that its all about the mental aspect as said already i know guys wearing everthing under gods earth and guys rocking lids ands knee pads thats it it all depends on what you feel most at home in come race time to put down your best i know i wear my 661 lid and kyle strait knee pads if i wear anymore i feel hindered by it....

Bong has a point with that POC stuff its supposed to be the danglys... maybe i'll end up rocking it out sometime but at the min i'll stick to what ive got

I wear the lot when i race... full leg armour, elbow/fore arm guards, full face helmet, 661 assault suit (sternum, shoulder and spine protector)... I cannot afford to get a serious injury and whilst broken arms will heal eventually it would also mean not being able to fly for at least 6 months and that would be a major no no for me.

regarding protection being uncomfortable so it would be difficult for the UCI to make it mandatory - look at F1
The FIA enforced the HANS system for neck support, most of the drivers were initially against it saying it was restrictive and dangerous
1 serious crash (to Robert Kubica??) where the G forces were so huge it was reckoned the HANS device not only saved his life but meant he could pretty much walk away unaided and all the drivers suddenly embrace the idea so much more

I imagine Mountain biking going a similar way in respect to the neck brace etc
as the bike technology gets better and speeds increase over increasingly unforgiving terrain this safety equipment becomes more vital
Unfortunately it usually takes a nasty accident for people to realsise the benefits of this stuff

I totally agree with the example that the pro's set for the younger generation. You only need to watch a game of premiership football and see the 'stars' abusing refs, diving all over the place and general agressive behaviour, then go down the local park and you'll see all the kids (4+!!) doing exactly the same. Then watch a game of premiership rugby and see how they respect the official's authority and then go to a local club and see the same respect on the pitch there.

I was speaking to one of my lads mates yesterday when we were going caving, and I asked him if he wore a helmet when he was out on his bike (knowing full well that he didn't), and he said that he didn't even own one 'cause "helmet are for nerds". People like G A and Sam Hill can make body armour cool.

IMHO I do think that the pro's have a responsibility to set a good example if only to help me to keep my boys safe!!!!!

Nick

Ian and Nick I totally agree... I can see a huge injury happening and people being jolted into wearing the proper kit (as resulted in the adoption of neck braces by some of the pros after a few paralizations earlier in the year).

Also Nick, you have a hit the nail on the head of what I was trying to get at... if this is how the younger generation see the kit then it is down to the Pros to change their attitude.

[domino0]

personally i have not seen any pro or anyone for tht matter ride a neck brace without FF helmet and at least knne pads, not even iin videos