Safety gear for riding

[UniMD]

I'm curious how many of you use safety gear to ride or practice and if so how much. At my local clubs practices it seems like I'm the only one that wears anything. Maybe it's the fact that I know I'm not invincible and that if I break my arm, I can't work well. I always wear wrist guards, if nothing else, even for simple A to B rides. If I'm doing anything else I'll usually add 661 legs and a helmet. The 661 arms go on if I'm hopping or doing things I'm really not comfortable with. All that being said, it's extremely rare for me to fall, MUni not included.

[Julia B]

Ankle guards always, unless my shoes cover my ankle bone (and my current ones don't). No shin guards if it's hot or I feel lazy which is 90% of the time. No helmet unless it's required by a skatepark. Gloves kill all my tricks, let alone wristguards. What are arm guards??

[Obtusellama]

I was wondering about this, myself. I usually only ride with my 661 shinpads but I have recently ordered a helmet because I keep falling back when grinding and am scared that one day it will result in a nasty injury.

So, unless I'm doing street riding it's usually just the shinpads.

[UPD in Utah]

For Muni I wear helmet (Bell Faction multisport), KH Pulse Gloves (w/ wrist protection), KH Percussion shin/knee guards, and 661 elbow guards. (The ONE time I skipped the elbow guards I took a nasty backwards fall on a steep bit [I had just dropped crank size from 165 mm to 150 mm] and smacked my left elbow on a rock. Nothing broke, but I still can't lean on it for long after 6 months.)

For commuting on the 36er I wear pretty much the same stuff as for Muni, but I substitute a vented bike helmet with rear-view mirror attached.

For goofing around parks (i.e., mellow street) I wear the multisport helmet and Hillbilly gloves (with serious wrist protection), KH Percussion guards, and 661 elbow guards if it's not too hot.

If I'm just riding flat asphalt I sometimes go with only the Hillbilly gloves and 661 knee pads, or just the Hillbillys.

I really don't want to break a wrist or my noggin -- both would cramp my style -- and livelihood, so I'm pretty religious about protective gear. (And I know something about TBIs from a running buddy who stepped out of a [slowly] moving car and hit his head on the curb. He's never been quite the same since.)

So, are you thinking of writing this up for the NEJM? Might be worthwhile. Someone did the same for tele skiing injuries and releasable bindings a few years back. A good read for those of us who "free the heel."

Cheers,

UPD in Utah

[JBAB]

Commuting on my 29", nothing. Practicing wheel walk on my 20" helmet and wrist pads. Still does'nt save my butt. But now I'm wearing a towel at my tailbone for practicing WW. Practicing 180 jumps, everything (Helmet, wrist pads).

[DSchmitt]

shin guards, gloves , helmet.


i've learned teh hard way twice about gloves...got 2 perm scars now on both hands.


pls.


just wear gloves.

[Aillaragis]

I ride armored to the teeth: helmet, wristguards, elbow pads, and leg armor that goes from mid thigh to well below my ankles and the top of my foot. I hate getting hurt so much. I don't heal well. I had a mystery injury with my knee once. Nothing happened. One day it just started hurting like hell. After going to several doctors who all basically just said "IDK" I walked with a cane for months. When you are jealous of people because they can walk, you really learn to value a properly working body.

[Rowan]

I selected no safety gear but I would have chosen shoes and clothes if it was an option, also a sunhat is quite important I've found, especially on long rides. The sun in NZ can be pretty harsh.

Hitting the concrete sure is a wake-up call to remind you of how real unicycling is. I've twisted my wrist behind me and wished I was wearing wrist guards, but after trying wearing them I can't stand having safety gear that I will only sometimes need. They feel restrictive. I'd prefer to try not to crash too bad.

[maestro8]

Originally Posted by Rowan

I can't stand having safety gear that I will only sometimes need

I trust you've removed the horn, hazard lights, seatbelts and airbags from your car then?

Originally Posted by Rowan

why would you land first on your head when gravity would have you land on your feet?

The human body is long and narrow, and its center of mass is roughly below the navel. In an upright position, this means we're inherently unstable. Gravity WON'T have us land on our feet unless we're perfectly ejected from our unicycle.

If you can repeatedly demonstrate a perfect ejection, I'll hold my peace.

your skull will be thick enough to take any impacts without cracking

No -- YOUR skull is thick enough. Some of us listen to reason.

Edit: some of us have brains inside our skulls. You failed to mention how one's brain would fare given an impact.

and common sense and reflexes can help to reduce or eliminate head impacts.

...because we all know how common "common sense" is in this world, and how well it affects the dynamics of the human body when subject to sudden impacts.

Troll.

[napalm]

I used to wear helmet, gloves and 661 4x4 (knee/shin) pads for all my off road riding. I have since ditched the pads. I find them to be too hot and chaffy. Good pedal grip avoids most situations in muni where you will get a pedal bite, and after 4 or so years of solid off road riding i can run out of most UPDs.

Mark

[wobbling bear]

Originally Posted by napalm

. I have since ditched the pads. I find them to be too hot and chaffy.

how about those "tropical" shinpads

[Doc Doo]

Originally Posted by wobbling bear

how about those "tropical" shinpads

High unicyling fashion!

[Rowan]

Originally Posted by maestro8

I trust you've removed the horn, hazard lights, seatbelts and airbags from your car then?

Troll.

It was nice of you to admit when you are being a troll. I don't need to remove any safety gear from my car because my car is my unicycle. And I do have horns, lights and bells- for fun and for safety. These things are not restrictive safety gear as they are attached to the unicycle, and don't weigh much.

[OutdoorJunkie]

If I'm gona muni I'll usauly wear a helmet, KH leg armour, gloves and ankle braces. But if im riding on the road I'll wear a helmet and no shin pads or ankle braces.

[scott ttocs]

On my 36" I wear helmet (with rear-view mirror) and wrist guards. (I have not been wearing knee or shin protection because I so rarely need it.)

For Muni I add KH shin guards and wrist guards or Hillbilly gloves.

To ride around on a 24" I do not wear any protective gear, but I also will not try any tricks with this setup.

Scott