Safety gear for riding

[krjames]

Originally Posted by alicefish

I have a helmet also, but I haven't worn it yet...I don't think I'm doing any tricks big enough to require it.

For what it's worth Alicefish, the trick you wear the helmet for is the 'falling unexpectedly' trick.

Actually I only wear a helmet and cotton gloves. The helmet for the obvious (see above) reason and the gloves .... to protect my fingernails.
I'm trying to learn how to play the guitar and you wouldn't believe how long it takes for fingernails to grow back when they break.

But I am only riding on the footpaths and in sports grounds, hopping 20mm and not going backwards anywhere fast and using standard plastic pedals. I will get some gloves next though. Birthday present for myself perhaps.

Cheers

[gratefulbruce]

my answer to this poll was helmet only, only because I don't have shin or wrist guards yet. When I get my new Muni (hopefully soon) or start agressively hopping, dropping, riding technical single track, I think I'll definately need more protection.

[MuniSano]

At least a helmet and gloves, always, always, always. Shin guards and wrist guards when doing trials or anything more extreme than easy XC MUni. While I'm reasonably confident that I *could* ride a whole lot of what I do w/o any protection, I just don't think it's worth the risk. Plus I'm more apt to attempt a tougher line, bigger drop, etc... with my gear on than I would without.

All this being said, there have been numerous occasions when I still got hurt even with all my armor on. So my biggest piece of advice is to pay close attention to what you're doing, your line, and anticipate how to bail safely if it should come to that. (I cracked a rib riding down a steep power line cut when I supermanned off my uni because I failed to spot a covered hole in the trail.) Also take some time to learn how to fall down gracefully. Lastly, especially while doing really risky lines, don't attempt them when you are really tired! (I sliced open my chin one New Year's Eve because I was attempting a difficult trials line when I should have quit long before then.)

[jaco_flans]

Shin guard, helmet and gloves. Sometimes I only wear my shin guards and gloves, but I always have my shin guards, and my helmet is always with me

[Klaus]

Always wrist guards and jeans (I don't dare riding bare-legged) - sometimes helmet. I will probably wear shin guards when I advance into more technical terrain. (I haven't really had bruises since I learned to ride, so I probably don't challenge myself enough... )

[Charly.Oldie]

shin guard, Helmet, wrist guards, sometimes o'neal protector shorts when MUNI
nothing or only wrist guards when goofing around
but after hurting my left wrist last week i will always wear wrist guards from now

[nordicnoel]

Always a helmet, usually shin guards, bike gloves when I'm off road.

[SqueakyOnion]

For commuting around town, I usually don't wear any protection aside from my normal clothes.

For muni, I wear the KH Pulse gloves with the gel pad in the palm and stiffener insert in the wrist.

I have KH shin guards, but the straps give me blisters, and I've only ever gouged my shins once anyway.

[Rowan]

Originally Posted by krjames

For what it's worth Alicefish, the trick you wear the helmet for is the 'falling unexpectedly' trick.

I wear my shoes for that trick, why would you land first on your head when gravity would have you land on your feet? If you are practising hard tricks that have you falling over backwards -perhaps initially wheelwalking or going big at the skatepark then maybe a helmet will help. For most casual riding your skull will be thick enough to take any impacts without cracking, and common sense and reflexes can help to reduce or eliminate head impacts.

[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

[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

[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