Knee Protection

Would like to start riding bike into work. Don't really like the Overpants that are on the market. I am mostly concerned about knee protection if I go down. Was thinking of just some armor I could strap on either over or under my slacks.

[image: user posted image]

http://www.newenough.com/armor_alpinestars...guards_page.htm

or

[image: user posted image]

http://www.newenough.com/armor_alpinestars...guards_page.htm

any other ideas?

you should never go down on your knees at work. huh.gif

what about your butt/hips?

Have you ever thought of this. wink.gif laugh.gif

[image: user posted image]

You would be covered from head to toe. fing02.gif

767fixer, Apr 9 2006, 09:42 PMyou should never go down on your knees at work.    huh.gif

ROFL

Think about your ass also, you usualy end up sliding on your ass at some point.

67GTONUT, Apr 10 2006, 02:34 PMWould like to start riding bike into work. Don't really like the Overpants that are on the market. I am mostly concerned about knee protection if I go down. Was thinking of just some armor I could strap on either over or under my slacks.

I just wear motorcycle pants, and get changed when I arrive - it takes less than three minnutes, hardly a big deal. But if you don't want to do this, then what you're proposing looks pretty good, except it doesn't leave you with any protection against abrasion if you slide, and doesn't protect your hips.

I've crashed about 5 times in recent years while commuting; almost every time, I landed on my right side, and slid a fairly short distance. My shoulder and hip took the brunt of the fall. While I had no hip armour, I was wearing thick leather pants, boots and gloves.
As a result of these incidents, I had better armour put in the knees of my pants (my jacket already had excellent CE-approved armour). The last crash, I got my left leg crushed between a car that u-turned into me, and the VFR. My leg was badly bruised, and my heel possibly cracked, but no real damage. Without the Knox knee armour, I think there would have been. I wasn't wearing the 'memory foam' hip pads, but they wouldn't have been needed anyway.

Incidentally, altogether, I've probably come off onto the road maybe 6 times wearing only thin pants, each time at 30 mph or less. On only one occasion did I get more than very minor grazing. That was when I T-boned a car, somersaulted over the roof, and landed on the road. I had 9 stitches in my right knee.

I've been lucky: you can't pick what kind of crash you're going to have. You may be lucky and never go down (I know guys who have been riding 30+ years and never crashed). But a few shekels spent on safety gear can save a lifetime of pain.

Sounds like you go down a lot. How long have you been riding in years and miles?

jeremy556, Apr 10 2006, 03:06 PMSounds like you go down a lot. How long have you been riding in years and miles?

Yeah, it does, doesn't it?
I started riding in 1973 or thereabouts, and all but four of my crashes were during that learning phase, due to the "immortality of youth" and recklessness. Then I had a bad spate with my VFR750 - it was jinxed and/or lazy. None of the accidents were my fault (legally) but all were avoidable, even if only by leaving 30 seconds later.
All were while riding around town:
- Low-sided when my front tyre drove over a squashed softdrink can I didn't see, at the very instant I tipped into a corner.
- Hit a pedestrian who defied my best efforts to avoid her (stopped, went, tooted the horn, swerved behind her, then she turned away from me and stepped right into my path).
- BMW car swerved into my lane; I braked and swerved and went down. Had I been more than 50 yards from my destination, I might have been more alert. Had I been more alert, and suspicious, I would've expected something dumb like that. Had I practised emergency avoidance, I wouldn't have gone down.
- An Audi (car brands are important!) u-turned into me. He hadn't seen me (windows fogged up), so I slowed down. I ignored the little voice that said "Tootle the horn and make sure" and when he pulled over, I assumed he'd seen me after all.

That's it.
So it's not a lot, but a bit more care would've saved some money and pain.

I'll admit too, that while I mostly ride fairly carefully, I'm also prone to be inconsistent and reckless at times, but not in any of the instances listed.

I wear Joe Rocket Phoenix pants when I ride to work. They easily fit over your work cloths, and provide adequate protection. The knee sliders scream pocket protector and tape on glasses if you know what I mean. blink.gif I like Boneys idea of Kevlar Draggin jeans with added knee pads.

Buy an aerostich one piece. It's the best investment of all the mods I've done!
Knowing what I know about commuting daily into Hollywood as well as my last 10K mile summer trip, I'd buy an Aerostich before I purchase the motorcycle.
Yes, they are costly, but well worth the price - especially over the long term.

...and you'll be ready to catch in the company softball game. If you lowside, don't you think your hips and ass are going to take a beating as well. I catch crap when I ride in to work in my gear but it is better than possible road rash.

OK...... thanx guys.....

I will just figure a system to carry my slacks with me, and change at work.

67GTONUT, Apr 10 2006, 06:39 AMI will just figure a system to carry my slacks with me, and change at work.

But you don't NEED to carry your slacks. Like ULEWZ said, the Rocket Phoenix pants unzip up the side of your legs so high (like up to your hips!) you can pop out of them in a jiff. They're breezy cool (but zero waterproofy) and offer knee/shin, hip, and butt protection. Not bad for $120 or so. They zip to your jacket in back, and (AND!!) they have a little loop on the back so you can hang them easily when you get where you're going.

I also have the Icon "baseball catcher" leg armor when I just want to wear jeans. I figger it's better protection than just Levi denim. Fits fine, but not good for an 8 hour trip--kinda rubs in various places after a long time in the saddle.

I wear First Gear HT over pants and they come off quickly and don't wrinkle your pants. I also have Bohn pants and a pair of Draggin Jeans for banging around town and the twisties.

In my get off I was wearing fashion jeans, the kind pre washed to hell with thin denim. I slid about thirty feet and the only place they gave up was where my knee came down hard against the road.

I did use Draggin' Jeans with the knee armor and now I have a 'Stich one piece. I still use the Draggin' Jeans for quick little trips. I'd definitely wear them instead of just regular jeans. There's no reason not too. They're very comfortable and don't look goofy.....I don't think. dry.gif

+1.gif for the Joe Rocket overpants.

Just get em, they look a hell of a lot less goofy then those pads and who wants to wear dragging jeans all day when you can just wear your levis after taking the overpants off.

I don't think that Alpine stars armor is meant to be put over jeans like in those pictures and survive a crash. You need something better then those straps to prevent the pads from moving around. And I am not speculating here, I have a MASSIVE scar on my knee from about a 30mph crash where knee pads not too different from those didn't stay in place. And I was not even on a motorcycle. They worked for the first hit but not for the 2nd nor for the slide. Emergency room visit, lots of stitches, brace for 2 weeks, physical therapy, etc, etc, etc.. what the hell was the point of the pads?

I've been doing the overpants thing for about 5 years, the convenience of overpants (or a Stich) is unbeatable. You don't even have to go into the bathroom to change, it's literally 5 seconds to put the pants on and then take them off again.

As far as I can tell Draggin jeans are all about posing where you ride to some urban biker hangout spot and refuse to be seen in leathers or textile pants. They are definitely not as good as the real thing if you're going for a serious ride, and they are not worth sitting around in the office all day in either. I wouldn't want to sit in my leather pants in my office all day, why would I sit in draggin jeans? Draggin jeans are also too expensive for every day use anyway.. what are you going to get 5-10 pairs to replace your standard jeans so you always have a clean pair? Draggin jeans are $90-100!

benSV, Apr 10 2006, 07:54 PMwhat are you going to get 5-10 pairs to replace your standard jeans so you always have a clean pair?  Draggin jeans are $90-100!

...you mean...you...don't...wear your jeans for a few days in a row??? unsure.gif

But seriously, get some overpants. I took a serious spill a while back while wearing FirstGear leather sport-touring overpants. Overall, I'd buy them again, but this time, I'm forking over some cash to get some serious riding pants....and I dont' care how goofy I may look...prolly gonna be Dainese leathers to go with my jacket...

....I'd rather sweat than bleed....bleeding is no fun on the side of the highway on a Sunday night at 9:30 pm in the summer heat....in my experiance, of course...YMMV...I disclaim even myself....

fing02.gif

I guess the issue is....... I am a big/heavy guy...... ok...... I am a fatass goofy.gif

and all the overpants are so freakin bulky....

So until I lose this weight, I was lookin for an alternative to protect my knees should something happen.

So.... I guess I will just hit the treadmill harder, so I can fit into the gear I really want to buy....

I guess the issue is....... I am a big/heavy guy...... ok...... I am a fatass 

I'm right there with you. The reason I wear the my set up is effective riding gear (ie a 'stich) is not made for people my size. SO I had to get creative.

To each his own.

67GTONUT, Apr 10 2006, 06:39 AMOK...... thanx guys.....

I will just figure a system to carry my slacks with me, and change at work.

I leave a collection of slacks and shirts and dress shoes at work and change each day at work