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Pads & full face helmet recommendations
I want to progress my jumps, drops, and ladders again, so I would like to finally get at least some knee and elbow pads and a full face helmet. What would you recommend? A reasonably priced and stocked Perth LBS would be great too.
661 seems cheap and popular, which might make sense if it's all that's needed or if I don't progress very far and give up! White could also be good in our temperatures (I certainly get the stormtrooper references now), but I'm not bothered by looks or branding here; effectiveness, fit, and ideally being as cool as possible are far more important. I can see plenty of only slightly more expensive options online and I wouldn't have a clue as to what the expensive options offer anyway. I'm happy to be educated though.
For reference, I don't mind jumping or dropping a couple of feet in vertical height currently, and I was happy going maybe a metre or so on the Chicksands dual course in the UK and riding their woodwork in the past, but I've lost my bottle somewhat in the years since in Australia, especially with family responsibilities to consider if I get hurt. In the last year or so though some black trails have been built here with bigger double diamond jumps, drops, and ladders.
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I'm in the same boat as you regards building the confidence for bigger jumps and I was getting better, I started looking at the 2014 661 cheapest helmet, looks good value.
I bloody came off 2 weeks ago and dislocated my shoulder(not jumping)so that's all out of the window for a while! I'm from the UK and that bloody pea gravel gets me!
Check out these Kali helmets if they have your size.
http://www.velogear.com.au/helmets/full-face-hel...
KG5400 for knees and elbows go the EG5400 for elbow. Although I reckon better elbow guards o exist. But for knee. Nah, nothing better.
Pedal in them all day and smash a rock or 3 along the way.
Helmet wise. Bell, Giro or 661.
I would highly recommend getting a neck brace too. If you want the safety of a full face then you might as well get a neck brace too. I do not even notice mine when riding at all, only when I try to look over my shoulder.
661 was great for me when i started doing DH. Crashed many times and the helmet held up. Have now progressed to much more expensive Troy Lee D3 helmet and leatt carbon neck brace due to weight.
Cheers for your thoughts, keep them coming please.
I find crashing on WA's hard baked trails with scattered rocks that the impact is much harder than Southern UK trails with softer ground and plenty of cushioning vegetation. That's not a whinge, it's just what has put me off progressing my riding here beyond my comfort zone, and the reason for wanting to get some protection.
BB CYcles in Osbourne park do FF helmets for bmx/DH and adults are around 120. THen you can try on and make sure they fit properly. You want them solid/tight.
i had a squizz at some g form elbow and knee pads in the shop
Much cheaper than I expected
http://g-form.com/products/knee-pad/
good thing is they're flexible and comfy to wear so they don't sit in the car as often
I just picked up one of those Kali helmets mentioned above for $45 delivered
Incredible value, not that heavy, and much better quality than you would expect for the money
Kali helmets actually have a very good reputation and yet to read bad feedback on them
Having said that, mine will only get used about twice a year
So I'd consider them an entry level or perhaps spare FF helmet
It just saved me hiring those grom snot filled ones when I go to Thredbo every so often
Thumbs up for Kali. My open face trail helmet is the Amara and was made in the same factory as my Fox Flux.
You must have a bigger head than me because the smallest sized helmet was still too big for my noggin and the side clips kept sliding down because the strap was too thin
I have been racing at state and national level DH for 8 years now.
The best pads that offer great protection and comfort are POC. 661, TLD and all the others are ok but no where near as comfortable as the POCs. I race endure in them as well.
I have had many helmets but only buy TLD now. They are very comfortable but a little pricy.
Knee/shin and elbow/forearm pads? Good idea with something like the TLD, or too hot/bulky to ride trails the rest of the day after sessioning the technical stuff?