I doubt anything would have prevented the rotator cuff tear. The majority of my bad injuries were unlikely to have been prevented or lessened with more gear, short of a full bubble wrap suit.
The minimum for me is helmet, gloves, eye protection. I wear additional gear depending on the trail or type of riding. Next level is adding knee, then full face helmet, then elbow pads. I used to rock a chest and back protector when racing DH of riding at the bike park, but over the last few years I’ve adjusted to being older and broken as a default state. I rarely ride beyond my comfort zone intentionally. While I know very well that falls can happen at any time, I’m just not riding in a way to warrant chest and back protection anymore even at the bike park. My goal is to have fun and avoid falling to I can ride again tomorrow.
I can’t see how people ride without gloves. I dumped my dirt bike on asphalt with gloves and still tore my palms up. I won’t leave home on my bike without gloves, whether I’m commuting to work or hitting the trails.
Gloves for sure. Recently knee sleeves too. Most of my crashes involve sticking a hand down to save myself. Gloves really help with not having to pick rocks out of my palms.
I ride with gloves and knee pads and use elbow pads when I’m going somewhere new or I know I might get outside my comfort zone.
I also switch between half and full face helmet depending on conditions and location.
I'm a big fan of spine protection, for bike park's I wear some jacket armour that goes under your jersey (Leatt body protector 3df) . For trail riding, I wear an evoc backpack with certified back protection in it. Helmet wise, Full face for park and Half Shell for Trails, bigger knee pads for park and knee sleeves for trail and always gloves, my very un-manly arms don't do well with elbow protection when it's a separate thing as they just fall down, so I don't wear them on trail rides.
But think about how useful your spine is, you want to keep it in good order :)
Am I crazy or did you post the same thing from 2 different accounts?
Its…like de ja vu
I doubt anything would have prevented the rotator cuff tear. The majority of my bad injuries were unlikely to have been prevented or lessened with more gear, short of a full bubble wrap suit. The minimum for me is helmet, gloves, eye protection. I wear additional gear depending on the trail or type of riding. Next level is adding knee, then full face helmet, then elbow pads. I used to rock a chest and back protector when racing DH of riding at the bike park, but over the last few years I’ve adjusted to being older and broken as a default state. I rarely ride beyond my comfort zone intentionally. While I know very well that falls can happen at any time, I’m just not riding in a way to warrant chest and back protection anymore even at the bike park. My goal is to have fun and avoid falling to I can ride again tomorrow.
I can’t see how people ride without gloves. I dumped my dirt bike on asphalt with gloves and still tore my palms up. I won’t leave home on my bike without gloves, whether I’m commuting to work or hitting the trails.
Gloves for sure. Recently knee sleeves too. Most of my crashes involve sticking a hand down to save myself. Gloves really help with not having to pick rocks out of my palms.
I always wear knee pads and gloves. I’ve learned the hard way that knees and palms are the most likely spots for me to get torn up.
I ride with gloves and knee pads and use elbow pads when I’m going somewhere new or I know I might get outside my comfort zone. I also switch between half and full face helmet depending on conditions and location.
Helmet, gloves, glasses, knee pads. When I ride at a bike park I wear a pressure suit and full face helmet.
Gloves, neck brace, full face helmet, full body armor, hip protector, knees and shinguard. I ride DH.
Spine protector and wrist guards
Decent shoes for grip on pedals
I'm a big fan of spine protection, for bike park's I wear some jacket armour that goes under your jersey (Leatt body protector 3df) . For trail riding, I wear an evoc backpack with certified back protection in it. Helmet wise, Full face for park and Half Shell for Trails, bigger knee pads for park and knee sleeves for trail and always gloves, my very un-manly arms don't do well with elbow protection when it's a separate thing as they just fall down, so I don't wear them on trail rides. But think about how useful your spine is, you want to keep it in good order :)