That ill fitting knee armor

[dpep]

I'm sure there are others who have the problem I do with the knee armor in my riding pants. It fits perfectly over my knees and shins while I am standing, but when I sit on the bike it rides up to where it is mostly over my thighs. It proved to be so uncomfortable and offered so little protection I just removed it. But that defeats the purpose of riding pants to a large degree.

So I decided to try putting the armor in upside down....with the knee cup to the bottom. To a certain extent it worked. The shin part covers my thighs and not my shins, but the knee cup is right where it should be.

My first chance to try out the arrangement was the SouthEast Ride last June. During that ride our group encountered a diesel spill and a couple of us went down. We were both geared up enough that we could get up and finish the ride. Something punctured the textile and soft padding over my left knee all the way through to the hard plastic of the knee armor. If I had not done the upside down trick I would have almost certainly gotten a serious knee injury out of the spill.

It is not the best solution, but it sure beats no armor. If your armor does not fit now, try it. There's nothing to lose.

 

[Billyboy]

Weird. My knee armour is low when standing, but right where it should be when riding.

 

[Baatfam]

I guess what matters is where it's gonna be when you're slamming into the pavement....

When you come off the bike, will you be in a sitting position or a standing position?? :-k

 

[jabberjoe87]

my textile pants are the kinda the same, the knee was just slapped in there. Luckily they are velcroed in and can be moved to wherever

 

[crag antler]

That was the same issue I was having with my Tourmaster pants.
Fit fine standing up but would ride high when seated.
I went with the Bohn Underarmor http://www.bohnarmor.com/catalog/proddetail.php?prod=BGLA and now won't ride without.
I know some may think I lack the slide protection but I have seen that most accidents are blunt force as opposed to sliding. Especially at the speed I ride:-#

 

[TheCafeKid]

ICON body armour is also another suggestion. This is especially nice for those who want the protection of armour but dont want to wear overpants (when its hot out, they do suck) and commute to work and would feel silly and uncomfortable wearing or stripping down riding pants every day once at work. This armour fits over the skin, under any pair of pants you chose to wear. Easy on, easy off, and just as effective if not more so than CE armour installed in pockets on pants as it doesnt shift around. They have it available for the knees and shins, but ive yet to see any for the bum or hips. Cant have everything i suppose.

 

[TheCafeKid]

That was the same issue I was having with my Tourmaster pants.
Fit fine standing up but would ride high when seated.
I went with the Bohn Underarmor http://www.bohnarmor.com/catalog/proddetail.php?prod=BGLA and now won't ride without.
I know some may think I lack the slide protection but I have seen that most accidents are blunt force as opposed to sliding. Especially at the speed I ride:-#

Ive had this same argument with alot of people. In MOST accidents, you dont choose how you want to go down. Fairly frequently i would think that more people tumble than slide so much. In that case, it doesnt much matter what you're wearing, the armour is the only thing thats going to protect you. Yeah, a nice easy lowside slide would be great, but assuming that is what is going to happen isnt really all that practical. Lets face it, not many ride the track on a regular basis, FEW of us are pros, and hopefully even fewer of us wreck on a regular enough basis that we can control how we go down.

 

[lurch12_2000]

I was cleaning out the kids sports gear and came across the knee and elbow pads they used to use for skateboarding. Hard shell with inner foam padding and each with stretchy bands to slide on and 2 velcro straps to cinch them down in place.
So what the heck, they were adult size and the elbows slid right over my leather jacket and the knee pads fit right over my jeans. I did an experiment and used them for my 35 mile commute to work earlier this week in the sub freezing weather under my outer shell gear and over the leather and jeans. They stayed in place and didn't ride up or down during stop and go or highway riding.
So, what do you think? They're probably more durable than the stuff I've seen when recently shopping for textile gear with CE armour. Even tested and whacked my elbows and knees against my cast iron radiators and didn't feel a thing.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

I think you're on to something!

I think you're on to something!

I was cleaning out the kids sports gear and came across the knee and elbow pads they used to use for skateboarding. Hard shell with inner foam padding and each with stretchy bands to slide on and 2 velcro straps to cinch them down in place.
So what the heck, they were adult size and the elbows slid right over my leather jacket and the knee pads fit right over my jeans. I did an experiment and used them for my 35 mile commute to work earlier this week in the sub freezing weather under my outer shell gear and over the leather and jeans. They stayed in place and didn't ride up or down during stop and go or highway riding.
So, what do you think? They're probably more durable than the stuff I've seen when recently shopping for textile gear with CE armour. Even tested and whacked my elbows and knees against my cast iron radiators and didn't feel a thing.

I like the prices, check this out.
http://www.xsportsprotective.com/skate-pads-combo-packs.html

 

[Larry D]

Last week I bought a pair of shin guards and elbow pads like these from a guy off the cracklist. $25 for both sets. Not the top of the line, but, they're comfortable and stay put. And the price was right.

http://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.asp?id=48374&page=FOX+STANDARD+KNEE+SHIN+GUARDS+2008

 

[spyug]

I guess the secret to getting a fit is to make sure the knee pads are below the knee when standing upright. Thats how mine seem to fit anyway.

I like the idea of skate or hockey armour under pants but I still think proper riding pants with armour are better as you usually get hip protection too.

The Bohn armoured undies look good too but I would think you would lose some flexibility with all that gear tight to your body. At least with pants and jackets you can move around a bit. I have a Knox armoured shirt and I find it a bit constricting.

The one thing I do like about the shirt is that it has chest armour something that none of my jackets have. I was thinking of maybe getting one of the dirtbike chest protectors but that also might be a bit much under a jacket. Anybody tried one of the Icon field armour vests?

If I could afford it, I'd get one of those inflatable vests they are now coming out with. Until then I'll just ride real carefull

cheers,
Spyug

 

[lurch12_2000]

Last week I bought a pair of shin guards and elbow pads like these from a guy off the cracklist. $25 for both sets. Not the top of the line, but, they're comfortable and stay put. And the price was right.

http://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.asp?id=48374&page=FOX+STANDARD+KNEE+SHIN+GUARDS+2008

...and you'll be all set for catcher duties for your local softball league when you pull up on the bike...as I will pack the kid's skateboard and jump off my bike to challenge the local hooligans on their boards with my gear:-\\\

 

[Larry D]

...and you'll be all set for catcher duties for your local softball league when you pull up on the bike...as I will pack the kid's skateboard and jump off my bike to challenge the local hooligans on their boards with my gear:-\\\

Yeah, I guess so....now if I could just figure out how to carry the mask, chest protector and my softball bats.
I was seriously trying figure out how to carry my golf bag on my bike this summer. I think I'll just drive the truck to the golf course though.....