Posts
331
Joined
4/26/2011
Location
Aledo, IL
US
Fantasy
418th
Edited Date/Time
1/25/2013 11:14am
I have been wearing a Leatt for a few years now and I was wondering how effective they really are? Have neck and back related injuries decreased? What are your guys views on them??
The issue is that a gadget that works will have no victims to tell the story, while those being victims wearing one will be "evidence" for them not working. That's why data is the only source to sort this is out.
The Shop
I hope the lack of info isn't bad for us believers...
I have no great knowledge either way beyond my belief that when you limit the human bodies ability to absorb it is not always a good thing. But as the years go by the lack of data is very telling. Just my 2 cents.
As for me, I don't wear one...and then I just keep both wheels on the ground at all times, and I just ride slow enough that its impossible for me to hurt myself if I crash. Then I don't have to worry about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ODEsYPHkzk
Remember this?
https://youtu.be/rawfVrYKRa8
If RC had been wearing the brace, he would have been going on and on about how great the brace is...but he didn't have it on, and even though that crash looked terrible and looked like he should have broke his back or neck, he didn't break his neck or back.
The only way to know for sure (and this is probably why we'll never REALLY know) is to replicate the exact same crash, identically, with and without the brace and see the difference.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFb24anV7Q0
Don't wear a helmet and you won't need a neck brace.
Too many questions still but you have to be thankful that there are people spending millions of their own money to help the sport be safer.
TM
for this to be properly tested, one would need to spend time at the 3 most crowded MX tracks in the world and CAPTURE EVERY SINGLE RACE/PRACTICE day and wait for the ones where people get paralyzed (fucked up, i know)
then, someone would need to evaluate each crash by watching video and see what type of crash happens the most frequently, then one could calculate if neck braces are worth it, depending on whether or not the thing actually does anything.
cameras would need to film every time riders were on the track all the time. its def possible but whose going to front the money for this??
Pit Row
I bought the inexpensive EVS neck brace and had a bad crash 2 weeks ago.
Looking at the injuries and damage to my helmet, shoulder pads, boots, etc, the neck brace most likely kept me from serious neck/spinal injury. The crash was so severe that I don't recall it, but I've been told I rag dolled through the air and the bike was a flipping projectile... My helmet actually broke!
It is your choice. I won't ride without one now just like I won't ride without goggles, helmet, boots and shoulder pads.
To each his own, but I'm too old to risk any more injuries that I may possibly prevent with extra safety gear on.
I'm not saying that has anything to do with him backing it, and think what he does at the races is great, but I think knowing those types of things are good when you hear someone discuss a product.
Again, not saying he supports the brace AT ALL because of that. I only feel it's something that should be known.
my crash was a high speed first turn over the bars lawn dart from the inside to the outside into traffic nightmare
I think that it would've saved me because I hit the ground at that perfect angle where my momentum didn't carry my legs over my head (and scorpion to prob break my back haha) and my body didn't hit the ground knocking my head up and off the ground and cause like a skim.. all my momentum just drove the top of my head into my shoulders and shattered my C7
(so badly I don't have one anymore haha) it must've been a quick violent hit as I only had a few scratches and one clean deep gouge through a few layers of the outer shell on the front/top under the visor and similar damage on the back, not sure what did that.. I got run over a few times so maybe it was that..
I put my mates on one day with a helmet and it stopped the movement that the surgeon said caused my break..
I don't know if they work 100% of the time but I really, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WISH i WAS WEAring one so I could know for sure!
(sorry about the yelling forgot I was on caps)
I wore a Leatt religiously for a few years after they came out. I decided to ride without it one day, and although I felt naked to start with, I enjoyed the greater range of neck mobility. A close fiend of mine crashed while not wearing a brace, and broke his C1, C2 and C3 vertebrae last year. He was very lucky and will make an almost full recovery, but it certainly gave me a fright. I have tried to wear it again since, but I now find it uncomfortable. I feel that I can't see far enough ahead when standing up because the back of my helmet rests on it. I would really like to wear it, but just don't think I can.
Post a reply to: Neck braces. Is the hype true?