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2863
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7/19/2013
Location
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Edited Date/Time
11/29/2022 4:35am
Our chief here ML152 had a review of the AStars chest protector a lot of the pros wear, and mentioned spine injuries oftentimes being the bike coming and hitting the rider on the back, not the actual crash. I’ll be honest, I’ve had that AStars chest protector in my gear bag for a year now and vowed to finally wear it. Which got me thinking, what is the number 1 reason you wear one? Roost? Internal injury prevention? Spine protection? Habit?
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Plus as ive gotten older, The less i enjoy hurting ribs.. so i want as much protection in the chest region as possible
Is the plastic outer shells on other chest protectors mainly for deflection?
So that and the dam 450 roost
Kurt Caselli 66 taking a tree limb into his lung and dying from choking on his blood while getting air lifted out - if there's anything I can do to help minimize the potential of something like this, its worth it in my mind. Not saying he may not have still died with one on (and maybe he did, I don't know for sure). But if it increases my chances of living for my family's sake, I'll do it
Second, I saw pictures of a guy that took a footpeg in the glute and it punched a fugly hole in his butt cheek. That photo sticks in mind after seeing it 10 years ago. Now visualize taking that to a kidney. Nope, no thanks. If I can help prevent it, then its worth it. Not saying they are perfect, but they will help my chances.
Many new chest protectors are well hidden under the jersey. They are barely noticeable. Why not wear one? Cool looks? Dumb
Have your buddy slap a 2x4 across your bare chest -
Once you get out of the hospital, have that same buddy slap the 2x4 across your chest while wearing a chest protector
You tell me which one hurts less and there’s your answer
A little different from some of the spine discussions... About ten years ago, I went over the bars and landed on my chest/face. The crease you see above is where my left arm was folded up underneath me. I walked away with my arm broken in four places (specifically, crushed the wrist end of my ulna), but not even a bruise or slight discomfort to my chest.
I hate to really speculate about what "could" have happened without the protector, but from that point forward I've been pretty strongly in favor of always wearing a protector.
Funny enough, I wear the Alpinestars mentioned here and really like it, but have never crash tested it. It's my favorite that I've worn over the years by far.
a suit of armour or something, that is genuinely gnarly.
I got a Thor vest thing, like a vest with minor chest protection but reasonably solid looking back protection and a zip up the side, fairly discrete under a jersey.
Also have a Leatt 4.5 hard plastic dealy, without shoulder pieces, for the un-cool Ferrandis OTJ style. Rating wise I know it may well just be a case of who has or hasn't paid for testing / certification, but I do like the Level 2 CE protection for both back and chest and decent flank protection. Got the Mrs a Leatt protection jacket thing for under a sized up jersey, given her muscle mass and bones and whatnot are scaled down a lot over mine 😂
Pit Row
That pic is straight up gnarly! This is why I always wear one. I don't want a footpeg, bar end, or spinning rear tire to F me up!
I'm in my 30s, starting to do all the jumps at a few of the local tracks. I realized with my wife, house, and other obligations, I need to protect and invest in the "me" investment. I switched to using a neck brace and chest protector every time I ride 2 years ago and noticed the first month sucked getting used to looking backwards. Now I don't even realize I have them on. I recently got a Leatt GPX for the 4.5 chest protector and they fit perfect. I like that the neck brace slides and connects in with the chest protector so it doesn't move around.
After fracturing some ribs I went to the LEATT 3.5. I've been wearing it for years and switched to the A1 a few months ago. Doesn't offer as much protection, but it's better than nothing. Plus, I like that I can wear it under my jersey.
I have not found one that doesn't feel awful on, except the the Alpinestars A-1 Plus that I have. Even then, when its 90 degrees and humid, it is great to not have it on.
It is clearly important to wear, I said I had decided to wear one going forward, I was mostly curious other's motivations. I don't really care about breaking a rib, but a puncture wound that could kill me, or getting tackled by the bike on my bike, are clearly good enough reasons to wear one, even in the heat.
It's alot more fun to bounce off the ground where there is something between you and the ground.
Spine protection mostly. I know a local guy that went down and another bike fell on him with the handle bars straight into his spine. Paralyzed, in a wheel chair and probably won't ever walk again. Had one of those front chest protectors on that you can wear under your jersey. I'm old school. I wear the ones with the big front and back (over my jersey).
I shattered the ball of my shoulder in the spring from a simple off the back of the bike crash. Would a chest protector with shoulder protection helped? Probably not, but now I wear an alpinestar A6 that has excellent upper arm and shoulder protection. After one ride I'm used to it, and it fits so well and slim I don't notice it there.
I wear one to protect my heart (from frontal impact), kidneys, liver, spleen - and spine.
Maybe better to ask what the cons are?
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