Must have gear for female riders!!!

[Mandy]

Hey,
I was just wondering what all you girls think is a must for any girl rider!

I think a must for female riders would have to be the chick seat and padded lycra shorts which i wear under baggier shorts?

How many of you ride with armour/full face helmets???

A camel back is a must too i really should buy one at the moment i have a bottle which i usually finish and then drink half of my boyfriends camel back. Haha

 

[roxy12]

Being a dh person i should were armour but im realy not an armour person, when it comes to dh and djn i feel i cant move as freely as id like.

i do own a 661 prop preesure suit, elbow guards, shinnies, tld t bones, fox neoprene knee pads, full face, skate lid (mucken around, djs etc) and roadie helmet.(longer rides)

For dh i wear the tld tbones, not to short not to long.

when it comes to just messing around and djn i found because i have week kness if i hit the deck without any kind of protection on id be on the ground in pain for at least half an hour before being able to even stand up. Hence i bought the neoprenes, no to heavy not to light, acts more like a brace then anything.

I havnt worn shinnies in a looooooooog time i find them uncomfortable and as i have very skinny legs i could never get a pair that fitted appropriatly in length and width. I only wear the pressure suit when im on a super rocky track (so basicaly maybe 1-2 times a year), elbow guards not often at all.

When it comes to longer rides i have a pair of fox baggys with the padded insert. awesome, no other word for them. pockets are fantastic, i cant go anywhere withut pockets for my athsma pump, keys, phone bandaids.

I have a camelback, dont know what id do without it. 2L lots pockets.

As for seats, i found it important when i was into xc to have an appropriate fitting one, along the lines of a wtb speed she, or specialised womens. But with dh and djn its not important in the slightest as far as ive found.

One thing ive found important and this may seem odd to a few of you, but after being cornered and harrased by a group of 6-8 males at the train station one day on my bike, ive found that carrying an alarm scares the shit out of them and keeps me safer

 

[TerraNik]

I think a camelback is definately a must - I actually have a 'women's specific' one, which I just thought looked nice until I realised that it was actually designed for women!!! Guess they got the colouring right!! But on a serious note, it's fantastic and it means that I can keep all my lil goodies in there on a long ride (sunnies, phone, spare tube, etc).

I was seriously thinking about investing in armour... Funny thing is that when I stack it, I ALWAYS crash onto my left and I always joke about whether I would get half price if I wanna only buy the left hand side gear!! But seriously I really don't know where to start with it, but it's not too much of a necessity at this point (maybe after a few more broken arms...). But gloves are definately a must - I have saved the skin on my hands many times over thanks to my trusty tuff's!

I only have a roadie helmet - but I will definately be investing in a full faced pretty soon.

On the matter of clothes, I'm really slack on that front! I wear jeans shorts and a tee-shirt. I'm comfortable in it and I don't feel that I need that 'padding'... But I might be persuaded if I actually gave it a go.

With regards to the seat - I actually have a guys seat (stock) on mine. It's the most comfortable seat I have ever had on a bike which suprised me!! I guess I just got lucky with it but I haven't had any issues, even on my 3 hour rides. Maybe my butt is just super padded

My clipless pedals I think is a must... Makes riding up hills *so* much easier! And I get so much more power than if I ride on flats. I wonder though - do the girls who do DH - do you use flats or clipless? I can just imagine myself stacking it on a DH race into a tree coz I couldn't get my feet out fast enough... hahah

 

[Mandy]

Does anyone know if the armour for mountin bike sis teh same as the stuff for motorbikes. Looking at pictures it looks the same???. I am thinking about getting a full face too.

 

[roxy12]

prettmy much all the pretty much all the preasure suits are (bar the select mtb specific few), i bough my first one in a moto store.

Make sure you get one the fits correctly, i made that mistake.

 

[Mandy]

I have the hard shell armour from when i rode motorbikes. I used to wear it under clothes so if ever i need armous ill probably wear that

 

[Fi]

I would definitely recommend Dainese for pressure jackets. They have been making armour forever (for motos and mtb) and it has aluminium reinforcement that others don't. It's worth the extra $$ for sure.

Same deal with the helmet, you can either go moto or mtb specific. Moto ones don't have as many vents and are often a little heavier, so my preference for Australian conditions is a mtb specific one. 661 and Giro are good quality budget priced helmets. Make sure you have someone help you with the fit though.

With leg and elbow armour, girls often struggle with lack of smaller sizes. Also, just trying it on in the shop isn't enough, you really need to get on the bike and ride around in it - elbows that feel firm can easily slip down when riding, for example. If you can't 'test ride' it at the store, take it home with the option to exchange if no good.

Flats vs clips ... well I ride XC in clips and DH on flats ... I like to be able to get my foot solidly on the pedal and not worry about having to clip in. And same deal for getting a foot out when necessary. Clips can help for jumping etc. if you don't have the technique to 'lift' the bike on flats (something I definitely should work on!) and through rocky sections where your feet can bounce off. FiveTen Impact shoes are the go for riding with flats, or so I hear - unfortunately they don't make them small enough for my feet. But apparently this is the closest you get to feeling clipped in, without clipping in!

Seats are such a personal thing ... ask a store to take one home and test it for a couple of rides, with the option to swap it if it doesn't suit. A girl-specific seat won't necessarily be comfortable for you, and they vary a lot in terms of padding, width, etc.

 

[roxy12]

I would definitely recommend Dainese for pressure jackets. They have been making armour forever (for motos and mtb) and it has aluminium reinforcement that others don't. It's worth the extra $$ for sure.

I disagree to an extent, if your not an armour person i wouldnt bother, most spinal injuries are caused by jaring rather then direct impact like that as much as it helps, after going through 3 pressure suits includeing a dainese i cant justify the cost.

my fractured vertebrae, caused by jaring armour did nothing, and would have done nothing.

If your prepared to spend that much go for it, but like most my budet is limited.

I however find it completely uselss wereing dainese/basic 661/azonic now as im in between sizes and it causes more rashes and grazes upon impact then its worth. The 661 pro pressure suit however comes in sizes that are very small, worth a look by all girls as this is the first ive found to fit perfectly, and still have sizes to go down to!

Dont necessarily go for the most expensive, theres no point if it dosnt fit.

 

[TerraNik]

With leg and elbow armour, girls often struggle with lack of smaller sizes. Also, just trying it on in the shop isn't enough, you really need to get on the bike and ride around in it - elbows that feel firm can easily slip down when riding, for example. If you can't 'test ride' it at the store, take it home with the option to exchange if no good.

I guess I'm lucky in that respect coz I'm bigger than a lot of girls... I'm 6ft tall and built pretty well! It's normally a problem of women's gear being way too small!!!!! My MTB shoes are guy ones coz they don't make my size in women's specific (by quite a few sizes!!)... Most of the time I don't even bother looking for girls attire - and that will go the same for when I'm investing in armour!

 

[mtbmamma]

Most of what Fi says is pretty much on the mark, though as Roxy has said it can vary person to person. But there is no doubt that the following are extremely important.

Helmet - Full Face
Gloves - Not mitts
At least arm and leg armour of some sort and good riding shorts that will take a beating. I use my sons old fox base shorts which have a good lycra inner with chamois and a tough outer shell.

I take some horrid hits when falling dh and have survived intact thanks to my protective gear. I also ride motorbikes and figure that if I am doing 40-60kph with all the gear I wear then I should do so for mtb. At Lithgow the riders were clocked at between 40-68kph in some sections, when I think of this I think of Johnny Waddel and his crash. He was wearing a Motocross helmet and it saved his life. If you are really out there with your dh riding that maybe the way to go.

Ricky Boyer, one of our Elite Riders, is now wearing a motocross helmet by Fox, it looks great and should do the job. Ricky has had some major crashes in the past but is still up at the top of his game.

Protection is the way to go girls.

 

[ruthlessgirl]

I would definitely recommend Dainese for pressure jackets. They have been making armour forever (for motos and mtb) and it has aluminium reinforcement that others don't. It's worth the extra $$ for sure.

In Australia if you order Dainese you have to ask specifically for the moto back plate if you want the metal honeycomb in it. Otherwise you get the MTB style which doesn't have it. That being said Dainese is the only armour I've found that fits small. If you've got a small chest you can wear the hard plate front, if big, get the soft plate front.

 

[Pebble]

I'm just a plain old trail rider - so xc type stuff or whatever is available - moto tracks around here mainly.

I pretty much always take the following on a ride:
Helmet
Gloves
Camelback with minipump, puncture kit / spare tube, multitool, small first aid kit, protein bar.
Cycling shirt (love those back pockets!)
Mobile Phone

and these days as the area is all new to me sometimes I'll take the gps when I go exploring. And occasionally the mp3 player.

LOL, and I'm yet to get out for rides that go longer than an hour or two!
But I ride solo, and when my husband used to work away if I had an accident I wouln't really have had anyone to call on

 

[Mandy]

I am hoping the full face helmets are lighter then the motorcross ones. Yesturday i put my old motorbike one on and rode around the yard. There is no way i could do ride with that helmet on its way to heavy!!!!

 

[MTB-ChiK]

I am hoping the full face helmets are lighter then the motorcross ones. Yesturday i put my old motorbike one on and rode around the yard. There is no way i could do ride with that helmet on its way to heavy!!!!

The MTB specific full face helmets such as 661, specialized, Giro etc are all lighter than the Moto style ones and all have proper venting... I'm using an old Netti full face at the moment until the new 661 Bravo's arrive in Oz and its kept my head cooler than any moto helmet ever could! If you haven't seen the new Bravo's yet check them out... The Pro Bravo Carbon is sweet
http://www.sixsixone.com/catalog.aspx?id=b0006b42-edb1-4c42-a5a5-bed41adbcfc0&pl=BIKE

 

[Bethany]

so i feel a little out of this convo as im really only starting out and dont have alot of gear. But was tlaking to a mate that works in a bike shop and he was showing me the full face helmets after i talked to him about the thredbo weekend. He has a Troy Lee Design helmet and was talking up that. it is hell light and looks hot (no one has really talked about look here... should i not bring it up?)

Do yall wear goggles?

I ride by myself as well. I kinda wonder what would happen if i knocked myself out or (like is so common here) couldnt get service on my mobile. oh well.

hey is it not cool to ride in a singlet?

 

[Mandy]

I probably wouldnt ride in a singlet on trials were you are trying out new skills all the time as the more skin showing the more grazes you will get. I have the super light material shirt i bought at big W was just $10 so i dun care if it gets ripped and stuff. I use that for now will think about proper riding clothes later.

I will be getting a full face before thredbo too my main concern is lightness then looks. How much was that one the guy was talking about????

As for knocking yourself out when you go by yourself tell someone where you are going and what trials you plan on riding that way if your not back in a few hours they know where to look.



Also i was wondering what size camel backs you girls are using?? I put one on layby today but its only 1.5 ltrs and i was hoping for a 2 but this one was more comfortable. I am just worried this isnt big enough for those long rides!!!

 

[mtbmamma]

so i feel a little out of this convo as im really only starting out and dont have alot of gear. But was tlaking to a mate that works in a bike shop and he was showing me the full face helmets after i talked to him about the thredbo weekend. He has a Troy Lee Design helmet and was talking up that. it is hell light and looks hot (no one has really talked about look here... should i not bring it up?)

Do yall wear goggles?

I ride by myself as well. I kinda wonder what would happen if i knocked myself out or (like is so common here) couldnt get service on my mobile. oh well.

hey is it not cool to ride in a singlet?

Hey Bethany,

I usually, for dh, wear a short sleeved jersey in winter and short in summer, both with arm guards. Leg guards as I end up with road maps on my shins otherwise. I have a Giro Remedy, my boy and man both said as I am a beginner that a TLD D2 was a bit advanced for a "punter" (I do love them you know). The TLD's are great, you couldn't go past them. As for goggles I wear riding glasses as I get very hot but most wear gogglesl, its a personal thing. Oh and gloves, the way I fall gloves are a must.

As for singlets, fine if you are going to the shops but doing dh....... No I wouldn't as that leaves a lot of skin showing if you fall. Bare skin in a fall means lots of grazes. Not a nice thing.

Yes, you should let someone know where you are going and when you expect to get back and if not back by a certain time to send out help. Phones are not the be all and end all.

Good luck Bethany.

 

[TerraNik]

Yeah I don't think I'd be into goggles.. I wear my old pair of Oakley sunglasses (yes, I have 2 pairs of the same glasses!!) so I don't care if they get scratched! And I can't really go outside with sunnies on because of the glare so it serves 2 purposes!

With my camelback - it's a 2.2L I think... I haven't found it to be a problem, but I am 6ft tall so something that big wouldn't really bother me as much as someone smaller. But I do have a women's specific one which is apparently designed for a chick. It works for me!

Oh and the dreaded full face helmet. I don't know where to start with that, but I will have to get one eventually! My tactics for picking a good one at the moment include "ooh that looks nice"... I'm such a girl! Again the same thing goes for armour. I think for Thredbo I will be hiring it coz I just have no idea.

 

[mtbdh_girl]

When I started getting into DH I got an Odyssey BMX FF. It was light, both in weight and price, but I don't think Odyssey make them anymore. Racing I usually had shins and knees, never liked the all in on shin/knees though, I had them seperate for better movement. I was also lucky that I was given some really old Dainese armour which I wore uder any old T. Also just wore normal shorts too.

Seats, Ive always had a SDG BelAir, boys seat but it suits me for everything so...

I looking at getting a pair of riding shorts and jersey for freeride type stuff, but I've never owned them before so any suggestions or past experiences would be appreciated!!

 

[roxy12]

well for dh

short sleeve jersey
black skate shorts
orchid bmx shoes
giro remedy
scott goggles
tld gloves
tld t-bone knee guards- or fox depending on track

I have a 661 pro pressure suit ( as they are very small sizes im generaly an 8-10 and i have to take a medium-pro model only)
and dainese elbow guards, both of which may only get worn twice a year on super rocky tracks, thredbo, but thats it. I find i stack more in armour, damn magnetic ground.