One thing is kind a funny to me. In DH people are buying lots of expensive stuff like Leatt brace, TLD helmet, knee pads, to get more safety. They do it often triggered by seeing some PRO riding it. Some of buyers definitely have this playing in the back of their head: "must have, looks cool, I look Pro, I will be safer". So well DH folk gets safer when it wants to look cool in a way. I don't mean it's everybody's principle but nontheless more ppl get safer regardless of the reasons, and that's just good. Like the poor fellow on this POD.
Now let's look at the opposite: BMX, eventualy even 26" dirt/street scene: what are the pros wearing? jeans, a belt, a belt chain, old skate shoes, and... a hat (did I forgot the tatoo?): what inspiration do kids get to buy and wear any kind of safety gear in these "disciplines?"
I used to BMX and wouldn't have dream t of wearing any form of protection other than some sun glasses. In BMX people wearing protection are f*ggotts and p*ssy's. Even after seriously hurting my head, I still rode with no helmet. I'm so glad that I now ride DH, where people wearing as much protection as they can, and looking like power rangers, are 'cool' and the people risking the sport (more serious injures =high risk for insurance companies= not enough money and eventually tracks being demolished) are the f*gs. I currently do not own a neckbrace, but will hopefully have one soon.
Whats with the people knocking neck braces. I don't think anyone buys a Leatt Brace to be trendy. There is no proof that they work? Go to Leatt's website, they have a bunch of Dr. testimonials endorsing their braces. The Leatt brace was invented by Dr. Chris Leatt!
3 weeks ago I fell directly onto the top of my head when I overshot a jump, and thought I was fine. My helmet was damaged, and definitely saved my head.
3 weeks later I was still in a lot of pain, so I went to the Dr. I ended up getting x-ray's and an MRI. Turns out I compressed my T3 Vertebrae in my back. I had compressed my head towards my shoulders so hard, that I fractured a vertebrae 3 bones below my neck. I really think a Leatt brace could have prevented this compression injury from happening. That being said, It's going to be hard for me to fork out $400 for something that is going to make me less comfortable while riding.
I could not imagine anyone spending that kind of money on something that is going to impede comfort, for any reason other than personal safety. Granted, people say they are very comfortable once you get used to them, but I guarantee it's not as comfortable than not wearing one. I will find out in 3 months when the Dr. thinks I MAY be able to ride again...
no, dude, 2 months later i was racing my dirtbike ( i wasnt supposed to for another month), and if i wasnt wearing elbow pads i know for certain i would have broken my elbow again. I toughed it up and raced the 2nd moto still
it makes sense, but couldn't the braces put a lot of strain on your spine? like compressed discs and whatnot? kinda like how wrist guards saved people's wrists, but ended up just breaking forearms instead.
Yah but the higher up a spine fracture is its generally worse, better to break your back then your neck. And its also better to break for forearm sine it can heal better. Breaking a bone near or on a joint is bad news.
P.S. Sick shot
Leatt Braces are designed to protect against compression fractures also. I think the impact is actually transferred into your collarbone. I've been researching these braces a bunch since I sprained my neck and compressed one of my vertebrae in my back, in a fall similar the one above.
I wish I had a Leatt brace on when I fell. Now I will definitely have to wear one since I will be more susceptible to re-injuring my back. I fell directly onto the top of my head, and the force traveled all the way down my neck, and fractured a vertebrae 3 bones down. If I had a neck brace on, that force would have been transferred from my helmet, into the brace, and onto my shoulders. I probably would have broken my collarbone, but I would rather have a broken collarbone than a broken back.
I was lucky, my fall could have easily broken my neck and left me paralyzed. This whole experience has scared the piss out of me. I will definitely be rocking a Leatt when I get cleared to ride again in 3-4 months.
Send it into Leatt asking to pay $100 for it, say they can use it for advertisements. This has really convinced me I need to get one soon! If only they were cheaper!
Check out a company called EVS. They make one and I have been using it this season (150 USD). It may be a bit heavier than the Leatt but I can't really tell. Last race I did it was 90° F outside and it wasn't noticably hot with the brace on. Plus it has collarbone protection. The Leatt can sometimes act as a cantlever in a crash and break your collarbone (so I've heard).
What's with the people saying "mx wanna be fashion?" MX and Bikes are unsurprisingly similar, two wheels, they both go fast, both capable of killing you, except your legs are the power to propel one, and an engine to propel the other.
Stop being such fashion police and start riding!! You're sounding like a bunch of, oh, I can't even say girls, because they don't betch about it!!!
Hahaha I was just baiting to see how many negative props I got I don't have a problem with MX kit really, I just don't have that much money to spend on a neck brace. And, medicaly, no one is convinced they are safer than not wearing one, so I'll hold out on that...
agreed, to me its just another trend. Prove they have actually significantly reduce risk and ill be more inclined to drop a retarded amount of cash on a molded piece of plastic. Ive fallen like this twice last season, full face broke my nose once and the other i got a mild concusion, both times there was no injury to my neck.
Oh you're a tricky one Mr. Haydendmorrison. They are a little over priced, but I've seen a few other companies bring out their own version, so here's to competition.
fallen55: They do significantly reduce risk, imagine if you hadn't been wearing, say, your helmet, what would have happened to your skull, nose, cheek, jaw, face then? Just because it hasn't happened YET, doesn't mean the chance doesn't exist. Of course, your style of riding should be a consideration when it comes to purchasing a neck brace. If you're riding like a barbarian, chances are you'll fair better with a brace, than without.
thats not going to hurt as much in the morning he will be glad he had a brace on and a lid come to think of it that could of gone allot worse people should learn from this pic! PROPS TO THE RIDER !
I am 9 days into recovering from a dislocated collar bone incured while wearing my neck brace. It did its job. Without it I would probably have a collar bone injury and a neck injury. Ill keep wearing the brace.
i had an accident like this sept cuz i was young and thought i was cool, i had no helmet/ brace and ended up in a coma for 6 days, how joyfull. as well as my face gettin f**ked over. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET!
i work for leatt brace and i spoke to this guy who was in a wheel chair cuz of a crash. he said he hated him self for leaving his brace at home.. and now hes never gonn be able to ride again
Youre doing it all wrong! haha...
At least he knows how to fall, ontop of wearing the brace. Dont! put your hands down in a case like this, thats how we snap wrists.
Awesome.
That's exactly why i bought a leatt 3 days ago... And lovemyride, an armor suit is sometime annoying wth a neck. I dont know if im gonna put my body armor this season too.
What, and you are? How can you look at this picture and not think that his brace is helping in some way. I suggest you study this picture again. Look how tight his helmet is to his right shoulder. Looking at this picture, I see a brace working exactly as it was designed to. His neck is fully supported, and is not being allowed to bend in any direction. His neck brace did break during this fall, and I have to think it would have been his neck if he wasn't wearing the brace.
*This statement coming from a guy who compressed a vertebrae during an insane bike wreck directly onto the top of my head 3 weeks ago. I was not wearing a brace, and this will cost me a lot more than $400!
lol@ PB readers...I ride with a Leatt btw bro...I sell em and try to get all my friends to wear one.
People make really bold statements without having a clue of the situation...These braces don't guarantee full support of your neck nor does it keep your neck from bending in "any" direction...it helps for sure I am guessing but in every single situation it won't...more of a "I hope it works so I will wear it but if it doesn't at least I tried to prevent it with some protective gear."
Agreed, Now I understand your post above. I just thought you were completely discounting the idea that Leatt braces might work like some other posts on here.
I doubt very much he would have injured his neck without a neck brace. He's not falling out of a tree directly onto his head, or snapping it off at 90 degrees to the ground. More like an extreme cartwheel.
not saying leatts are pointless or anything alongthose lines....but do you realize how most people say "i/he would have broken my/his neck without my/his leatt on"....but then how many people in those situations do actually break their necks? not saying it isnt a great investment but you cant convince yourself everytime someone falls like that that the leatt is "saving their life"
when people have the opportunity to break their neck they would smarten up and put the leat brace on, thats why when dh became really intense they started wearing braces.
How many times do people actually break their neck in downhill? There are less than 10 cases I've been able to find where the rider was paralyzed because of their neck injury. Sure, it'll help save you if you do fall, but honestly, if you spent the extra 300 on a good helmet, and replacing crap parts on your bike, you'd be just as well off.
Now let's look at the opposite: BMX, eventualy even 26" dirt/street scene: what are the pros wearing? jeans, a belt, a belt chain, old skate shoes, and... a hat (did I forgot the tatoo?): what inspiration do kids get to buy and wear any kind of safety gear in these "disciplines?"