Chest Protector

[Blade]

Been thinking of getting one of these for a while. Anybody use one and got any feedback or advice ?

[Kwacky]

I had one of their vests with the back and the chest protector.

I didn't really get on with it. It didn't feel comfortable. It wasn't uncomfortable but I noticed it was there, which I don't with a back protector.

[Blade]

I m going to give it a go Kwacky as found one cheap on eBay so bit of a gamble but didn't cost much tbh.

Hopefully it will bed in and I'll get used to it.

Thanks for the comments.

[Kwacky]

I think Duke uses one, as does Cookie.

My new one piece has the plates built in and that's comfortable.

[Blade]

I pm'd Duke as I knew he used one, but like you he rarely uses it tbh.

[duke63]

I bought one because they are so cheap and I always feel you can't have too much protection as long as it's not restrictive in anyway.

However there is a top Irish doctor posts on the Performance Bikes website. He attends all the Irish road races as the resident doctor and he said he had never seen an accident where he considered a chest protector would make any difference.

I would still wear one on track but for road riding they can get a bit warm on a sunny day.

[Kwacky]

I imagine a direct chest impact is going to cause damage regardless. The sternum and ribs there don't take much encouragement to break.

[Blade]

My thinking is same as you Kwacky. Any direct impact to the chest or ribs has to be better if wearing a chest protector.

Like you Duke. I thought they were cheap enough to give it a try.

[Tricky]

i wear one when racing, fits and feels ok, got it cheap so why not use it.

[Rossgo]

Any protection is better than nothing Blade. Give it a go if you don't get on with it then you can always sell on

[Blade]

Yes that's what I was think Rossgo. Got to be worth a try.

[C00kiemonster]

I wear a force field chest protector which velcros to my force field back protector. Don't want to test it, but more protection is better IMO.

I don't notice it once it's on.

[Deegee]

I've used one extensively on track in the past following an incident that resulted in a broken rib, and tbh I felt a lot safer wearing it, but as it wasn't the type that wraps round the side of my ribs I'm not sure how much use it would have been in an incident.

However I found there are one or two downsides to wearing a chest protector, firstly it tended to make me hotter whilst working hard during a track session, even with a vented chest plate and vented leathers I was still dripping on a warm day after a 20 min track session, secondly you've got to have enough room in the leathers to ensure it's both comfy and you can breathe properly when you're riding, they take a surprisingly large amount of space within the leathers and along with a decent back protector can increase the chest requirement past the normal fit of your regular suit.

I'd check you've actually got enough room in your current or future leathers wearing both a back protector and the intended chest protector and then try taking the deepest breath possible, otherwise a £50 chest plate can either be wasted or can cost you a further £600+ on another suit. (Might be a good ploy of course... "But Darling, don't you want me to be properly protected? )

[Blade]

Good advice Deegee will take that into consideration, thanks pal.

I got the chest protector for £13 and its like new so nothing lost if it doesn't work out, I'll just sell it on.

[Deegee]

Fair one, that sounds like a bargain!