Northwind's Annual Hip Armour Rant...
 

...is overdue. Just realised that speaking to someone on the rideout yesterday.

Do your riding trousers have pockets for hip armour in? Do said pockets have hip armour in? If not, get it sorted out! Your hips and pelvis are more exposed in a crash than your shoulders, but you wouldn't take the shoulder armour out of your jacket. Hips are very helpful for all manner of jobs and recreational purposes that involve being able to walk or stand, not to mention being fairly useful for riding motorbikes with.

I fractured mine while walking- if I'd been riding and fallen in the same way, it'd have displaced for sure, and I'd have needed a hip replacement. As it was, I was off work for 10 weeks, on crutches for 4 months, and it took me a year to get fully back into riding. I still can't run further than the next bus stop, and probably never will. I was wearing my Belstaff armoured trousers, which were great but had no hip armour pockets- if I'd been wearing my leathers, I wouldn't have even got a bruise.

Anyway, overdue rant is now over :)[/b]

For sure I wouldn't want to loose my Pelvic thrusts :? so good rant :P

Cheers
Ben

thanks for this, gonna buy some textiles for the hbos scottish rideout soon so will keep it in mind

I took some leathers in for repairs recently. The bloke always makes you take the armour out and keep it at home with you. Just in case they lose it I suppose. We got talking about the CE approved label in my gear and he was telling me that it wouldn't be allowed now as the armour may have been CE approved but the clothing was not.

Good point & well made Mr Northwind :thumbsup:

* goes off to investigate getting some armor sewn in to leathers *

I can vouch that a busted pelvis is no laughing matter :(

My HG "Touring" leather keks came with Hiprotec hip armour (as well as knee armour) as standard.

The price of the keks was about £140 - sure, they were a bit dearer than some of their others but not so much as adding the armour afterwards. The leather is better too. Just a hint :wink:

But... but... hip armour makes me look like I've got huge love handles. :(

:wink:

Just kidding, though that is a reason I've overheard a couple of women give when buying kit. :roll:

Personally I don't have any because none of the leathers I've ever tried on that actually fitted me had any in. :(
Being fairly handy I could sew in some pockets for some myself - apart from the fact that then my leathers wouldn't fit. :roll:
There's just no pleaseing some people like me is there. :wink:

Thanks for the advice Northy niether set of my gear has armour in the hip but i need new textiles and will sort that out - trip to HG is required I think

Aye - their Hiprotec armour is pretty good and less bulky than most.