Dirt rookie needs advice on getting gear.

[atadaskew]

OK, here's da thing.  I'm about to get a playbike for the dirt, to figure what it's all about and to teach others how to ride before they get street bikes.  I'm lucky cuz my brother bought a piece of land that is perfect for this.  But I have no idea as to what gear to get.  For road riding, I have all the stuff and understand it.  But for off road?  I see heavy jerseys with matching pants.  But what about all the armour stuff? I know that I am going to take a few tumbles, so what will I need? What's up with those chest protector cage things? Knee/shin protecors? Elbow/shoulder protectors?
This is for play riding, not following someone else's dirt roost.
Appreciate all and any advice on the topic!

[marc11]

You can get away with jeans and heavy shirt or jacket if you aren't in the woods, water or mud, otherwise off road specific pants and shirts will dry fast, hold up well to get offs, are cut so you can stand and move around a lot and seem to not snag the bushes and trees as you move through them.  Forget using your street gear unless you do not mind it getting dirty, wet and torn/worn, street gear when used off road seemed to start to go to crap fast, IMHO anyway.  I used my street gear on two off road rides before I knew I needed dedicate off road kit.

The idea of the gear is the same, just put to a different use. To start, get an off road helmet and goggles.  You can use your street one, but it gets really hot and your side vision is not nearly as good, likewise with gloves, off road ones are a bit lighter, dry faster and take a lot of dirt abuse and are cheap to replace.  Also, get knee and elbow armor and some decent off road boots to deal with mud, rocks, ruts and eventual get offs, good off road boots have strong soles and toe reinforcements and come up high on the shin with hard plastic or metal armor to protect you from tree stumps, rocks, ruts and twisting motions during riding and get offs.  www.rockymoto.com the former Newenough off road site has some great deals, especially package deals.

[atadaskew]

Thanks! Now to add to my cluelessness, does that knee/elbow armour go under or over the shirt/pants?  What about the chest/shoulder protection thing?

[marc11]

Armor goes under your shirt and pants.  A neck protector is a good idea, I do not have one, but would like to get one.  If you are going to ride with anyone else, a roost protector is a cheap investment...kicked up rocks hurt.

[bahwolf]

Marc11 did a great job answering this. Only thing I might add is that you take a look at the 661-type pressure suits which incorporate forearm, elbow, shoulder, chest, and spine protection in a convenient jersey-type garment. I generally only wear mine when riding in very rocky areas, but it's pretty much optimal for protection. Google 661 (or Six-Six-One) motocross gear. When I'm not wearing the 661, I generally only wear elbow guards and maybe a roost protector on my upper body. I *always* wear knee/shin guards (and motocross boots, of course) no matter where I'm riding, as injuries to the lower extremities are the most common and my knees are bad enough now without whacking them on stumps, roots, rocks, or even a foot peg.

[atadaskew]

Excellent!  Thank you very much.

[kurtw]

$0.02 This is just what I have learned works for me so far, YMMV

A few things to keep in mind for dirt riding (I'm not talking about dualsport here):
- Dirt riding is an aerobic activity. Dress appropriately (a base of non-sweat-aborbing materials with lots of ventilation).
- You will feel like Mr.Roboto off the bike. Who cares... (unless you're dualsport touring, etc) When you try on gear, do it sitting on a bike, not walking around the store.
- For dirt riding, don't assume that MX gear is just for MX racers. It may be the most appropriate protection for what you're doing, fashion silliness aside...

In the order I would prioritize the purchases:
1. Helmet and goggles - ventilation, vision, visor, resistance to fogging when you sweat, ability accommodate goggles...all reasons you want a dirt helmet. Eye protection is mandatory.
2. Boots - Street touring boots will not give you enough ankle support and foot/shin protection.  I like the Alpinstar Tech series, mainly because the fit me really well. In fact it's about time I retire my old Tech 6s for a pair of Tech 7s or better.
3. Gloves with good dexterity and lots of ventilation.
4. Knee/shin guards - there is a range of choices from simple strap on guards to prescription armored braces. They will all save you bruises or worse.
5. Chest and Shoulder protector - Don't discount the value of the shoulder protection in a typical spill offroad. It's not just to protect your chest from roost. Good ones have some functional spine protection also.
6. Offroad pants and jersey - I live next to a huge dunes riding area and have good friends who are ER docs and nurses. They will tell you in detail what jeans can do to you in a bad crash. MX gear is made to slide over stuff without tearing the soft flesh inside. Any long sleeve non-sweat-absorbing top will do but the heavy nylon fabric of a jersey deflects brush and branches well.
7. Elbow pads - I use these optionally
8. Neck roll - I use this optionally
9. Enduro jacket or vest - If I wear it, I put it over my chest protector. I can zip up and be wind/water resistant, or I can open up and the chest protector allows a lot of airflow while still keeping me dry.
10. I wear a kidney belt, just because. Only rarely do I feel like I need it.

I'd still like to find a good 'pressure-suit' style armor set but the 661 that I had for a few rides didn't work for me. Over several long, vigorous rides, the interconnected pieces all pulled each other around as I moved and required constant readjustment.  Fit is very important. I tend to like the modularity/replacability of individual pieces that move only as the body part they protect moves.

[Mr Sunshine]

I recently just purchased my dirt gear kit and here's what I bought in this order as I followed a the sales man around the store (who is also a fellow racer and someone I trust):

1.  Shoei Dirt Helmet.  It was the only one that fit.  I also tried the Arai, Bell and HJC.
2.  Goggles.  Can't remember the brand but they are light sensitive.  I ride on the street with my Hyperoptic Fog City insert and love it.  Since I love that it was recommended that I would love the tinting goggles.  They also supposely tint/untint faster than my insert so that's good.
3.  Pressure Suit.  Acerbis Koerta
4.  661 Bomber Undershort.  These are armored shorts with some extra padding it the crotch area.  Semi-like bicycling shorts in that part.
5.  Thor Ride off-road glove.  These are designed for foul weather, wet and cold riding.  Since most of the riding I'll be doning for the next several months is gonna most likely be wet and cold I figured these would be good.  When it warms up I'll be buying more gear.
6.  Klim Dakar pant.  Orange of course.
7.  Klim off-road jersey.  Again Orange (got to match on the trails )

I already had a pair of TCX Pro 2 (black) boots on order.  Oxtar sponsored me in 2007 so that was my final pair of discounted boots.

I realized later I don't have knee guards but I'll get these a little later and just be aware of it when I toss it.  Either first time I deck it on the knees or in a couple of months I'll be getting them.  

[atadaskew]

Very cool.  Does the jersey go over the pressure suit? What do you wear under the pressure suit? Also I've been checking out the padded/armoured shorts that you mention.  Not meaning to be too personal, but is one meant to wear that over underwear? Or is it your underwear?
Everyone has been extremely helpful!

[Mr Sunshine]

Very cool.  Does the jersey go over the pressure suit? What do you wear under the pressure suit? Also I've been checking out the padded/armoured shorts that you mention.  Not meaning to be too personal, but is one meant to wear that over underwear? Or is it your underwear?
Everyone has been extremely helpful!

Under the pressure suit will be Underarmor.  Which type depends on the temp. If it is cold the long sleeved Cold Weather Gear will be warn (think long underwear).  If is hot then the long sleeved Warm Weather Gear.  For the lowers same thing...long Cold Weather Gear or long Warm Weather Gear.

For the warm weather gear I prefer the long sleeved and long legged stuff as it helps with getting out of my leather race suit when I'm racing on the track.  So I figured I'd like it on the dirt bike to help with any chaffing that might happen.

And yes I wear the Underarmor over my undies cause I don't wear boxers.

Over the pressure suit will be the jearsey....unless its really hot...then no jersey but that would only really happen where there aren't trees and stuff so the jersey wouldn't be needed.

[hig4s]

For those on a budget,,   If you have decent skate board knee and elbow pads around,  over clothing they work quite well.

[jay547]

wear padded bicycling shorts instead of undies.

[tblaney]

Next to your MX helmet, a good chest protector is the second most important piece of equipment. Protects your back and chest.

[hig4s]

Next to your MX helmet, a good chest protector is the second most important piece of equipment. Protects your back and chest.

most chest protectors really have limited protection and are really designed to stop things thrown at you from other bikes not protect in a crash..

The under jersey armor is what you need it you are going to be seriously dirt biking..  This is what I got,, it has a kidney belt built in  http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=6&L2=94&L3=&L4=&item=EVS_BJ22-XL-BK_G&tier2=182