Safety Gear.

[Wiccad]

Is it just me, or do some people simply not get it.:confused1:

Back protectors that is.

Even some racers do it.:wtf1:

Many track day punters do it.

Some squid jockeys do it too.

So what part of the whole back protector concept don't they get?:confused:

Back protectors go on the INSIDE, their not made of kevlar, leather or gortex.
Their made of plastic and other materials that melt, tear, shred, or just basically break when coming into contact with the ground at speed.

In the 2+ years I've been flagging for both race and track days, I've had to black flag no fewer than 20 riders for wearing a back protector OVER their leathers. Granted it's "probably" better than no back protector at all, but its far from how their designed to work. Hit the deck with a protector being worn outside your leathers and 90% of the time, the straps will give way and said back protector either gets left behind, or wrapped about your neck or limbs in a most unprotective fashion. The only "suportive" (and I use that term loosely as most are not what they seem) strap on 99% of back protectors is the kidney belt. The other straps are just their to hold it in place while you get your leathers on over it. And most track day punters carry a spare tyre rendering the kidney function next to useless.

People please, wear your back protector UNDER your jacket. Not over it, back protectors are not a fashion accesorie. If it won't fit under your leathers anymore, go on a fuggin diet. Beats a broken back or worse any day.

End Rant.:mad:

[jasonbw]

OMG really?? Wow! Keep on black flagging !!

[zRoYz]

Wiccad they probably are still in dream world thinking there going mx riding.

Your also a man that likes to take a pic, so please take some of this stupid practice & start a "come on you can't be that dumb" thread.

[jace]

You think thats bad!
I could not belive it wen on Sun,driving back from the citiy,sitting in traffic I noticed a bike coming up behind me,so I pulled to the left to let him pass between the cars.
As he came up beside me I noticed he was wearing thongs.:wtf1: Yes thats right THONGS on a k6 750 gixer & to top it off it was cold & wet too.:headshake:

[MadHatter]

I've never seen it worn on the outside.

I might give it a go though, it's like being superman and wearing undies on the outside.

[dungbeetle]

hahah hatter!!!
i never really got the whole concept of a back protector and never used to wear one til i had it explained to me. i thought they were there for slide protection so figured my leathers would do that job. but then it was explained that they are there to stop ya breaking ya back, and went and bought one the next day!!!
i think maybe people just dont get what they are for, and so dont really get how they are supposed to be worn as well!!

[Prettyboy]

A back protector being worn on the outside would be quite funny to see

[fezzick]

Ray Quincey, a famous Australian motorcycle road racer from the 70's was one of the winningest riders of his time, right up there with Willing and Hansford.

He went to Europe to race for a little Italian team that, to this day, has never paid him what he was due. He was racing in a crappy little nothing race in Belgium when his bike skidded on the wet track and he was cannoned into a telegraph pole on the side of the track. He hit it, back first.

He said, "When I opened my eyes, I couldn't feel my legs. I reached down and touched them and it was just like patting a dead dog."

Ray is now paralysed from the waist down and had lived for the last 19 years in a wheelchair. Had back protectors been around back then, he'd still be walking.

WEAR YOUR BACK PROTECTOR - EVERY TIME YOU RIDE.

[Dunno]

Pictures please Wiccad. That is classic. :lmao:
Thongs? You see em on the road sometimes in thongs & Kevlar racing shorts & go fast tough guy singlet. I would hate to see em after a get off. Either that or he is wearing a full racing suit, ready to meet the road at 200k & his girl is on the back in jeans & singlet. No doubt the coolest people in ICU. :headshake:

[Turtle]

A friend of a friend was wearing Jeans up the Old Road and came off !!! And guess what he Slid on ?? Yep his knee, his Knee Cap was completely gone and his leg was worn down to his leg bones above and below his knee, sadly he has never gotten over it, he couldn't see his leg while he was laying there, he was just worried about how bad his bike was ......:confused:

[Wiccad]

I don't have any pics as martialing usually does not leave one free to take photo's of oncoming bikes when you ned to be looking the other way. (i.e in race direction). That and rain was forecast for Sunday, & I don't have a rain cover for the camera so the camera stayed home.

That said if the oportunity presents I'll endevour to obtain the evidence. This whole rant was brought to you by a particularly stubourn side car driver on sunday.

[gazujc]

Hey Wiccad, I have been involved for two or so years aswell and man, never seen a back protector on the outside at a race day but it wouldn't surprise me one bit.

Mind you, as I often work Pit Exit on race practice I make an effort to 'pat' the back of riders before we let them on the track and I reckon we would get 2 - 3 each race practive that don't have back protectors. Mind you, when you tell them all (with one exception) have thanked us greatly and gone back immediately and got it, so obviously the importance is recognised.

And what the heck do you mean you can't get pics, geez, I even got one of a RATS member on Sunday watering the bridge.





Garry

[dungbeetle]

hahaha i wonder who that member was gary!!:O

[kellz]

now garry u know you gotta post that lol...

i know who that little rat was aswell lol :lmao:

[jasonbw]

Both Fezzicks and Turtles post had me holding my hand over my mouth (female in a parking lot style), I've got my dainese protector inserted in my Alpinestar leathers, I wear the full suit day in day out...I commute to work on the CBR... I only go 5 ks but still have the back protector and posts like this make me remember exactly why I'm fine gearing up and down for 5 minutes each time. Hope others learn before its too late.

Now, heres a google question... who invented the back protector?... hes famous.. and its mentioned in Keith Code's books.

[Prettyboy]

Barry Sheene IIRC

[jasonbw]

Cool, thanks...

<I didnt say I remembered>
:) :)

[gazujc]

The late Barry Sheene by connecting visors together to protect his spine.





Garry

[Prettyboy]

Ohhh do I get a prize like this guy ?

http://www.mattymo.com/albums/Stupid-Pictures/retard_prize.jpg

[holdontight]

Ohhh do I get a prize like this guy ?

http://www.mattymo.com/albums/Stupid-Pictures/retard_prize.jpg
isn't that you geting your prize:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

[Prettyboy]

Nah, I'm in the scoutmaster...:ayyy:

[holdontight]

Nah, I'm in the scoutmaster...:ayyy:
What r u doing in the scoutmaster:confused1: . WAIT WAIT WAIT I don't whant to know.:lmao: