off road gear - what's necessary?
 

I've finally managed to find a suitable off road bike - an old Serow which I rode for the 1st time today & even in torrential rain, I loved every bit of it :D

My idea of going off-road is perhaps a little tame compared to what most of you do. I just want to enjoy the countryside travelling along gravel and grassy tracks avoiding mountains, boulders and quarries!

I'm an ample sized woman (uk 18) and it's difficult finding standard bike gear. Having browsed the web, I know I'm going to find it almost impossible finding off-road gear. Men's clothing is usually unsuitable.

I look on sites such as TRF and it seems that I need an awful lot of expensive MX gear. But how necessary is it all?
Do you have a "would not ride without it" piece of gear?

Hi, maybe try mountain bike shops as the protective gear is very similar and they may have a larger range for women. Serrow is a fantastic first trail bike. Andy

Would not ride without - helmet and gloves, plus off-road some sort of eye protection (goggles or shades).

In terms of what else you need it's a personal choice affected mainly by what you envisage doing. I tend to wear a back protector but partly 'cos I've already shattered a few vertebrae and it helps me maintain better posture.

If you're going over lots of sustained bumps and will get shaken about then a kidney belt would be a good plan (stops your kidneys getting shaken about inside you and damaged).

If you can see yourself going into a few walls or trees or other bikes then proper shoulder, elbow and neck protection is a good plan!

Hey Phoenix,

Well done - Serow's are brilliant bikes ;I have two and wouldn't part with either. I keep one for off road, one for on. In addition to gloves and eye protection, get a good pair of boots and some body armour ( I got both of mine, secondhand, from E-Bay for £16.00 and £20.00 respectively) and once you've got stuff, wear it cos it's no good at all if it's in the cupboard when you are upside down in a ditch. I had a bad crash off road and was saved by my boots and chest plate - although I still fractured a foot and broke some ribs. Could have been much worse without protective gear. One of the good things about being female (ample or not) is that we fit generally the cast offs of young lads who grow out of boots and body armour very quickly. Both the bits I picked up, as well as being cheap, were very good quality and in good nick -outgrown rather than worn out. And you're going to get covered in crap anyway, so who cares if they don't look pretty?

Enjoy your riding.

the only bits of you to break were protected by plastic ? was the armour securely held in place ?

When I started off roading I just started using my road gear. Quickly bought an off road helmet and googles.

I just aquired stuff as time goes on.

go you! I got off-road pants but also wear the knee-guards under normal pants - def don't leave home without them. Would also recommend handguards for the Serow, even casual rides on easy gravel can see spills and it saves a bit of hassle.

Good on ya!

MX gear
 

I'm with you on that one, took me ages to find adequate gear.

I got a Stella body armour. Pricey but it offers very good protection. Falling in rocky parts can hurt a lot! See photo here:
Alpinestars Women's Stella Bionic Protection Jacket Motocross Gear from Dirt Bike Bitz

I also got 2d hand (adolescents!) size knee protections. Normal ones are for men and too big and long. Check for other alternatives like elbow ones...

For trousers I got some for the US. You can find them from 70 USD. OR try FOX MX and Quad bikes Women trousers (quiet few on ebay: fox MX trousers women - Google Product Search)
I got a FOX one and it is very comfortable.

Now for boots that's real hard to find in the UK. I'm a size 5 and the men's boots size 6 (if you can find them in shops!) are actually women size 7 so way too big.

I got them from the US.

for US gear I got very good service and fast delivery from this site:
Motorcycle Superstore - Motorcycle Accessories and Motorcycle Gear

I got the Fox Comp 5 Boots from them and they were very helpful regarding sizing. I love my boots. Yes they have a bit of pink (why women MC gear has to have pink!!! Gaahhhh! ) but they are very good and very comfortable.

Sure MX boots is another expense, but I am so useless at off-roading that I need all the protection I can get. This gear will last me for years. And again, I learnt that the very hard way, not nice crashing and injuring your ankle!

However, I believe ALpinestar may have more choice for women this year, worth checking their catalogue. Just don't expect anyone to actually have anything in stock. You will need to buy online.
I contacted the women MC shop last year (Bike Girls ?) and they don't stock anything MX related.

So there you go! Still a long way to go for us girls to be able to spend our money on MC gear!!!! :(

Enjoy your Serow, I have a very similar bike: a Spanish Rieju 250, very low as well, and I am having a lot of fun with it in green lanes!

Cheers,

Thanks all for the advice and links. I'm getting bleary eyes browsing the web for gear and spares most nights! lol

Never thought about the older-teenage market - have dismissed kids stuff as just being too small.

There does seem to be more options in the US - difficult to choose sizes correctly without trying stuff on.
I've been looking at the Alpinestars Stella MX-3 boots online in the UK so hopefully, I'll find some soon.

Thank you for the reminder that I'm not invincible Maria - a very good point made and perhaps the most important. doh I'll get my credit card out!!

Perhaps one day I'll pluck up the courage to go off-road with a few HUBB members!

Good luck finding the correct sizes but good body armour and knee protection are really essential when off-roading even on what appear to be tame tracks. Falling off and landing on a hidden rock can be really serious without the correct gear.

Enjoy the Serrow!

OK - I'm convinced :)
Went off road for the 1st time on Sunday & fell off 3 times - fortunately all on boggy ground so no damage to me or the bike. I got covered in mud and had a big grin on my face all day :rofl:

My jacket has full armour (except chest protector) and my Daytona road boots have great shin protection and are fully waterproof but they'll get ruined quickly. However, I also realised the importance of hip padding and am thinking of armoured shorts so I can wear them under other gear in summer.

I came across some difficult terrain - downhill with large boulders and gravel. I was too scared to ride down - my biking pal had to take control for me.

Rufforth autojumble on the first Saturday of each month is always worth a visit. Loads of secondhand gear,youths moto-x kit, cheap useful bits and bobs. Bike spares,tyres,handguards,plastics,tools etc. Head out of Wetherby past the race-course and keep going for about 7 or 8 miles. Get there early,wrap up warm and whatever you do, don't have a burger....they're mingin'
edit; the tea is OK though, good for drinking AND cleaning brown shoes.

I always forget about Rufforth - thanks for the reminder!

I don't drink tea but if you ever visit Squires cafe, I've heard the same said about their tea too. The coffee is only marginally better...