snowsnow

Spines are the new skinnies!!! For the most part way gnarlier though.

WOW! Serious piles there. Again though, it makes me wonder why everyone wears only knee pads? I'm pretty sure I didn't see one bail that used them. They all looked upper body and head smashers to me.

Chunder from Down Under

Whats also surprising is the amount of head injuries while wearing a helmet. I wonder if they were fullface or XC style?

Great point Natbrown. Could very well be that knee/shins are doing there job. Shin pads, in my experience and from asking my friends that only wear knee /shins, and mostly just knee, seem to help more with the superficial stuff like pedal rakes etc. Not one of the people I've talked to could recall sliding out on their knees from a fall on a DH bike. Dirt jumping is a different story I would think. I'll see if I can find the article and post a link. It was some food for thought as I've been curious as to why it seems the majority only wear knees. I found the report and as I thought, wipeout induced memory problems have a few of the numbers changed but you'll get the point. Lol http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/1080-6032/PIIS1080603212000154.pdf

I have a comment/question for everyone. I'm going off of memory here, so every number might not be exact. We had a 2 year study done here, Whistler, specifically on mountain bike park injuries. If I remember, over 80%+ of the injuries were upper body and it went on to talk about how no one wears upper body protection. Of all the people I ride with and see in the park I would say that is an accurate number as to the amount that only wear knee pads. Of almost every crash I saw at Rampage, every crash I have ever had and every crash I have seen on a DH bike, I have seen maybe a couple pro level riders actually knee slide out of something on a smooth dirt jump. Most crashes involve ragdolling like Gee's. I guess my question is, given the nature and speed of DH riding and the knowledge that most injuries are upper body why do most people not wear it? I realize it won't stop all injuries but surely it has to help lessen impacts? Is it simply a "restrictive" issue or a "style/cool" factor or a combo? I would take some beef jerky on my knees before blunt force to the spine any day.

PS- Great story though. Looks amazing.

When did Enduro Evo's and Slayers become "Little bikes?" Jeez, I must be out of touch?

Thanks for the info Steve-815, but no. In the back hatch is only a reset and format button. I'm glad you let me know that the upper tier models have it though, thanks.

I might have missed something, but I have a Contour, and unless I spaced it, you need to plug it in to Storyteller on a computer to switch between video and stills? I use it for snowboarding and biking and that is pretty much a deal breaker. The GoPro you can switch settings in the field, no? I won the camera, so easy come easy go, but for me, that issue trumps the aesthetics, which I personally think the Contour takes hands down. Someone correct me if I'm wrong please.