Cannondale C Team gets Protected with Beast Gear

A couple of year’s back I was working in the bike biz and met a guy named Gord, he had recently moved to Vancouver from the East Coast and he had brought his own business with him. He was making safety gear for mountain bikers and I was really impressed by the quality and materials being used. Over the years I have gotten to know Gord and I can attest to the fact that he loves his riding. He’s been a great addition to the scene here on the West coast and it’s hard to miss his army green Beastgear shuttle wagon. If you see him make a point of saying ‘hey’, he’s very personable and he loves what he is doing – riding a bike and running a successful operation of providing quality gear for the riders of the world. Gord’s company Beastgear is making a range of quality safety gear and soft goods.I’m using the XXX bareback legs and the XXX Hard Arms. I love these pads because they have a nice low profile and they provide ample protection.


Beastgear also makes a free ride leg called the XXX Full Wrap that
provides added protection for your calves. My size large bareback legs fit well under jeans and the arms fit easily under a hoodie. When heading to the skate park I can throw on my jeans over top the leg pads and slider shorts and know that regardless of my antics, my knees and shins are going to come out unscathed. The strap set-up works great and keeps the pads in place. They also have an optional sleeve that assists in pad stability as well as keeps the straps from chafing skin. The foam used is high density and perforated and allows the pads to breathe. The plastic cap knee and elbow is designed with cushion pockets to absorb heavy impacts.

Also this year I am rocking the XXX slider padded shorts. They’re made of lycra and are laced with the same sort of high-density foam used in the arms, legs, and upper body. The majority of pads built into the shorts are doubled up and sandwiched between a thin piece of plastic; this will keep sharp objects from punching through your leg. My bro has a good story of falling on an old tree stump when riding some valley trail up in Whistler. This happened a couple of years ago and he was wearing the then industry standard euro suit. The multiple stitches in the back of his leg can attest to the fact that these slider shorts would have been an excellent piece of preventative equipment for him to use. The shorts are warm but you don’t notice once you get rolling and they are perfect for rides when you’re shuttling, DJ’ing or riding at the local ski hill. The pads are removable for washing purposes. A word for the wise… these pads like to be washed often. They have held up well to being thrown in the wash machine on a gentle cycle with regular detergent and then left to air dry.


New for this year from Beast gear is the Beast Bag. This is one of the best ideas in soft goods, bike accessories that we have seen in a while. The bag is made of heavy-duty nylon, with zippered front and Velcro sides for easy access. It has three compartments, one for helmets and goggles, one for shoes, gloves and jerseys (also fits a 6 pack) and then a large area for leg and upper body armour. Both side panels are made of heavy nylon mesh so that your gear gets some ventilation. I can put all I need to ride in mine (troy lee helmet, shoes, gloves, armour and clothing), and still have room for more.


This year’s full upper body armour has undergone a few changes as well. Improved from last year are the arm pads, now with a beefier elbow guard and three Velcro straps they really stay put. Also the collarbone protection has been moved up a little closer to the top to provide better coverage. The rest of the unitux is as last year with a fully articulated spine protector, wide kidney belt and comprehensive chest and shoulder padding. One of the best things about the unitux is that it is low profile, you can wear it under a normal jersey and not look like a football playing gorilla.

Beastgear also makes some pretty kick ass shorts, pants and jerseys. Head to your local bike shop to try some of this awesome Canadian armour. Check Beastgear for a local retailer, or Orange Sport Supply for more details. Like the Man says, Ride Hard, Ride Safe, Wear Beastgear.


The Cannondale C team would like to thank their sponsors, Cannondale Bikes, BSP, Pinkbike.com, Beast Gear, and Magura brakes.