Dainese: A History of Racing and Innovation
If you're relatively new to mountain biking, then Dainese may not be a name you associate with the sport. Yet, not so long ago, they were at the forefront of rider protection. We take a dive into the company's history to explain why they are a name you should know, both because of their history and their future.
www.dainese.com
We will be bringing you an exclusive first look at their rebirth in mountain biking from Eurobike in just a few short weeks. If history is a guide, then we can surely expect something special from the Italian legends...
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 As you enter the Dainese headquarters in Vicenza, Italy, the first thing you see is the wall of history. It charts each of their landmark developments since Lino Dainese founded the company in 1972. The names of mountain bike racers like Nico Vouilloz and Phillipe Perakis sit proudly alongside all-time motorbike legends like Valentino Rossi and Eddie Lawson on the wall. |
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| For four decades Dainese have provided protection to the fastest motorcycle riders on the planet. |
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| Lino Dainese's words on the wall of the headquarters: "The new ideas aren't always good, the good ideas aren't always new." In their search to produce the best protection possible Dainese look for inspiration in history and the world around them, as well as the latest science and medical research. |
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| In 1981 Dainese introduced the world's first dedicated spine protector. Within the company it is called "the lobster" because the inspiration for the design came from a lobster's shell. In 1992 they were the first to introduce this kind of protection into mountain biking. |
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| During a motorcycle trade fair in 1992 a Swiss rider, Phillipe Perakis, approached Dainese with one of their safety jackets he had modified himself to use on the bike. Stitching carbon fiber plates to the jacket for downhill racing, he explained the then-emerging sport and told them that at the time there was no specific protection available for riders. His description caught the imagination of Dainese and this was the product of that first collaboration - the first ever mountain bike-specific safety jacket. Motorbike riders might recognise the shape of the shoulder armour as it is very similar to the Airbag system that is now common in Moto GP racing. |
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| Petrakis' race armour from 1994. |
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| Each of the racers' suits were tailored specifically to them, and in the Dainese archives they still have the measurements for all of them. |
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| In 1992 Dainese started working with a young, French racer by the name of Nico Vouilloz |
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| Along with Nico, they also supported Anne-Caroline Chausson and a young Cedric Gracia. |
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| Back at home in Italy they sponsored Corrado Herrin, who wore this skinsuit in 1997 when he won the World Cup overall. |
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| It wasn't just Europeans they sponsored - Shaun Palmer also used their protection. They worked with him for both mountain biking and in boardercross. |
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| In the mid-2000s Dainese pulled back from mountain biking, refocusing on their motorcycle line and leaving the action sports to the side. They never left the sport, but they scaled back the development that in the decade before changed the way we think about protective gear. |
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| Since last year, Dainese have been rebuilding their mountain bike staff, and bringing new energy and new people in to put themselves back at the forefront once again. Their approach has not changed though, as they examine the world around them to find ways of keeping riders safer on their bikes. |
www.dainese.com
We will be bringing you an exclusive first look at their rebirth in mountain biking from Eurobike in just a few short weeks. If history is a guide, then we can surely expect something special from the Italian legends...
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It helped me many times to walk away without a scratch after gnarly crashes, and today some worldcup racer just wear kneepads and a helmet, and for some kids it is not cool to wear protections...strange world
Although, I still love a free ride(no armour) when the trail or street permit it. FOREVER D!
besides the few major times i crashed i was wearing a padding .the pads did nothing . bones were broken; knee ,skin pads moved and i still got scrapes,bruises . so now its just a DOT helmet , Leatt, knee pads and gloves. all 4 pieces work and they work well without restricting movement or moving when i do crash .
and im sure my comfort zone is defiantly considered "riding"
@driftmonster - By your logic since I have had 2 concussions wearing helmet (one moto and one DH) should I no longer wear a helmet. The helmet obviously did no good.
If the pads restrict your movement, you need to find a better fitting setup. The only movement my pads restrict are movements that would result in body parts being torn/dislocated.
PS. Keep pushing the sport! Passion... never dies!
bikycycles art cerous biznusses and you must always beez gonin da fastests and gettin KOM so pad up and let it rip!!
I had a crash 6 weeks ago at the Bikepark in Leogang, no i didn't wanted to crash. It was at a bigger table, no one saw how i crashed and i can't remember it because i got a severe concussion. I wear a Full-Face Helmet, Body armour, Knee-Pads and i don't wanna know how it ended without the body armour. My Helmet saved me from a broken chin, with it i "only" got 4 stiches on it and it's ailing. I still have problem to chew and i can't open my mouth completely. My body armour saved my complete body, right shoulder and my right arm. I don't want to know how it would look without it. The armor has some serious damage and deep scratches and i still have pain in my right shoulder. My knee pads saved me from even more scratches, also my dh-shorts.
What i want to say with it is that something like that without the full protection could have cost me more than just a few stiches, i may would not me able to ride again. People which don't wear are in my eyes irresponsible to themself.
I personally only wear knee and elbow pads for DH because when I have worn full body armour it's like I get a sense of "S*** this is serious" and don't take as many risks.
Looks ferrariesque.
I thought MSC were Spanish?
however, on rider recommendations, I bought the Dianese freestyle knee/shins and elbows guards:- f*cking terrible to be honest, constantly slipped down my arms and legs (having to pull them back up mid way during a run in a DH race!) and would not stay put during a big crash.
I am an average size so it was not an issue of fitment to my body. Still have scars 10 years later from using that equipment for DH races and FR
during my first trip to Whistler in 2004, discovered the Roach (soon to become Race Face) elbows and knee/shins guards, bought these and never looked back, fantastic fitting, tough and secure equipment. Ended up buying the sublime Race Face "Body Armour Jacket" 2 seasons later as the Roost had become too bulky for airtravel or transport when shuttling
actually gave my Dianese elbows and knee/shins away to some kid in the Whistler bike park during that first trip, he was very stoked, as I soon realized how darn expensive the big D was in Canada!
Doing some shuffling to promote Dainese?
www.dainese.com/us_en/multisport-summer/d-raptor-graphic-2.html?cat=100
seems to be hard to find in the US
Looking cool is the last thing on my mind. I ride in 3/4 chinos and tshirts.