mudfish

Still riding with the brace a year in and loving the fact that my (now not so) weak ankle is protected from those awful front of ankle clangs on big hits where the forefoot really comes up hard. The ankle is getting stronger but I’ll still use the brace as it means I don’t need to flinch on big roots & rocks or to worry about landing drops. I got my mojo back thanks to the Anti Case Ankl braces.

The story of the spine injury led to my left ankle issues is above. 3.5 years in its still with me. I’m getting stronger, in part because I can ride properly now, but it’s a very slow process. I’m 4 months into using the Anti Case ANKL brace now. I am SO happy that a friend saw it here in Pinkbiie. Basically, it’s allowed me to get back onto my regular DH tracks with some pretty hard hits coming up through the pedals. In addition, I’m no longer scared of the potentially ride ending pain of front of ankle ankle clash on drops now. Everything the article above says about the brace is true. I was successfully using about £5 UKPOUNDS worth of stretchy tape every ride which was super helpful as it certainly allowed me to get on a bike and pedal after 18 months off injured, it but it gave me nowhere near the ANKL brace’s level of terminal support on hard trails. Of course I tested standard braces like the 661 which is great for sprained ankles, but it did nothing to prevent the clash of terminal dorsiflexion. Robert’s invention has got me back riding enduro trails properly. Can’t say better than that. Very highly recommended for (front of) ankle injury prevention or support. I’m going to get one for my “good” ankle. Thanks Nero Centauro.

I had a trip to the Forest of Dean last week and rode some pretty rough terrain. I wouldn’t have been able to do the drops to flat and proper rooty sections without the ANTI CASE ANKL brace. It has pretty much solved my ankle problem - I sometimes suffered severe pain on terminal dorsiflexion which could even happen in a deep compression. Sure, I’m still riding quite foot forward on the pedal as my left calf is 75% functional and I can’t feel raise, but, to be fair, some coaches like MTB Strength Coach James Wilson recommend that foot position anyway. . I’m so pleased the designer took the time to respond about the brace, as it convinced he it was worth a try. Robert has been keen to help me and I really appreciate that. It’s a really effective product and I’m sure it will help not just injured folk like me but also those riders who might suffer a massive cased landing which could leave them with permanent disability. .

It’s worth watching this video for how the brace fits. https://youtu.be/zxefB2ubXQE?si=aNm-Qt0xSDt-xCFf

Update. First test. The package arrived with no issues - all the way from Australia. I got updates along the way. Trying it on with a 510 Sam Hill Impact low shoe (low cut version shown in the product pics) the brace seemed to work well and feel comfortable. Couple of hours testing on local easy trails proved the concept. No problem with comfort. Pretty much unnoticeable in use. Pedalling- fine. No real big roots, rocks or big hits on my loop, but I crashed a few kerbs and could feel the protection from an end-of-range ankle clash. I’ll feedback more after some proper rides, but right now I’d say order a pair and avoid the possibility of rude ending pain or even possibly permanent ankle damage from really big cases on flat landings rocks or roots.

I’m impressed that someone took the time to develop this “dorsiflexion” (heel drop) specific brace. It’s quite different to the 661 etc in that the straps go around the heel, so are tensioned when the heel drops (dorsiflexion). There are medical braces (like an L shape device of stiff plastic with velcro - up the leg and under the foot) that help (a tiny bit) with forefoot support for those with sciatic nerve damage and compromised calf muscle function. I guess they might help with walking a bit. However I found 4 downsides in the support. 1: plastic insole plate underfoot means you can’t feel the pedal. 2: no adjustment 3: only maybe 3-5 kilos extra forefoot pressure is enabled. 4: the springiness means your foot pops off the pedal forewards more easily. My left forefoot can press down 70kg, the right 110. This 3 years after a disc herniation. The left falls into full dorsiflexion quite easily, my calf has little of that natural calf “rebound” it used to have. . Yeah I bought and tried wearing one of those medical braces with forefoot on a bathroom scale. Attempt to heel raise and observe scale deflection with and without. Almost no difference in my case. Certainly not enough to help on the bike and no terminal dorsiflexion protection. With me terminal dorsiflexion (when the impact of a compression or root etc hits) seemingly traps the talus. It can be pretty ride endingly painful - for example at speed on Alpine mountain access road drainage channels. Having watched the fitting video I’m convinced it will help me. More feedback once I’ve tested. .

@notphaedrus: wow that’s interesting. So that air in the lower is independent of air pressure setting. If I understand right you’d push the fork down say 60mm and release using the valves on the ZEB? With no air I have really bounce on the fork to get the travel o ring right to the top. What a great tip. Does bleeding the lowers with those bleed valves cure it? Thx.

@DylanH93: Dont agree, it a great all rounder, put on light 29 wheels for long rides if you must. I dont.