Ally Pally today

Quoting platypus:

"I'­ve had low-speed offs wearing two different HG textile jackets,
and both have­ been shredded."

Bear has alluded to impact protectors that can flap around i­n
loose-fitting garments, and consequently be out of position ­when the
wearer hits the road. You have identified a different proble­m: what
if
the structure of the garment is so weak that it fails
catast­rophically
on impact? The protectors might be in position for the initi­al
impact,
but as the garment falls apart around you, there is a risk t­hat the
protectors will join forces with the tarmac to work against ­the
fabric
and speed up the destruction process still further, whilst
simultaneously being out of position and unable to provide p­rotection

in subsequent, albeit possibly-lesser severity impacts. All ­very
theoretical, but I believe the premise is sound.

 

You are the Joef Mengele of the Safety Nazis AICMFF tooth extractions.

 

That had occurred to me. What had also occurred to me is that, even if the
armour stays in place, its protective properties can be degraded by repeat
hits. Some of the (even CE) foam types crush and flatten in impacts. If
you're rag-dolling down the road, you get a succession of impacts. This is
why I use for, preference, the HG shower-mat style rubber armour, which - in
tests at least - takes repeat hits with no degradation.

 

extractions.

Heh (or as Szell says in 'Marathon Man': "is it safe?") And accredited
by the BMF, whose briefing document on PPE and CE Marking I just
happened to write.
Now do you require me to use pliers or mole grips?

 

<Thread hijack as you are obviously SWK>

My leather jeans have armour in the knees and some more further up the
legs. Now this stuff isn't high enough to protect the hips and doesn't
seem low enough to protect the femur, where should it be? The jeans
predate CE testing.

<thinks>

In fact of all my kit, from helmet to boots, not one item is CE marked.

 

That particular HG "Hiprotec" product is manufactured from "Astrosorb",
which until recent developments in impact foam technology was number 2
on my list of "world's best impact padding" (its sister product
"Astrene", a material which unfortunately is currently unavailable,
held the top spot).

I am currently enagged in prototyping of two different products which
feature an engineered enhancement of the current lightest, softest
impact foam available, and improves those characteristics still
further. Unfortunately, it is only suitable for torso protection, but a
near-derivative (slightly harder and heavier) is available for limb
protection, and is significantly lighter than Astrosorb with good
recovery properties.

The availability of the motorcyclists' PPE standards are creating an
upsurge in materials research and development, but in the main this is
in respect of impact protection, with precious little or nothing being
done by the majority of suppliers of clothing.

 

Me too. Women, eh?

 

"Bear faced cheek".

 

It's ok now. It was just a Bran Flake.

 

I tend to go into research mode when a purchase is impending, then go out
and buy what seems to be the best in my price range, although I'll not pay
huge amounts extra for minor improvements. Then I know I've got decent kit,
and forget about it all until it needs to be replaced. Same as with hifi -
what I've got was good low-end kit when I got it, a dozen years ago or
thereabouts. It's still acceptable nowadays, although I no longer suffer
from calibrated ear syndrome...

<nods>

 

The frontmost part of the hip protectors should ideally cover the
prominent bones which are located about two - four inches below the
waistline, on the side-front of the abdomen

<consults "Gray's Anatomy">

known as the "iliac crests"

</consults "Gray's Anatomy">

If the existing protectors are the wrong size or shape to cover this
area, or are in porckets which are wrongly located, or if
Velcro-mounted there is insufficient Velcro to get them into position,
then there are solutions.

marked.

That does not mean that it is no good, simply that its capabilities are
unknown (although there is plenty of anecdotal evidence of those non or
pre-CE products that are OK and those which are akin to the
aforementioned wet toilet paper held together with flour paste).

 

Well, that just re-inforces my decision to get some HG protectors. Cheers
Paul
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 2.0 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Bear asked:

"Are they the sticky-out bits they break lumps off to make bo­ne
grafts?"

Well, they certainly stick out - or not - depending on how slim - or
not - you are

Don't know the answer to the bone grafts part of your question, but I
know a few doctors and surgeons who can answer that one.

 

platypus wrote:

"Paul Varnsverry wrote:

I am currently enagged

Me too. Women, eh?"

I meant to type "engaged", but either spelling can probably be
considered correct, even if the definitions differ.

 

So it's definitely hip and not femur. I will have a prod to see if I
can find some nobbly bits near where the pads are and shift them
accordingly.

<Googles>
http://ect.downstate.edu/courseware/haonline/labs/l35/os0104.htm

That looks a little high but I will go with your description above.

They are probably alright, I had thought they were to protect the
femur, being the longest bone and all. They are held on with velcro so
there isn't much scope to move them round. Probably enough to move them
from the right place to completely useless though.

Some of it's good and some is not so good. The jeans are Akito Mercury
and I have some faith in them. The jacket was bought from a market
stall as a stop gap about 12 years ago and bears a single label,
'cowhide'. I can't think of an instance where anything better/more
expensive would have helped me though so it's been good value for
money. Although the zip did break on one of the pockets. Waterproofs
/will/ keep you dry, thermal layers /will/ keep you warm but protective
clothing is only any use /if/ you come off.
<flicks vees at fate>

 

my bones (that should stick out but are flab covered) feel more like
this position.[1]

http://ect.downstate.edu/courseware/haonline/labs/l35/os0103.htm

[1] took me a while to try and think of a description that would give
less to comment on.

--
Adie
(replace spam with nickname to reply)

UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/

Triumph 955iSS / GSF1200 bandit / CG125
MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22 BOMB#11

 

In response to rb and Adrienne M. Bonwick:

The location of the anterior superior iliac spines Adrienne has
identified is more in keeping with where I envisage the front edge of
the hip protectors should sit. I have had this debate recently with Dr
Woods, in respect of prototype motorcycling trousers submitted on
behalf of a client for EC Type-Examination. Application of some
self-adhesive Velcro to the appropriate areas solved the debate! ;-)

rb; you could probably follow the same approach to ensure your hp
protectors are located and fixed in the best posirion. Velcro is better
than pockets since it allows for fine-tuning of fit to individual body
dhapes and sizes. With a pocket the protector goes where the
manufacturer decided, and if that is not comfortable for you - tough!

Akito Mercury Plus trousers: rb; your versions appear to date from
about the same time (May 1993 - November 1994) that I worked for Lloyd
Lifestyle Limited , the distributors. Once I managed to get the leather
consistency up to par, its tear strength was on a par with the hides
that BKS, Crowtree and MW use.

 

You can also purchase the same product direct from the manufacturers:
www.tprobodyarmour.co.uk or telephone 01933 410818 and ask to speak to
Richard Andrews.

 

Paul Varnsverry says...

Black stuff and green stuff, as I used to call them. I liked Astrene, it
smelled funny.

 

Bear says...

My mother walked past my bed 3 times when I was in intensive care,
because she didn't recognise the horribly deformed monster lying in the
bed. That was the last time I ever wore an open face helmet.