It goes without saying these days that we’re sometimes victims of fashion, you know what I mean. The Sam Hill “Sans” pads movement, Kyle Strait 661 Kneepad Conglomerate and the “Wide As Nothing Known Ever Ridden So” Wide Bar Brigade.
So will these new fangled neck braces also become a bit of fashion or actually part of our essential kit?
Here we have the home grown FRO Neck-Protect, a lightweight take on the now almost compulsory everywhere in Motocross, neck brace. After reading Alan Milways recent spinal injuries article [Click Here], it wasn’t too long before I was thinking about having one of these in my Ogio kit bag…but which one.
At one time there was only one, Leatt, they came out with a unique design for a purpose and have saved many a neck since. Now however a new neck brace seems to be appearing every season, Alpine Stars have been testing one [See Chad Reed running one in this years SX] and no doubt the big manufacturers like Fox will be working in the background testing and developing their own take on the whole neck thing.
Enough of that for now…how does this effect us as “Cyclists?” Well easy really with the few high profile neck injuries lately, Tara Llanes, Stephen Murray and not forgetting Vanessa Quinn’s, some of us are looking for that little bit extra protection to help if that unfortunate little fall meant we landed on our heads, we could walk away.
FRO’s Neck-Protect is exactly that, a device/neck brace designed to add a little protection in the event of a head stack/face plant whatever. It’s primarily designed for motocross but the crossover with downhill is always there, off roading on 2 wheels with a Full Face Moto Style Helmet – no that doesn’t mean a Giro Switchblade – Although I give it less than 6 months before I see some one riding cross country with one on at Glentress…..
The brace itself is featherweight, when it’s fitted you wouldn’t even know it’s there. The construction of the main front and rear sections is sturdy, but remember these things are designed to deform/break up in the event of a stack absorbing the impact, think a “crumple zone” for your head.
The adjustment for various sizes of riders comes with the detachable middle sections, these come in 3 sizes and they’ll fit everyone, a quick sizing test and you select the size and then the straps are tied up and it away you go.
Just make sure the tabs on the centre sections are clicked in place and it won’t come off. The straps may need a little tweaking to get the fit right but that will only take a few minutes. These are all removable for easy washing packing away etc.
So how does it feel…well as this is a first look we haven’t had a chance to ride in anger with it yet, but wearing it with a D2, the most common DH helmet it felt fine, although the real test will comes on the hill soon.
My concerns were from riding steeps and with the head tilted back and up as shown there’s plenty of clearance, although you do sometimes hear a little clunk on the back of the lid…but that could be down to trying to put my head back as far as possible, either that or it’s my short neck!
Clearance on both sides is great.
The main DHers concern with neck braces.
Side to side the clearance is also there and even just walking around the house with it, yes my neighbours think I’m mad, you so forget about it.
I am in no doubt that these will be a common sight on many a DH course this coming season, with the likes of Steve Peat, Danny Hart and a whole lot of other riders either sponsored or testing neck braces, I’m sure it’ll trickle down to the weekend warriors amongst us all.
The price, £160 of our fine British Pounds, where? www.frosystems.com
Milway plays away in Geneva - DH in the winter sun
https://www.frosystems.com
http://www.descent-world.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=788&Itemid=82
|
