Getting "bushwhacked", shin guard recommendations?

[RebornRider]

Every spring, parts of my regular ride are bordered with big thistle plants that hang over the trail. Even the plants without pointy bits can hurt when they whip your shin at 25 mph. I thought it would be easy to find shin guards that are simply pieces of curved plastic with a pair of stretchy velcro straps to hold them on. So far, I've only found products like that for 8 year old kids who play football/soccer.

So, do any of you have a recommended product?

 

[RustyIron]

Brother, I feel your pain. Thistles are the WORST, more annoying that even poison oak. And after the last two wet winters, the trails are more overgrown than ever. Honestly, my only surefire cure for thistles is to ride slow and avoid those trails until later in the summer. Thistles even poke through my gloves! I can finish a ride looking like I've been in a fight with a bobcat.

Most years, from spring through summer, I'm taking scalding hot showers, eating handfuls of antihistamines, and rubbing cortisone cream all over to counter the effects of getting beaten by bushes. But I learned something this past winter. It was insanely cold, so I bought myself a pair of long riding pants. Right away I noticed that besides keeping me warmer, they prevented the brush from contacting my legs. The result was that my legs felt better and there was no itchiness.

As we've transitioned into warmer weather, I've continued to wear the long pants. They help immensely. The light ones that I wear (Troy Lee Skyline) won't completely protect you from thistle, but they'll help. Maybe downhill-specific pants can offer more protection.

Bonus suggestion:
Winter air is cold and dry. Whatever. I don't care. Mountain bike riders are tough. A lady I ride with recently commented that my skin was "ashy." I thought that was a thing for black folks, but didn't affect white guys like me. But I looked, and she was right. How could I possibly look cool on the trails? Rad clothes and sick style can't overcome ashy legs, so I started applying some of that stuff that the ladies use on their skin. I smelled like a pretty flower garden the next time I hit the trails. But you know what? The itchiness caused by the brush was dramatically reduced. It's so much better that I continue to use the fragrant goop when I wear riding shorts. It helps.

 

[steve_sordy]

Seeing as we are getting in touch with our feminine side, I too have a confession.
I wear pink shirts from time to time!

 

[RustyIron]

I wear pink shirts from time to time!

I ride my bike, I wear high heels
Suspenders and a bra
I wish I were a girlie
Just like my dear papa


As if riding an eMTB wasn't bad enough!

 

[Streddaz]

Every spring, parts of my regular ride are bordered with big thistle plants that hang over the trail. Even the plants without pointy bits can hurt when they whip your shin at 25 mph. I thought it would be easy to find shin guards that are simply pieces of curved plastic with a pair of stretchy velcro straps to hold them on. So far, I've only found products like that for 8 year old kids who play football/soccer.

So, do any of you have a recommended product?

Long pants as @RustyIron suggested are good or you could get knee/shin guards like these?

 

[RebornRider]

I've got some sturdy guards like that for the more dangerous downhill riding. I was hoping for something much lighter and cooler for everyday trails. Long pants/trousers are looking like my best option so far. Maybe even pink!

 

[levity]

You might also take a look at long, cut/slash resistant socks used for ice hockey . These are tough and are meant to prevent skate blades from cutting one’s lower legs. They’re effective in preventing “bushwhacking“ and reduce damage from pedal strikes as well. I have a pair that I’ve used for several years, and they’ve held up well. They’re light weight and comfortable and don’t get too hot. I did cut off the foot section so I could use regular mtb socks in my shoes.

 

[steve_sordy]

I wear Fox Ranger long pants, with Troy Lee Designs knee & shin guards underneath. They fend off all nettles & brambles. Brambles have vicious hooked thorns and will penetrate flesh quite easily and make a right mess if they drag. The straight and thin spines on Gorse are more fragile and would glance off the pants if at an angle. But if hit head on, the Gorse spine would go straight through the Ranger pants and into the flesh. But they will not penetrate the TLD guards.
So far, the only places that Gorse spines have got me is through the back of my gloves and my forearms if I happen to have my sleeves rolled up. Gorse spines tend to break off and if you fail to get them out, they fester.

 

[Kingerz]

Same issue in Australia with razor plants. I use Fox Enduro kneepads with Shadow Conspiracy BMX shinguards. If it's very hot, I have older-style soccer/hocky shin guards that are open at the back, but they are hard to buy now. They are in 2nd hand shops or any school or club will have a stack.

 

[Arethustra]

I use the Shadow Conspiracy shin guards when needed and sometimes just throw on the Ion padded socks if its just light stuff/pedal strike worries

 

[High Rock Ruti]

Every spring, parts of my regular ride are bordered with big thistle plants that hang over the trail. Even the plants without pointy bits can hurt when they whip your shin at 25 mph. I thought it would be easy to find shin guards that are simply pieces of curved plastic with a pair of stretchy velcro straps to hold them on. So far, I've only found products like that for 8 year old kids who play football/soccer.

So, do any of you have a recommended product?

High Rock Ruti

My favorites right now are field hockey hard shell amazon about $50 really long crook of the ankle to over the knee, goofy but great protection

Warm Regards Ruti

 

[E-MAD MALC]

Seeing as we are getting in touch with our feminine side, I too have a confession.
I wear pink shirts from time to time!

So does the leader in the tour of Italy lol

 

[E-MAD MALC]

I ride my bike, I wear high heels
Suspenders and a bra
I wish I were a girlie
Just like my dear papa


As if riding an eMTB wasn't bad enough!

You have borh Lumber Jack's & Biker jacks over there lol

 

[CraigR]

I have the same issue in the spring. I use soccer shin guards (). They are cheap and work well and not overly hot or cumbersome. I just replace them when they get torn up. For some reason I can't post the amazon link. Search on amazon for "HiRui Soccer Shin Guards Shin Pads for Kids Youth Adult"

 

[emtbPhil]

As an alternative, and something I've just bought - Endura do shin-pad socks
They're knee high, have extra padding on your ankle, and soft padding all the way up your shin.

I don't like wearing trousers when it's warm. I have proper shin/knee pads but they add even more sweat. These socks I can wear with my shorts and just keep the nettle stings and thorns out my legs

 

[Astro66]

I have the same issue in the spring. I use soccer shin guards. They are cheap and work well and not overly hot or cumbersome. I just replace them when they get torn up. For some reason I can't post the amazon link. Search on amazon for "HiRui Soccer Shin Guards Shin Pads for Kids Youth Adult"

Yep, I'm the same. Soccer shin-guards from Ebay.

 

[Plummet]

Demon Tactic Knee-Shin Guards

Demon Tactic Knee-Shin Guards

demon-united.com

 

[EMTBSEAN]

I wear my trusty Endura knee protectors with D30 inserts which go quite low down my shins and over my socks, in the warmer months there’s going to be a trade off between protection and sweaty legs, personally I’m going down the sweaty legs route, I hate gorse bushes, brambles and stinging nettles, foolishly I tried riding without the protectors and my legs were tingling for days, I won’t be making that mistake again in a hurry

 

[steve_sordy]

The cure for nettle rash is dock leaves. I'm sure we all have known that since we were kids. But I was taught a new technique by an MTB skills instructor called Tony Doyle (known to his fans as "Jedi"). The technique amplifies the effectiveness of the dock leaves.

Crush the dock leaves in your palms and roll the leaves back and forth with a lot of pressure. Keep doing this and suddenly the cells will rupture and release quite a lot of liquid. Rub that liquid onto the nettle rash. It works a lot better.

 

[RustyIron]

Ahdunno what dock leaves are. Luckily, we don't have a lot of stinging nettle. I got some a while back. It was about the size of a penny, assuming yours are similar to ours. It felt like I burned my leg on a stove. The intense pain only lasted a little while. Ugh.

 

[E-MAD MALC]

Ahdunno what dock leaves are. Luckily, we don't have a lot of stinging nettle. I got some a while back. It was about the size of a penny, assuming yours are similar to ours. It felt like I burned my leg on a stove. The intense pain only lasted a little while. Ugh.

Ahdunno what dock leaves are. Luckily, we don't have a lot of stinging nettle. I got some a while back. It was about the size of a penny, assuming yours are similar to ours. It felt like I burned my leg on a stove. The intense pain only lasted a little while. Ugh.

Answer
Stinging nettle left with seeds ready to drop and give you shit next year
And the good ol Dock which comes to the rescue, normally found close to each other funny enough

 

[Dave 80]

Yep, I'm the same. Soccer shin-guards from Ebay.

View attachment 141066

Football shins here as well. Work a treat. (UK)

 

[Mikerb]

I just wear ski socks . They are rolled down most of the time and as such are effective at fending off peddle strikes if you are prone to them. When I can see a section of trial is overgrown with overhanding nettles/thistle or briar I pull up the socks. OK they will not stop everything but i really cannot be bothered with any form of padded/solid lower leg guard in the summer.

 

[E-MAD MALC]

I'm about give these ago seem reasonable

 

[darwink1]

Branches and whatnot are a secondary concern for me, knee/shin protection is primary. I have 2 pairs of leatt hybrid pads and they've saved my knees more than once. They have a great little cup on the inside of the knee that seems to keep them locked I place, and they don't seem to slip like other brands I've tried. I don't ride without them.

D