SimpleSimon
Active Member
While I absolutely agree that situational awareness and attitude are the single most important factors in road safety (or safety in anything, really), the question was about equipment for safety. Things we wear and/or equip our rides with.
Fabian makes an excellent point regarding brakes - all of the safety equipment and apparel, all of the situational awareness and defensive riding skills on earth won't save your behind if you NEED your brakes RIGHT NOW and they aren't adequate. At best those things will reduce the damage you suffer.
Personally, I'd prefer no bruises, let alone road rash, or concussion, or broken bones. When I was younger I'd just clean a wound, superglue or butterfly tape it shut, and go on about my business. Nowadays, with my diabetes, a wound is a MAJOR problem - it is a virtual certainty to turn into a suppurating infected ulcer, especially on my legs and feet.
Fabian makes an excellent point regarding brakes - all of the safety equipment and apparel, all of the situational awareness and defensive riding skills on earth won't save your behind if you NEED your brakes RIGHT NOW and they aren't adequate. At best those things will reduce the damage you suffer.
Personally, I'd prefer no bruises, let alone road rash, or concussion, or broken bones. When I was younger I'd just clean a wound, superglue or butterfly tape it shut, and go on about my business. Nowadays, with my diabetes, a wound is a MAJOR problem - it is a virtual certainty to turn into a suppurating infected ulcer, especially on my legs and feet.