Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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VOLUME 59 ISSUE 48 NOVEMBER 29, 2022 P99 were a blast. After studying the lines and choosing an approach, we took turns dropping in one by one, cheering each other on as the photographer snapped away, capturing the wide grins and stunning scenery. My grin was the only one concealed by a full-face helmet. At this point I wasn't feeling out of place anymore—rather, wondering how it was that no one else felt this was potentially dangerous enough to warrant full protection. After all, these are motorized vehicles. I would never get on a dirt bike and ride the speeds we rode, and tackle steep, rocky downhills we did in an open-face helmet and shorts. I suppose the difference in our attire points directly to the difference in our backgrounds, and what we feel most comfort- able wearing. More than mere comfort, I think that the average motocrosser/off-road rider has almost certainly gone over the bars before, myself included. I've had my face pounded into Glen Helen, have gone over the bars in fifth gear, and certainly had my share of high-side slap-downs. I can only imagine what that would feel like without face protection and I don't care to find out. Day two of our ride was less steep, but with longer climbs and technical rock sections peppered throughout. Several stumbles and slips up the hill resulted in some whacked shins. Those of us with the studded flat pedals quickly appreciated how sharp they are. "It makes me afraid of those ped- als," said one of the guides. "It makes me afraid of shorts!" I replied. My retort was met by a few chuckles, but it wasn't exactly meant to be a joke. Even on what we now call "analog bikes," I have never un- derstood why pants aren't more of a thing. My mountain biker friends always seem recogniz- able by their skinned-up shins, just between the area below the shorts and above the socks. Even without crashing or fumbling the pedals, there always seems to be enough damage from brush to scuff up some skin at the end of the day. Remind me why we're not protecting ourselves? I've heard that "it's too hot" for pants. Well, with today's lightweight tex- tiles, that's not really a problem. What else you got? Now, I'm not here to challenge the entire world of mountain bik- ing attire, because I get it… it's a fashion show out there, and so- cial pressure is a powerful thing. After all, over-the-boot pants make perfect sense, but you won't find me wearing them at the motocross track. Gotta have the kit on point. But what I do want to challenge is the standard of eMTB attire. This is the gray area in between mountain biking and powersports. It may look like a mountain bike, but it's faster, you're traversing tougher terrain, traveling longer distances. Is it time to consider that this is a motorized vehicle, and that more protection should perhaps be the norm? At the end of our two days of pedaling in Utah, I was no longer self-conscious about being the odd one out. Quite the contrary, I was 100 percent confident in my choice of kit. I had been rapped in the shin by my pedal, but left with hardly a mark. No scuffs or sunburn on my milky white calves. Most importantly, I had the confidence of know- ing that my face was protected. I was fortunate enough to not have any crashes, but even if I had, the moneymaker would have remained intact. To each their own—wear what's comfortable for you. After all, it's all about confidence out there. As for myself, that will likely always be full protection on anything with two-wheels with a motor—electric or otherwise. While I can accept that I'm in the minority at this point, I can say I have a multiple mountain biking friends who have joined the full-face side, so perhaps our numbers are grow- ing. But their shift in thinking was only after each of them suffered a face-pounding that left them bloodied and bruised. Do we all individually need to arrive at this point before there is a collective shift in the standard? I hope not, because there could be a lot of broken teeth and black eyes along the way. As for me, I've smacked my head enough by now to know that I'm dumber for it. And at this point if I get any dumber I'm going to ask UC Santa Barbara if I can ap- ply for a refund. So I'll proudly be the goon pedaling cross-country trails in my downhill gear. CN