Body armor for mountain bikers Mountain bikers prone to crashing, take note: D30 apparel from Spyder (www.spyder.com) incorporates a shock-absorbing gel -- flexible under normal situations -- that hardens into a rubbery protection pad on impact.
I biked last month with the pricey D3O Armored L/S Crew and D3O Ultimate Chamois Bike Short. The top ($350) looks like a motocross jacket, but it is actually a compression top with padding from shoulders to wrists. The shorts ( $270) fit close, padding thighs and hips.
While I did not purposely crash, I did knock my legs with a pipe and a small hammer. The gel locked instantly, distributing and diluting the force.
Conclusion: D30 adds subtle padding that is less noticeable than hard-shell impact plastics yet more effective than regular foam.
STEPHEN REGENOLD
