KNEE AND NECK
ASTERISK CARBON CELL 1
Great knee brace. They vent well, move with you, and stay in place. I don’t ride without them. They’re not cheap but they’re worth every penny. I have used cheaper ones in the past and they just dug into my legs, I was hurting after every ride.
LEATT NECK BRACE
I used this for a summer and then gave up on it. I found it to be too limiting, specially in the slower technical sections, maybe it worked too well. This could be a setup issue, between the helmet and jacket. I will have to revisit and see if I can add it back to the mix. I would still recommend trying it out. It could be perfect for your setup and riding style.
PROTECT YOURSELF
I didn’t take protection seriously until I broke my fibula. Being down for a whole summer is a real bummer. The recovery period is about one year to get back to normal, and that’s if you’re active with your PT. I was riding about 6 months later, but things still felt odd.
I relate to the feeling of “screw that” when you’re looking at gear and the price tag is a quarter of a bike. The thing you should consider is how much work are you going to miss from a preventable injury? I know I missed more than $800 dollars worth when I was recovering. A serious injury will affect your pockets and also your health. Same people don’t ever recover from a broken bone. I believe protection should be looked at like an investment for your health and riding longevity. Most of the higher end gear will last you at least a few years if not a lifetime. It’s something that deserves serious thought.