After years of riding my shins are missing chunks. Years of BMX with good ole’ Bear Trap pedals have take their toll. as a cheap peice of mind I have decided to invest in a set of shin / knee guards. The objective here is to spend as little as possiable, get the most protection while not being able to notice they are there.

I am not sure how successful I will be at finding something to fill all those criteria…but we’ll see. I have narrowed down my choices to two different brands of shin / knee pads. The Fox Racing Standard Knee/Shin Guard and the SHIFT Knee/Shin Guards. Both are priced very fairly with the SHIFT brand coming in cheaper at $12.95 (as of 04/22/2008). The Fox shin guards are priced at 14.95 (as of 04/22/2008). As I as get some time wearing them in expect to find more in the comments of this post…

The first thing on my list to purchase this 2008 season is a new helmet. Not because my old helmet is tired and wore out, but because I have never owned a bicycle helmet. The only time I personally ever wore a helmet on bicycle was while racing BMX in the late 70’s early 80’s. The NBL rules mandated that all riders wore a helmet. To meet the needs of this rule most every rider wore a heavy and hot motorcycle helmet.

Welcome to 2008. I am still riding bicycles. The last sanctioned bike event, race, or anything of the sort is now just a foggy memory of good times past. Granted I am a bit older, but I still find myself trying and doing things on a bike that I really should not be doing…even with a helmet.

So I have decided that this is the year I get smart. And for the record, this has absolutely nothing to do with all the stink/evil eyes thrown at me on the trail. I don’t like a helmet. DEAL WITH IT. Yeah, I might fall. Yeah, I might hit my head. Yeah, unfortunately, I may need to be carried out of the trails. But you, with your fancy helmet…you too can just as easily find yourself in the same situation. But none the less the hunt is on for a comfortable and cool (in all senses of the word) helmet.

Research has narrowed my choice to two helmets. The Fox Flux Bike Helmet and the 2006 Giro Xen Mountain Bike Helmet.

I have owned many Fox products over the years and have always found them to be of the highest quality with very few if any problems. Giro, well I have personally never owned anything manufactured by them, but have been witness to many friends who have used Giro helmets. Not one person has complained about Giro. Seems both helmets pass the test here.

Next on the list of important things for me to consider is style. Looking at the two helmets, I think the Fox Flux clearly pulls of a win here. The Fox Flux includes visor and a rear spoiler. Good thing it has the rear spoiler. I know it has to have huge effects at 15 mph. Look cool anyway. Available in 3 finishes - Black Camo, Stone Camo, and good ole Black.

Price as always is a big factor. The disappointment here is with the Giro Xen. Clearly stated in the title is 2006. Should be a bit more of a price reduction I would think. But non the less the Xen beats out the fox by a measly 5 bux…close enough to call it a tie I would say.