Armour/ Attachment

I have conducted brief research into motorcycle safety as the precautions taken are similar to those I anticipate riders of my design taking. The functionality of motorbikes and my design is similar in that riders are exposed and not fully secured to the vehicle, they both also have two wheels and require the rider to shift weight to balance.

The head, arms, and legs are the most often injured in a crash. A good form of protection for these is a jacket/body armour and helmet. The best types of jacket are made of nylon, leather, or Kevlar as these materials will tolerate the high stress and friction that is generated by impact or sliding across the ground. They also distribute focused energy over a wider area which reduces injury and are water and heat resistant. The stitching and seams need to be strong. The elbows spine and shoulders should be reinforced and have extra padding to cushion impact. The jacket should be a tight fit but allow room to move and fit an extra layer of warm clothing underneath for riding in colder weather. A good form of protection for the lower body is long pants made from the same recommended materials as above. They should have reinforcement and extra padding at least on the knees, but also preferably on the shins and thighs. However, the most suitable protection for racing is a full body suit, especially those reinforced with armour pads. Because they have no gaps around the waste they are often also equipped with armour plates which provide insulation from the strongest of shocks.

Gloves are also an essential piece of racing protection; they should be made from leather, Kevlar or nylon and can have armour pads on knuckles and top of the hand. Gloves also need to give good grip on the underside to allow the rider to maintain control even in wet conditions. Gloves need to have cuffs that overlap the sleeves of the jacket to protect the wrists.

Boots are also a critical element, especially on my design because they are the only thing that connects the rider to the board. They also need to be quickly detachable to allow the rider to detach after an accident or to put their foot on the ground to balance. To protect riders on my design I plan to use a modified snowboard binding system because this provides ankle protection and the quick release system I need.

Information and images from:

http://www.motorcyclesafetyinfo.com/motorcycle_safety_gear.html

http://www.travelizmo.com/archives/002319.html

http://www.ioffer.com/i/143215993

http://www.slybuyer.com/product/Agency-Frecko-Snowboard-Bindings-Denim-Menaposs.html