For years have worn Roach or some form of knee with hardshell either internal hardshell like Fox or external like the old Hoots knees. Valuing the function of my knees does make me skeptical of soft shell with essentially lycra holding it all together. Of course getting them in January means one does have to wait till Spring and summer to use.
Once it was warm enough began using them. Felt more like knee warmers and in general stayed in place. Forgot a few times was wearing them. While it was all good there was one initial thing I noted. That the stitching to hold the loop in place on the upper part was pulling a bit away from the lycra creating a small hole. But it was livable.
It was in the first 8 minutes of a ride in August that my skepticism in these was proven correct. After a low speed crash discovered as pictured above. Ok, I get they are made of lycra but it bothers me that all it takes is one crash and they are garbage now. Wow, is all I can say. I mean your paying at least $95 CDN per pair. So every time you crash you have to buy a new pair? Sorry, but that is just stupid to me. Then there is the consideration with how we are supposed to be throwing out less as cyclists. Well, this as far as I can tell is adding more to it.
So back to the modified Lizard Skins old school full leg. Full leg modified by hacksaw and scissors. A wee bit hotter a sveatyer than the Indy. But able to handle more than one crash which is better than shelling out $500 a year or more to replace after every crash.
