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Electronic Ping
Jul 21, 2024
Welcome back to Electronic Ping, a column I’ve been writing in some form or another since 1998. I know there aren’t a lot of written columns anymore; seems like people don’t have the patience for it and if it isn’t a 12-second [or less] video, people lose interest faster than Gary Busey at a congeniality convention. Well, for those old souls who still like to read something… welcome! And if you’ve gotten to this point and you can’t stay focused, thanks for stopping by, and don’t forget to get your Ritalin scrip refilled soon!
Anyhoo, I have a question about our riding gear in this industry… What is our endgame? Is the ultimate riding kit just a spandex skin suit with a cod piece? I know that is the preferred equipment for downhill skiers, cyclists and fat girls in hot yoga class [minus the cod piece, thankfully], but is that really functional in moto? I ask because I’ve had to avert my eyes a few times recently when the camera zooms in on the mid-section of riders like Justin Barcia on the podium and it looks like he’s got a roll of nickels stashed behind his zipper just in case he has to feed a parking meter outside the stadium. At least I hope that’s what I’m seeing.
Riding gear is definitely on an arc to somewhere. In the seventies they wore leather pants, or just denim jeans, neither of which is very functional but both are certainly more masculine than skin-tight spandex and polyester. The jerseys were loose, the gloves were bulky and hot and the helmet was basically a fiberglass bucket with a thin layer of foam padding; if somebody rapped their knuckles on your lid you were looking at a low-grade concussion. Foot and ankle protection back then were whatever work boots you had or a high-top sneaker. And we also had kidney belts… why did we stop caring about our kidneys? Or were those just man-girdles designed to keep love handles from jiggling around masquerading as protective gear?
The 1980’s saw more comfortable riding pants, cotton jerseys with better neon colors [much safer] and the helmets were still open-face, eggshell thin and as protective as a knit beanie if you hit the deck. Honorable mention to Jim Castillo and the CTi knee brace, which was revolutionary for injured athletes who still needed to compete. The 1990’s were a cool time in the sport from a lifestyle and culture perspective, but we didn’t make many improvements from a safety standpoint, with the exception of boots… Alpinestars developed the tech 8 with an inner booty and it really improved comfort and protection. Chest protectors, one of the most crucial pieces of protective gear, went out of style sometime during the 1990’s, a major step backwards for safety.
By the early 2000’s there were a couple steps taken in the form of better fitting chest protectors. Up to that point, the HRP Flak Jak that Bob Hannah developed in the 1980’s was still the gold standard in protecting your vital organs from traumatic destruction. The neck brace came along as well, but I’m not stepping anywhere near that grenade. Neck braces in moto is a more controversial topic than politics. At family gatherings during that time period, I walked into a room and immediately made a radical statement about my political and religious beliefs just so the neck brace topic wouldn’t come up and rip our family apart like a booze-fueled bachelor party weekend in Vegas.
I give a lot of credit to 6D for finally creating something different and making a concerted effort to improve safety. From that point in 2011 it seems like we keep taking small steps forward. Fitted chest protectors, better helmets from TLD, Alpinestars and Bell with more EPS, MIPS, breakaway visors and spherical shapes to combat concussion and rotational injury. We finally had chest protectors that wrap around the body in a fitted way that seemed like a second skin. Boots continued to evolve and Alpinestars is now on the cusp on an inflatable crash suit [already in the use in rally and road racing] for motocross applications. It’s like some marketing genius realized that people would buy safer equipment!
Let’s quit with the marketing horse shit and focus on safety with comfort and function, shall we? The one-piece speed suit that Fox made was, well… let’s just say it should have been rainbow flag-colored. Let’s take some of those R&D dollars and try to make something that will keep riders safer. There’s nothing better than this sport, but when somebody gets badly injured, there’s nothing worse. Oh, and if I can see the veins in your penis while I’m on my couch watching your podium speech… please, for the love of all that is holy, go up a size.
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Let’s have some fun… feels good to write again.
Someone had to say it!
I think I’ve seen the rainbow flag on Ken Roczen and Eli Tomac’s gear over the last few years. Predictive Programming. It’s coming. SX / MX won’t be unscathed.
I’ll go back to jeans and a long-sleeve T shirt
Exactly. I refuse to support any company that starts pushing this on us. But I suspect that it’s coming.
Hilarious!! …and true! 😂 Thanks for bringing back “Electronic Ping,” Ping!! Looking forward to more…
Love the column Ping! And you are so right about today’s gear. It’s great for the ladies but not for the dudes!
At last! Someone said it. As the sport and its participants age comfort and safety play the bigger role. I, for one, am barely comfortable in Lycra when cycling let alone in moto.
You won’t see this skin suit stuff on vets or on mini riders (if the parents have a lick of sense) which leaves the “too cool” pros and teenaged mutant ninja B riders.
Like an STD, I hope this style disappears quickly.
I was happy to hear you announce on the Mike Young podcast that Electronic Ping is back up and running! I’ll always remember you responding to one of my questions probably back in 2002 or 2003 in RacerX. I was 17 or maybe 18 at the time and have followed you and been a big fan of yours ever since. Thank you Ping for all that you do and continue to do for this sport. Your Whiskey Throttle podcasts are awesome and are my go to during my lunch hour while at work. Hopefully one of these days we’ll cross paths!
Love to see the written word! Thank you for posting this, and I look forward to future columns. I’m going to come in on something that has nothing to do with your column.
You said it in the latest podcast with Mike Young that your next birthday is the big 50. I am 56 now and it seems like literally only last week I was standing next to you (and I think Casey Johnson) at Washougal making small talk with half of the pro circuit team! Frosty tips for the win! Oh well, I have a wonderful life and wonderful kids, but boy does time pass quickly! Stay active! Blessings!
* It should say, “comment“, not come in.
Love seeing the electronic Ping make a comeback! Take it from someone that broke their neck, safety gear is huge (and yes, I think the neck brace SHOULD come back!) Remember the cool TLD and Thor gear in the early 2000’s? We need that again! Now these guys look like gymnasts, and not MX/SX riders. After reading the description, when I saw Justin’s pic, I threw up in my mouth! I hope this trend in gear ends soon! Thanks for the article Ping!!