WEAR THEM!! I think in the 11 years I've rode trials, I not worn shinpads when riding twice and both times my feet slipped off the peddles going over something easy, and bloody hell did that hurt!! Made me feel sick lol, got some gnarly scares though Have a look through the TSG protection stuff, I've got a set of their shinpads and there mint! Really solid at the front so nothing will get through them!, and the back of them covers your calf area fully so A) Protects the back of your leg from getting scatched up and you dont look silly having various bits of your leg showing haha. You dont get very hot wearing them either, so Bonus! Be a real man, WEAR shinpads!! Scott