Protective gear is always good for your safety. It’s always better to have a full-face mountain biking helmet, padded mountain bike shorts, a solid mountain bike neck brace, knee protection and elbow protection.
I only wear helmet as protection when I ride long distance. I have never used safety pads as such as riding with those was not very comfortable for me. But I do advise to always wear protective gear as far as possible while on the road.
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