Pads can be worn on the legs or arms to give protection to the shins from pedals or when it all goes wrong and a rider ground impact is imminent.

They can either be soft or hard. The ones pictured above are of the soft type.

They have internal plastic protection covered by neoprene with elasticated Velcro straps, they have the tendency to slip down the leg when worn for a long time.

The other type is the same in principle to the body armour.