Well, I'm 41. Done mostly off road riding but I've got plenty on road too. The one time I went down on road I was in full off road gear. I low sided, leg trapped under the bike till it caught and shot out under me ripping the ligaments in my ankle and breaking my fibula just above the boot. Externally I had a lightly skinned knee you could cover with a band aid. Imagine if I'd skidded along without that protection. Too many friends with worse experiences and I've seen off road accidents that all you can think is call a medic. Gear saved them or at least gave them a fighting chance. Like Pfloyd said, it gets under your skin because you know better and can't understand why they don't. All we can do is try to make it seem like an acceptable norm to be in full gear and not a inconvenience to ruin the fun. Unfortunately I see too many older riders on cruisers doing the same thing your young friend was. So there is proof age doesn't always bring wisdom. I'll share some photos I took of a friend who went down on a rock covered trail. After rolling down the hill and the bike nearly landing on him he was otherwise unharmed. Shook up, but physically okay and rode the rest of the day. The gear saved his butt. I wear it all the time and so do the people I ride with. I have CPR and first aid training that I'd rather see go to waste than have lots of people to practice on. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xIlME6q-kE