Well I use pads in the Peak District! (call me a girl if you like..lots do )

Kneepads... something like Dainese Kneeguard Revolution - you can put them on/take em off with out taking your shoes off - quite good in that you can strap pads to camelbak for climbs or flat bits and then quickly slap em on for the downhills etc

elbowguards.. anything really, I don't think they're as critical comfort-wise as kneepads.

remember a full facer though..

Do you fall off lots when riding in the UK ?

If not why would you fall off in the alps?

You only realy need to pad up if you are trying things which are out of your skills level and are likely to take a fall.

Dan your a girl 

You only realy need to pad up if you are trying things which are out of your skills level and are likely to take a fall.

Hmm I disagree a bit. I wear pads because I know that even riding within my skills level I'm likely to stack it at some point. Riding mostly sharp , jagged rocks I know that that some point will be some point, literally.

Hence forth and not withstanding, t'other month my pads very much saved me from A&E and two split kneecaps when I went over the bars on "the beast" in t'peaks.

Dan your a girl 

Why yes I am!