Cycling 2011

[Double Drop]

Just been out for a 6.8 mile pootle now, took me 40 minutes but I was going easy as it's my first ride in ages.

Lovely weather out there for it. :) 8)

[cozza]

OK - here's a question - cycle helmet or not?
I know its the correct and sensible thing to do but have a real problem with the standard design of cycle helmets ... they just look so silly

[Double Drop]

OK - here's a question - cycle helmet or not?
I know its the correct and sensible thing to do but have a real problem with the standard design of cycle helmets ... they just look so silly

Definitely. Falling off of a bike at even a low speed could seriously ruin your day.

I went for a Giro Hex.

[ill advised]

I fitted my new bike computer that I got for xmas today then found an app on the iphone that does exactly the same thing via gps but better lol. Went out for a test run and got excited. Will endevour to get out properly tomoz :)

[ill advised]

did get out for a 10 miler in the countryside yesterday. Very enjoyable. Shall be doing the same route today too :)

[Double Drop]

Did a twelve-miler today round the Woodford Valley, absolutely beautiful weather for it. :D

[andrew]

OK - here's a question - cycle helmet or not?
I know its the correct and sensible thing to do but have a real problem with the standard design of cycle helmets ... they just look so silly

No helmet here. I just don't think that anyone should feel that they ought to wear one; it's a personal choice at the end of the day. Per mile travelled, cycling is no more dangerous than walking. Also, when I was a kid you'd have been considered mental for wearing a cycling helmet and I reckon the roads (in London at least) are safer now than they were then - more cyclists on the roads, bus lanes, advanced stop zones, 20MPH zones, congestion charging, more awareness of HGV dangers, etc.

[pineappletribe]

OK - here's a question - cycle helmet or not?
I know its the correct and sensible thing to do but have a real problem with the standard design of cycle helmets ... they just look so silly

Definitely NOT!!!! Unless u are doing 'extreme' off road cycling.

I still resent the fact i bought one for my son... I wanted him to learn about balance the old-fashioned-way but too many pc people in this world dictated that i should buy one for him. Now i have & i resent it still!!! :(

Cycling helmets are for pussies :D Love me!

[Double Drop]

It was explained to me thus:

The human skull has evolved to protect the head, and by extension, brain from collisions with soil or grass from the height of a person, say approximately 6ft, and at a speed no greater than the speed of a running adult.

Anything higher (person on a bike for example), harder (tarmac, stones, curbs) or faster (as a random example here, a person cycling) over-matches the skull.

Result: brain injury, death.

You can't explain it any simple than that really.

On a personal level my best friend spent a week in a coma after falling from a bike in woodland, changed his personality to some extent (he became Mr Angry!) and ten-years later went on to develop epilepsy as a result of probably scaring to the front of his brain.

For the sake of a forty-quid lid. why the fuck wouldn't you?

[pineappletribe]

For the sake of a forty-quid lid. why the fcuk wouldn't you?

Coz u look like a tit :D

All joking aside, i have ridden a bike for the best part of 40 years without one... Yeah i might fall off and bang my head or i might get hit by a bus or my plane might crash etc etc... I'll brave it.

I also understand ur point DD -> especially in lieu of ur mates' accident.

Not for me though...

[andrew]

It was explained to me thus:

The human skull has evolved to protect the head, and by extension, brain from collisions with soil or grass from the height of a person, say approximately 6ft, and at a speed no greater than the speed of a running adult.

Anything higher (person on a bike for example), harder (tarmac, stones, curbs) or faster (as a random example here, a person cycling) over-matches the skull.

Result: brain injury, death.

You can't explain it any simple than that really.

Absolutely - but by that logic you'd wear a helmet every time you walked along a pavement or climbed a stepladder. I'd hate to see a situation where helmets became a legal requirement, or one where insurance companies wouldn't pay out unless the cyclist was wearing one, etc.

What happened to your friend is a more compelling reason; if I knew anyone who'd had a nasty accident I'd probably start wearing one as well.

[jp72]

I wear a helmet. I'm pretty confident of my cycling ability and don't fall off as a rule. The thing is it's the motorists I can't trust. Once they are inside their cars a percentage of motorists are ignorant wankers.
It's true helmets aren't cool, but when I'm red faced sweating like fuck mouth wide open riding up a steep hill, to the outside world I probably don't look very cool anyway!!

[Ric]

Have been doing a six mile ride each day for last couple of weeks. Really enjoying it, although whichever way I ride along the seafront the wind is in my face, even on the return journey. Oh well, at least it makes me work harder at it!

[andrew]

Really enjoying it, although whichever way I ride along the seafront the wind is in my face, even on the return journey.

The first rule of cycling is that the wind is NEVER with you... I hate it but it's not as bad as ice!

[jp72]

^^ It's true, a tailwind is a rare and beautiful thing!

*edit* And on that seafront cycle path in Brighton, it's not only the wind that gets in your face, it's bloody pedestrians!! Especially as you get nearer the pier!