Him Indoors is on my case again. Apparently on of his colleagues fell off his bike and gave himself concussion in the process. I have tried pointing out that I am unlikely to reach the speed said colleague was travelling at ever. It did nothing to stop the nagging. He has threatened to bring the damaged helmet the chap was wearing home as an incentive to get me to wear mine and has not stopped nagging since. Not that it has done anything to change my mind. I will not wear the cycling helmet which is gathering dust in the halway. He may have a point. Some protection may be better than none. After all I am not a risk taker. I always wear my seatbelt, I don't drink and drive and I have never been on a motorbike without a helmet and leathers (not that I have done it very often), I always put on a riding hat when on a horse (can't remember the last time I was on a horse either), I will not let my child on his bike without his head gear and I even add knee, elbow and wrist potection to the list when he gets the roller skates or the skateboard out, I will not go on a mountain without a minimum of equipment that sort of thing. So why is it I will not wear the stupid bit of polystyrene just for the sake of an easy life? I could claim it's because of the bad hair. Nobody would believe I was that vain, after all if I cared so much about appearance would I wear the fluorescent tabard I put on when visibility is not quite what it should be ? I could claim it is because I like the feel of the wind in my hair. After all what I like about cycling to work is that I am outdoors before sitting all day at a desk (I am not really into exercise for it's own sake) and not having a helmet sometimes feel like one of the rare unrestricted pleasures left in life. The truth is - and it may seem paradoxal at first - that I feel more vulnerable as a cyclist when I do wear a helmet (I have tried it, I am not knocking it out of hand). It gives me the impression of being a target and the sensation that car drivers are less prudent around me as if they assume that because I wear protective gear then they should be less worried about knocking me down. It's only an impression but it is a strong one which renders cycling in a very stressful experience and takes all the pleasure out of it. To be effective the helmet also needs to be well fitted and strapped tightly enough that it does not move. I find the staps uncomfortable and seem to spend a lot of time at juncion fiddling with them in a effort to minimise the discomfort instead of watching out for the other one (one of my friends used to say - There are always 2 c***ts on the road when one sets out on a car journey, make sure you watch out for the other one). I don't think it improves my safety on the road to take my eye off the ball. I have looked at all the stats trying to find arguments and counter arguments. The stats are not very useful or enlightening (most studies have been done using methodology which leaves to be desired). I wonder if I would have cared very much if they were (accidents only happen to ohers syndrome). On one of the websites I looked at there was a testimony from somebody who a few years back had been cycling down a hill at high speed only to turn a corner and plough into a car and suffer brain damage in the process. He claimed if he could go back to that day he would wear a helmet. All I could think as I read what should have been a poignant story was "In his place, if I could go back to the day of the accident, I'd slow down at the bottom of the hill and check for incoming traffic before I turned the corner" - I told you I am not a risk taker...
Nag, nag, nag, nag, nag...
1.7.04 00:45
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(1.7.04 22:30) There's a bill going through parliament at the moment to allow any cyclist to use the pavement, that would be safer, for you, not sure about pedestrians, perhaps they should all wear helmets as well. |
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(2.7.04 10:04) That is one silly bill if you ask me (fine for children no way for grown ups). The way forward is better designed junctions and more considerate driving on the part of road users. Better driving would also be a start as you would be amazed at the number of drivers who just do not look when pulling out.I would not dream of trying to negociate my way round pedestrians, pushchairs and similar - seems risky on crowded greater London pavaments + it would defeat the object of cycling which is to go faster than walking. |
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(2.7.04 23:55) when we live in Germany we rode our bikes alloer the place; there were cycle paths all over the place that didn't just stop in the midddle of nowhere, so you felt safe riding. I doubt I would ride my bike round here helmet or no helmet as there are too many idiots that think they have right of way, don't slow down for horese and drive too fast. |
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Martine / Website (6.7.04 16:21) I feel the same way about the damn bike helmets, and I'm no risk taker either. I can never seem to adjust it right, it keeps moving while I ride, my head itches, it makes me sweat more. I don't tend to ride in traffic very much, so I guess it's not a huge issue for me. |
