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by profpointy
15 Sep 2020, 9:36pm
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: How to protect your brain by not wearing a helmet
Replies: 171
Views: 14352

Re: How to protect your brain by not wearing a helmet

rmurphy195 wrote:
UpWrong wrote:It's a hard one. I fell off a couple of weeks ago and banged the side of my helmet on a kerb. But would it have happened if I wasn't wearing a helmet? - a helmet makes your head bigger.


I was hit by a van side-on a few years ago, and my head bounced off the top of the van's windscreen them scraped on the ground when I landed. If I hadn't worn the helmet would the van have driven into me? 'Cos that seems to be the logic of many of these threads.


Whilst it's easy to mock when put like that, it's nevertheless hard to argue that you're not more likely to hit your head in an accident when head+helmet is a 50 to 100% bigger target
by profpointy
5 Aug 2020, 12:41pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Disagreement with AGM resolutions
Replies: 165
Views: 17935

Re: Disagreement with AGM resolutions

I allowed my membership to lapse a few years back. I'd been a member for a reasonable number of years primarily to support the organisation as I'd only done one ride with the local group. (Just to be clear they were a lovely lot, and it was an enjoyable day out, but it just didn't quite fit in with other commitments)
I strongly got the impression that the charity transformation was effectively a takeover of what had been a legit mbers' club. Many of the trustees seemed to have little or no background in cycling but were career trustees as it were. They got rid of the "technical expert" role in head office who contributed the most interesting parts of the magazine, which soon went down hill to the extent I'd only bother to unwrap it to stick it straight in the recylcing - I'd previously read it avidly. The latest mentioned by the OP seems to suggest the members are not really part of the organisation anymore, whixh is sad
by profpointy
24 Jul 2020, 12:53pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Hub gear - which sort of drop-out is best?
Replies: 23
Views: 1590

Re: Hub gear - which sort of drop-out is best?

Tiberius wrote:
profpointy wrote:
mjr wrote:One considerable snag with rear-facing dropouts is that you can't get the wheel off because the mudguards are in the way - unless I'm missing something


On my Surly Troll (rear facing dropouts) I fitted the rear muguard with SKS Secu-Clips - the sort of things that are usually used on front mudguards. The mudguard stays just pull out of the clips and makes rear wheel removal a doddle.

Five years, no problems.


I stand corrected ! On my purpose built Condor fixie it has traditional forward facing drop outs and you can't get the wheel in when the tyre's pumped up as it clashes with the mudguard
by profpointy
24 Jul 2020, 12:08pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Hub gear - which sort of drop-out is best?
Replies: 23
Views: 1590

Re: Hub gear - which sort of drop-out is best?

mjr wrote:Rear facing horizontal with tugs is most secure but fiddlier to set up. Sloping forwards ones are easier to work with and drop the wheel out but it's only axle nut torque holding the wheel in place. I don't know if any disk brakes come with sliding mounts but I doubt sloping dropouts is an option.


One considerable snag with rear-facing dropouts is that you can't get the wheel off because the mudguards are in the way - unless I'm missing something
by profpointy
23 Jul 2020, 11:36pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Sense of humour failure?
Replies: 33
Views: 1635

Re: Sense of humour failure?

Jdsk wrote:
rjb wrote:Primary school children are now being taught that the word "Hate" is a swear word.

Who's doing that, please?

Thanks

Jonathan


It's doublless in the Daily Heil so must be true
by profpointy
23 Jul 2020, 11:34pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Unfortunate URLs
Replies: 10
Views: 685

Re: Unfortunate URLs

I understand there' was a company who bought and sold collectable and expensive fountain pens. The business was called Pen Island. I leave working out the problem with their website as an exercise for the reader
by profpointy
18 Jul 2020, 6:51pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Campagnolo allan keys?
Replies: 24
Views: 1483

Re: Campagnolo allan keys?

I seem to recall that 7mm is an unusual size so
may not be included in sets as a rule. Doubtless easy enough to get one
by profpointy
17 Jul 2020, 10:01am
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: How to protect your brain by not wearing a helmet
Replies: 171
Views: 14352

Re: How to protect your brain by not wearing a helmet

De Sisti wrote:
UpWrong wrote:It's a hard one. I fell off a couple of weeks ago and banged the side of my helmet on a kerb. But would it have happened if I wasn't wearing a helmet? - a helmet makes your head bigger.

You should have put your hands down to break your fall (even babies do that when they lose their balance
trying to walk)
and wore protection for your palms to prevent them from being damaged.


When I did the somersault over the car described in my earlier post it happened far too quickly for me to put my hands out - I think I was still holding the handlebars
by profpointy
17 Jul 2020, 8:59am
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: How to protect your brain by not wearing a helmet
Replies: 171
Views: 14352

Re: How to protect your brain by not wearing a helmet

Steady rider wrote:I fell off some time ago and very nearly hit my head, it took about one to two second to fall, I had time to move my head away from the kerb.
If I had been wearing a standard helmet I would have probably hit it and perhaps cause some ill effects.


Ah but then you could say "the helmet saved my life"

Joking aside I once somersaulted over a car which had pulled out then stopped, landing on my shoulder. Apart from being winded and the gradual appearance of a bruise covering 3/4 of my chest I got away with it, but seeing the impact point on my shoulder made me realise my head can only have missed the ground by the width of a helmet. I could easily have got concussion and / or a neck injury and been convinced by helmet wearing had I been wearing one.

Of course, this isn't "evidence" one way or the other, but does indicate why the "it's obvious" argument for helmet wearing could easily be false - as indicated by the Australian experience
by profpointy
16 Jul 2020, 6:12pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Earths falling population....
Replies: 22
Views: 1081

Re: Earths falling population....

reohn2 wrote:
yakdiver wrote:Rising in Dover nearly every day

As a result of displaced people from wars we either fund in the shape of arms sales to despotic regemes or we start firsthand without thinking where it will end,then abandon.
We reap what we sow


well said !
by profpointy
16 Jul 2020, 8:35am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Heat shrink gun
Replies: 15
Views: 756

Re: Heat shrink gun

I have a gas soldering iron which comes in a little box with various bits including a hot knife for cutting rope, a flame thingy and a hot air nozzle which is ideal for heat shrink

Mine is rather like this one

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143496944438

No connection with the seller or whether the price is good or not

Here's a different one

https://www.axminstertools.com/proxxon- ... mgs-102375
by profpointy
13 Jul 2020, 4:49pm
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: Evaluating the impact of cycle helmet use...
Replies: 371
Views: 34704

Re: Evaluating the impact of cycle helmet use...

mikeymo wrote:
profpointy wrote:Some of the comments from those involved in training children are very telling. Children are often excluded from training if they don't have a helmet yet (I am give to understand) training improves their safety considerably whilst helmet benefits are at best debatable

Logically then the helmet advocates involved in training are willing to sacrifice children's lives to get their point across. Clearly they don't themselves think like this, but the logic is inescapable, despite it sounding like an extreme argument


The "logic" is the precise opposite. But you need to have perspective to be able to see that.


how so ?
by profpointy
13 Jul 2020, 4:40pm
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: Evaluating the impact of cycle helmet use...
Replies: 371
Views: 34704

Re: Evaluating the impact of cycle helmet use...

Some of the comments from those involved in training children are very telling. Children are often excluded from training if they don't have a helmet yet (I am give to understand) training improves their safety considerably whilst helmet benefits are at best debatable

Logically then the helmet advocates involved in training are willing to sacrifice children's lives to get their point across. Clearly they don't themselves think like this, but the logic is inescapable, despite it sounding like an extreme argument
by profpointy
13 Jul 2020, 4:25pm
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: Evaluating the impact of cycle helmet use...
Replies: 371
Views: 34704

Re: Evaluating the impact of cycle helmet use...

mikeymo wrote:
pjclinch wrote:But you should get past the idea that the only work anyone quotes is before/after laws.


You might well be right. Though the before/after law studies do seem to be the most frequently quoted, as supporting a "side", wouldn't you agree?


That said, if the "before and after" numbers somehow don't show a huge, or at least very significant safety benefit it's hard not to be extremely skeptical of any other "research", some of which seems laughably poor or downright dishonest never mind poor

It was the Australia & Ontario before and after numbers cconvinced me to stop wearing on having been an early adopter, advocate even.

And yet each time a "new" bit of so called "research" appears it sounds plausible till you look at for 5 minutes then you say "hang on a minute". A recent, seemingly quite promising one appeared to show a step change in the rate of head vs non head injuries pre and post Australian compulsion. Mmm, maybe time for a rethink - then it emerged they'd chosen a different year entirely than the introduction of compulsion - it was pretty outrageous really
by profpointy
8 Jul 2020, 4:37pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Welsh pronunciation
Replies: 22
Views: 1053

Re: Welsh pronunciation

And Llwybr Cyhoeddus seems a very common place name judging. y the sign posts to it, but I struggle to find it on the map