Helmet worked for me

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pjclinch
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Re: Helmet worked for me

Post by pjclinch »

JohnR wrote: 15 Aug 2024, 12:33pm My wife gave me a helmet as a Crhistmas present around 15 years ago...
General recommendation for helmet replacement is ~ 4 years, so it may be worth considering an update.

Pete.
Often seen riding a bike around Dundee...
JohnR
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Re: Helmet worked for me

Post by JohnR »

pjclinch wrote: 16 Aug 2024, 10:31am
JohnR wrote: 15 Aug 2024, 12:33pm My wife gave me a helmet as a Crhistmas present around 15 years ago...
General recommendation for helmet replacement is ~ 4 years, so it may be worth considering an update.
That was my first helmet. It's been gone a long time. I suspect, however, that replacement guidance assumes the worst case of a helmet spending many hours per day in the sunshine which is never good for plastics.
Usually riding a Spa Cycles Aubisque or a Rohloff-equipped Spa Cycles Elan Ti
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pjclinch
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Re: Helmet worked for me

Post by pjclinch »

JohnR wrote: 16 Aug 2024, 12:03pm
pjclinch wrote: 16 Aug 2024, 10:31am
JohnR wrote: 15 Aug 2024, 12:33pm My wife gave me a helmet as a Crhistmas present around 15 years ago...
General recommendation for helmet replacement is ~ 4 years, so it may be worth considering an update.
That was my first helmet. It's been gone a long time. I suspect, however, that replacement guidance assumes the worst case of a helmet spending many hours per day in the sunshine which is never good for plastics.
As I understand it expanded polystyrene doesn't age particularly, but anything in regular use tends to accrue minor knocks that will all potentially take a toll on overall performance.
The only way to be sure is destruct testing, which is not too helpful...

Pete.
Often seen riding a bike around Dundee...
irc
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Re: Helmet worked for me

Post by irc »

Of course avoiding accidents is better. I overtook two cyclists today on the approach to a roundabout. They were in a kerbside cycle lane. I was going straight through so wasn't signalling until after the first exit. As I entered the roundabout from a standing start they caught me up and undertook me and cut in front of me as they turned right.

As the lane dumps cyclists at the nearside of the entry road it isn't suitable for turning right and on my bike I don't use it. I take the center of the main lane.

Anyway anticipating they might undertake me I was watching them and braked to a stop in the middle of the RAB. Luckily the driver behind me was alert and stopped as well. People don't expect cars to halt in the middle of a RAB.

Thing is the cyclists never even saw me stopping and just carried on unaware that on another day they could have been knocked off.

Here. I was taking the 11 o'clock exit and entered the roundabout just before the riders taking the 2 o'clock exit.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/oM3TrumZkh7dUiNV6

Very bad design IMO. There is no cycle lane in the exit they were taking.

Learning point? Maybe next time I should hug the kerb blocking the cycle lane?
drossall
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Re: Helmet worked for me

Post by drossall »

Looks like a bit of a hangover from the old, and dangerous, highway code advice, removed several editions ago, that cyclists should consider going around the outside of a roundabout to turn right. That lane feeds cyclists into a position where there is no good way to go if turning right. I agree with what you do.
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Sweep
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Re: Helmet worked for me

Post by Sweep »

Couple of weeks ago.
Been round London on a "mission" - mix of cycling and train.
Came out of my home station.
Got on bike at very front of stationarytraffic waiting at red light so entirely visible.
Lights changed.
Set off, there's a turn just after the lights but I was entirely visible.
Next thing I know I'm rear ended (from a standing start!) rear wheel trashed, mudguard jammed, I'm thrown to the road in front of the white van that had hit me.
Luckily no damage to me or the bike beyond a new wheel needed.
But helmet impacted/rendered history.
Better than my head.
The driver by the way behaved impeccably, freely admitted his attention had somehow wandered but accepted responsibility without hesitation and sorted things..
Thankfully I was wearing a helmet.
I couldn't have ridden more safely and was barely on the bike.
But anything can happen.
There is no god.
There are helmets.
Sweep
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