Cycling UK Forum

I wear a helmet, not because I am, but because I can.

(and, I KNOW that a certain 7 times TDF winner, who looks like me, would want me to wear one, so that he could maintain his street cred...!)

Also, I wear safety boots at work, so that if something over 30kilos lands on my toes, at least they can be sewn back on to my mangled foot....

...and, because the safety belt in my car, and SIPS, and airbag, are all supplied, to enable me to continue a life should something happen.

....nuff said?

Personally I am exempt s I ride a Tricycle!

Cunobelin wrote:Personally I am exempt s I ride a Tricycle!

What, no brains to protect

Nope - Tricycls were exempted from motorcycle hemet legislation, one expects the same legislative exemption with cycle helmets......

As for brains, i use mine to make informed judgements about safety equipment and its realistic effectiveness

Once saw about the most spectacular crash possible- guy riding a trike top speed through a ford, tipped over and landed on his head, which had no helmet attached. Didn't look very invincible, blood and (almost) brains going everywhere. It was ok though as the ambulance soon arrived.

Cunobelin wrote:Nope - Tricycls were exempted from motorcycle hemet legislation, one expects the same legislative exemption with cycle helmets......

As for brains, i use mine to make informed judgements about safety equipment and its realistic effectiveness

I was only joking.

sandy wrote:Once saw about the most spectacular crash possible- guy riding a trike top speed through a ford, tipped over and landed on his head, which had no helmet attached. Didn't look very invincible, blood and (almost) brains going everywhere. It was ok though as the ambulance soon arrived.

Yes, I have heard that some tadpole trikes can empty the contents of the seat forward, and therefore generally head-first; and just through braking really hard.

david143 wrote:

sandy wrote:Once saw about the most spectacular crash possible- guy riding a trike top speed through a ford, tipped over and landed on his head, which had no helmet attached. Didn't look very invincible, blood and (almost) brains going everywhere. It was ok though as the ambulance soon arrived.

Yes, I have heard that some tadpole trikes can empty the contents of the seat forward, and therefore generally head-first; and just through braking really hard.

A classic example of risk compensation?

Lets look at this....

Is it wise to approach an unseen and covered piece road at top speed where you cannot see obstructions, potholes or hazards - no entirely stupid.

But no, the poor decision to do so is acceptable ....... it is the decision about helmets that is discussed.

Are we suggesting therefore that stupidity is acceptable if you wear a helmet?

"Endos" are the result of inexperienced and poor riding skill - a matter more importantto address rather than protecting against the consequences.

david143 wrote:Yes, I have heard that some tadpole trikes can empty the contents of the seat forward, and therefore generally head-first; and just through braking really hard.

I beg to differ on that, it would happen if it was an upright trike. I've done an emergency stop from 25mph on my recumbent trike I stopped in about 6 feet on a dry road, I stayed frimly in the seat although my back wheel was about 18 inches up in the air.

I wear a helmet when I go on long rides for protection from low flying feathered birds and extremely low branches hanging out of hedges.

Asdace wrote:For years, I commuted to work without a helmet. Then in the last 2 months, I've started to wear one and am now getting used to wearing one.

I think in the past, I may of felt wearing a helmet looked a bit naff. Now I think it makes sense and looks cool esq with the sunglasses on .

Personally I couldn't give a **** how the cycle helmet looks on me, I wear it for protection not fashion. Let's face it, if I cared how I looked I wouldn't wear Lycra, well not until I manage to shift a few stone!

Nigel

dkmwt wrote:

david143 wrote:Yes, I have heard that some tadpole trikes can empty the contents of the seat forward, and therefore generally head-first; and just through braking really hard.

I beg to differ on that, it would happen if it was an upright trike. I've done an emergency stop from 25mph on my recumbent trike I stopped in about 6 feet on a dry road, I stayed frimly in the seat although my back wheel was about 18 inches up in the air.

I wear a helmet when I go on long rides for protection from low flying feathered birds and extremely low branches hanging out of hedges.

Having ridden most of the trikes out there in the last twenty years, I have never managed this, even with my present independent disc brakes.


As I suggested in the original reply this seems to be a poorly judged decision which struck an underwater object causing the "endo".... but ....Hey - its easier to wear a helmet rather than adapt to a safe riding style.

Of course we all know that rsk compensation is denied, but this (on the surface) is a classic case of "helmets solve all ills" you can ride dangerously - if you wear a helmet you can ride dangerously as the helmet provides the safety margin that allows you to do so.

Cunobelin wrote:

david143 wrote:

sandy wrote:Once saw about the most spectacular crash possible- guy riding a trike top speed through a ford, tipped over and landed on his head, which had no helmet attached. Didn't look very invincible, blood and (almost) brains going everywhere. It was ok though as the ambulance soon arrived.

Yes, I have heard that some tadpole trikes can empty the contents of the seat forward, and therefore generally head-first; and just through braking really hard.

A classic example of risk compensation?

Lets look at this....

Is it wise to approach an unseen and covered piece road at top speed where you cannot see obstructions, potholes or hazards - no entirely stupid.

But no, the poor decision to do so is acceptable ....... it is the decision about helmets that is discussed.

Are we suggesting therefore that stupidity is acceptable if you wear a helmet?

"Endos" are the result of inexperienced and poor riding skill - a matter more importantto address rather than protecting against the consequences.

and a classic example of going OTT on a comment I made in jest

adinigel wrote:

Asdace wrote:For years, I commuted to work without a helmet. Then in the last 2 months, I've started to wear one and am now getting used to wearing one.

I think in the past, I may of felt wearing a helmet looked a bit naff. Now I think it makes sense and looks cool esq with the sunglasses on .

Personally I couldn't give a **** how the cycle helmet looks on me, I wear it for protection not fashion. Let's face it, if I cared how I looked I wouldn't wear Lycra, well not until I manage to shift a few stone!

Nigel

Infact I'm quite fussy on my choice of style and colour of helmets. I spend nearly half a hour in H**fords, just trying on helmets on and getting the colour I liked. How sad is that, not really. Getting the right fit and style is a must, also I like Blue that matches my cycling gear.

dkmwt wrote:

david143 wrote:Yes, I have heard that some tadpole trikes can empty the contents of the seat forward, and therefore generally head-first; and just through braking really hard.

I beg to differ on that, it would happen if it was an upright trike. I've done an emergency stop from 25mph on my recumbent trike I stopped in about 6 feet on a dry road, I stayed frimly in the seat although my back wheel was about 18 inches up in the air.

Are you telling me I didn't hear this? Were you there?

Please read what I write. I HEARD that this can happen with SOME trikes.

BTW- going 25mph and braking hard may not throw you forward, but I did HEAR that some trikes can when braking hard from lower speeds.

I presume it depends much on rider height and weight, as well as brake force etc. You can get your rear wheel off the ground obviously, so it isn't that far to go.

I appear to have missed the "jest" here...

I won't quote the whole response, sequence to Sandy /david143's two contriutions, but I have reread the posts

I am afraid that I still see no sign of jest in either the description of a dangerous accident which involved sufficient injury to require an ambulance or the statement that some tadpole trikes were prone to endos...

Could someone point out the funny bits in these two posts...........