Bike Snob NYC

[cycle tramp]

Oh no, Bikesnob NYC has fallen off his bike, without wearing a helmet and relieved stitches...

..its interesting take on what goes through all our minds after a spill and probably one of the better pieces of writing about helmets and bike safety https://bikesnobnyc.com/2026/01/06/taki ... more-39827

[853]

..its interesting take on what goes through all our minds after a spill and probably one of the better pieces of writing about helmets and bike safety https://bikesnobnyc.com/2026/01/06/taki ... more-39827

It's an awful lot of words for saying very little. Presumably they get paid by the word

[Nearholmer]

He or she does go on a bit doesn’t he or she?

Synopsis: I was nearly hoisted on my own petard, but wasn’t, thankfully, but just to reiterate, this is how I justify carrying this particular petard ……

[cycle tramp]

...the author is not paid..... (although you can make a donation)

...and the synopsis I took from it, was that any bike spill is the result of a number of smaller decisions which lead to the event...and by looking at each decision the mantra that 'you have to wear a bike helmet all the time' is given critical examination.

The you tube video which was also in the post is also worth a view

[Mike Sales]

Synopsis: I was nearly hoisted on my own petard, but wasn’t, thankfully, but just to reiterate, this is how I justify carrying this particular petard ……

A petard is a small bomb, what we might call an IED these days. In Shakespeare's usage hoist means blown up.
Not quite an apposite metaphor, in this case.

[853]

...the author is not paid.....

[cycle tramp]

...the author is not paid.....

Bike snob.png

Sorry, the author is not sponsored by any organisation and you are free to view their essays whether you make a donation or otherwise.

[Nearholmer]

A petard is a small bomb, what we might call an IED these days. In Shakespeare's usage hoist means blown up.
Not quite an apposite metaphor, in this case.

I knew it should be hoist, not hoisted, but I’d forgotten why. Thanks for the reminder.

I do think it works as a metaphor though, because he or she came very close to being blown up, as in made to look a fool, by his or her own verbal blasts in The Helmet Wars.

[cycle tramp]

A petard is a small bomb, what we might call an IED these days. In Shakespeare's usage hoist means blown up.
Not quite an apposite metaphor, in this case.

I knew it should be hoist, not hoisted, but I’d forgotten why. Thanks for the reminder.

I do think it works as a metaphor though, because he or she came very close to being blown up, as in made to look a fool, by his or her own verbal blasts in The Helmet Wars.

They came off their bike while not wearing a helmet and received a cut to their brow, possibly caused by the sun glasses that they were wearing...
..and then discussed it..
that's really not the same as being blown up, nor does it change their arguement... which was their was several ways they could had avoided the situation.
Indeed the author pointed out that even if he had worn the helmet, unless the helmet had a face protector, he may have received the same injury.

[Nearholmer]

You completely miss my point: if they had hurt their head in the fall, they would have not only hurt their head, but made an ass of themselves by their previous pronouncements. The author confesses to having been doctrinaire in their approach.

[cycle tramp]

You completely miss my point: if they had hurt their head in the fall, they would have not only hurt their head, but made an ass of themselves by their previous pronouncements. The author confesses to having been doctrinaire in their approach.

How does falling off a bike make an ass of themselves whether they're wearing a helmet or otherwise?
The author admits to hitting a patch of gravel, in wintery conditions and falling off.. that's anyone of us.
None of us who are pro-helmet choice are immune to that.. equally, those who wear helmets all the time aren't immune to it either. Falling off your bike and receiving a slight head injury does not invalidate the pro-choice argument, in the same way that banging your head getting in or out of a car is an argument for compulsory helmet wearing when travelling in a motor vehicle.

[Nearholmer]

It wouldn’t have been the falling off a bike that might have made an ass of them, it would have been the doctrinaire preaching about not wearing a helmet, followed by falling off and banging their head that would have made an ass of them.

The author seems very aware that they narrowly escaped both a bruised bonce and a dented ego.

Perhaps I should never have mentioned petards, and instead made the synopsis: nemesis after hubris narrowly missed.

[pjclinch]

It wouldn’t have been the falling off a bike that might have made an ass of them, it would have been the doctrinaire preaching about not wearing a helmet, followed by falling off and banging their head that would have made an ass of them.

Up to a point, Lord Copper.
I would be very surprised if you found anyone who told you it's vital to wear a helmet for foot-based orienteering. I wouldn't be surprised if any suggestion one did would be widely countered that you absolutely don't need a helmet for foot based orienteering.
On one occasion I was running along, looking down at my map, and totally failed to notice a low tree bough that I then banged my head against at running speed. It really hurt. It would have hurt less had I been wearing a helmet. Right then and there, I wished I had been. Yet after the event I still say you absolutely don't need a helmet for foot based orienteering.

Pete.

[deeferdonk]

He or she does go on a bit doesn’t he or she?

It always make me smile when people phrase it like this, as it is an attempt not to sound sexist but sounds more sexist as the fact that someone may be a women is an afterthought partway through typing or talking. (apologies Nearholmer - not accusing you of sexism - just a comment on language)

Using the gender neutral term "They do go on a bit don't they", doesn't draw attention and covers all bases for us wokies.

Although i note that Bikesnob is a bloke of the American persuasion.

I have gone on quite a bit too!

[mattheus]

...

I do think it works as a metaphor though, because he or she came very close to being blown up, as in made to look a fool, by his or her own verbal blasts in The Helmet Wars.

You'd be wise to remember - whilst critiquing a reasonable post mortem of someone's probably quite painful mishap - that it's not the helmet agnostics* that start, let alone fan the flames of, The Helmet Wars.

*Nor even the refuseniks.