Angels fear to tread and aw that....
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
THE Helmet Thread
(895 posts)-
Posted 6 years ago #
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Been wearing my helmet a lot recently as lot of low hanging branches on WoL Path and some on Towpath too. Where Is Dave when you need him to lop off these branches?
Posted 6 years ago # -
@gembo
Yes, I enjoy the high-pitched crack of a small branch on my plastic hat too. Don't we all?
Posted 6 years ago # -
got a bee stuck in mine last week, we both escaped unscathed. Am considering wearing a hairnet over the top to keep all of the flying beasties out.
Posted 6 years ago # -
When I wear my helmet during the dark Winter months (don't ask), I'm always afraid of snagging it on low-hanging branches and decapitating myself.
Another example of a 'safety' item creating its own unforeseen risks - like kids wearing bike helmets in play parks or up trees and then getting hung up in them.
It really makes my skin crawl with fear when I see kids wearing bike helmets on climbing equipment (natural or artificial)
Posted 6 years ago # -
I was picking brambles one time wearing one, and that stopped the bramble branches pulling out my hair.
Also appreciate the visor keeping the rain off my specs/sun out of my eyes.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I used to walk up past the University to Causewayside and I'd always see this gentleman walking with a young girl I assumed was his daughter and pushing a toddler sized human in a pushchair.
All three wearing helmets.
The next year the young girl, a year older, eschewed the helmet, but man and child still sported theirs.
Assessment of risks is different for us all, I suppose.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Helmet use may also relate to social convention, a helmet is the curent default postion on a bike these days. In the 80s a child may have worn no helmet, the parents may have smoked in the park, they may have drank full fat iron brew. No helmet, parent smoking, or letting a kid drink full fat soda may be tabbo these days. Which may be or may not be scientific. In theory can not smoke in hospital grounds yet can drive a diesl car. Can even operate a deisel car in an enclosed public space. Bacon and processed meat is thought to be worse for cancer risk than full fat soda. Sugar is not meant to cause diabetes I read yesterday. Would tend to guess much of the coventions are social rather than scientific. Would tend to guess a helmet is safer arguements against seem a little convoluted
Posted 6 years ago # -
@iainmcr, please wear the hair net like some crazed LA Latino lover of the music of Morrissey
Posted 6 years ago # -
Another vote for the hair net. Start a trend!
Posted 6 years ago # -
Yes, we will call you Hector, after the only really good Morrisey song. First of the gang with a gun in his hand, first of the gang to do time, such a silly boy....
Posted 6 years ago # -
flying ant day only a few weeks away - seems only sensible..
who's in ?
Posted 6 years ago # -
a helmet is the curent default postion on a bike these days.
I've been thinking recently that the social convention of the newish cyclists I see round town (potentially "millennials"?) is hair-in-the-wind helmet-free. I wonder if we've gone from the 70's "never-heard-of-a-helmet" kids, through the 80s danger-everywhere, must-wear-a-helmet children, to a new 90s live-for-today-cause-we've-got-no-chance-of-a-pension generation.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I see a fair few younglings letting their hair blow free most days. I applaud this! (Millenials are actual grownups now. Gen Z maybe?)
Posted 6 years ago # -
@Iain McR next PY is going to be eyecatching.
Posted 6 years ago # -
neighbours seemed a bit surprised yesterday that i wasn't wearing one. i was in a hurry, so just said most of my riding was off road or quiet streets, and in any case they're best for when it's a case of falling off one's bike, which i only do when at a complete stop and/or off the infernal machine.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I have just spotted this on YouTube which seems very reasonable to me, and looks at the argument in a much more strategic way...
Posted 6 years ago # -
very balanced.
Posted 6 years ago # -
thank @fimm - yes they probably are a bit too loose and I'll adjust them - neither of my girls like the straps as tight as they are "supposed" to be. For me the more important thing with kids' helmets is that they are sitting properly over the forehead and that the tightening band is functioning and done up properly - these ones basically grip the head and you have to undo them to get them off.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Thank you for the response - I felt a bit bad about posting but I have always understood that if one is going to wear a helmet one should make sure the straps are well done up but "these ones basically grip the head and you have to undo them to get them off" I didn't know that.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Posted 6 years ago # -
@algo, @fimm
perhaps the politest exchange I've seen for a long time on a H****t thread. Chapeau!
Posted 6 years ago # -
@chdot - ECA degree show?
Posted 6 years ago # -
Yup.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@paddyirish - thanks. Another rider once pulled in on me during a failed attempted overtake pulling both girls in the trailer (assuming I would be slower) forcing me to brake just before an incline. I politely expressed why this was inconvenient when we later met at the lights. She told me to put h*****ts on the kids (they had proper harnesses on). I very impolitely expressed what I thought about that.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Sigh: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45312756
Helmets may save the odd life. The thing that will definitely and undoubtedly save many more is getting more people on their bikes more of the time. It's a shame that Mr Thomas hasn't followed the lead of the saintly Chris Boardman and directed his influence as a celebrity to a more fruitful part of the debate about getting people on their bikes.
Helmet wearing so much isn't the problem.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I suppose it was inevitable that Thomas would start courting controversy eventually:
Posted 6 years ago # -
@acsimpson. Looks like we both had our Sunday morning spoiled at about the same time :-)
Posted 6 years ago # -
“Thomas, however, argues the development of helmet design in recent years now means there is "no reason not to" wear one.”
Mmm
Posted 6 years ago #
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