Submitted by Paul Rutt on Mon, 09/03/2009 - 1:33pm
Posted in
Yesterday saw a good ride to the Eureka Cafe and a return ride along a stretch of the A541 Mold Denbigh Road.
We witnessed 2 examples of dangerour driving within minutes of each other.
1. 1pmish We were overtaken by a car only to find that we was in the middle of a manoeuvre to turn right into his drive. Another car decided to overtake him! A close shave.
2. 1.15pmish We were overtaken on a blind bend at the Cherry Pie only for the guy to then stop to turn into the car park! How dangerous?
Then I read this this morning:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/7931883.stm
Obviously, I don't know the circumstances of this fatal crash but I do know that innocent people could have been killed on Sunday due to the thoughtless driving of other individuals.
Let's be careful out there!
It's a constant worry, the
It's a constant worry, the accident risk involving cars. Scariest part is that we can do very little to lessen the risk in most situations, its just impatient, ignorant or unobservant drivers.
Best we can all do is keep to the roads we deem to be less hazardous, wear a helmet and aim to be as tidy as possible in our ride formation.
Other than that all we can do is to keep alert and hope that we are respected as vulnerable road users.
Alternatively....
You could adopt Syds approach...and stop riding your bike altogether
Although the trick is to find less hazardous activities to occupy yourself!
If we alternated a week onroad with a week off we'd be twice as safe too!
WEAR A HELMET...good idea that ...would anybody object to them being made compulsory on club runs?...seing as it would be us that had to pick up the squished bits and tell your Mrs?
Well Spotted
How did you spot that news flash your always too busy to pick up the phone when I call you :-)Close call....
Its a can of worms the old
Its a can of worms the old "compulsory helmet" argument. Look what happened in Rhos CC when it was suggested. You ask Chris Lord, I beleive it nearly caused mayhem. Personally I will always wear one. I dont believe its going to save my life should a car wallop into me etc but to be honest I never really needed much persuasion anyway, however seeing Petes trashed giro after his tumble a couple of weeks back definately compounded the fact for me.
I think it was the case that people liked to emulate the Pro's during training who never wore helmets, but even thats changed now, open a cycling mag and see piccies of the Euro pro's in training and 99% are lidded up nowadays. I even saw somewhere that some Director Sportive of a major team, (cant remember which one) started issuing fines to his riders who turned up for training without a crash hat on.
Lets face nowadays if you spend a reasonable amount crash hats look the dogs nads, vent really well and weigh 200 grams, and are mega comfortable, whats not to like ?
Totally agree but...
Totally agree but have you noticed that the faster you can cycle the less the need for protection?
Dave Lloyd mega Challenge
Entries close on 29th March.
Only me and Martin entered from VC Melyd it would appear.
What happened with Rhos CC?
What's our esteemed Chairperson on about... Pete goes fast...in short bursts anyway and he tested his lid to destruction!
Chris Lord left a dent in a car roof with his...although the mental impairment afterwards was barely noticable!
Our Leader Mr O wasn't quite quick enough to out-run a bunny, but am sure he appreciated wearing a lid!
I am being serious about this for a change!...how many people would see their arse if we started nagging them to wear one?
Just read on the local news
Just read on the local news that there was a driver killed on the Mold-Denbigh road near Afonwen this morning in collision with a lorry. Not a safe road for anyone that one.
Link below, adds more fuel
Link below, adds more fuel to the fire regarding crash helmets
Astana crash report on Jani Brajkovic in Tirreno race
What makes it even more
What makes it even more impressive is that within hours he was on his twitter site merrily joking away as follws :-
Just bought a watch. @11pm. Price? My girlfriend would kill me if she knew. I have good excuse tho-head injury :)
On my way back home, listening to Lady Gaga (poker face). More motIvated to ride my bike than ever.
Etc
Etc
I suggest if helmets werent compulsory in races nowadays his twitter blog may be different
Non-helmet wearers...
are very quiet!
Oh sorry I forgot
Probably the most important posting on his blog
He simply puts a one sentence statement.
From: janibrajkovic@twitter
.Btw never ever gonna ride without helmet again.
I think "Europro chic" could be on the way out
you will live a long if boring life
I wear a helmet whenever it does not cause an inconvenience to me. To wear a helmet or not is a decision I make, and I am happy to live or die with the consequences of it.
Wearing a helmet only makes a marginal difference to survial chances when involved in a collision with a motor vehicle, so if self perservation is your priority, stay inside on your turbo trainer, you will live a long if boring life.
I intend to carry on wearing a helmet most of the time, and to not wearing a helmet when I choose.
42 years ago
Just after I posted to above comment, I noticed that in the thumbnail picture of me, from 1967, that I was wearing a crash hat (an early and ineffective version of a helmet). Back then wearing a crash hat in races was not compulsary and wearing one meant taking some verbal flak. Things have improved since then.
My 2p
Slow to this one I know.... but it's back in the news currently and for all the wrong reasons.
Stats a-plenty - but mostly against. Aus stats on people not riding as a result nullified supposed gains in reduced head injuries. Added torque applied to neck due to non rounded back of head. ... and so on.
[rant starts]
Bring in that the UK standard used to be something like the weight of a childs head dropped onto a flat surface from 1m, and while the foreign standards are better, they are not going to come out well against high KE steel, or sliding into a curb stone.
Personally for me its been that final cushion against something after breaking a fall, and sheer abrasion if any sliding was involved... yuk.
Then we started on it being wise to have third party insurance on the bike (as insurance companies for cars will often come after you now) - and finish off with the recent news, and article on Radio4 Today program this morning... you could be negligent for not wearing one... now WTF, HANG ON A MOMENT.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/outrage-at-ruling-on-helmets-for-cyclists-1645736.html
[rant ends]
* Personally I wear a helmet since I believe that every no-hand-dismount I have incurred it 'may' have done me so good. But I reserve the right to not wear one too - you know?
** With reference to 'occasional rider' in article, to carry a helmet on all but the most ridiculously of hot days... well thats just peachy.
Just for the record...
Just for the record, I haven't been ranting and am not at all getting on my soap box or feeling that strongly about helmets. I actually hope that those feelings remain quite so, on the basis that should they harden that would be as result of someone getting hurt...
My very small experience of cycling has been had since the wearing a of a helmet has been "de rigeur" and so it is easy for me as it is a natural part of my preparation and riding - for me I have no "decision" to make - I just do it.
I absolutley agree with Anthony that it should not be made law - it is the cyclist's choice and freewill that should prevail. Nanny state - No Thanks.
Answer Honestly....
Andy a couple of questions for you...
when you get in a car do you fasten your seatbelt?....
when was the last time you needed it?
Would mrs M be happier with you always wearing a lid on clubruns?
Should a worst case scenario happen and you die/end up brain dead on a club run who breaks the news to your mrs?
...is that not a bit selfish and more than a slight "inconvenience" to your clubmates?...you know full well who'd assume the responsibility Alan wouldn't leave that job to the police!
The turbo argument doesn't stack up...I'm not risk averse...I love mountainbiking on stuff you don't go near!
Neither am I advocating compulsory helmet wearing at all times....I don't wear one for pottering along the coast path with the nippers.....because I then ride accordingly
Helmets don't help much in collisions with cars granted, but most of the falls we've had haven't involved cars! Looking at the majority of accidents experienced by Melyd riders the overwhelming body of evidence suggests they have prevented worse injuries...As I said Chris's helmet left a big dent in a car roof...That would have been a very serious bang without it...Pete's convinced his face would be even worse(than normal) had he not been wearing one!
I think they should be compulsory on club runs as, in my opinion, more potential for accidents exists with a group on a higher paced run (touching wheels, blowouts etc)
plus I think we all have a responsibility to each other to minimize the chances of involving your clubmates in dealing with the aftermath of possibly preventable head injury
You are right you do have a choice whether to wear one...if an accident befalls you on a clubrun we don't get a choice...we Have to deal with it!
This isn't a dig...I'm genuinely concerned for the safety of anyone who rides without one and wish YOU would!
Pop Quizz.
Now, I don't feel clever for kicking this off again (and would urge people to not post until I am done here too) - but am I right in saying that you wore Chris' lid back that evening, and didn't really wear one before that?
...and in answer to the questions you posed to Andy - seatbelt, well yes, when I last "used it" I was glad it was there. The same could be said of the cycle helmet - with the exception there are stats to support that seat-belts assist more than they hamper... . They are compulsory. I don't think cycle helmets should be made compulsory - its a choice thing - but my HUGE gripe, was not about compulsary - it was about what the judge said.... that to not wear one made you neglegant, made you at fault, meant that if you broke your arm when they hit you, and you had no lid on... YOU where to blame. BUZZZZZT "WRONG". That my friends is my gripe.
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