Totally untrue there have been cycling and motorcycle helmets available for at least 60 years, however I suppose if you bury your head in the sand you are unlikely to hurt it.
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- Thread starter TedG
- Start date
I was motorcycling from 1950 when I joined the trade and there was only the all steel ACU helmet which wasn't tolerable for normal road use and only protected the crown of the head. Almost no-one used those on the road at the time and certainly none of our customers did. The most popular head wear then for motorcycling was the leather flying helmet. Later in the 1950s a helmet called the Corker came onto the market, made of compressed cork with a dangerous peak it was useless for any degree of protection. It was a few years later that better designed practical motorcycling helmets arrived and the British Standard BS 6658 for them arrived in 1985, 35 years ago.
And cycling helmets have not been around for at least 60 years. They started to make an appearance around 1975 but even then weren't seen in cycle racing where reversed peak caps were worn. But that introduction was too late since cycling other than for kids had all but died in Britain during the '60s and '70s. It was in 1981 with the arrival of the first mountain bikes that adult cycling started to revive and the helmets finally with it.
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I do wear a yellow Altura Yellow night vision Jacket all the time in the Winter, but might ride in non hi viz T shirt and shorts in the summer.
I commute to work all year round and the biggest difference I noticed to the way I was noticed and treated by cars approaching from the rear was when I added a bright rechargeable flashing led seat post light.
I immediately noticed a big difference. I now always have that on when I ride on the road, night or day. I don't have a flashing light at the front as I find it a distraction and hope I can see the dangers as I approach them.
I always have Ortlieb panniers attached which have high viz elements.
When driving my car at night I have been shocked at how invisible both walkers and cyclist have been who wear dark clothing with no lights.
As a biker in the 70's I remember how my mates and I all wore black leathers, often without our lights on. I was 19 and had a fast bike, thought I was indestructible, and probably quite lucky to survive that phase, although I have always had a motorbike and still have several still and continue to ride.
I commute to work all year round and the biggest difference I noticed to the way I was noticed and treated by cars approaching from the rear was when I added a bright rechargeable flashing led seat post light.
I immediately noticed a big difference. I now always have that on when I ride on the road, night or day. I don't have a flashing light at the front as I find it a distraction and hope I can see the dangers as I approach them.
I always have Ortlieb panniers attached which have high viz elements.
When driving my car at night I have been shocked at how invisible both walkers and cyclist have been who wear dark clothing with no lights.
As a biker in the 70's I remember how my mates and I all wore black leathers, often without our lights on. I was 19 and had a fast bike, thought I was indestructible, and probably quite lucky to survive that phase, although I have always had a motorbike and still have several still and continue to ride.
A bright yellow Paramo Ciclo jacket for me, though it's a bit thin in winter. Pedals have flashing leds in them driven by microgenerators. And there's a 3 led rear light that strobes in crazy patterns. Mirrcyle mirror and no helmet for me, just an ear hugging wooly hat - oh it's black !
I find I get looked at/noticed more when I'm wearing a neck tube pulled up over the lower half of my face, sort of ninja look in combination with the hat.
If I see a car approaching fast from the rear I give a deliberate wobble and make it look as though I'm looking off over the fields - I'm not. Seems to slow down most and cause them to give me a wide berth.
I find I get looked at/noticed more when I'm wearing a neck tube pulled up over the lower half of my face, sort of ninja look in combination with the hat.
If I see a car approaching fast from the rear I give a deliberate wobble and make it look as though I'm looking off over the fields - I'm not. Seems to slow down most and cause them to give me a wide berth.
No it is not, cycle helmets do not reduce deaths and serious injuries. Indeed there is clear evidence that they increase those.
I haven't the time at this moment but I will be presenting a thread in the Electric Bike forum showing why that is and why the government is so determined not to enforce helmet wearing.
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Exactly this.. Ditch the headphones and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Treat every vehicle like it will KILL or maim you and ride defensively. The eye contact thing is so important at junctions and roundabouts. Its saved by arse a few times over the years. This works for Motorcycles, EBikes and Pushbikes. .
The clothing thing, definitely at night with lights on, but during the day it doesn't make a huge difference in my experience (for what its worth) and I suppose some riders just want to avoid the dweeb look.
Absolute rubbish, I shall wait with bated breath to see the so called statistics that prove this.
You have much to learn, facts to replace your instinctive presumptions.
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Sorry I started this thread with a simple question about riders in black which from my experience I felt was unwise in todays climate.
I really didn't want it to turn into a war of words.
I really didn't want it to turn into a war of words.
Of which you have provided none. The UCI makes it compulsory to wear helmets and I can't see them doing that if as you say they cause more serious injuries and deaths, So please try and be more responsible before making false statements.
Apologies, but having seen the result of brain injury I would not wish it on anybody so for someone to say helmets cause more deaths and injuries to cyclists is something I find completely irresponsible. Once again apologies for using your thread on clothing.Sorry I started this thread with a simple question about riders in black which from my experience I felt was unwise in todays climate.
I really didn't want it to turn into a war of words.
Bad, bad, bad couldn't disagree more.
We have more than enough Nanny knows best, nit picking, fusspot, control freak laws already.
No apologies necessary.
My initial thoughts were based on the amount of “Johnny Cash” guys I see on bicycles when Hi-Viz is readily available. There have been many opinions and I respect folk for that, however we shall still be wearing yellow vests or jackets depending on the season.
As for headgear, that would go back to my days on motorbikes 1961 onwards when I wore a “pudding basin” before they were compulsory because Mother kicked up a proper stink regarding a possible injury. It was later changed to Agostini colours and I felt fine.
Cycling and eventually e-biking was always to involve some sort of protective headgear but that was a personal choice for us and we respect those who choose not to.
Towards the enforced end to my biking in 1993 after an industrial accident I had been wearing an expensive helmet and I was never tempted to do otherwise.
After and during our war here with Stormont I had a lot of communication from the Head of Roads Policing who had seen us a few times and complimented us on our outfits, so not compulsory but perhaps advisory were her terms.
I've said I will be providing in due course.
I'm speaking of on the roads where the UCI doesn't legislate of course. However your response shows very clearly where your lack of understanding is.
I've made no false statements.
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