HELMETS ARE STUPID.

[BickS2R]

My favorite is still what the girl who always rode on the back of her husbands Hardly told me - "We don't go fast enough that we need helmets." I'm still trying to figure out just how slow that is. I was going ZERO, waiting at a red light, when I was rear-ended.

I may be hard-headed, but without my helmet on, I doubt I would have left that big of a dent in the girls hood.

[Privateer]

I saw something above about self-enforcement in other sports.

So I'm curious, those people who hold leadership or influential positions in your local clubs, do you require minimum gear or minimum licensing requirements on your group rides? Kind of a double edged sword. Requirements means people either won't join, or they'll ride alone without gear anyway. But also means everyone on your rides is theoretically well protected.

Not asking to be a jerk. I personally think if you don't wear a full face helmet you're making a poor judgment. All this "I'm not planning to crash" or "I ride the bike, the bike doesn't ride me" doesn't mean anything when someone blows a red light or cuts across 3 lines of traffic to side swipe you.

But I'm wondering, even at our small level, could we encourage responsible equipment usage that could possibly spread?


regards
andy

[duc_fan]

Originally Posted by Privateer

I saw something above about self-enforcement in other sports.

So I'm curious, those people who hold leadership or influential positions in your local clubs, do you require minimum gear or minimum licensing requirements on your group rides? Kind of a double edged sword. Requirements means people either won't join, or they'll ride alone without gear anyway. But also means everyone on your rides is theoretically well protected.

Not asking to be a jerk. I personally think if you don't wear a full face helmet you're making a poor judgment. All this "I'm not planning to crash" or "I ride the bike, the bike doesn't ride me" doesn't mean anything when someone blows a red light or cuts across 3 lines of traffic to side swipe you.

But I'm wondering, even at our small level, could we encourage responsible equipment usage that could possibly spread?


regards
andy

As krolik stated, Oregon is a compulsory helmet state, so we don't have to make up that rule for ourselves. When I go mountain biking, however, the groups I ride with typically require that everyone wears a bicycle helmet. We don't need any nasty head injuries out in the Cascade wilderness. :-\

[sozo]

When we do rides, everyone has at least helmet, jacket, and gloves. Those who own leathers wear them. We are of the general opinion that NO ONE will ride with us without a lid. We ride pretty hard and we don't want to get anyone hurt and have to pick up the pieces. I have loaned gear to a few. One of these guys, after seeing a chick highside her Buell and get only minor scrapes due to her gear, was fully convinced and went straight away to get a good jacket.
As for the response from odeccut, most of us care enough about our fellow riders to be concerned for their safety. I may not like the Harley or cruiser guys, and the squids tick me off sometimes, but I still care enough to want them to live to be crusty old bikers. If they choose to ignore the warnings, there's nothing I can do about it. Its still important that we make an honest effort to put that information in front of them. Sometimes it takes something some deem graphic (believe me, I've seen far worse) to jar this truth into their consciousness.
JP

[t-byrd new]

Originally Posted by Odeccut

Why is it that we have to be subjected to gross pics? I was having a perfectly good Friday afternoon -- it is a gorgeous day and about an hour from now I will be going on a beautiful 22 mile ride heading home from work... I open a thread that looks interesting and all of the sudden I see a pic of osme poor sap being fed by a spoon.

What is up with all this controversy that revolves around wearing helmets. Do you guys really, really give a flying shiiit whether others wear helmets or not? If you feel wearing a helmet is important then by all means wear one! If you feel that they are stupid and you get no value from them then don't wear one. Why preach to others though? Why gross everyone out with the gory pics? What exactly is the purpose?

I'm sorry I'm really not trying to stir the pot, but how are those pictures gross? Gross would be cracked open skull with the innards laying out. I think these photos are definitely shocking and if shocking is going to change one persons mind about wearing a helmet, then I for one think they are worthy of sharing.

Tanya

[Ducapunch]

Originally Posted by T-byrd

I'm sorry I'm really not trying to stir the pot, but how are those pictures gross? Gross would be cracked open skull with the innards laying out. I think these photos are definitely shocking and if shocking is going to change one persons mind about wearing a helmet, then I for one think they are worthy of sharing.

Tanya

Right on Den Mother, Ignorance is Gross.