Southern California - Some help from some SoCal women

My daughter is 24, lives in L.A., and is thinking about taking up cycling. I advised her to get a used bike and see how she likes it before spending lots of moola on a really good bike. She's in good shape and wants some sort of road bike. Any advice from the women here? (And Ovoleg this does NOT mean you!)

Also, she's not inclined to wear a helmet. Can you think of any way to persuade her to wear one?

Read the GMR Crash thread to her! When JPConrad recovers, a conference call is in order!

Read the GMR Crash thread to her! When JPConrad recovers, a conference call is in order!

Beanz, did you see the title of the thread...
( notice how the first two post are not from women) :)

I saw "women" in the title and hopped right in.

Mr Beanz -- thanks for telling me about that thread -- I read it yesterday, but forgot about it. I sent her the link.

Beanz, did you see the title of the thread...
( notice how the first two post are not from women) :)


Hey, I'm in touch with my feminine side!:D

Yeah, read it all young lady (Chaco's girl)......I thought of going with a helmet one time. Something changed my mind though. Turns out that was the one time I crashed hard. Cracked my helmet from back to front on a 24 mph endo onto hard pack red clay. Did I mention hard!:o

I remember the beginning, the second I started to go over the bars, then in a flash on my back listening to my mtb tumble down the trail. The seconds inbetween are a mystery!:p.....I keep the helmet as a reminder!

My daughter is 24, lives in L.A., and is thinking about taking up cycling. I advised her to get a used bike and see how she likes it before spending lots of moola on a really good bike. She's in good shape and wants some sort of road bike. Any advice from the women here? (And Ovoleg this does NOT mean you!)

Also, she's not inclined to wear a helmet. Can you think of any way to persuade her to wear one?

Do not let her get a bike if she won't wear a helmet. I understand she's an adult and all, but whatever. If she gets one and still won't wear a helmet then go and steal the chain,

Do not let her get a bike if she won't wear a helmet. I understand she's an adult and all, but whatever. If she gets one and still won't wear a helmet then go and steal the chain,

I sold my wifes bike...she refused to wear a helmet...

My daughter is 24, lives in L.A., and is thinking about taking up cycling. I advised her to get a used bike and see how she likes it before spending lots of moola on a really good bike. She's in good shape and wants some sort of road bike. Any advice from the women here? (And Ovoleg this does NOT mean you!)

Also, she's not inclined to wear a helmet. Can you think of any way to persuade her to wear one?

Chaco,

First of all - I think it's fantastic that your daughter is picking up cycling. Once she gets a bike, I wholly recommend that she stop by the Bicycle Kitchen (or equivalent) and learn how to maintain the bicycle her self. Also, she might want to consider joining in on women-specific rides such as GOGA (http://gogabikeride.blogspot.com/) that are really great in getting the strength of women cyclists (and association) together.

In terms of a helmet - I'll use something that an ex girlfriend once told me as I was getting her started as a cyclist. These three quotes are in her own words, so reinterpret to your own whim:

"My father called me up the other day, he talked finances. Do you know how much money has been invested into my brain? It's my most valuable asset, my largest capital, and the most important thing that I own and have invested so much time and effort into. I'm wearing a helmet"

"I love you. I love all of you. Your brain is very expensive, and if you were a vegetable you'd have nothing. You wouldn't be able to do the voodoo that you do so well. I'm very glad you wear a helmet."

(the second came on a recap of a ride we had earlier that day where I was distracted by the elation on her face and ended up doing an 'endo' when my front wheel got caught in a grate)

Hope that helps.

I saw an old lady laid out on the trail once. Her and the oldguy were riding at a birdwatching speed. She must have seen a bird that excited her cause not long after she was on the ground paramedics and all. Doesn't matter how slow you think you will be riding, stuff happens and you need a helmet.

BTW, I have a friend that cycles 50 miles, pulls off the helmet and the hair is still perfect. Maybe she's one of the lucky ones. I don't know how he does it!:D


Have her buy a used bike but make sure it's a good frame and the rear spacing is wide enough to put on new components. That way she can upgrade if she gets even semi serious.

A good friend of my family went out riding with her three children on their new bikes on Christmas day and lost control of her bike and hit her head on a pole. All the children were wearing helmets, but she was not. She died 3 hours later in surgery. When adults choose not to wear a helmet because they think it's not cool, then they should at least wear one for those who would be left behind.

I agree with those who stated that she should develop an interest in helmets before an interest in cycling, otherwise she shouldn't be on the bike.

Have her buy a used bike but make sure it's a good frame and the rear spacing is wide enough to put on new components. That way she can upgrade if she gets even semi serious.
Most old steel frames are 126mm OLD, easily flexed to 130mm. Not a huge concern.

You guys are right. I just sent her an email telling her I wouldn't help her find a bike unless she promised me she would wear a helmet every time she rode.

There's no use trying to strong arm a person into wearing a helmet. Just tell her what you have to tell her and hope she makes the right decision. Ask her to make a helmet pro/con sheet,

There's no use trying to strong arm a person into wearing a helmet. Just tell her what you have to tell her and hope she makes the right decision. Ask her to make a helmet pro/con sheet,

Right, but if she makes the wrong decision you should still steal her chain.

have her slam her head into a brick wall.

ask her if it hurt.

tell her to multiply by 1000...that is what it will feel like without a helmet...IF she feels it, if you know what i mean.

you can print the thread responses and show it to her.

You can use my story too. When I was about eight I lost control of my bicycle going down a hill and hit one of the old fashioned ribbed metal light poles. Cracked/crushed my helmet badly in the front and I still have a quarter inch deep gouge in my cheekbone you can still feel some 13 years later from where it fractured. Saved my life and I always wear a helmet because of it. It just takes one time.

I crashed Sunday and ended up with a cracked helmet and some minor bleeding on the brain. All who were around figured I would have been killed if I didn't have a helmet on.

Also, she's not inclined to wear a helmet. Can you think of any way to persuade her to wear one?

I crashed a couple of years ago when my wheel hit a rut. I was down so fast, no time to put a toe down. I wasn't going very fast, only about 14 mph. There are 6-1/2 hours that are gone from that day. I don't remember the ride nor what happened the following 6-12/ hours. I was told I didn't remember very much when they questioned me, e.g., where I worked nor my husband's phone numbers. They got me to ER. I was incoherent during those hours and they were concerned about how deep my memory loss was. I started to realize where I was around 2:30 that afternoon and started to remember things like my husband's phone numbers so they could call him. It is really scary to think that I was basically a vegetable during those hours ... I still can't remember anything about the accident. If I didn't have a helmet on I shudder to think what I'd be like now, if alive at all. Wearing a helmet is an "always rule." It's not negotiable.
Christy

How tall is she? I'm 5'4 and have two bikes. My cyclocross bike has been used once. I'd be willing to let her borrow it for a few rides to see if she likes it. She can't keep it though :p

Cheers

Rob

Rob - she's about 5'5. I'll ask her if she'd like to do something like that. If she does, I'll pm you. Thanks!

I crashed a couple of years ago when my wheel hit a rut. I was down so fast, no time to put a toe down. I wasn't going very fast, only about 14 mph. There are 6-1/2 hours that are gone from that day. I don't remember the ride nor what happened the following 6-12/ hours. I was told I didn't remember very much when they questioned me, e.g., where I worked nor my husband's phone numbers. They got me to ER. I was incoherent during those hours and they were concerned about how deep my memory loss was. I started to realize where I was around 2:30 that afternoon and started to remember things like my husband's phone numbers so they could call him. It is really scary to think that I was basically a vegetable during those hours ... I still can't remember anything about the accident. If I didn't have a helmet on I shudder to think what I'd be like now, if alive at all. Wearing a helmet is an "always rule." It's not negotiable.
Christy

Thanks, Christy. I copied your story and sent it to my daughter.

I wish I had kept my used helmets as examples, but I have put 3 helmets to good use now.

1) Under 5 mph when my chain fell off and got caught in the spokes. It stopped me so quickly I couldn't react and lurched forward and over, hitting the side of my helmet and cracking the foam straight through.

2) While mountainbiking, I panicked and locked up my brakes down a short hill. I went over the bars and landed in a bunch of rocks, injuring my thigh, ripping the sole off my shoe (didn't clip out), cracking a couple ribs, scraping my knee, and poking a hole in the top of my helmet.

3) While riding at a casual pace, my front rim failed and sent me flying over the bars resulting in a little road rash and a rather dented helmet.

Not once did I sustain a head injury of any sort, but I imagine any of them would have hospitalized me had I not been wearing a helmet. None of them were at high speeds or doing anything wild, either!

Oh, and yah keep her away from Ovoleg :D but she might want to do an SFVBC #1 or #2 ride with those social women if it's not too slow for her.

Oh, and yah keep her away from Ovoleg :D but she might want to do an SFVBC #1 or #2 ride with those social women if it's not too slow for her.

LOL, that's #1 on my list!

As I mentioned before, she's not the type to go out there and volunteer to get her bucked of asphalt and fill in potholes in the street by herself, so Ovoleg probably wouldn't like her anyway. :D

Hate to be one of those 'me, too' people, but here it is...have only seriously crashed once. Was following my buddy down a windy road, with the third guy of the group behind me. Left turn, blind, and I panicked. Slammed on the brakes, locking the rear. Let go of the brake after I went straight, now on the gravel shoulder, and heading straight into a burm. The front wheel dug in the dirt, I went down on my side and shoulder, and slid. Last look down on the bike computer showed 45 mph...
The first guy continued on, didn't know what had happened behind him. The last guy stopped to make sure I was still alive--his words later were "wow, that looked really scary and bad" (he was a fighter pilot). I didn't break anything, just cracked a few ribs, and scraped a lot of skin on my right side (enough to get a really funny response from the X-ray tech later in the day). While laying there on the side of the street, my buddy kept asking me if I remembered who, what, where I was...
I later found out that I had hit my head. Don't remember doing it...I just remember that when I unstrapped my helmet, it was in 3-4 chunks. The internal webbing was still there (barely), but the helmet was obviously toast.
Bottom line: you buy a helmet and wear it EVERY TIME! It's the cheapest insurance you wish you NEVER have to use. Even if you end up looking like the goofiest nerd with it, it beats being dead...

LOL, that's #1 on my list!

Keeping her away from Ovoleg, or trying the SFVBC rides? :D

Keeping her away from Ovoleg, or trying the SFVBC rides? :D

Well, if she refuses to wear a helmet, I'd say they're both about equally dangerous. ;)

Thanks, Christy. I copied your story and sent it to my daughter.

I hope it helps :) Tell her if she doesn't want to think about herself and her own safety, think about what her actions will do to her family. It's not fair to all of you to pay for her lack of responsibility. I know I sound hard, but for obvious reasons. Good luck!