Eastern Canada - 2009 Toronto Becel Ride for Heart

It appears that the safety nannies have taken over the Becel Ride for Heart.

Helmets are now mandatory if you wish to participate.

I for one, will no longer be taking part. My wife and myself have done this several times in the past and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Alas, no more. We don't even own a single helmet between the two of us!

I'm willing to bet that attendance will be down this year. What a shame.

From the Ride for Heart FAQ's:

"Why do I have to wear a bike helmet?"

"The safety of all Becel Heart&Stroke Ride for Heart participants is of paramount importance to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. Our goal is to ensure all participants enjoy a spectacular, safe and memorable event experience. As our participant numbers increase, so must our efforts to ensure their safety. We therefore kindly ask that you please do your part in helping us to make our goal a reality by adhering to our new mandatory helmet policy."

I gotta be honest, I was astonished that it took them this long.

Particularly given the amount of people that go down every year, including the road riders in the lead group last year (seriously WTF?!)

So... are vintage 70s leather hairnets, in or out? What about hockey helmets with face-cages?

I'm willing to bet that attendance will be down this year. What a shame.

From the Ride for Heart FAQ's:

"Why do I have to wear a bike helmet?"

"The safety of all Becel Heart&Stroke Ride for Heart participants is of paramount importance to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. Our goal is to ensure all participants enjoy a spectacular, safe and memorable event experience. As our participant numbers increase, so must our efforts to ensure their safety. We therefore kindly ask that you please do your part in helping us to make our goal a reality by adhering to our new mandatory helmet policy."[/quote]



Highly unlikely.

The ride is huge -- if you chose not to ride because they won't let you ride without a helmet, that's just fine. I'm sure there will be enough people to take your place.

"The ride is huge -- if you chose not to ride because they won't let you ride without a helmet, that's just fine. I'm sure there will be enough people to take your place."

Yes, never underestimate the complacency of the sheeple to do what they're told is best for them.

As for riders going down, you'd have to be pretty incompetent or reckless to crash on the Don Valley Parkway. When we rode it last year, the pavement was amazing.

Even my 10 yr. old granddaughter didn't crash.

IMHO helmets are a good idea. Last year there was at least one nasty accident on the southbound stretch of the route... I saw a bloodied and unconscious lady cyclist being attended to by paramedics.

I have an extra helmet or two you can borrow.

"The ride is huge -- if you chose not to ride because they won't let you ride without a helmet, that's just fine. I'm sure there will be enough people to take your place."

Yes, never underestimate the complacency of the sheeple to do what they're told is best for them.

As for riders going down, you'd have to be pretty incompetent or reckless to crash on the Don Valley Parkway. When we rode it last year, the pavement was amazing.

Even my 10 yr. old granddaughter didn't crash.

Thats exactly why they require helmets.

And did she wear a helmet?

You can be certain it had more to do with them obtaining insurance for the event. I doubt they are doing it to become "safety nannies".

I've seen some nasty crashes on the RfH -- usually inexperienced riders veering to one side as some racer boy was coming up.

Choice is yours. Seems you are choosing not to ride.

Choice is yours. Seems you are choosing not to ride.

End of thread right there.