Bike Forums

Bike Forums (https://www.bikeforums.net/forum.php)
-   Commuting (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/)
-   -   I felt a little naked this morning... (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/319213-i-felt-little-naked-morning.html)

1ply 07-10-07 05:26 AM

I felt a little naked this morning...
 
Then I slowly got used to the idea.
















No, it's not what you think. I simply forgot my helmet. I also switched out my pedals for some crappy old flats I had in my bike parts box AND I didn't wear my still sopping wet from yesterdays ride gloves.


But boy I felt free. Free I tell you! The only strange part was when I went to pull up on the pedal at an intersection :) .

The no helmet certainly seemed to help in the wetness department as it's currently 18° (64°F) and 100% humidity. I was traveling at normal speed, no more no less but I was practically dripping.

I think the only thing that I will go back to wearing is the gloves, other than that I'm free!

Makes the bike more of a utilitarian thing, just get on and go. No putting on special equipment to run down to the store...

I will switch pedals again when (if?) I go for my longer rides, but for day to day commuting... free I tell ya!

jeff-o 07-10-07 05:46 AM

You should look into pedals that are flat on one side, and clipless on the other. Best of both worlds.

doraemonkey 07-10-07 05:54 AM

I would say boo on forgetting the helmet, but it has happened to me. As for making a conscient choice, it really depends on the kind of riding that you are going to do, and the risks that you accept and assume. I wouln't go to work with out a helmet, but I cruise close to motor vehicle speeds. However, on a FTWS (Faster Than Walking Speed) bike to go to the corner market, I would agree that a helmet isn't needed all the time.

So for me the rule is generally: Helmet and clipless for "playing in traffic" and platforms and whatever I am wearing for FTWS.

Hah, you Canadiens, 18˚C, and you call that a heat wave?

1ply 07-10-07 06:09 AM


Originally Posted by doraemonkey

So for me the rule is generally: Helmet and clipless for "playing in traffic" and platforms and whatever I am wearing for FTWS.

Hah, you Canadiens, 18˚C, and you call that a heat wave?

I feel safer not being clipped in while playing in traffic :)

and like they say around here, "it's not the heat, it's the humidity".

you can stand still and break a sweat. No complaints though I'm still feeling great after this morning's ride! :D

JonathanGennick 07-10-07 06:26 AM


Originally Posted by jeff-o
You should look into pedals that are flat on one side, and clipless on the other. Best of both worlds.

Those type of pedals are horrible. Wrong side is always up. I can deal with 'em, but I don't keep them on any of my own bikes.

rhm 07-10-07 06:29 AM

It's happened to me more times than I can count... I hop on my bike and head for the train station and after a while get to thinking, why do I feel so different today? Then I notice I keep turning my eyes and looking up at the sky just to the left of the road... and not finding my helmet mirror, I reach up to adjust it... and... ah, there's the problem: no helmet. So I go back and get it. This stunt has made me miss the train a couple of times, but I just won't ride in the city without a helmet.

I almost always wear a helmet. You only need a helmet when you crash, and in fact I have never damaged a helmet (or my head) in a crash, so arguably all the money I have spent on helmets since 1978 has been wasted. Oh, well! It's not the only money I've wasted.

I-Like-To-Bike 07-10-07 06:33 AM


Originally Posted by 1ply
I simply forgot my helmet. I also switched out my pedals for some crappy old flats I had in my bike parts box AND I didn't wear my still sopping wet from yesterdays ride gloves.


But boy I felt free. Free I tell you! ... free I tell ya!

And you lived to tell the tale? Amazing!
Ya ain't telling me nuthin' new, also wouldn't be any newsflash to almost all bike commuters in the world where English is not the official language.

Severian 07-10-07 06:33 AM


Originally Posted by JonathanGennick
Those type of pedals are horrible. Wrong side is always up. I can deal with 'em, but I don't keep them on any of my own bikes.


Then do what I did and shell out for Crank Bros. Mallets. They are so loverly. I can get on my bike if I'm wearing combat boots if I want to. But when I want to haul ass they have their clip.

legot73 07-10-07 06:35 AM

I ordered these yesterday from Nashbar's free shipping sale to turn my commuter bikes into 'corner store' bikes on a whim.

I've had a few "naked" days here and there. It is a bit liberating, especially in high humidity.

DataJunkie 07-10-07 07:04 AM

I prefer to ride without pants but the police seem to find it annoying.

I have not been wearing my helmet on the weekends for what it is worth.

Banzai 07-10-07 07:23 AM

I've done that before...been one mile or so into the trip, enjoying the feeling of the breeze in my hair...

...wait a second, breeze in my hair? Frak! Forgot my helmet!

Didn't Ken Kifer get killed by head trauma after being struck by a drunk driver? He was a "no helmet advocate" as well.

fender1 07-10-07 07:23 AM

I got rid of my clipless pedals recently and am riding on MKS plaforms. Wow! No knee pain or sore spots on my feet! De-Evolution baby! (Still wearing a helmet:D )

Banzai 07-10-07 07:26 AM


Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
And you lived to tell the tale? Amazing!
Ya ain't telling me nuthin' new, also wouldn't be any newsflash to almost all bike commuters in the world where English is not the official language.

I would surmise that many of those commuters also live in areas where a lack of resources/funds prompt them to do without a great many things.

Though I'm certain you emulate them on all those counts, from food to lifestyle to choice of bicycle, and you haven't simply "cherry picked" an example from people who may possibly wish they had a nice helmet.

Az B 07-10-07 07:29 AM


Originally Posted by jeff-o
You should look into pedals that are flat on one side, and clipless on the other. Best of both worlds.

You mean worst of both worlds. Pick one and run with it.

Az

Longfemur 07-10-07 07:30 AM

This is kind of the same as the people who don't buckle up the seat belt because they are only driving a few blocks.

If it's not far enough to get ready, I just walk. Walking is good too.

QUOTE Hah, you Canadiens, 18˚C, and you call that a heat wave? UNQUOTE

No, I call that kind of cool for the middle of summer, unless you're near the ocean or the Arctic Circle. It was about 35 C when I rode yesterday afternoon.

jimmuter 07-10-07 07:34 AM


Originally Posted by JonathanGennick
Those type of pedals are horrible. Wrong side is always up. I can deal with 'em, but I don't keep them on any of my own bikes.

I have those types of pedals on my bikes and love them. If they're on the wrong side, simply slightly lift foot and they will flip.

ax0n 07-10-07 07:44 AM

Dress for the wreck, not the ride! To each their own, though, I suppose.

swwhite 07-10-07 07:53 AM

A recent collision between my index finger and an ax has sensitized me to the concept of the "error chain," a collection of events that don't seem significant in isolation, but come together at a bad time to cause some major problem. Therefore, I personally always wear a helmet.

1ply 07-10-07 08:04 AM


Originally Posted by Longfemur

No, I call that kind of cool for the middle of summer, unless you're near the ocean or the Arctic Circle. It was about 35 C when I rode yesterday afternoon.

Yesterday apparently it was about 32ish on my way back. I didn't notice though because someone was pouring buckets of water at me from above.

I did get splashed quite heavily on the legs by a passing truck, and boy it felt nice, like someone throwing some water from a nice warm shower at you. I arrived home soaked (I was dripping wet in the first minute) but with a smile on my face :D

The reason I switched pedals is because my shoes are still wet. They're like big sponges, absorbing all water thrown at them, and there was a lot of that yesterday. Great ride!

mlh122 07-10-07 08:04 AM

riding without a helmet to me feels like flying in a plane without your seatbelt on. Most likely nothing will happen, if something does, the safety device might save your life, but really you're probably toast anyway. I have a tendency to hit my head when I wreck, but I've only wrecked twice in 4 years. My wife says fat heads run in my family and it makes me top-heavy :rolleyes:

CliftonGK1 07-10-07 09:10 AM

I've been thinking a lot about what I'm going to do with my current commuter when I can afford a new one, and the decision is pretty much nailed down to townie errand runner s/s conversion; so I'll be going the platform/SPD combo pedal route, too. They just seem like a good choice for a bike that I'll be using mostly as a grocery getter.

When I run errands on my bike, it's pretty rare that I wear a helmet or gloves. I'm usually going less than 2 miles, and there's no need to get all kitted up just to go a little over a kilometer r/t for 1 or 2 things at the grocery.

I forgot my gloves on a 30 miler this weekend, and by mile 15 I was definitely uncomfortable. By the end of the ride, I was numb so it didn't matter any more. I never realized how much benefit I get from my $7 "Sale Bin" specials!

Longfemur 07-10-07 09:27 AM


Yesterday apparently it was about 32ish on my way back. I didn't notice though because someone was pouring buckets of water at me from above.

I did get splashed quite heavily on the legs by a passing truck, and boy it felt nice, like someone throwing some water from a nice warm shower at you. I arrived home soaked (I was dripping wet in the first minute) but with a smile on my face
I was sitting taking a break at the Central Experimental Farm yesterday when it looked like a thunderstorm was getting close. The raindrops were starting to fall, but I managed to outrun it home. I don't know about Kitchener, but it's pretty hard to beat the Ottawa Valley in summer as far as heat and extremely heavy, pollen-laden humidity goes (and that's not counting the often-unreported, constant city smog if in the city itself).


The reason I switched pedals is because my shoes are still wet. They're like big sponges, absorbing all water thrown at them, and there was a lot of that yesterday. Great ride!
I can see doing that. In fact, I originally had the Shimano pedals that are SPD on one side and regular pedal on the other on my current bike. I actually like those. But, since I wear Shimano sandals practically for all my summer riding, I prefer the double-sided Shimano SPDs. If I went off on a long tour, I would probably put the SPD/regular pedals back on, so that I could easily cycle with ordinary shoes or sandals at times. Sometimes though, I think I would be perfectly satisfied with some MKS pedals and those plastic half-toe clips without straps.

oboeguy 07-10-07 09:30 AM

The "only a short ride" mentality is a pretty @#$%ing stupid cop-out, IMO. Six ten minute rides is still an hour on the bike, after all. Go ahead, don't put on a helmet, it's your head, but don't think you're fooling anyone other than yourself with that sort of nonsense rationalization.

DataJunkie 07-10-07 09:40 AM

Then I am pretty @#$%ing stupid. Poor little old me.... just jumps on the beater bike to ride down to Safeway all of a 1/4 of a mile away. I really must dress appropriately at all times.

ralph12 07-10-07 09:49 AM

I find I wear a helmet less often these days...I do feel a little less Fredly now, though that I've gotten rid of my old plastic pedals and got rat cages. I know quill pedals are Fredly too, but they can't possibly be as much as the plastic resin ones that my LBS includes with the bikes.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:50 PM.


Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.