remembering to forget my helmet...
03-17-09 | 07:53 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Mostly Harmless
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 297
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From: COLORADO
remembering to forget my helmet...
Earlier today:
I pull on my balaclava and am about to strap on my helmet...I don't have my wallet. I run inside and grab it. Jump on my bike. Ride away.
I notice something feels different.... something feels better. I am not wearing an ill-fitting chunk of styrofoam on my head!
It felt really good. I might remember to forget again tomorrow.
I pull on my balaclava and am about to strap on my helmet...I don't have my wallet. I run inside and grab it. Jump on my bike. Ride away.
I notice something feels different.... something feels better. I am not wearing an ill-fitting chunk of styrofoam on my head!
It felt really good. I might remember to forget again tomorrow.
03-17-09 | 08:14 PM
#4
Infamous Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 24,360
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From: Ohio
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
I been forgetting mine for decades. I forget my head sometimes too...man does that feel good! 
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
03-17-09 | 08:30 PM
#5
Banned.
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
I just started doing long distance cycling and always wear the typical lycra/tight shirt/fancy aerodynamic helmet. Yesterday I went on an 84 mile round trip wearing my jeans, a wife beater, and my stunna shades and no helmet or gloves. I have to admit, I liked it a lot better. And the jeans weren't bothersome at all.
03-17-09 | 10:02 PM
#7
Two H's!!! TWO!!!!!
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 12
From: Toronto, ON
OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, SAFETY NANNY RED ALERT!
Actually, though I'm adamantly against mandatory helmet laws and often "forget" my own helmet too, I rarely feel discomfort when riding with a helmet on. In fact, most of the time I don't even know it's on: sometimes I touch my head to know whether I forgot it on that ride or not.
Now, the helmet before my current one was rather ill-fitting, and wearing it really was annoying. So I'm not trying to get you to wear a helmet; just saying that if you do want to wear one, you should be able to find one that fits so well you don't even notice it's there.
The only time my own helmet feels uncomfortable is during extreme summer heat when I feel my brain melting under the styrofoam. I don't know who invented this myth that modern helmets actually cool your head as you ride - it's definitely false. Might be true for those 200-dollar made-completely-out-of-holes racer lids, but I'm not paying that kind of money for a helmet. However, if you had to wear a balaclava on that day, I suppose extreme heat wasn't an issue for you.
Actually, though I'm adamantly against mandatory helmet laws and often "forget" my own helmet too, I rarely feel discomfort when riding with a helmet on. In fact, most of the time I don't even know it's on: sometimes I touch my head to know whether I forgot it on that ride or not.
Now, the helmet before my current one was rather ill-fitting, and wearing it really was annoying. So I'm not trying to get you to wear a helmet; just saying that if you do want to wear one, you should be able to find one that fits so well you don't even notice it's there.The only time my own helmet feels uncomfortable is during extreme summer heat when I feel my brain melting under the styrofoam. I don't know who invented this myth that modern helmets actually cool your head as you ride - it's definitely false. Might be true for those 200-dollar made-completely-out-of-holes racer lids, but I'm not paying that kind of money for a helmet. However, if you had to wear a balaclava on that day, I suppose extreme heat wasn't an issue for you.
03-18-09 | 11:23 AM
#11
Infamous Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 24,360
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From: Ohio
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
Dammit, today I remembered my helmet and forgot my bike!
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
03-18-09 | 06:06 PM
#12
Crankenstein
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,037
Likes: 3
From: Spokane
Bikes: Novara Randonee (TankerBelle)
Oooo... I absolutely -HATE- when that happens!
__________________
"There is no greater wonder than the way the face and character of a woman fit so perfectly in a man's mind, and stay there, and he could never tell you why. It just seems it was the thing he most wanted." Robert Louis Stevenson
"There is no greater wonder than the way the face and character of a woman fit so perfectly in a man's mind, and stay there, and he could never tell you why. It just seems it was the thing he most wanted." Robert Louis Stevenson
03-18-09 | 06:07 PM
#13
Infamous Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 24,360
Likes: 6
From: Ohio
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
You shoulda seen the looks from the other peds when I signalled my turns!
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
03-18-09 | 06:13 PM
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,874
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From: Far, Far Northern California
Bikes: 1997 Specialized M2Pro
Interesting that Natasha Richardson died after falling and hitting her head on the bunny slope. I guess you don't have to hit it very hard.
03-18-09 | 06:28 PM
#15
I would forget mine more often but one of my lights is a helmet light. I would miss 400 of my 1200 lumens. Before the helmet light I used to occasionally forget my helmet.
03-18-09 | 06:44 PM
#19
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,421
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From: Out there, on my bike
Since I bumped my helmeted head real hard on a crash five years ago--so hard I had to get a helicopter ride out-- I'm not supposed to bump it again, so I wear my helmet. I've spent my gray matter capital down a bit, and once you do, you can't really make up the loss.
03-18-09 | 06:50 PM
#20
cyclepath
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,550
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From: "The Last Best Place"
Bikes: 2005 Trek Pilot 5.0, 2001 Specialized Sirrus Pro, Kona Lava Dome, Raleigh hardtail converted to commuter, 87 Takara steel road bike, 2008 Trek Soho
I use a helmet light too but have been thinking about getting one of those headbands that serve as a flashlight holder. I got a link to those somewhere.
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03-18-09 | 07:30 PM
#21
Infamous Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 24,360
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From: Ohio
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
03-18-09 | 07:41 PM
#23
Infamous Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 24,360
Likes: 6
From: Ohio
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
This is probably the most light-hearted, non-serious helmet thread in a while...even with the occasional serious party pooper. 
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
03-18-09 | 07:52 PM
#25
Thread Starter
Mostly Harmless
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
From: COLORADO
I have actually split a MTB helmet....crashing on the highway.
At night. I was doing a safety cone slalom.
Apparently the cones were warning me away from som sort of hazard..... whatever it was caused the Mother Of All Endos.
The crash also destroyed my rigid fork, front wheel, my cool Scott areo/trekking bars and pair of eyeglasses.
Live and learn. I reckon I should avoid the Nocturnal Highway Slalom.
At night. I was doing a safety cone slalom.
Apparently the cones were warning me away from som sort of hazard..... whatever it was caused the Mother Of All Endos.
The crash also destroyed my rigid fork, front wheel, my cool Scott areo/trekking bars and pair of eyeglasses.
Live and learn. I reckon I should avoid the Nocturnal Highway Slalom.
