mugatu

this was my favorite line

andre nickatina

No brakes is discussion ad nauseum around here.
Same with no helmet.
But as far as no lights, that's just stupid. You're not only endangering yourself if you get hit, you're endangering other cyclists who may not see you. People riding with no lights at night I tend to write off as "newbie".
Knog lights are a hipster item anyway. There's no excuse to go without lights.

dijos

I feel 100% less dorky with my new serfas sl400. 700cp!

schnee

Look at my .sig, then tell me if you want that.

awormiscoming

I think people ride without a helmet because they don't realize how easily they can get hit, and die. It's like driving without a seatbelt, but 50 times worse. I am sure they're also afraid how they'll look, which is an issue all of its own. Riding without lights is a little stupid but definitely the lesser of the three (definitely more than three) evils. I won't get into riding without a brake.

eskachig

That is an amazing analogy, so on the spot it's scary. Riding without a helmet is more fun, though riding without one is great too. Chances are, if you ride without a helmet you'll be just fine, but if you're unlucky you're left with a lot of pain, or potentially permanent consequences. I'm going to use this line on my hipster friends

jgrant75

i get scared ****less riding without lights + its technically a crime i cant afford

god i love the summer

shasta

Wow. That guy looks just like one of my friends. Anyone care to recommend a helmet that feels the least like a condom?

kidtwisty

baseball catcher's helmet
you'd just feel cool

schnee

Haha, that's me.

I have a big bucket-head, so I like Giro helmets. If your head is more oblong, then Bell are good.

If you have mad cash, get an LAS Squalo or a Shain BK100 - they have nice features like bug shields, removable liners, etc.

wroomwroomoops

My cheap ass chinese-made helmet has both removable liners and bug shields. I didn't know those were features of the "mad cash"-heavy cycling helmets. I guess I'm really lucky.

orangepaint

Riding without lights makes me nervous as hell. I don't think it's a wise choice at all. I feel that it's needlessly dangerous.

As for no brakes, it's fun, it's dangerous, I do it. I almost hit a car today because of it. I will continue to run without a brake.

As for the helmet issue, I feel like they are over-rated. Yes, they will save you if you hit your head but only if you hit your head. There are plenty of other ways of getting hurt on a bike aside from hitting your head. I disagree with the statement "it's like driving without a seatbelt". If you wipe out without a helmet, you won't necessarily injure your head, if you're lucky, you may even ride away. If you get in a car accident at any significant speed and aren't wearing a seatbelt, you will most certainly be seriously injured.

save_alkaline

not necessarily.. i know more than 1 person who's lives were saved by NOT wearing a seatbelt.. example, drivers side of the car crushed in. driver was pushed out of the way rather than restrained and absorbing the impact. regardless i still wear my seatbelt, but i'm just saying. it's mixed either way on either subject.

schnee

Brand?

jgrant75

yeah i heard this story about a group of cyclists being hit from behind and the helmet lifted off one guy's head and the straps severed his throat he still lived tho

wroomwroomoops

Child Labour Sweatshop Inc.

J/K, no idea. The thing looks ugly, apparently (I had no idea, my friend told me so), but I look too good already, so I need a little uglifier otherwise chicks wouldn't let me ride.

wroomwroomoops

My brother died in a car accident because he didn't wear a seatbelt. To be honest, he coldn't have - in those days we didn't have seatbelts in the rear seats of cars.

Just to weigh in on the pro-seatbelt side.

ralphm2k

Bungie Jumping with the chord wrapped around your ball bag, nuts?

loser

I catch Chlamydia last month and I still don't were condoms, do you expect me to were a helmet? I think wearing a helmet is a very personnal choice because not wearing one won't put anybody else in danger.

For brakes, I don't want brakes. In winter ( wich last around 5 months of snowy conditions per year here in quebec ) brakes always get stuck and having a front brake is very dangerous on ice beacause if the wheel stops you slide and fall. And I think that in every situations, it's always better to avoid something than to brake.

Lights are very important according to me, most of my clothes are black or dark so I bought a light last year but I find it hard to always start it and stop it every ride. And changing batteries all the time....
Istead I stoled a vest in a city truck, you know those reflective yellow X with orange mesh. I look like an idiot with it but people can see me from all the angles. I think that it's better than having lights.

If i'm gooing to a bar late at night i just put my safety vest on and then at the bar, i'll use it as a party accessory!

Girls always dig safety

spencedonfonix

hairmet!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H7vQDm7xEM

sp00ki

not to derail such an important discussion, but wasn't that guy's first mistake riding on the highway? that is a highway, right?

shasta

Thats my problem but in reverse. Im only marginally decent looking so if my helmet doesn't look cool girls will point and laugh at me from their cars. Thats why I will be going with this guys idea:

I_luv_hooters

Well after the last brake debate thread a week ago, i put my front brake back on. Now already i'm enjoying my bike again like i used to - i ride way faster and go balls out whenever possible because i know i can stop at the light down the street or if a car pulls out. Its funny how removing the brake removes the fun.

I think that since the Knog lights came out and they're in different colors, easy to remove, look cool - having 2 lights is easy and i always do it. Has anyone had one run out of battery yet? I havent.

A personal pet peeve in Seattle is commuter bikers with too many front lights. Many are too bright. These lights shine in everyones eyes and blind you when you ride past them on our main bike path. Its not needed to have a 100 watt spotlight on your bike. I've started yelling at people to point their lights down. I'm sick of it. The helmet mounted lights are obnoxious because if the look at you, you are blinded. Seattle is passive agressive that way and many commuters dont like fixed gear riders so i think its intentional. I'm gonna go off some night.

Zombie Carl

Frog Knogs are ultra sex. I also throw a bright flasher on my belt or bag.

ryansexton

I don't see a point in front lights, personally. Back is crucial, though.