Helmets are a burden, obviously!

**Biff** · 16th December 2005, 11:55

Ok - wearing a helmet will significantly increase your chances of your grey matter not becoming a mass of wobbling jello in the event of an off. That's a fact, and indisputable. But I'm a pro- choice kinda guy. There's nothing nicer than riding around on a warm summers day without wearing a helmet. If I came off and cracked my nut on the road - I'd likely die. But I'd appreciate the opportunity of being allowed to decide whether I was prepared to take such a risk myself.

**Waylander** · 16th December 2005, 12:53

Originally Posted by chris

You may miss the freedom that is being able to wipe your own arse, more, when your carer has to do it for you.

Maybe but doesn't really worry me. I don't ride crazy so the odds of me wrecking are far less. I know it can happen and has happend before but it'snot something I let get in the way of me enjoying my ride. Hell to comit another cardinal sin on this site I will admit here and now that I just spent all morning from 9am till about 30 mins ago riding all over town doing my christmas shopping in tennishoes jeans and a t-shirt. Had my beanie half helmet on aswell.

**CPB** · 16th December 2005, 13:34

Originally Posted by Biff

If I came off and cracked my nut on the road - I'd likely die. But I'd appreciate the opportunity of being allowed to decide whether I was prepared to take such a risk myself.

Yeah, saves on $$$'s too...not as many A+E expenses if you die in the accident...which is why the US gives the option...saves billions in health care every year due to the crashees dying at the scene rather than needing expensive surgery, rehabilitaion etc...

**SPman** · 16th December 2005, 16:43

Originally Posted by Waylander

Maybe but doesn't really worry me. I don't ride crazy so the odds of me wrecking are far less. I know it can happen and has happend before but it'snot something I let get in the way of me enjoying my ride. Hell to comit another cardinal sin on this site I will admit here and now that I just spent all morning from 9am till about 30 mins ago riding all over town doing my christmas shopping in tennishoes jeans and a t-shirt. Had my beanie half helmet on aswell.

WHAT!
TENNISHOES!
JEANS!

why not just shorts and jandals.....FFS, its way cooler..

**Eurodave** · 16th December 2005, 16:44

Originally Posted by CPB

Yeah, saves on $$$'s too...not as many A+E expenses if you die in the accident...which is why the US gives the option...saves billions in health care every year due to the crashees dying at the scene rather than needing expensive surgery, rehabilitaion etc...

Yep, only in America,The Land Of The 'Free'!! were the country is run by the C I A & F B I & the President is a mere puppet!!

**Waylander** · 16th December 2005, 17:03

Originally Posted by SPman

WHAT!
TENNISHOES!
JEANS!

why not just shorts and jandals.....FFS, its way cooler..

I don't own a pair of Jandals and shorts are for swimming.

**Nutter34** · 17th December 2005, 15:43

You're mostly a bunch of pedantic freaks! Yes, a helmet is absolutely the minimum safety gear and I'd probably wear gloves too, since I use my hands for work but to get fully dressed to ride a moped for two k's to the beach or to work or just around the corner to the dairy, I'm sorry, the risk is worth it. If somethings gonna hit me, jeans aint gonna help. As far as gravel rash goes, fallen off enough bicycles at slower to similar speeds to know the risk.

One of the reasons I ride a bike is for the freedom and I'll be buggered if someone tells me to gear up to ride to the shops.
If I'm going out on the Z, I wear the appropriate gear and it's saved my bacon several times.

That said, I live in a dinky little town. If I lived in a city I would probably see things a bit differently.

**Beemer** · 17th December 2005, 16:33

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Absolutely - After minding my P's & Q's and the enthralling repartee at the copilot's health industry Christmas party last night - I'm desperate to talk bikes and bull and continue to point out all the mistakes Eisdaile has made in his life.

At least he knows how to spell his name properly! And remind Mike that the biggest mistake he ever made was making me feel guilty about working for him and not riding a bike - if he hadn't, you would all be safe on the roads now because I wouldn't have bought a bike!

**Big Dave** · 17th December 2005, 16:43

Originally Posted by Beemer

At least he knows how to spell his name properly! And remind Mike that the biggest mistake he ever made was making me feel guilty about working for him and not riding a bike - if he hadn't, you would all be safe on the roads now because I wouldn't have bought a bike!

The do was at his place - very nice it is too. He was hovering around dispensing beer and cheer all afternoon.
Harry, Riley and the boys are still at it. Good shoooow

**Beemer** · 17th December 2005, 17:00

We're about to head off for our bike club's Christmas get together. I can taste the cold beers already! We had our toy run this afternoon and it was so hot we were all melting by the end, despite it mostly being on 100kph roads. I could have murdered a cold beer when we stopped but I figured I'd probably fall asleep on the way home so delayed gratification was the trick!

Must go and pack the chilly bag now!

**Indiana_Jones** · 17th December 2005, 17:37

pfffft maverick doesn't need a helemt lol, jokes

Yea, I'm pretty guilty of not wearing a jacket etc, but no helmet? u gotta be nuts to ride on the road without one

-Indy

**Hailwood** · 18th December 2005, 15:02

Maybe we should adopt the US system....you can choose to wear a helmet if you wish and your insurance company can choose not to insure you if you don't..maybe also ACC and the Health people can choose to charge you for your recovery costs...skin grafts, time spent in hospital, rehab, physio all very expensive...........all a matter of choice

Best one I saw as some nob riding wearing jandals......saw him after he had put his feet down doing about 20kmh..imagine what happens to that rubber bit between your toes when the jandal stops and your foot doesnt...talk about camel toe!!!!!!!!!!!!!! split his foot apart with a tear about 3 inches long...but hey feel free to choose to wear safety gear or not....remember one thing though...the food in hospital is crap and most of the nurses are coyote ugly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Ducman** · 18th December 2005, 19:56

I don't wear leather gear riding my mountain bike around.. more often than not just as fast as I get on my motorcycle when I'm in city traffic. nobody seems to give me a hard time about it though..