Would you? If you could?

**Wolf** · 14th June 2006, 19:15

Originally Posted by Ixion

Felt DECIDEDLY odd! All sort of naked and exposed.

You look suspiciously at cars three blocks away and wonder if they're going to hit you and before you turn across the road you look left then right then left then right then left then right then...

**Ixion** · 14th June 2006, 19:16

No not really. Just kept thinking "there's something wrong here"

**Waylander** · 14th June 2006, 19:41

Hell yea. Hardly used my helmet till I left the states.

Though admitedly the bugs hitting me in the face would get annoying here.

**Wolf** · 14th June 2006, 19:54

Originally Posted by Ixion

No not really. Just kept thinking "there's something wrong here"

Got that feeling the other night when I suited up and rode up the street only to discover I'd left my glasses on the TV set at home.

I also get it when I just throw on jacket, helmet and gloves and go up to the shops - the cool wind over my jeans is a constant reminder I'm half naked.

**trumpy** · 14th June 2006, 19:55

Having to visit 35 yr old patients who dribble constantly, are fed by a tube, pee thru a tube into a bag and have to wear oversize nappies to prevent them shitting on the floor, all for not having worn a bicycle helmet when they should have gives one a little perspective on the possible consequences of bouncing your head on the road at even a low speed.
Never mind the money, it's a sad and tragic waste of what might have been a great life. I love eating great food (check my waistline)

, drinking fine drinks, disposing of the execess into a toilet rather than my pants or bed, conversing with friends, riding my bike, having sex (yes even at my age)

, fooling around with my kids etc, etc. and want to continue to do so for some time yet.
Wear your lid.:

:

**Edbear** · 14th June 2006, 19:59

Originally Posted by emaN

Nope.
Don't knock it 'til you try it. (excuse the pun).

Yes it's dangerous... but it's a wikkid feeling!
Did it whenever i could when we did our US trip; nothing like riding through a Rocky Mountain national park with complete freedom.
Nothing like walking over to yer bike, starting her up & just riding off...

HAd a Bumble Bee whack into my visor at 120k/mh the other week. MAn it sounded and felt like a rock! HAte to think what would have happened if it hit my bare head!

**Edbear** · 14th June 2006, 20:02

Originally Posted by trumpy

(yes even at my age)

Whaddayamean, "Even!"

**Wolf** · 14th June 2006, 20:30

Originally Posted by Edbear

HAd a Bumble Bee whack into my visor at 120k/mh the other week. MAn it sounded and felt like a rock! HAte to think what would have happened if it hit my bare head!

Got a bee between the top of the goggles and the helmet on my bare forehead one time when wearing an open face. I can testify that it's not fun. Its last act was to sting in self defence.

Now I wear full face helmets.

**bobsmith** · 14th June 2006, 20:35

Originally Posted by placidfemme

And a few other reasons... but basically I think its not a good idea (safety wise), but as a few people have mentioned already, it should be choice for some people, not forced on everyone...

Like maybe all learners and restricted license holders should be made to wear them, once you've got your full its your head, your life, your choice...

Completely agreed. I would never go riding without a helmet, but at the end of the day, it's your life and you're responsible for it. It's supposed be a free country anyway. Otherwise hell they might as well make it illegal for people to participate in sports which could be dangerous (i.e. motorsports, etc...)

As for your idea of making it compulsory for learner's and restricted licence holders - well something I never thought about but it sounds like a great idea. Suppose they are deemed not experienced enough to ride bigger bikes, etc, they can have a year or so to decide if they really want to go helmet-less.

Anyhow, I'm glad someone's thinking...

**ZorsT** · 14th June 2006, 20:41

what is the fine for no helmet?

around where i live, i'd go lidless some of the time

**ajturbo** · 14th June 2006, 21:13

there was this one time.....

that i was up MT Egmont, it was the middle of the summer ( after wanganui) and it was HOT, my brother and i were on CX 500's and it was HOT.. so on the trip down the montain road, i decided NOT to ware the helmet... oh it was sooo HOT.. and the cooling wind in my hair was just orgasmic... lol.. but then we got closer to the main rd and i pulled over and put the helmet back on.... turned the very next corner..... and yes there was a revenue colect!!!.. luckly we weren't speeding eh!

luke and i don't use the helmets on the road outside our place when we are popping down the road to do something, but i do make him ware one when he is on th DT..

**Edbear** · 14th June 2006, 21:13

[QUOTE=Wolf]I've aged into a proponent of ATGATT.QUOTE]

Me too!

In the old days before full face helmets became the norm, I used a leather face mask with the goggles. Riding gear was my old forestry work boots and an Army Greatcoat! Should have taken a picture of meself in full riding gear back then! LOL!!!!

**Big Dave** · 14th June 2006, 21:25

It should be my choice - sometimes I wouldn't - mostly I would.
Helmet Laws Suck.

**scumdog** · 14th June 2006, 21:40

Originally Posted by placidfemme

wow, thats a lot of responses...

I personally wouldn't ride my bike without my helmet on for the following reasons:

1. I like my head intact and looking normal (well as normal as possible)
2. Wind in my face will make my eyes water, causing too much danger at any speed above 60kph
3. Wind in my face makes my lips super dry and then they hurt for days afterwards

And a few other reasons... but basically I think its not a good idea (safety wise), but as a few people have mentioned already, it should be choice for some people, not forced on everyone...

Like maybe all learners and restricted license holders should be made to wear them, once you've got your full its your head, your life, your choice...

Most (if not all) STates in the US require 'eye protection' even if not wearing a helmet.

Most guys out on the interstates I saw had big-arsed screens to protect them anyway.

Most freeway/interstates are two lanes each way over there - no traffic crossing the centre of the road and no road debris being flung at you from the other side of the road.

**oldrider** · 14th June 2006, 23:28

I believe in the freedom to choose for my self but I would always choose to wear a helmet when I ride my bike seriously.

I would not wear one to go round the corner to my son in law's house to pump up my tyres. (less than 100 meters minimal traffic)

I do not wear one to ride up my one way street and back in the gate after washing my bike outside the gate on the side of the road.

Any further than that I put on helmet, jacket, gloves and boots minimum protection.(must get some draggin jeans)

I never had any protection gear for years (didn't have to) and I learned every safety lesson the hard way, lost a lot of skin and lost a lot of friends the hard way too.

Fifty two years of riding bikes and having seen most of the harm that we can do to ourselves, I choose to wear the gear but I want it to be my decision not some frigging bureaucrat threatening to take something off me if I don't.

I love the wind in my face too, it's like the freedom you feel when skinny dipping but would you want to feel that freedom in a pool full of alligators?

Old proverb: "Learn from the mistakes of others, we haven't got time to make them all our selves!"

I dedicate my still being alive to all my friends who died teaching me the lessons. I choose to wear safety gear almost without fail. Damn it! Cheers John.

PS: I voted "Yes all the time" there was no other category suitable. (IMHO) (I see a lot of enrolments for the school of hard knocks, good luck!)