Good luck charm/token/thing. Do you carry one when you ride?

**shcabbeh** · 24th June 2007, 23:58

Originally Posted by Oakie

True, but perhaps having something special makes you feel more comfortable and as a result you may ride better because you are more at ease.

On the same coin that comfortable feeling may make it easier to miss hazards and give you a false sense of security.

I would say that if you're dependent on a charm to be comfortable then you're better off not getting attached to one in the first place.

**Trudes** · 25th June 2007, 06:51

And maybe it was given to you by someone who believes it will help to keep you safe, so you wear it for their peace of mind.

**sAsLEX** · 25th June 2007, 07:22

Originally Posted by shcabbeh

I think good luck medallions/charms/whatever are an affront to rational thought and science. But that's just me.

Feeling safe isn't anything like being safe.

Surely your science would also recognise the placebo effect. Give someone something with no healing ability, tell them its magic pixie dust, and they will get better for no reason. Same logic applies here in a way.

**kickingzebra** · 25th June 2007, 07:35

Originally Posted by COP_B8

Photos of my two best mates that passed away under the back seat of my bike, take them for a ride whenever i go and reminds me not to do anything too stupid!

They passed away under the back seat of your bike???

**sAsLEX** · 25th June 2007, 07:44

Originally Posted by kickingzebra

They passed away under the back seat of your bike???

Wouldn't you pass out two inches from his arse?

**ArcherWC** · 25th June 2007, 07:55

Do my magic undies count ???

**Holy Roller** · 25th June 2007, 12:33

I have a blue stuffed toy dinosaur hanging on to my rack he looks out at all those that I pass and sort of waves.
Why?
Dunno
Looks good, and is better than those bells that people hang from their foot pegs IMHO

You can see him in my avatar

**Holy Roller** · 25th June 2007, 12:38

Originally Posted by ArcherWC

Do my magic undies count ???

Only if one believes that they will help to get into the next life....

**shcabbeh** · 25th June 2007, 18:35

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

Surely your science would also recognise the placebo effect. Give someone something with no healing ability, tell them its magic pixie dust, and they will get better for no reason. Same logic applies here in a way.

"My science" sure does recognise the placebo effect, albeit differently. The placebo effect makes people feel better, not get better. There is a difference. Telling someone that they're being cured of cancer by taking a pill does not cure cancer, unfortunately.

Originally Posted by Mrs Kendog

And maybe it was given to you by someone who believes it will help to keep you safe, so you wear it for their peace of mind.

An interesting point that I hadn't considered. On the other side, there are people that believe that you shouldn't be riding at all to keep you safe. I for one would not stop riding to give someone else peace of mind, but again that's just me.

**quallman1234** · 25th June 2007, 18:39

My helmet and gear

**COP_B8** · 25th June 2007, 18:49

Originally Posted by kickingzebra

They passed away under the back seat of your bike???

its amazing how forgetting a comma can make a sentence sound oh so different!

**Hitcher** · 25th June 2007, 19:57

Originally Posted by COP_B8

it's amazing how forgetting a comma can make a sentence sound oh so different!

Indeed, politically incorrect as it may be to say so.

**Skyryder** · 25th June 2007, 20:43

Nope. Came to the conclusion Long ago that the best good luck charm is me.

Skyryder

**sAsLEX** · 25th June 2007, 22:52

Originally Posted by shcabbeh

"My science" sure does recognise the placebo effect, albeit differently. The placebo effect makes people feel better, not get better.

There is a difference. Telling someone that they're being cured of cancer by taking a pill does not cure cancer, unfortunately.

Are you sure about that? The placebo effect has been noted to in some cases be as effective as a proper course of 'pixie dust', ie. actually getting better taking sugar pills.

The human mind is a very strong tool when given the right motivation. Look at Lance Amstrong, no normal person could get to his level even without cancer yet he fought through that, ok he used drugs etc to fight it, but still came out the other side with the will power and detrimination required to win the TDF a few times.