Hyper Squid

**The Lone Rider** · 4th August 2007, 22:48

Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat

Looks like she's having fun. I really don't like helmets. Twice, by accident I've got to the end of the street and realised I forgot to put my helmet on. What a feeling! Just riding up a suburban street makes you feel like a space cowboy. Good thing I live in a quiet area, though

I know it's selfish to the ambulance chaps and your family etc, but biking's a risky thing anyway. We shouldn't get so outraged when somebody isn't wearing all the gear.

That being said, you'll very rarely catch me outside of full cordura, gloves and helmet.

I think in NZ bikers put a very high emphasis on good gear. When I've been overseas it doesn't seem to be so common. Last time when I went to Brisbane and rode around for a bit, I was initially shocked at the lack of gear. Jandals, even. However they've got nice (often boring) wide flat roads, sparse traffic, courteous drivers who mostly look... the risk at least feels much lower. Perhaps in the US it's similar. I don't think in NZ we can afford to be quite so lax.

US has many long straight roads. I would often see miles and miles of bikers in a row during the summer taking it to the highways.

In NZ I only wear what I have to. Helmet, and if it's cold on go the leathers to keep warm. Summer its tshirt and jeans baby...