To wear or not to wear, that is the question!

[Alison]

Before I ride I do a risk assessment using my noodle and common on the likelihood of me belting my swede or something belting into my swede, MTB always, popping out nah, fast (Pah! as if) road riding sometimes.

Riding, lycra clad, helmet gloves and spuds, the cycling equivalent of the lad in a souped up Impreza, it looks like you're out for sport.
It always annoys me, especially with US cyclists I hear on shows or Podcasts when they say we just want to be safe to practice our sport, the public roads are not for sport.

I know a few folks who've been knocked off, they've always been road riding in all the gear.

I believe if you're in normal clothes, no helmet then you will be looked upon differently by other road users, they see you, likewise if you're riding in all the gear you're probably paying more attention to your riding than to other road users.

My hubby does all his road riding in full Impreza gear, even though he is just going to work, he finds it really comfortable to use proper cycling kit, warm in winter, cool and wicking in summer and keeps his botty from discomfort on the saddle, I used to too for longer distances as it's a totally different experience from jeans and top. He has never yet been knocked off in 14 years (touch wood), just fallen off on the lane when it was frosty :roll:

Alison

 

[NeilM]

My hubby does all his road riding in full Impreza gear, even though he is just going to work, he finds it really comfortable to use proper cycling kit, warm in winter, cool and wicking in summer and keeps his botty from discomfort on the saddle, I used to too for longer distances as it's a totally different experience from jeans and top. He has never yet been knocked off in 14 years (touch wood), just fallen off on the lane when it was frosty :roll:

Alison

Great reply Alison, I have typed and deleted my reply several times, as I prefer not to offend other forum members.

 

[Ian Raleigh]

I believe if you're in normal clothes, no helmet then you will be looked upon differently by other road users, they see you, likewise if you're riding in all the gear you're probably paying more attention to your riding than to other road users.

How on earth if you are riding in all the gear got to do with paying more attention on the roads! I see many idiot riders wearing all the gear and blow straight through lights without any consideration to other road users & pedestrians, If you are a crazy person then no matter what you wear, will change this, for instance there is a guy local to me and rides a MTB, wears all the gear and uses a knackered helmet! The helmet is not knackered due to a crash, but he has cut two big holes around the helmet so he can carry on wearing his massive red Dr Beats headphones, insane or what.


Been riding on road bikes since 1979 and not until 1991 that I was hit from behind whilst on my way to work and left for dead by this asshole driver who didn't give a rats ass about my life, he was going that fast there is no way he could have looked to see if I'm wearing the correct gear, then in 2012 and idiot went by me and broad sided me and drove off, He then came back after he realised I had damaged his car but then he pleaded guilty and he was at fault, There was my recent incident which could have been avoided if the car had waited and passed by safely, I've always dressed in the correct gear and always concious as to what is behind and passing me, I think many drivers respect the cyclist but its the ones who see us as 'tax dodgers no matter what we wear! oh I don't wear an helmet so maybe I should as this will be the cure but very much doubt it. There is a guy in London who was so sick of being endangered by motorists that he now wears a blonde wig and drivers think he is a she so overtakes her/him cautiously.

 

[stewlewis]

Re:

I was making the point the all the gear cyclists, such as a club run, will have a lot of concentration on the riding itself.

Drivers will see them differently too as compared to a bicycle rider.

This conversation has been done to death never coming to a conclusion.

Helmets, wear one if you want too, its your choice.
But don't moan if you crack ya dome.

 

[cycletothesea]

Helmets, wear one if you want too, its your choice.
But don't moan if you crack ya dome.

Well, there's the point: That's called free will and taking personal responsibility for your own actions. This ethic is destroyed, however, by the type who sue McDonalds when they spill hot coffee in their lap or Councils who try to legislate all risk out of life. I don't wear a helmet, but would rather die than sue the authorities for not forcing me too!

 

[highlandsflyer]

We shall see how that principal shines were you to wind up with a scalded penis.

 

[legrandefromage]

If you look at news reports from other countries, the cyclists in the background are all in 'normal' clothes and no helmets. Here, its hi-viz, helmets and just about everything else you can be fooled into buying. cycling is supposed to be fun, not a health & safety hazard.

 

[Ian Raleigh]

Holland/Netherlands is a classic example were the cyclist lives in perfect harmony together with the motorist and hardly an helmet or bright coloured jackets be seen, vehicle/cycle crash's are just about zero, also the authorities over there have great respect for the cyclist are constantly building wider safer cycle roads and cycle safe roundabouts, even one major busy roundabout has been made safe for the cyclist by having a roundabout built above the original roundabout whereas over here its a different story.

 

[Ian Raleigh]

and cycle safe roundabouts, even one major busy roundabout has been made safe for the cyclist by having a roundabout built above the original roundabout.

Not often I quote my own quote! but for the none believers of this fantastic design of the cycle roundabout, please checkout the below link

http://pavanmickey.blogspot.co.uk/2013/ ... about.html

 

[pigman]

If you look at news reports from other countries, the cyclists in the background are all in 'normal' clothes and no helmets. Here, its hi-viz, helmets and just about everything else you can be fooled into buying. cycling is supposed to be fun, not a health & safety hazard.

yup!

but if you look at the uk "publicity" photos, they all have helmets (few fit or sit properly which is worse than none) and all have hi viz (too big and baggy to be comfortable)