I've ridden over 100,000 miles on motorcycles, and have twice been hit by cars. My common sense could not protect me from the lack of common sense by others ... and then there are the people who are just plain out to get you. Anyone who's ridden a lot has at least one story about some jamoke in a Buick that thought you were a good target.
I always wore the best helmet I could buy ... not afford, but buy. When the then new Kevlar helmets hit the market, I had a new Simpson as soon as I could find one that fit me. Oddly enough, I'm not in favor of most helmet laws, believing that adults should have the freedom to splatter their brains all over the roadway, if they so desire. frank theriault wrote: > > I know we're getting off topic here, but I gotta agree with you, Ken. > I'm one of the few bike messengers in Toronto who wears a helmet. In the > 6 years that I've been doing this, I think I've fallen and hit my head 4 > or 5 times. It's quite an amazing feeling: As I fall (it seems to be in > slow motion), I think, "my head's about to hit the pavement - ~man~ is > this gonna hurt". And, it doesn't! At least not my head (shoulder, hip, > arm - yes; head - no). > > No, a helmet is no replacement for common sense. And, I don't think I > take more chances because I wear one; one doesn't want to go down with > or without a helmet. But the reality is that most of those accidents > weren't my fault. Cars change lanes without looking, make late turns > through intersections, run red lights, whatever. In a collision with a > two ton car, the 170 pound (bike and rider together) cyclist will lose - > it's just simple physics. Whether I'm in the right or in the wrong makes > no difference to my cranium. > > I can say for a fact that a helmet has saved me from stitches, > concussions, or worse. I guess it's a personal choice, but I'll choose > helmet every time. > > As I said, it's off topic, so it's my last word on the matter... > > -frank > > Ken Archer wrote: > > > As a cycling coach, I used to tell my riders if you have a $10 head, > > wear a $10 helmet. If you have a $100 head, wear a $100 helmet. If > > you head isn't worth anything, don't wear anything. The only people > > who don't fall off bikes are those who don't get on one. It's not a > > matter of if, but when. -- Shel Belinkoff mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.earthlink.net/~belinkoff/ http://home.earthlink.net/~belinkoff/darkroom-rentals/index.html - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
