Remember kids... always wear a helmet. (The almighty bikeradar helmet thread)

I do not need cycle training or braking practice thanks. I need cars to stop overtaking on blind bends/hills and roads that are 1.5 cars wide with oncoming traffic. Riding where I live is very different than in a city (narrow roads, no pavements/run off) and there is nothing you can do to stop the crap driving I'm afraid. Nothing could have been done to avoid the last crash as the driver pulled out of a side road after I had passed it.

As you clearly feel that a helmet is effective, as you wear one when off road, I really don't understand why you would choose to wear it on the road even if the risk in your eyes is lower, especially when you are carrying it with you!

If roads are 1.5 cars wide, why not take up prime position when going round blind bends and going over hills? Cars won't be able to overtake you then.

He would not know to do this as he has not been cycle trained.

If roads are 1.5 cars wide, why not take up prime position when going round blind bends and going over hills? Cars won't be able to overtake you then.

Yeah, you'd think wouldn't you! Not all roads are 1.5 cars wide, some are just about two wide so cars can still pass at a fair speed.
I always take up prime position to the point that I am sometimes riding just to the left of the middle of the road. I do this when approaching blind bends and blind hills especially. And guess what happens, the driver still overtakes completely on the wrong side of the road. Without exaggerating this happens around 80% of the time.

If I ever manage to catch up with the offending driver for a 'chat', if they get held up by a horse for example, they try and have a go at me for taking up the road and making it harder for them to pass. They seem to miss the point it is a blind corner...

He would not know to do this as he has not been cycle trained.

May surprise you but you don't need cycle training to know how to ride on the road. You can read how to do it to!
As you will see from my response I somehow do know about primary position.

That doesn't sound like fun Kerley, I've had the same happen to me, and when I have been successful in holding them off round a blind bend they sometimes scream past you within a nats whisker. It's not just cyclists that need training for cycling around cars, car drivers need to be educated on how to drive with cyclists around.

That doesn't sound like fun Kerley, I've had the same happen to me, and when I have been successful in holding them off round a blind bend they sometimes scream past you within a nats whisker. It's not just cyclists that need training for cycling around cars, car drivers need to be educated on how to drive with cyclists around.

I just expect it now as it happens pretty much every ride. The last two miles back to my house on most of my loops contains two blind bends and a blind hill.
The drivers don't seem to have a problem slowing for horses though (wild not with rider) so guess they would rather hit a cyclist than a horse!

If roads are 1.5 cars wide, why not take up prime position when going round blind bends and going over hills? Cars won't be able to overtake you then.

No, they'd just drive over you instead.

I do not need cycle training or braking practice thanks..

I says this with the upmost respect toward you, it's defintely worth taking, even if you feel you're already perfectly experience enough to not required the need for it.

I don't feel that I need cycle training, not in the very least, but it's nice to know that what you're doing is actually correct and by-the-book.

Please do not imply that it mean you're not very good at cycling, not in the very least.

Okay, so you are shit at riding off road.

I doubt that'd mean he's shit at off-roading, as a rule of thumb isn't off-roading generally more riskier than riding on the road? the path's unpredictable, more obstacle, etc.

I says this with the upmost respect toward you, it's defintely worth taking, even if you feel you're already perfectly experience enough to not required the need for it.

I don't feel that I need cycle training, not in the very least, but it's nice to know that what you're doing is actually correct and by-the-book.

Please do not imply that it mean you're not very good at cycling, not in the very least.

I doubt that'd mean he's shit at off-roading, as a rule of thumb isn't off-roading generally more riskier than riding on the road? the path's unpredictable, more obstacle, etc.

He said himself he is shit at riding off road. To me riding off road is not riskier no, not for fatality/near fatalities. If a car travelling at 40 mph hits me then I think that is going to be a much higher consequence than me sliding off the trail at 10mph onto some mud/forest floor.
When you fall off road you should have a pretty good idea you are going to fall and prepare for it. The last time I was hit on the road it totally took me by surprise as the car hit into my rear side and knocked me flying. Didn't hit my head by the way!

Again, this is too complex to simply think one is more risky. To do it properly would require some data on accidents on each road, traffic levels, surface type of off road, tyre choice etc,. etc,. and nobody can do that.

My point is, if you think a helmet is a good thing then it seems obscure to me to carry it on your back when on the road as you feel the risk is a bit lower.

You might sometimes get people carrying their helmet to a race (I'd probably wear it on the way if I had to wear one to comply with racing regulations at my destination, but you never know).

yes you might, but that wasn't the case. I do love discussion on this forum though.
I just raised the small point about why carry a helmet when riding on road if you feel it is a good thing to wear one off road and it has gone into a risk assessment discussion as justification and then about me needing cycle training. What the hell has it got to do with me needing cycle training!

If I was commuting off-road, I probably wouldn't bother with a helmet (like I don't on my on-road commute), but I do when going for it or racing in both situations.

Regarding cycle training, I think it would be good in the future if local authorities funded free assessments for everyone, but then beyond that, paying for actual training was means-tested.

As you can tell, I sort of see this thread as a catch-all bikeradar topic place.

Because if I were to go to Australia, I don't want to buy a new one just because.

Because I enjoy cycling more when I don't have an inch of polystyrene strapped to my already-overheating bonce.

I suppose that's about as good as this kind of reasoning gets. Probably best if you don't go to Australia.

As you can tell, I sort of see this thread as a catch-all bikeradar topic place.

....I shouted "poor car choice!" then the lights changed and I rode away, leaving him fuming inside his metal box...

i used to live in the country. fast narrow lanes. Big deal. Harden up.

Again, this is too complex to simply think one is more risky. To do it properly would require some data on accidents on each road, traffic levels, surface type of off road, tyre choice etc,. etc,. and nobody can do that.

Just use a risk matrix (replacing consequences).
I need to use these at work a lot (work at a small chemical plant), and have gotten in to the habit of applying them to every day life. Mainly as I have a bit of a reckless streak, which doesnt fit with my newish role as a father.

I fall off nearly every off-road trip I take. Resulting in scratched knees etc.
I rarely fall off on the road, but have been very close to the underside of a few lorries.
This puts both forms of cycling into high risk for me. Wether or not a helmet will protect against lorries and scratching my knees, is debatable though ;)

i used to live in the country. fast narrow lanes. Big deal. Harden up.

oh what a big man you must be, well done on that.

You might sometimes get people carrying their helmet to a race (I'd probably wear it on the way if I had to wear one to comply with racing regulations at my destination, but you never know).

I'm so fucking safe my TT helmet is in my bag whilst my normal helmet is on my head.

Double protection for the win.

Josh

I am not sure being any harder will actually protect him from an impact with a few tons of steel moving at velocity.

Like Kerley I will go and give drivers the old "WTF" if they overtake dangerously if I can catch up, and there are a lot of people who do unbelievably stupid things.

A couple of weeks ago I was out riding with Mattha from here.

A car tried to overtake him on a narrow 2 lane road in a town, the driver missed Matt by a couple of inches but was so far out into the road that a oncoming car on the other side had to mount the pavement to avoid a collision.

I caught up with the cunt driving the car and she denied there had even been an oncoming car. She got fully Malcolm Tuckered until Matt pointed out to me she looked like she was now on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

I'm so fucking safe my TT helmet is in my bag whilst my normal helmet is on my head.

Double protection for the win.

Surely you'd save vital strength traveling with the TT helmet on?

I am not sure wearing a helmet will actually protect him from an impact with a few tons of steel moving at velocity.

Emotive, but valid.

MM spacedocking post

I am not sure being any harder will actually protect him from an impact with a few tons of steel moving at velocity.

Neither will a cycle helmet add any significant protection in the event, incidentally. It's not designed for it.

Oliver

I thought an inch of polystyrene would protect me from vehicles moving at velocity.

The fact that they break if dropped on the floor gives no indication that they are not going to survive a high velocity impact.

This is shocking and needs to be told to nodders everywhere.

(and that dayglo is not a cloak of invincibility)