Why you should wear a helmet and glasses.

[Greg58]

I was riding my bike down the road I live on having a good ride, at about 25 mph I ran into a piece of stainless steel wire from the cable tv run that is the bottom wire on the pole. The wire is the one that wraps around the braided cable and coaxial to hold them together. It hit me across my face from right down across my chest, as it slide across me I heard the end slap my helmet. I wasn’t hurt, it only scared me. A neighbor stopped as I stood there with it the wire hanging almost in the middle of the lane, he handed me a pair of limb pruners and I managed to cut the wire as high as possible. I pulled it down and cut it, it’s probably 10 feet of the ground now so maybe it's safe. The wire was touching the asphalt before I cut it.

 

[MEASURE TWICE]

Glad your OK!

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

I'm glad you're safe, pal. I retired from the phone company as a lineman.

Finding low hanging phone and cable lines were common nightmares. The worst were the ones knocked down by big trucks, and left hanging directly across the streets.

Those could literally take a rider's head off!

 

[Greg58]

I couldn't ride off and leave it, the first thing I thought of was one of the children in the area getting hit in the eye by the end of the wire, I stood there for a few minutes trying to come up with a way to get it up out of the way. I left my phone at home so I couldn't call the cable company, lucky my neighbor came by.

 

[MEASURE TWICE]

I remember long ago when going over a bike/walk overpass of an expressway on my bike. I was coming down at quick pace, I saw a line across the fence from one side to the other. It was at about chest height. I stopped and untied the 25 foot of amplifier cord that had jacks on each end. I suspect nefarious means were intended. Maybe steal my bike and wallet. Might actually still have the cord?

 

[Sidewinder Jerry]

Eye protection is a must especially during bug season. Most falls on a bicycle don't involve another vehicle. Your head traveling a mere 6' and striking a hard surface is enough to cause a skull fracture. Combine that with as little as a 5 mph speed and the injuries could even cause death.

No matter how safe of a rider you are, one never knows when the unexpected might happen.

I've gone down twice. Once to avoid hitting a small child who ran from between 2 parked cars. The other time was when my rear axle broke.

https://motorbicycling.com/threads/broken-rear-axle.58426/

Fortunately I wasn't going very fast when either incident happened. Both times I did hit my head I have my helmets to thank for no serious head injuries.

Cyclist don't see helmetless riders as being cool; we see them as being stupid and not having brains worth protecting.

 

[wheelbender6]

You were really lucky, Greg58. I wear a helmet because most everything that I am likely to collide with is harder than my head, like trees, utility poles, truck fenders, etc.

 

[MEASURE TWICE]

I use all motocross riding gear since my bike is off road legal. Boots that are up to just below the knee help lots of what would be injury to just reminder where your leg is at. I do remember before helmets for bicycle became a thing, then 1000 mile 45 day pedaling bike trip AYH had helmets mandatory. I guess that for eye protection when drilling and using table saw was something that was learned by just near misses. Although one day my dad said use goggles when drilling, table saw it was always used. A pusher stick when hands would be too close to blade. Hammering something, although not a power tool, some say not to bother. OK be a sissy, but keep your eye sight. Age maybe has forced learning.

 

[Loop]

Goggles are a necessity, last cicada season there was a report of a Harley rider with only his tiny Barbie doll helmet On who was hit in the eye by a flying cicada popping his eye like a grape.

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

Many years ago, there was a very likable American man living in Europe. He was on this forum or the other, seeking information about buying an electric bike. We all followed his thread, because he was a very interesting older gentleman. The guy had class. Everyone was very excited when he received his high-end e-bike. He went on his first ride and never posted again. Several days later, his wife informed us that her husband had fallen off the bike and died. He was not wearing a helmet.
That was so sad.
I'll never forget it as long as I live.

 

[Sidewinder Jerry]

I may not like a person and may even think that person is a real A-hole. Still, regardless I want everyone on here to make it home safely at the end of their ride.

 

[Degoragon]

I do wear a helmet at all times when riding my motorized bicycle. I never know if something will break, I find an obstacle, or if an inattentive motorist will plow right Into me. I have yet to entirely wreck it yet, but had many close calls, including recently when my rear wheel slammed Into the frame . Had I not been slowing down already, I would have definitely wrecked.

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

There's a steep ramp to my workplace parking structure, as well as the barrier arm.
While wiggling past the arm, I hit the throttle and my head slammed into the concrete pillar.
Luckily, I wore a motorcycle helmet. I was not injured, and my helmet had scraped paint from the pillar.

 

[Tom from Rubicon]

Shake Hands With Danger (1980) - YouTube

 

[steve17]

That's why I realize that a helmet is a very important piece of equipment for cyclists. It will save your life in the event of an accident and can reduce the risk of head injury for cyclists by up to 85%.

 

[Tom from Rubicon]

Cyclists only go fast enough to knock their noggin. Motorcycles increase risk of injury exponentially and I have witnessed a few wrecks. Been a few, "I'd be a liar to say otherwise", and my wits are still about me.

In the 70's Illinois a helmet law was enacted.
The Wheels of Fortune Motorcycle Club Inc of which I was a member lobbied long and hard.
Established write in campaigns and convinced the Law Makers that their seats were in peril.
The WOF also set up A formalized Motorcycle Safety Training Course conducted even today at Illinois Junior Colleges and IDOT approved.
I was also a member of League of American Wheelmen for many years who never lobbied for or against helmets. My chapeau du jour as a cyclist was a Campi billed cotton cap.
I am sure you mean well 17, and are concerned. But I have been on two wheels long before you were born.
What is life without a particle of risk? And risk well managed is the sauce of life.
Just don't ask Fast Eddy. Dude is dangerous. Right Steve

Tom

 

[Greg58]

Here it’s the law, we have to wear a dot approved helmet. It’s not a problem for me, I wear the low profile type like a skull cap.

 

[Tom from Rubicon]

Lot of draconian laws below the Mason Dixon line. Y'all come up here.
Tom

 

[Greg58]

Lot of draconian laws below the Mason Dixon line. Y'all come up here.
Tom

No, I’ve been wearing shorts for two months, I’ll stay here. I don’t mind visiting but would miss home. I like going to Florida for about a week then I’m ready to leave, there’s not enough trees for me.

 

[Sidewinder Jerry]

No, I’ve been wearing shorts for two months, I’ll stay here. I don’t mind visiting but would miss home. I like going to Florida for about a week then I’m ready to leave, there’s not enough trees for me.

There's lots of them in Tennessee