tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post6630071662829365662..comments2024-03-27T07:25:55.115-04:00Comments on Bike Snob NYC: Much Ado About HelmetsBikeSnobNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256142855437740163noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-70474690559490242822018-07-29T22:50:35.623-04:002018-07-29T22:50:35.623-04:00Follow the helmet hysteria if and only if you ulti...Follow the helmet hysteria if and only if you ultimately want to curtail and criminalize cycling. It leads to utterly insane fines (>$200) for infractions like no helmet and "improper turn", and often are greater than fines for motor vehicles (parking in a bike lane now legal for ride share! yay safety). Result, folks won't ride, and the scale of fines send a very strong message that cycling is insanely dangerous. Which of course is ultimately self-fulfilling as low cycling rates mean zero funding, and zero infra, learner drivers are in multi-ton vehicles tinted black covered in metal bars, and next thing you know, not only is cycling 20x more dangerous in Australia (almost all helmets) than the NL (barely any helmets) but cycling in NL is safer than *driving* in Australia. More bikes = safer society.austraylya roolz (at makin mad roolz)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-37018522768354843352018-07-26T12:21:52.586-04:002018-07-26T12:21:52.586-04:00yes, i should have added that i meant truck as a w...yes, i should have added that i meant truck as a whole across the country. i do believe the majority are still bought in areas where they make some degree of sense - rural-ish areas or at the burbs where folks have boats to tow and home depot runs to make, not major matropoli like NYC. <br /><br />if you own an F250 in NYC you are indeed a very silly person.<br /><br />that would be like me buying a decommissioned MTA train car and trying to get around down here in FL. <br /><br />oh wait, they don't decommission those things do they? aren't those train cars about to celebrate their 500th birthday? pbateman cant ride MTA in FL cause no railsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-88918620881118992882018-07-26T11:51:14.542-04:002018-07-26T11:51:14.542-04:00pbateman,
Not disputing your local observations b...pbateman,<br /><br />Not disputing your local observations but here I'd say maybe 10% of them are carrying anything in or towing anything with their trucks. <br /><br />--Tan TenovoBikeSnobNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11256142855437740163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-84574573479292725892018-07-26T11:31:41.034-04:002018-07-26T11:31:41.034-04:00i get the larger point of the mixed message of pai...i get the larger point of the mixed message of pairing a "gas gussler" and a "lean, mean, green biking machine"...<br /><br />but...<br /><br />i'd say at least 70% of truck owners are indeed using them for their intended purpose vs maybe the 18% of SUV drivers who buy them for the "suv lifestyle" they promote in the ads.<br /><br />and most modern trucks are generally getting in the ballpark similar fuel mileage as those SUV's (ford uses aluminum bodies now and have little blown 6 cylinders that are reasonably fuel efficient etc...)<br /><br />and believe me, i live in an area where the "bro-dozer" jacked up, stupid ass, neon lit, salt life and browning sticker having, truck nut wearing, douche-tastic, backward baseball hat wearing, listening to "new country pop music", GED having, driving too fast with an open bud lite, generally horrible human beings...are in plentiful abundance. <br /><br />and they are certainly NOT bike friendly to "homos" like me on my little "ten speed"<br /><br />but i'd say most owners aren't those guys. guess that was my point.<br /><br />also, if trucks are good enough for squid to drive, then they can't be that bad:<br /> <br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m6Sw26gUQo<br />pbateman rides 650b and 33's on his land cruisernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-4281709031152562822018-07-26T08:41:04.568-04:002018-07-26T08:41:04.568-04:00I was waiting for you to mention that laugh cringe...I was waiting for you to mention that laugh cringe puke inducing GM truck ad. Next time they can save money and time by just writing F U Bieks on a big sign. <br /><br />Have a blast dinking around in the woods on the Jones!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-13974688024743299882018-07-26T06:13:08.371-04:002018-07-26T06:13:08.371-04:00Funny how in the picture accompanying the article ...Funny how in the picture accompanying the article the adult male person running next to the child on the bike is not wearing a helmet. The adult is running in a crouched position which is not ideal in terms of balance. What if he trips and hits his head on the ground? What if the child on the bike falls over and trips the adult? Surly running in a suboptimal manner next to a child balancing on a bike is just as dangerous as riding the bike itself!<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Concerned Non-Parental AdultAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-53064871571281130742018-07-25T21:40:35.095-04:002018-07-25T21:40:35.095-04:00My one bad (and first) bike accident: front wheel ...My one bad (and first) bike accident: front wheel left the fork as I went down from the curb next to stopped cars to move from DC's Rock Creek Trail bike path to the road. I was a fairly new rider commuting to work 30 years ago. I remember thinking "I will move down to the street here." My next experience after that is an EMT running something hard up the bottom of my foot and asking "do you feel that." I have no idea how long I was out. All indications were that when the wheel came out I went over the bars and landed on my helment, which was cracked in two. Other than the time I was out cold, chipped teeth, a broken nose, broken jaw, spectacular swelling and bruising I was fine. We reconstructed: the quick release must have opened when I pushed the bike through some brush on the bike path (put there by stream flooding over holiday weekend.) I jumped back on and rolled on. Old bike. No lawyer lips on the front fork. Wheel dislodged when I went over the curb. Since then I ridden lots and lots. I have chosen to wear a helment whenever I ride because you never know. I have had plenty of falls mountain biking, etc. since then but have not actually needed a helmet during any of them. Have avoided cars so far. I agree in general with others' choices not to wear helments in various circumstances, but based on experience I like riding with a helmet better than without.Billinrockhillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-72545261859882703952018-07-25T18:32:19.790-04:002018-07-25T18:32:19.790-04:00Not in disagreement, but wondering if the same phi...Not in disagreement, but wondering if the same philosophy holds true for downhill mountain biking? Sammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02795425052008414162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-39499623582805031722018-07-25T16:16:46.211-04:002018-07-25T16:16:46.211-04:00So it's a little unclear exactly what happened...So it's a little unclear exactly what happened, but because there is no room for the team busses at the top, the racers had to ride back down the mountain. <br /><br />Froome was unrecognizable because he had donned a gray rain jacket to protect him from the inevitable urine shower thrown by disgruntled fans.<br /><br />A Gendarme thought he was an interloper; they got tangled up somehow, and Froomie ended up on the ground.<br /><br />Crashing during the race is awful. Being crashed after the race is even more so. wishiwasmerckxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-19570864475384670912018-07-25T15:36:53.061-04:002018-07-25T15:36:53.061-04:00Dear Tan Tenovo, When are you going to dress down ...Dear Tan Tenovo, When are you going to dress down Range Rover for terrible commercial showing their trucks driving in pedestrian areas? They seem to be actively trying to take over ski slopes and historical sites for the sake of drivers. Maybe I’m being too hard on them, at least they are wearing helmets.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-68613838434891943122018-07-25T15:34:24.683-04:002018-07-25T15:34:24.683-04:00Population decline is happening now throughout the...Population decline is happening now throughout the 'Western world' or 'First World' countries.<br /><br />Do some Googling and look into Japan's future. They're fucked. <br /><br />Yes, fewer people on the planet is generally a good thing, but the transition from a growing to a shrinking population is going to be messy.Chazunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-20353304092427469912018-07-25T15:34:07.287-04:002018-07-25T15:34:07.287-04:00I've got a buddy recovering from a TBI, and ot...I've got a buddy recovering from a TBI, and other serious injuries, that he would probably not be recovering from had he not been wearing a helment. Or at least based on the amount of helment that was crushed (absorbing energy) and/or missing (instead of skin and skull), if he wasn't dead he would be much much much worse off. So I firmly believe they can be very useful.<br /><br />But how, you ask, did he end up with life threatening injuries? A trucktard in a pavement princess gigantic canyonero tried to shoot a gap and turned in front of him. So, while a helment may help in the event a motor vehicle hits you, they certainly don't stop the root cause of too many idiots behind the wheel of enormous death machines. <br /><br />Also, not only does commercial Fred have lousy form, but his bike is much too big from which it can be inferred that since his truck is also much too big his driving form is probably lousy as well.<br /><br />Whew! I fell better for letting that out. Good talk.1904 Cadardinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-37559795241277016092018-07-25T15:12:31.025-04:002018-07-25T15:12:31.025-04:00DE,
"Why aren't *you* wearing a helmet?&...DE,<br /><br />"Why aren't *you* wearing a helmet?" would also be an acceptable response.<br /><br />--Tan TenovoBikeSnobNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11256142855437740163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-46867613919257075282018-07-25T15:03:20.674-04:002018-07-25T15:03:20.674-04:00Wishiwasmerckx - Bibendum is pretty old. I think w...Wishiwasmerckx - Bibendum is pretty old. I think white tires were pretty common in olden days.Some guy from upstatenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-88239697201355476892018-07-25T14:59:11.364-04:002018-07-25T14:59:11.364-04:00As for setting an example for the children, give i...As for setting an example for the children, give it up. People can can do their own parenting without my help.<br /><br />True story: I was riding through a neighborhood at like 10 mph when a father and his kid were about to cross. I had a stop sign, so stopped to let them go. The kid (maybe 9?) shouted to me "why aren't you wearing a helmet?!?" My response was, "Because it's my choice." That's a perfect opportunity right there for some parenting should the father want it. Bossy little kid.<br /><br />I wear my helmet in group rides, while mountain biking, and in the winter when it helps keep my head warm. Never do it toodling around town in 95-degree temps. I just got a MIPS helmet. I might have a bit more confidence in it, so maybe I'll wear it in slightly warmer weather, who knows. My choice though. DEnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-55381132078163849532018-07-25T14:52:37.050-04:002018-07-25T14:52:37.050-04:00Hey all you self-righteous parental types out ther...Hey all you self-righteous parental types out there in your 3000lb freedom machines...do us a favor, quit driving and while you're at it, stop breeding and kill your TV. The fewer the sub-human American trucktards there are on this orbiting madhouse , the better. Alhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03870186700642107667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-68268041568114009072018-07-25T14:31:35.221-04:002018-07-25T14:31:35.221-04:00I don’t always wear a helment, but when I do, it’s...I don’t always wear a helment, but when I do, it’s so everyone else will STFU about me not wearing one. <br />Mind your own fucking bidness, indeed. BamaPhrednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-54479154532351635532018-07-25T13:26:57.677-04:002018-07-25T13:26:57.677-04:00J.D. Ford,
Commenting on an article that was publ...J.D. Ford,<br /><br />Commenting on an article that was published for mass consumption and that is ostensibly prescriptive in nature in no way falls under the "Mind your own business" mandate.<br /><br />--Tan TenovoBikeSnobNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11256142855437740163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-46270479664684790552018-07-25T12:51:10.320-04:002018-07-25T12:51:10.320-04:00After reading much research about helmets, and aft...After reading much research about helmets, and after decades working with the trauma service at a few hospitals, I am of the opinion that the one thing helmets help prevent is skull fractures, well, skin lacerations, too, but they’re minor. No helmet protects a rider from brain injury due to the way a brain is situated in one’s head...in a fluid filled sac in which the brain floats around on top of the brain stem. Bang your head, your brain bounces around. Bang your head hard, you’re fucked...with or without a helmet on. As most riders know, wearing a helmet will not save your ass. They will help minimize skull fractures. If you crash at greater than 35/40 mph, you will be one sorry mofo whether you’re wearing a helmet or not. Happy trails! www.patricklyford.comPatrick Lyfordhttp://www.patricklyford.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-10814409105443304522018-07-25T12:15:23.703-04:002018-07-25T12:15:23.703-04:00Anon 9:22, I mistakenly thought that comment moder...Anon 9:22, I mistakenly thought that comment moderation enable was to protect my delicate sensibilities from overtly racist drivel such as your comment.<br /><br />What color are tires? Black.<br /><br />What is the Michelin Man made of? Tires.<br /><br />What color is the Michelin Man? White.<br /><br />There you go...wishiwasmerckxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-5253019637984437422018-07-25T11:46:01.731-04:002018-07-25T11:46:01.731-04:00When the kid asks why a lying asshole is in the Wh...When the kid asks why a lying asshole is in the White House, better give them some kind of answer, like "The voters know not what they do". No wait, that doesn't work because 3,000,000 more voters voted for the other candidate.Father Knows Bestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-39472376112299091322018-07-25T11:18:27.373-04:002018-07-25T11:18:27.373-04:00Having no context to your life beyond your writing...Having no context to your life beyond your writings, and considering the number of helmet hot takes you've produced over the years on articles that are of seemingly little consequence to your personal liberties regarding bike safety -- save for those occasions when helmet crusaders get loudmouthy about making lids mandatory for all cyclists (and please continue to be a vocal opponent, seriously) -- this ending made me laugh: "it's never too early to teach them the importance of minding your own fucking business." <br /><br />I agree. But nonetheless, the irony here is intentional, yes?! Because there's no way you just wrote this much about a topic that you can easily ignore, only to conclude by suggesting people mind their own fucking business, right?<br /><br />Or maybe you're just obliged by content demands to give a shit about a predictable article about bike helmets. That would make sense. But who knows...maybe I'm wrong.J.D. Fordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-82685223786008131122018-07-25T09:22:18.630-04:002018-07-25T09:22:18.630-04:00Ah, picked up by the straggler bus again. I blame ...Ah, picked up by the straggler bus again. I blame the errant pepper spray and angry farmers. Also, I'm very late in congratulating you with 11 years of web logging. U still rite very gud, and the Kommentariat is still classy (with the odd freak-out now and again). Parenting for 17 kiddios has mellowed you somewhat (all good) but I'm still happy to see you break out the chain lock, swinging it on high to smite malevolent idiots and old nannies alike. It took a long while for me to really get the helment thing (too many knocks on the head as a kid, no joke), but I've been travelling lately - seeing new towns and cities in Communist Yoo-rup, observing cyclists and cars in their natural environments. Big urban traffic, lots of drivers and cyclists, buses, trams, the lot. Hardly any helments in evidence (the occasional roadie in full kit notwithstanding) - yet no cyclist corpses and spilled brains in the streets. Some enthusiastic horn-beeping, but no "gtfo my way if you wanna live, asshole". So yeah, it's not a head-protection issue. It's drivers. I don't know what sort of process Murka has to go through before non-drivers' lives start to matter, but your writing is surely important. You have a very sharp pen, keep stabbing it in where it really stings. (I had to identify 8 squares with SUVs to prove my organic intelligence to the nascent AI)NourskSiklistnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-20708366883782284092018-07-25T08:48:49.387-04:002018-07-25T08:48:49.387-04:00It is vertigo-inducing to contrast this prissy cul...It is vertigo-inducing to contrast this prissy culture with the one that eats garbage, shoots dope, and votes authoritarian. Fortunately, they can agree on the desirability of bloated vehicles.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213956784784062266.post-90752372223702413322018-07-25T08:39:36.189-04:002018-07-25T08:39:36.189-04:00I was wondering if we would get to the stupid GMC ...I was wondering if we would get to the stupid GMC commercial. The message "first you go from a stupid bike to a REAL bike, then you go from a bike to a REAL vehicle" is typical. On the other hand, it was actually not entirely negative towards bikes. And if you're a glass-half-full kinda' person, you could almost interpret it as a "bike riders are one of us, too". <br />And on the snarky side of things: at least they didn't try to pretend that everybody that buys a truck immediately drives off to their farm where they fill it with dirt and bricks and old water heaters or whatever.*<br /><br /><br />*I just bought a new truck a few weeks ago. It's so choice. No water heaters in it, yet. Lumber and trailers, though. N/Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14710395292374599493noreply@blogger.com