Some safety tips from Boardman

keith57
keith57 Posts: 164
edited November 2014 in Road general
Good tips, I see so many people riding in the gutter when I'm driving, encourages close and fast passing. On the bike and depending on the road, I sometimes ride primary, go to secondary once there is traffic behind, means the vehicles pass me at the speed I'm going at, not the speed limit!
http://www.fachwen.org
https://www.strava.com/athletes/303457

Please note: I’ll no longer engage deeply with anonymous forum users :D
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Comments

  • Grantmk
    Grantmk Posts: 39
    He rode without a helmet, the BBC read a statement from him saying there was no need to wear one!
  • keith57
    keith57 Posts: 164
    Grantmk wrote:
    He rode without a helmet, the BBC read a statement from him saying there was no need to wear one!

    That's right, no need to wear one ;-) it's still a free choice in the UK. Do whatever you feel is best for you and do try not to tell other people what to do, especially if they choose differently :-)
    http://www.fachwen.org
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/303457

    Please note: I’ll no longer engage deeply with anonymous forum users :D
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    Keith57 wrote:
    That's right, no need to wear one ;-) it's still a free choice in the UK. Do whatever you feel is best for you and do try not to tell other people what to do, especially if they choose differently :-)

    And now back in hybernation until someone mentions helmets again... :wink:
    left the forum March 2023
  • lesfirth
    lesfirth Posts: 1,382
    No helmet and a black jacket! IMHO not the best start for a safety video.
  • mm1
    mm1 Posts: 1,063
    Does anyone think that Robert Goodwill MP (junior Minister with responsibility for cycling) can actually ride a bike? I imagine farmer Goodwill has forced a few off the road with his Range Rover, but that's about it. Boardman impressive as ever in front of a camera, certainly better than any slimy politician.
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    Grantmk wrote:
    He rode without a helmet, the BBC read a statement from him saying there was no need to wear one!

    Let's get it right. He didn't say there was no need - he said he chooses not to wear one.
  • Buckie2k5
    Buckie2k5 Posts: 600
    If you chose not to wear a helmet dont make a safety video... How are we supposed to encourage our kids to wear helmets when idiots on tv who are probably more interested in keeping there name out there to sell more bikes dont wear one in a safety video.

    Does he feel because hes ex-pro he is too cool to wear one?
  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    Buckie2k5 wrote:
    If you chose not to wear a helmet dont make a safety video... How are we supposed to encourage our kids to wear helmets when idiots on tv who are probably more interested in keeping there name out there to sell more bikes dont wear one in a safety video.

    Does he feel because hes ex-pro he is too cool to wear one?
    CB has a long record of wanting to make cycling something that you just do, without loading up on safety gear etc. He's right too. He's no more of an idiot for suggesting that cycling really is safe, than you are for insisting that kids always wear a helmet.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    CiB wrote:
    He's no more of an idiot for suggesting that cycling really is safe, than you are for insisting that kids always wear a helmet.

    Just a warning, if this escalates into a name calling thing, I'll throw you out...
    left the forum March 2023
  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    CiB wrote:
    He's no more of an idiot for suggesting that cycling really is safe, than you are for insisting that kids always wear a helmet.

    Just a warning, if this escalates into a name calling thing, I'll throw you out...
    :)

    I don't like to see one of Britain's best ever cyclists being dismissed as an idiot. If he pops back into here he can defend himself but as we haven't seen him for some years I'm happy to stand up & defend the man.

    HTH.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    CiB wrote:
    :)

    I don't like to see one of Britain's best ever cyclists being dismissed as an idiot. If he pops back into here he can defend himself but as we haven't seen him for some years I'm happy to stand up & defend the man.

    HTH.

    I don't mind you defending Boardman, but if you end up calling other users names, I'll have to give you a ban.
    We have a rule for that.
    left the forum March 2023
  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    What about users who refer to Olympic champions as idiots or openly infer that there's a monetary & commercial imperative to him not wearing a helmet? Why not threaten our friend Buckie2k5 with a ban for an extraordinary show of disrespect to the guy who's almost single-handedly responsible for cycling being as popular as it is, thanks to his Lotus bike & Olympic achievements when GB getting one Bronze in the whole Olympic Games was a success?

    In the words of my then 4-year-old son, "he started it". :)

    Bless.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    CiB wrote:
    What about users who refer to Olympic champions as idiots or openly infer that there's a monetary & commercial imperative to him not wearing a helmet?

    Don't be a PITA, we don't have a rule for that
    left the forum March 2023
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    edited November 2014
    joe2008 wrote:
    Imposter wrote:
    Grantmk wrote:
    He rode without a helmet, the BBC read a statement from him saying there was no need to wear one!

    Let's get it right. He didn't say there was no need - he said he chooses not to wear one.

    So, I'd say that means he thinks there's no need

    I think CB's view is that the over-riding safety issue (especially for commuters and urban riders) is changing driver attitudes towards cyclists, rather than wearing a bright yellow top and a small plastic hat.
  • Buckie2k5
    Buckie2k5 Posts: 600
    CiB wrote:
    CB has a long record of wanting to make cycling something that you just do, without loading up on safety gear etc.

    So if the death rate of cyclists starts to rise because boardman said a helmet is not needed will he hold his hands up and say ok i was wrong. I dont care if he wears one or not but to come out publicly in a safety video and say it is completely irresponsible.
  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    Buckie2k5 wrote:
    CiB wrote:
    CB has a long record of wanting to make cycling something that you just do, without loading up on safety gear etc.

    So if the death rate of cyclists starts to rise because boardman said a helmet is not needed will he hold his hands up and say ok i was wrong. I dont care if he wears one or not but to come out publicly in a safety video and say it is completely irresponsible.
    If the death rate starts to climb and that increase can be attributed to cycling head injuries that would have been mitigated by the wearing of a helmet, then I'd expect CB (and me too tbh) to say blimey yes everybody should always wear a helmet on a bike. Like our man CB though, I'm pretty confident that the dream scenario that you envisage isn't going to happen. Wear your pointy bit of plastic if you want to. Don't get all excited at those who choose not to for whatever reason.

    :)
  • Buckie2k5
    Buckie2k5 Posts: 600
    edited November 2014
    CiB wrote:

    If the death rate starts to climb and that increase can be attributed to cycling head injuries that would have been mitigated by the wearing of a helmet, then I'd expect CB (and me too tbh) to say blimey yes everybody should always wear a helmet on a bike. Like our man CB though, I'm pretty confident that the dream scenario that you envisage isn't going to happen. Wear your pointy bit of plastic if you want to. Don't get all excited at those who choose not to for whatever reason.
    :)


    I dont care if you wear a helmet or not, it doesnt get me excited.. The issue here is boardman telling the UK it isnt needed when he has no hard facts to prove his point. He should keep his trap shut or give up doing not so safe safety videos.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    I am all for helmets and always wear one, but if you look at the stats, those countries that impose cycling helmets don't have better A&E statistics that those who don't, so in the grand scheme of things I might have saved myself from concussion that time I cracked my helmet, but as an average that appears to be irrelevant... :roll:
    left the forum March 2023
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    Buckie2k5 wrote:
    CiB wrote:

    If the death rate starts to climb and that increase can be attributed to cycling head injuries that would have been mitigated by the wearing of a helmet, then I'd expect CB (and me too tbh) to say blimey yes everybody should always wear a helmet on a bike. Like our man CB though, I'm pretty confident that the dream scenario that you envisage isn't going to happen. Wear your pointy bit of plastic if you want to. Don't get all excited at those who choose not to for whatever reason.
    :)


    I dont care if you wear a helmet or not, it doesnt get me excited.. The issue here is boardman telling the UK it isnt needed when he has no hard facts to prove his point. He should keep his trap shut or give up doing not so safe safety videos.

    All of his advice in that video was sound, sensible and easily doable. He didn't mention helmets in the video once.
  • Buckie2k5
    Buckie2k5 Posts: 600
    Yes its like recording a parachuting safety video with no backup parachute. Just because i might not need it.
  • mpatts
    mpatts Posts: 1,010
    pattinson house helmet rules:

    1) The only ban on helmets is that aero helmets are not to be worn on a ride to the shops.

    CB always makes good points re bikes being used for transport rather than sport. They are the future - as is being able to climb on wearing full work garb and cycling home without fear of dicing with traffic (either pedestrian, cycle, car, or otherwise).
    Insert bike here:
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    Buckie2k5 wrote:
    Yes its like recording a parachuting safety video with no backup parachute. Just because i might not need it.

    Er, no it isn't.
  • marcusjb
    marcusjb Posts: 2,412
    Buckie2k5 wrote:
    Yes its like recording a parachuting safety video with no backup parachute. Just because i might not need it.

    One is throwing yourself out of a plane, from high altitude without a backup redundant safety device, the other is going for a bike ride.
    Stuff about riding a bike a long way
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    You should look at Barcelona... been there recently and the cycling thing is booming, nobody wears a helmet, I mean nobody! One should look at their statistics and see if they are significantly different from London, where virtually everybody does wear a helmet... I suspect not so different
    left the forum March 2023
  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    Buckie2k5 wrote:
    I dont care if you wear a helmet or not, it doesnt get me excited.. The issue here is boardman telling the UK it isnt needed when he has no hard facts to prove his point. He should keep his trap shut or give up doing not so safe safety videos.
    The issue - no hard facts - is exactly the same on both sides; there's no evidence either way regarding the effectiveness of wearing a helmet, hence it's a personal choice. I think it's fine that a major public figure is happy to appear without a helmet just for a trundle around on his bike. If he was racing or in a bun fight with 70 other riders all jostling for position I'd be surprised to see him not wearing one.

    The video was about safer riding tips, not how to live your life by someone else's rules. Re BiB; that's a bit terse isn't it. I thought as long as we don't scare the horses or upset the domestic staff we're free to live our lives as we see fit, within the laws of the land. Seems to me that's what Mr Boardman is doing, rather than going all prescriptive on us.
  • Bozman
    Bozman Posts: 2,518
    Some folk being a little pedantic here.
  • debeli
    debeli Posts: 583
    I thought it was a good, clear, helpful video.

    I was pleased and slightly amused that he went for dark clothes and no helmet. I think the pro-helmet faction can be as emptily noisy as the hardline anti-helmeteers, but to see a known and respected figure swing a leg over a bike helmetless and give a good demonstration of safe riding is refreshing.

    I am on the fence regarding helmets. I go without most of the time, although I wear one for rides involving fast descents and when competing. All my children (21, 18 and 15) are keen cyclists. The middle one wears a helmet, the others usually not.

    I do generally wear bright colours, but I note also that in good light a rider in black is pretty hard not to notice.

    I am of the generation (born in the early early 60s) for whom helmets are often somewhere between an oddity and an affectation. Many ardently pro-helmet folk are new to cycling (last decade or so) and have been swept up in the recent enthusiasms for safety gear and ''looking the part'.

    But back to the issue. A good video, refreshing, direct and from the thoughts of one who knows bicycles. Top marks!
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    Debeli wrote:
    I thought it was a good, clear, helpful video.

    I was pleased and slightly amused that he went for dark clothes and no helmet. I think the pro-helmet faction can be as emptily noisy as the hardline anti-helmeteers, but to see a known and respected figure swing a leg over a bike helmetless and give a good demonstration of safe riding is refreshing.

    I am on the fence regarding helmets. I go without most of the time, although I wear one for rides involving fast descents and when competing. All my children (21, 18 and 15) are keen cyclists. The middle one wears a helmet, the others usually not.

    I do generally wear bright colours, but I note also that in good light a rider in black is pretty hard not to notice.

    I am of the generation (born in the early early 60s) for whom helmets are often somewhere between an oddity and an affectation. Many ardently pro-helmet folk are new to cycling (last decade or so) and have been swept up in the recent enthusiasms for safety gear and ''looking the part'.

    But back to the issue. A good video, refreshing, direct and from the thoughts of one who knows bicycles. Top marks!

    That is one good post! :D
    left the forum March 2023
  • cookeeemonster
    cookeeemonster Posts: 1,991
    To all the people on here that bang on about high viz and helmets all the time:

    Please think of all the swear words and offensive statements that you can...write them down and apply your own name to them.

    That ok Ugo? I'm not actually saying anything nasty to anyone? ;)

    There is zero evidence for high viz and helmet safety claims. Zero. By all means give your preference and the reasons why, but dont have a go that anyone that chooses not to wear them.

    I use a helmet by the way, and even have reflective bits on many of my clothes...but am under no illusion as to what difference they make in the grand scheme of things. People need to read up a bit more rather than simply opening their mouths without thinking. I do realise that the Road General section of the forum is more daily mail than most parts, but come on, please do your research people and at least try to substantiate your claims!

    Chris Boardman is a god by the way :)

    ps. I know how these threads go - no one will ever change their mind, no one will ever go away feeling enlightened, so I'll pee off and not return.

    xx
  • tangled_metal
    tangled_metal Posts: 4,021
    Never worn hi-viz. I have never had a cycling accident, yet. Similarly I have never had an accident involving a cracked or smashed helmet. From these two anecdotal pieces of "evidence" I can say that hi-viz and helmets are not needed!! That is right isn;t it? If not why is anecdotal evidence ok for helmet wearing and not non-helmet wearing??

    That said, I always put a helmet on my 2 year old when sat in the trailer or on the child seat. He has no issue with me and my partner never wearing a helmet but then he has no choice, he's 2!!

    The proviso to the above is that he worked out how to work a buckle from the age of a bout 9 months so he does have a choice. From the first attempt to put the helmet on him he took it off. A battle of wills that ended up with it being his choice. Due to his natural tendencies he wears it about 50% of the time it is offered to him. He just doesn't get the argument about helmets being obligatory because some people banged their helmets smashing them in the process and are convinced this equates to their lives being saved by said destroyed helmet. The day you persuade my 2 year old boy that helmet wearing saves lives in all situations but the worst of accidents I will hail you as the global safety csar and follow you (on my bicycle) everywhere with helmet on the head!! ;)

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