This is getting expensive (helmets)

Ouch. Not physically, but financially. I've broken two Giro Atmos helmets in
crashes this year. First one happened when my son did something screwy while
descending, causing me to run into his rear wheel and off the road into the
culvert, where I flipped over and landed on my bike. Thankfully just a
couple little bruises, that's all. Oh, plus a cracked helmet. Then yesterday
I'm riding the "punchbowl" (a dried-up reservoir with steep sides that you
can ride down into and up the other side... lots of fun!) and didn't quite
get the speed right to land on the 4-ft-wide berm, causing me to grab a bit
more front brake than I should have (to keep from going over the other
side). I, fortunately, didn't go over the other side, but the bike went over
me after I did a flip over the bars that my kids thought rather funny. And
cracked another helmet.

Last time I damaged a helmet was maybe 25 years ago. Not a good trend! :)

But more seriously, I think I'm going to be riding off-road with a standard
Trek Vapor ($40) in the future. Either that or a full-body airbag. Not to
protect me. To protect the helmet!

(For my road riding, I don't mind, and even prefer, having something that
costs a bit more but looks better and theoretically has better ventilation.
But off-road, I don't think there's much point to me pretending to look
anything but rank amateur.)

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

On Dec 10, 7:16 pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
wrote:
Ouch. Not physically, but financially. I've broken two Giro Atmos helmets in
crashes this year. First one happened when my son did something screwy while
descending, causing me to run into his rear wheel and off the road into the
culvert, where I flipped over and landed on my bike. Thankfully just a
couple little bruises, that's all. Oh, plus a cracked helmet.

Yep. They're fragile, all right!

Then yesterday
I'm riding the "punchbowl" (a dried-up reservoir with steep sides that you
can ride down into and up the other side... lots of fun!) and didn't quite
get the speed right to land on the 4-ft-wide berm, causing me to grab a bit
more front brake than I should have (to keep from going over the other
side). I, fortunately, didn't go over the other side, but the bike went over
me after I did a flip over the bars that my kids thought rather funny. And
cracked another helmet.

Last time I damaged a helmet was maybe 25 years ago. Not a good trend! :)

Were you doing those kinds of stunts 25 years ago?

Your riding style and mine seem much different. I tend to avoid the
kind of riding that makes wearing a helmet seem logical. As a bonus,
I seem to avoid scraped knees, broken collarbones, damaged bike parts,
etc.

IOW, I don't "risk compensate" myself into those problems.

- Frank Krygowski

aka Frank Krygowski wrote:
On Dec 10, 7:16 pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
wrote:
Ouch. Not physically, but financially. I've broken two Giro Atmos helmets in
crashes this year. First one happened when my son did something screwy while
descending, causing me to run into his rear wheel and off the road into the
culvert, where I flipped over and landed on my bike. Thankfully just a
couple little bruises, that's all. Oh, plus a cracked helmet.

Yep. They're fragile, all right!

Then yesterday
I'm riding the "punchbowl" (a dried-up reservoir with steep sides that you
can ride down into and up the other side... lots of fun!) and didn't quite
get the speed right to land on the 4-ft-wide berm, causing me to grab a bit
more front brake than I should have (to keep from going over the other
side). I, fortunately, didn't go over the other side, but the bike went over
me after I did a flip over the bars that my kids thought rather funny. And
cracked another helmet.

Last time I damaged a helmet was maybe 25 years ago. Not a good trend! :)

Were you doing those kinds of stunts 25 years ago?

Your riding style and mine seem much different. I tend to avoid the
kind of riding that makes wearing a helmet seem logical. As a bonus,
I seem to avoid scraped knees, broken collarbones, damaged bike parts,
etc.

IOW, I don't "risk compensate" myself into those problems.

To add some fuel to the fire, I will mention that "going over the bars"
is EXTREMELY unlikely on a proper recumbent bicycle.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"Localized intense suction such as tornadoes is created when temperature
differences are high enough between meeting air masses, and can impart
excessive energy onto a cyclist." - Randy Schlitter

"Tom Sherman" wrote: (clip) To add some fuel to the fire, I will mention
that "going over the bars"
is EXTREMELY unlikely on a proper recumbent bicycle. (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Okay--more fuel to the fi Riding a recumbent (proper or not) through the
punch bowl would be very humorous to watch. I believe it would take a
couple of people to bring you and the bike up from the bottom.

On Dec 10, 8:52 pm, "Leo Lichtman"
wrote:
"Tom Sherman" wrote: (clip) To add some fuel to the fire, I will mention

that "going over the bars" is EXTREMELY unlikely on a proper recumbent bicycle. (clip)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Okay--more fuel to the fi Riding a recumbent (proper or not) through the
punch bowl would be very humorous to watch. I believe it would take a
couple of people to bring you and the bike up from the bottom.

Drag up the "bike", if you must. But best to let Sherman rot in the
bottom of the bowl.

wrote in message
...
On Dec 10, 7:16 pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
wrote:
Ouch. Not physically, but financially. I've broken two Giro Atmos helmets
in
crashes this year. First one happened when my son did something screwy
while
descending, causing me to run into his rear wheel and off the road into
the
culvert, where I flipped over and landed on my bike. Thankfully just a
couple little bruises, that's all. Oh, plus a cracked helmet.

Yep. They're fragile, all right!

Oh, I think you misunderstand me. There's no way these crashes would have
killed me. Maybe given me a bump or two, but that's likely all. My point
wasn't about whether helmets work or not. Only that expensive helmets get
expensive when they do whatever it is they do.

Then yesterday
I'm riding the "punchbowl" (a dried-up reservoir with steep sides that
you
can ride down into and up the other side... lots of fun!) and didn't
quite
get the speed right to land on the 4-ft-wide berm, causing me to grab a
bit
more front brake than I should have (to keep from going over the other
side). I, fortunately, didn't go over the other side, but the bike went
over
me after I did a flip over the bars that my kids thought rather funny.
And
cracked another helmet.

Last time I damaged a helmet was maybe 25 years ago. Not a good trend!
:)

Were you doing those kinds of stunts 25 years ago?

Frank, last time I checked I was 51 years old. I'd like to make it to 52.
For the most part, I ride less aggressively now than I did back in the day.

Your riding style and mine seem much different. I tend to avoid the
kind of riding that makes wearing a helmet seem logical. As a bonus,
I seem to avoid scraped knees, broken collarbones, damaged bike parts,
etc.

IOW, I don't "risk compensate" myself into those problems.

I love it when people think that, because someone wears a helmet, they're
going to be crazier than they would otherwise. I'm sure there's a part of
the population that thinks like that. And I'm sure there's a part of the
population that rides more, not less carefully, wearing helmets. You could
make the same argument about seat belts and air bags. But you know what? I
don't care. Not today anyway, because that's not why I posted.

I should have known better than to think anything with the word "helmet" in
it wouldn't start something up.

And remember, I'm the guy who's dead-set against mandatory helmet laws for
kids. So maybe consider that I wasn't out trolling, I was just talking about
the costs involved, and that maybe it makes sense to wear a cheaper helmet
when out mountain biking. Or not.

- Frank Krygowski

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com


wrote in message
...
On Dec 10, 7:16 pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
wrote:
Ouch. Not physically, but financially. I've broken two Giro Atmos helmets
in
crashes this year. First one happened when my son did something screwy
while
descending, causing me to run into his rear wheel and off the road into
the
culvert, where I flipped over and landed on my bike. Thankfully just a
couple little bruises, that's all. Oh, plus a cracked helmet.

Yep. They're fragile, all right!

Then yesterday
I'm riding the "punchbowl" (a dried-up reservoir with steep sides that
you
can ride down into and up the other side... lots of fun!) and didn't
quite
get the speed right to land on the 4-ft-wide berm, causing me to grab a
bit
more front brake than I should have (to keep from going over the other
side). I, fortunately, didn't go over the other side, but the bike went
over
me after I did a flip over the bars that my kids thought rather funny.
And
cracked another helmet.

Last time I damaged a helmet was maybe 25 years ago. Not a good trend!
:)

Were you doing those kinds of stunts 25 years ago?

Your riding style and mine seem much different. I tend to avoid the
kind of riding that makes wearing a helmet seem logical. As a bonus,
I seem to avoid scraped knees, broken collarbones, damaged bike parts,
etc.

IOW, I don't "risk compensate" myself into those problems.

- Frank Krygowski

In article ,
Tom Sherman wrote:

aka Frank Krygowski wrote:
On Dec 10, 7:16 pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
wrote:
Ouch. Not physically, but financially. I've broken two Giro Atmos helmets
in
crashes this year.

Then yesterday
I'm riding the "punchbowl" (a dried-up reservoir with steep sides that you
can ride down into and up the other side... lots of fun!) and didn't quite
get the speed right to land on the 4-ft-wide berm, causing me to grab a
bit

To add some fuel to the fire, I will mention that "going over the bars"
is EXTREMELY unlikely on a proper recumbent bicycle.

Riding the punchbowl is even less likely.

--
Ryan Cousineau http://www.wiredcola.com/
"My scenarios may give the impression I could be an excellent crook.
Not true - I am a talented lawyer." - Sandy in rec.bicycles.racing

To add some fuel to the fire, I will mention that "going over the bars"
is EXTREMELY unlikely on a proper recumbent bicycle.

Riding the punchbowl is even less likely.

But it sure would be fun to watch!

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com


"Ryan Cousineau" wrote in message
]...
In article ,
Tom Sherman wrote:

aka Frank Krygowski wrote:
On Dec 10, 7:16 pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
wrote:
Ouch. Not physically, but financially. I've broken two Giro Atmos
helmets
in
crashes this year.

Then yesterday
I'm riding the "punchbowl" (a dried-up reservoir with steep sides that
you
can ride down into and up the other side... lots of fun!) and didn't
quite
get the speed right to land on the 4-ft-wide berm, causing me to grab
a
bit

To add some fuel to the fire, I will mention that "going over the bars"
is EXTREMELY unlikely on a proper recumbent bicycle.

Riding the punchbowl is even less likely.

--
Ryan Cousineau http://www.wiredcola.com/
"My scenarios may give the impression I could be an excellent crook.
Not true - I am a talented lawyer." - Sandy in rec.bicycles.racing

"Mike Jacoubowsky" wrote in message
. net...

And remember, I'm the guy who's dead-set against mandatory helmet laws for
kids. So maybe consider that I wasn't out trolling, I was just talking
about the costs involved, and that maybe it makes sense to wear a cheaper
helmet when out mountain biking. Or not.

You might try duct taping a bunch of those packing peanuts together in the
shape of a helmet instead. Or don't you know one of those bike dealer
people that could get you a crate of helmets at cost? :-)

And yeah, I'd watch a video of a recumbent riding the punchbowl. Just get
it up on youtube. No helmets required.

"Cathy Kearns" wrote in message
et...

"Mike Jacoubowsky" wrote in message
. net...

And remember, I'm the guy who's dead-set against mandatory helmet laws
for kids. So maybe consider that I wasn't out trolling, I was just
talking about the costs involved, and that maybe it makes sense to wear a
cheaper helmet when out mountain biking. Or not.

You might try duct taping a bunch of those packing peanuts together in the
shape of a helmet instead. Or don't you know one of those bike dealer
people that could get you a crate of helmets at cost? :-)

And yeah, I'd watch a video of a recumbent riding the punchbowl. Just get
it up on youtube. No helmets required.

Cathy: So who do we goad into it? There's got to be somebody crazy enough to
try! We could sell tickets and turn it into a fund raiser. Maybe a
scholarship to take people to the DC Bike Summit. Or build a new
multi-purpose room (do they still call them that?) for your kids' school.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com