Andrew Chaplin wrote:
Frank Krygowski wrote in news:mpldnc$kp7$1@dont-
email.me:


FWIW, I find eyeglass-mounted mirrors to be much superior to helmet
mounted ones. Positional stability is better, ease of attachment is
greater, and of course it works with any (or no) hat. And as a little
detail, I can even use it flat-water kayaking, to make sure my wife
doesn't get too far behind in her boat.


I haven't yet found a satisfactory mirror, period. I face optical
challenges similar to those John B. mentions.


And isn't it interesting that helmets are still number one the minds of
Americans in the "bike safety" category? Have you ever been
complimented for obeying the rules of the road?


Yes.


For bicycling only when sober?


No, but it hasn't come up.


For properly choosing your lane position? Probably not.


Actually, yes.


But a funny hat intended to prevent the 0.6% of the brain injury
fatalities in America that occur while cycling? Oh, gosh, that's very
important.


Over the past 10 years I have been struck twice by vehicles, come unstuck
three times, and been thrown when a gap between two gratings grabbed my
front wheel. On the one occasion that necessitated a visit to an emergency
room, I was asked if I had been wearing a helmet--I had; they collect that
data for epidemiology and offer no judgement. On the two occasions when my
head did impact the ground, my helmet prevented injury.

I feel ill-equipped when I am astride a bicycle and helmetless. YMMV. No
one has yet complimented me for wearing a helmet, only for wearing a
blinking light on it so I am more visible. But then, I am nearly 59 and
not looking for compliments. Full disclosu I spent over 25 years in the
army and got paid to wear a steel helmet, so I find this styrofoam
headgear they flog to us cyclists is not much of an imposition.
--
Andrew Chaplin
SIT MIHI GLADIUS SICUT SANCTO MARTINO
(If you're going to e-mail me, you'll have to get "yourfinger." out.)

I was stopped at a light in downtown Northampton, MA one winter day on my
return commute from Amherst and a lady on the corner congratulated me for
riding the bike in the winter. She said she was very impressed with people who
forsook their motorized transport in winter to pedal a bicycle.

However...she then asked me why I was not wearing a bicycle helmet; only a
winter knit cap and thought someone as socially responsible as I obviously was,
would not value their head more.

Fortunately, before I could have a bicycle-pedestrian debate on the merits of
the bicycle helmet, the light turned green and any chance of controversy had
vanished.


SMH