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France helmet observation (not a troll)



 
 
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  #1  
Old August 7th 03, 08:12 PM
Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles
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Default France helmet observation (not a troll)

Looking back over my latest trip to France during the TDF, I just realized a
significant difference between this and years past. The use of helmets
among serious recreational cyclists (not racers) has increased dramatically
between this year and last. Add to this the fact that it seems nobody uses
inexpensive helmets over there (just about everything sitting on someone's
head is in the $100+ range), and you wonder how much of helmet use is
dictated by fashion... the idea here being that, since the Pros now have to
use helmets, it's now trendy to wear one if you're a recreational cyclist.

In the US, I don't think fashion has much to do with why somebody wears a
helmet (although it may have something to do with why some do not?), so
those wearing helmets frequently buy fairly inexpensive models that are
probably 100% as functional as the high-end versions, but perhaps not quite
as well ventilated or trendy in appearance.

Just observations here, not trying to start a pro or anti-helmet thread.

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
IMBA, BikesBelong, NBDA member


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  #2  
Old August 7th 03, 10:19 PM
Andrew Price
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Default France helmet observation (not a troll)


"Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles" wrote
in message .com...
the idea here being that, since the Pros now have to use helmets, it's now

trendy to wear one if you're a recreational cyclist.


Mike - I would not underestimate the effect the conduct of the worlds best
at anything has on mere mortals: if the gods do it, who are we to argue?

On a sort of related topic, I wonder has Lance's success increased people
asking for OCLV's? - it can't have done any harm but is there a noticeable
sales relationship?

best, Andrew


  #3  
Old August 7th 03, 10:27 PM
S. Anderson
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Default France helmet observation (not a troll)


"Andrew Price" wrote in message
...


Mike - I would not underestimate the effect the conduct of the worlds best
at anything has on mere mortals: if the gods do it, who are we to argue?

On a sort of related topic, I wonder has Lance's success increased people
asking for OCLV's? - it can't have done any harm but is there a noticeable
sales relationship?

best, Andrew


I think there is a link to sales and winning races. Auto and motorcycle
companies have seen this for years..win on Sunday, sell on Monday. How many
Monte Carlo SS's has GM sold because of Dale Earnhardt?? They certainly
aren't selling cause they're great cars.

Cheers,

Scott..


  #4  
Old August 8th 03, 04:18 AM
Mike Latondresse
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Default France helmet observation (not a troll)

"Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles"
wrote in .com:

Looking back over my latest trip to France during the TDF, I just
realized a significant difference between this and years past.
The use of helmets among serious recreational cyclists (not
racers) has increased dramatically between this year and last.


I have noticed that over a period of years, and yes a giant difference
this year. The first time I went over there I was the only one wearing
one and felt kinda odd. This year I saw a helmetless guy get killed
coming down Mt Ventoux on the Malaucene road when tried to take off his
jacket while riding (cold as hell at the top) and crashed. Would a
helmet have helped who knows (here we will have dozens of people argue
that it wouldn't) but there still were a reasonable number not wearing
them, mostly older guys.
  #5  
Old August 8th 03, 09:28 AM
wafflyDIRTYcatLITTERhcsBOX
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Default France helmet observation (not a troll)

What's going on in France that's causing kids to avoid cycling?

After doing the Randonee in Paris, the next day the family & I drove over to
Cologne in Germany and spent a week cycling in the area. Cologne is *very*
cycle friendly - there is an *excellent* map produced of all the cycle paths &
routes in the city and surrounding area. Over there almost all cycling is on
cycling paths and it seems as if almost everyone from tiny kids to aged
grandparents cycles - as a normal and accepted method of getting about in daily
life. Also hardly anyone wears a cycle helmet. Husband, son & I stood out
because we do ;-)The plus side is the amount of cycling done by all age groups
- the downside is that because it's mostly all on cycle paths, it's relatively
slow. Even yours truly - fatbirdonabike, found it slow going. Another plus
point - motorists have to give way to pedestrians and cyclists crossing the
roads except where the crossing has traffic light control. Also - cyclists and
pedestrians mix well in the "pedestrianised" areas. Possibly because so many
people use bikes anyhow, it's seen as normal to cycle.

Back to cycling in France. I cycled through Paris and around the big Champs
Elysee roundabout in the Paris rush-hour on the Saturday. Even then I found it
much less hazardous in feeling than cycling in an average UK town. Even in
Paris, a busy capital city, the motorists were noticeably more considerate to
cyclists - leaving plenty of room when passing. A few French people I spoke
with said how bad Paris was for cycling these days - but I had to say it was
much more pleasant than cycling in a typical large UK town/city. Indeed, a
common enough point then was that the French people had heard the same from
several Brits/Americans they had spoken to over that weekend - that cycling in
Paris was a much more pleasantly safe experience than in their resepctive home
towns/ countries.

In both places, France and Germany, it was lovely to experience cycling as a
normal and accepted method of transport that just about everybody seemed to
participate in one way or another.

Cheers, helen s


~~~~~~~~~~
This is sent from a redundant email
Mail sent to it is dumped
My correct one can be gleaned from
h$**$*$el$**e$n$**$d$**$o$*$t**$$s$**$im$mo$ns*@a$ **o$l.c$$*o$*m*$
by getting rid of the overdependence on money and fame
~~~~~~~~~~
  #6  
Old August 8th 03, 02:47 PM
mark
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Default France helmet observation (not a troll)


"wafflyDIRTYcatLITTERhcsBOX" wrote
After doing the Randonee in Paris, the next day the family & I drove over

to
Cologne in Germany and spent a week cycling in the area. Cologne is *very*
cycle friendly - there is an *excellent* map produced of all the cycle

paths &
routes in the city and surrounding area. Over there almost all cycling is

on
cycling paths and it seems as if almost everyone from tiny kids to aged
grandparents cycles - as a normal and accepted method of getting about in

daily
life. Also hardly anyone wears a cycle helmet. Husband, son & I stood out
because we do ;-)The plus side is the amount of cycling done by all age

groups
- the downside is that because it's mostly all on cycle paths, it's

relatively
slow. Even yours truly - fatbirdonabike, found it slow going. Another plus
point - motorists have to give way to pedestrians and cyclists crossing

the
roads except where the crossing has traffic light control. Also - cyclists

and
pedestrians mix well in the "pedestrianised" areas. Possibly because so

many
people use bikes anyhow, it's seen as normal to cycle.


When I lived in Germany as a child (Bonn, Munich, 1965-74), Germany seemed
well on it's way to becoming a society dominated by cars, becoming less
cycle friendly as the years went by and the country became more prosperous.
There were still plenty of cyclists,lots of good cycling facilities, public
transport was quite good (and well used), but it was very apparent that cars
were becoming more and more dominant. It's very encouraging to hear that
that trend has started to reverse itself. Maybe a few more countries can do
the same?

--
mark


  #7  
Old August 8th 03, 03:09 PM
Terry Morse
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Default France helmet observation (not a troll)

Mike Latondresse wrote:

This year I saw a helmetless guy get killed
coming down Mt Ventoux on the Malaucene road when tried to take off his
jacket while riding (cold as hell at the top) and crashed.


You were on Ventoux when it was cold? How fortunate. We rode it on
July 16th, when the temperature in the valley got up to 40 C.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA http://www.terrymorse.com/bike/
  #8  
Old August 8th 03, 06:45 PM
Appkiller
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Default France helmet observation (not a troll)

snip
How many
Monte Carlo SS's has GM sold because of Dale Earnhardt?? They certainly
aren't selling cause they're great cars.

snip

Nor that they have such attractive styling!

App
  #9  
Old August 12th 03, 07:58 PM
Pan Loaf
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Default France helmet observation (not a troll)

O
On Thu, 07 Aug 2003 19:12:52 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction
Bicycles" wrote:

Looking back over my latest trip to France during the TDF, I just realized a
significant difference between this and years past. The use of helmets
among serious recreational cyclists (not racers) has increased dramatically
between this year and last. Add to this the fact that it seems nobody uses
inexpensive helmets over there (just about everything sitting on someone's
head is in the $100+ range), and you wonder how much of helmet use is
dictated by fashion... the idea here being that, since the Pros now have to
use helmets, it's now trendy to wear one if you're a recreational cyclist.



I too have just come back from France and would have to agree with
this observation.

Almost all of the racers and racer wannabes that you see are now
wearing helmets, though some of the older blokes are hanging on to
their racing caps.

It also seemed to me that more of the less uniformed recreational
cyclists were wearing helmets than in years past.

The numerous less uniformed cyclists who just use their bikes to get
about the place (are they any less serious?) seem to have stuck with
the traditional choice of a bagette or lit cigarette as essential
accessories.

  #10  
Old August 13th 03, 03:22 AM
Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles
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Posts: n/a
Default France helmet observation (not a troll)

I'd disagree about the fashion part: it is probably more a case of
wanting to get every advantage, no matter how small, and helmets
do reduce air resistance enough to make a difference in a close
race (e.g., a time trial.)


So, if Fignon had to do it (the infamous 1989 TDF final time trial) all over
again, he'd choose a non-stylish but aero helmet over his bare head with
decidedly non-aero ponytail flowing behind?

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

"Bill Z." wrote in message
...
Pan Loaf writes:

O
On Thu, 07 Aug 2003 19:12:52 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction
Bicycles" wrote:

Looking back over my latest trip to France during the TDF, I just

realized a
significant difference between this and years past. The use of

helmets
among serious recreational cyclists (not racers) has increased

dramatically
between this year and last. Add to this the fact that it seems nobody

uses
inexpensive helmets over there (just about everything sitting on

someone's
head is in the $100+ range), and you wonder how much of helmet use is
dictated by fashion... the idea here being that, since the Pros now

have to
use helmets, it's now trendy to wear one if you're a recreational

cyclist.


I too have just come back from France and would have to agree with
this observation.


I'd disagree about the fashion part: it is probably more a case of
wanting to get every advantage, no matter how small, and helmets
do reduce air resistance enough to make a difference in a close
race (e.g., a time trial.)

I've never raced, but I have done a lot of climbing and climbers
will often buy the "best" shoes even though the difference is
negligible except on the very hardest climbs. It is to get
a psychological boost, not because of fashion. BTW, "best"
in this case varies from person to person due to a variety
of factors, so it is not like everyone uses the same type of
shoes.

Bill


--
My real name backwards: nemuaZ lliB



 




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