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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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