USA helmet laws.

On May 4, 7:31*am, "Simon Mason" wrote:
"Ian Smith" wrote in message

. ..

On Mon, 4 May 2009, Simon Mason wrote:

*Interesting story about USA motorcyclists' fight to ride without
*helmets which means that in the majority of states, they can ride a
*100 mph+ machine with no crash hat. There are a lot of parallels
*with UK cyclists, notably:

*"You sit at a stoplight, especially in Florida, you're sitting
*there in 100 percent humidity, and the sun is beating down on you,
*and that heat's coming up off the road, which is like 140, 150
*degrees

Global warming has evidently had more impact on Hull than I would
have expected

I've ridden when it was 33 Celsius a few years ago, I wouldn't like to have
had a plastic hat on even that (relatively low) temperature.

I've ridden in 36-37C weather with a helmet and it is not all that bad
but I doubt if I'd do it again. The real problem that I found was
that perseperation would build up in the helmet and suddenly release a
flow of nice salty water into the eyes. I came close to crashing
twice that way (once decending a hill at about 70 k/h and decided that
helmets were too dangerous to wear.

John Kane Kingston ON Canada

John Kane wrote:
On May 4, 7:31 am, "Simon Mason" wrote:
"Ian Smith" wrote in message

. ..

On Mon, 4 May 2009, Simon Mason wrote:
Interesting story about USA motorcyclists' fight to ride without
helmets which means that in the majority of states, they can ride a
100 mph+ machine with no crash hat. There are a lot of parallels
with UK cyclists, notably:
"You sit at a stoplight, especially in Florida, you're sitting
there in 100 percent humidity, and the sun is beating down on you,
and that heat's coming up off the road, which is like 140, 150
degrees
Global warming has evidently had more impact on Hull than I would
have expected
I've ridden when it was 33 Celsius a few years ago, I wouldn't like to have
had a plastic hat on even that (relatively low) temperature.

I've ridden in 36-37C weather with a helmet and it is not all that bad
but I doubt if I'd do it again. The real problem that I found was
that perseperation would build up in the helmet and suddenly release a
flow of nice salty water into the eyes. I came close to crashing
twice that way (once decending a hill at about 70 k/h and decided that
helmets were too dangerous to wear.

Only 70K? The average cyclist can reach 60MPH downhill( sic)

On May 4, 8:04*am, Jolly Polly wrote:
Simon Mason wrote:

"Just zis Guy, you know?" wrote in message
.. .
It later emerged that the states with the
increased fatalities were those which had retained the laws, while the
states which had repealed them had actually seen reductions in
fatalities per mile travelled.

And of course the helmeteers went on to say that yes, well, that's all
very interesting, but they were right anyway because of Common Sense,
which as we know trumps evidence every time.

Ha ha, brilliant!

I do believe that in many instances the wearing of a motorcycle helmet
actually encourages the rider to go faster.

Having ridden without one, I can tell you its virtually impossible to
ride at above 40mph and very uncomfortable at speeds approaching that.
Your eyes constantly stream and a tiny bit of sand in them feels like a
brick. In order to avoid this you slow down. Put a fullface helmet on,
and that problem is eliminated and you can dial-in any speed you like

Yes, you could wear goggles I suppose, but if your going to go to the
trouble of wearing some form of kit, you may as well wear a (fullface)
helmet, at least in this country where its mostly cold or wet or both

Living in a state (Texas) where helmets are not required on motorbikes
here's a few points...

1, If you choose not to wear a helmet you have to have proof that you
have either health insurance or personal funds to cover injury (min
$10000)
2, I often get overtaken by helmetless riders on the motorway at
70mph. E.g. yesterday, Ducati Monster ridden at about 80mph, shorts, t-
shirt, no helmet.
3, As a cyclist I always wear a fully vented lid in the summer, where
temps average 100f., to keep the heat off where. I've tried no lid and
a cycling hat, but my head stays cooler with a lid on.

On 4 May, 14:54, Marc wrote:
John Kane wrote:
On May 4, 7:31 am, "Simon Mason" wrote:
"Ian Smith" wrote in message

k...

On Mon, 4 May 2009, Simon Mason wrote:
*Interesting story about USA motorcyclists' fight to ride without
*helmets which means that in the majority of states, they can ride a
*100 mph+ machine with no crash hat. There are a lot of parallels
*with UK cyclists, notably:
*"You sit at a stoplight, especially in Florida, you're sitting
*there in 100 percent humidity, and the sun is beating down on you,
*and that heat's coming up off the road, which is like 140, 150
*degrees
Global warming has evidently had more impact on Hull than I would
have expected
I've ridden when it was 33 Celsius a few years ago, I wouldn't like to have
had a plastic hat on even that (relatively low) temperature.

I've ridden in 36-37C weather with a helmet and it is not all that bad
but I doubt if I'd do it again. *The real problem that I found was
that perseperation would build up in the helmet and suddenly release a
flow of nice salty water into the eyes. *I came close to crashing
twice that way (once decending a hill at about 70 k/h and decided that
helmets were too dangerous to wear.

Only 70K? The average cyclist can reach 60MPH downhill( sic)

Yes, a 200' vertical hill perhaps

"Marz" wrote in message
...


Living in a state (Texas) where helmets are not required on motorbikes
here's a few points...


2, I often get overtaken by helmetless riders on the motorway at
70mph. E.g. yesterday, Ducati Monster ridden at about 80mph, shorts, t-
shirt, no helmet.

Is the speed limit 55 mph there, Marz?
Where's Boss Hogg when you need him? ;-)


--
Simon Mason
http://www.simonmason.karoo.net/

On May 4, 12:52*pm, "Simon Mason"
wrote:
"Marz" wrote in message

...

Living in a state (Texas) where helmets are not required on motorbikes
here's a few points...

2, I often get overtaken by helmetless riders on the motorway at
70mph. E.g. yesterday, Ducati Monster ridden at about 80mph, shorts, t-
shirt, no helmet.

Is the speed limit 55 mph there, Marz?
Where's Boss Hogg when you need him? ;-)

--
Simon Masonhttp://www.simonmason.karoo.net/

Speed limit varies between 55 and 75mph depending on how urban an area
is. Though if no cops are in sight then folks average about +10 the
posted limit, but rarely +20mph as getting caught doing more than
20mph than the speed limit can mean jail time.

Driving at the speed limit is scary as you're in danger of being
flattened by a Hummer.

On Mon, 4 May 2009 06:33:29 -0700 (PDT), John Kane
wrote:

snip


I've ridden in 36-37C weather with a helmet and it is not all that bad
but I doubt if I'd do it again. The real problem that I found was
that perseperation would build up in the helmet and suddenly release a
flow of nice salty water into the eyes. I came close to crashing
twice that way (once decending a hill at about 70 k/h and decided that
helmets were too dangerous to wear.

John Kane Kingston ON Canada


Is that why the TdF go so slowly - they know it will be dangerous if
they go fast whilst they wear a helmet and get sweat in their eyes?


--

"Primary position" the middle of a traffic lane. To take the "primary position" : to ride a bike in the middle of the lane in order to obstruct other road vehicles from overtaking.

A term invented by and used by psycholists and not recognised in the Highway Code.

Highway Code Rule 168 : "Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass."

On May 4, 12:07*pm, "Just zis Guy, you know?"
wrote:
On Mon, 4 May 2009 10:11:55 +0100, "Simon Mason"

wrote:
Interesting story about USA motorcyclists' fight to ride without helmets
which means that in the majority of states, they can ride a 100 mph+ machine
with no crash hat.

One of the more amusing cases of fact-blindness, in fact. *When a few
states repealed their helmet laws there was a story in Time which
decried the massive increase in motorcyclist fatalities inna
"why-oh-why" stylee. *It later emerged that the states with the
increased fatalities were those which had retained the laws, while the
states which had repealed them had actually seen reductions in
fatalities per mile travelled.

Careful, you're going against your own Moderator Rule: *never* defend
motorists or motorcyclists. You won't achieve that socialist utopia
at this rate.

And of course the helmeteers went on to say that yes, well, that's all
very interesting, but they were right anyway because of Common Sense,
which as we know trumps evidence every time.

You mean like the "Common Sense" which says that speed cameras work,
despite the steady year-on-year increase in the fatality gap which
started exactly when they came in?

(Oh sorry, no, that's not common sense, it's just simple-minded
"slower must be safer" in the case of some people, and car-hating
deceit in the case of others, like you. There are a few people who
are neither thick nor dishonest who believe that cameras work, but
only a few.)

On May 4, 2:19*pm, "Simon Mason" wrote:
"Jolly Polly" wrote in message

...



Having ridden without one, I can tell you its virtually impossible to
ride at above 40mph and very uncomfortable at speeds approaching that.
Your eyes constantly stream and a tiny bit of sand in them feels like a
brick. In order to avoid this you slow down. Put a fullface helmet on,
and that problem is eliminated and you can dial-in any speed you like

When I first rode a motorbike, I had an open face helmet on and yes, your
eyes did stream a lot. I can't remember it slowing me down much, but then
again, I was 17 and immortal.

Are you saying that even you were young and foolish once? ;-)

On May 4, 7:19*pm, Marz wrote:
Speed limit varies between 55 and 75mph depending on how urban an area
is. Though if no cops are in sight then folks average about +10 the
posted limit, but rarely +20mph as getting caught doing more than
20mph than the speed limit can mean jail time.

Jesus. It's not just this country whose speed-related enforcement
needs reform then. Getting jail time for going at 95mph on one of
those long, straight, open, empty roads is bonkers.