I’ve rejigged the menus on the left because I now want to link to some more web forums across Europe. There are forums in Germany, Sweden, Norway and Finland linked now. Maybe there’ll be some more. Some interesting stuff, but most of it in a language you don’t really understand unless you’re fluent in it.
Having just received my Christmas present four months late (thanks Zyro, you’re good aren’t you?) I was interested to see this blaggers guide to a do-it-yourself workstand. Seems feasible.
After yesterdays post I wrote this last night. I’m pro-helmet. I wear mine when I go out riding. I don’t wear it when I sprint the 5 minutes to work from my flat. The odds are that I am probably as likely to have a serious accident in five minutes hammering it to the shop as I am in five minutes hammering around the Coed-y-Brenin. The thing is I have a choice over whether I wear it or not. There is a concern about the proposals that this is the thin edge of the wedge and that soon I may not have a choice, especially if the BHIT get their way.
I also know having been in more bike vs car RTAs than I am comfortable with that a helmet does not provide the wearer with a power of invincibility. In fact I don’t know if a piece of polystyrene foam is going to make much difference if an Arctic takes me out. I doubt it. I do know that it probably saved me a worse headache last time I went through a car windscreen. I tell you what would save more lives than cyclists wearing helmets – if all cars on the roads were road safe with valid MOTs and driven by people with driving licences and insurance. Hell if the government really wanted to save lives they could ban cars from city centres altogether.
So whilst I am pro-helmet, I’m also anti compulsion. In fact the whole issue has actually made me write to my MP for only the second time ever (the first being prior to the start of the last Gulf War). This Bill has not be well written nor will it address a simple fact – British roads are not a safe or welcoming environment for cyclists. Body armour will not help nor should it be necessary.
There’s a further discussion going on here. Mark Alker’s comments I though have been very good.
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