Monthly Archives: August 2015

News, Opinion

Bicycle Helmets and Cycling Safety

Monday Motivation

“I attribute this to my success. I never gave or took any excuse.” –Florence Nightingale

Mandatory Helmet Laws and Cycling Safety

There has been a lot of discussion about whether the mandatory helmet laws are a good idea or not. Recently it resurfaced in the Australian Senate. (We’re talking traditional helmets here, not this kind.)

As I recall there are at least three main issues: 1) the effectiveness of helmets, 2) whether they help or hinder safety on the road, 3) whether helmet laws deter cycling in general.

On the effectiveness of helmets, I’ve had at least two concussions… er, that I can remember. The most serious one, referred to as “the alleged accident” at Velo Logic HQ, where I was unconscious and hospitalized, happened taking a gentle corner at 16-18 mph (according to a friend behind me).

Ever since then I’ve had doubts about the efficacy of helmet, though I still wear one.  (On helmet ineffectiveness see Robinson Dorothy, 2006. Do enforced bicycle helmet laws improve public health?. BMJ 2006;332:722-725.)

Regarding helmets effect on the road, research has shown that drivers give cyclists without helmets significantly more room when passing. (Ian Walker found that wearing a helmet led to a 23% increase in cars inside the 3 ft danger zone, Accident Analysis & Prevention, March 2007.)

In my opinion the issue is easily resolved. As the Aussies say, it’s bloody simple mate, leave it up to the cyclists, let each person decide whether to wear a helmet or not. We’re big boys and girls, we can make up our own minds and accept the consequences.

This is not a trivial issue, which is precisely why people should be able to decide for themselves, not forced to conform to what politicians and bureaucrats decide is best.

What say ye?

Australian Senate Inquiry Hears from Doctors and Academics

Cycling Demonstration for Fallen Cyclist Disrupted by Bus Collision

In Helsinki a group of 850 cyclists riding in honor of a cyclist killed in a collision with a car last week, were inadvertently part of a demonstration of just how dangerous cycling can be, when a bus ran into the group. Thankfully no one was seriously injured, but fisticuffs ensued between a cyclist and the bus driver.

Bus Collides with Cycling Safety Demonstrators

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Let’s make it a great week, no excuses.

News

The Top Ten Cycling Climbs in the US

Let’s face it, sprinting is fun, descending is thrilling, but the real action in cycling happens in the hills. When the road turns skyward, the gloves come off. If sprinting is a duel, over in a flash, climbing is a vicious, bare-knuckled slugfest that intensifies the agony and drags on, leaving everyone battered and bruised, even the victor.

And yet this brutal battle takes place not in a back alley, but in some of the most spectacular places on earth, heightening the drama and the spectacle.

We have a great selection of climbs here in the US, from the short and brutal, to the longest paved climb in the world (34 miles).

Courtesy of GCN, here’s the Top Ten Climbs in the US.

 

News

Youngest Person to Cycle Around the World

A 19 year old kid from England has done it… completed an 18,000 mile trip around the world.

It took Tom Davies of London just over 6 months, 174 days to be exact, to ride around the world.

The Around the World Route

Interactive map – Leg 1 (London to Istanbul): //ridewithgps.com/routes/6572038/embed

Interactive map – Leg 2 (Mumbai to Kolkata): //ridewithgps.com/routes/6576274/embed

Interactive map – Leg 3 (Mandalay to Ho Chi Minh): //ridewithgps.com/routes/6576365/embed

Interactive map – Leg 4 (Bangkok to Singapore): //ridewithgps.com/routes/6576647/embed

Interactive map – Leg 5 (Perth to Brisbane): //ridewithgps.com/routes/6581038/embed

Interactive map – Leg 6 (Dunedin to Auckland): //ridewithgps.com/routes/6581465/embed

Interactive map – Leg 7 (San Fransisco to Boston): //ridewithgps.com/routes/6588985/embed

Interactive map – Leg 8 (Lisbon to London)://ridewithgps.com/routes/6595323/embed

Read more about Tom Davies’ epic ride here:

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/teenager-celebrates-completing-18000-mile-around-the-world-ride-186585

You can check out his ride on Strava, he has 29,186 km so far this year.

New in the Velo Logic Store

Some new things in the Velo Logic store, looking for a good home:

Slaying the Badger – the real story behind the Lemond-Hinault clash

The Cyclist’s Bucket List – there’s a lot to cross off your list, better start now

News, Opinion

The Tragic Lesson of Mr Lock

Last month, Don Lock, a 79 year old cyclist in England was involved in a collision with a car. Details are sparse but allegedly road rage ensued and Mr Lock was stabbed to death.

Sickening. The Argus covers the story “Don Lock is Cycling Through the Pearly Gates:”

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/13593054.Don_Lock_is__cycling_through_the_pearly_gates__wearing_the_yellow_jersey_/

Difficult to believe someone could be that callous to a vulnerable cyclist and an elderly and defenseless man.

It’s hard to control your emotions when your life has been put in danger by some thoughtless action by a driver. But what good does it do you, or your family, if you survive the vehicle incident only to lose your life in the aftermath of emotions?

It’s a good reminder (driven home repeatedly by my self-defense instructor), that there are bad people that don’t give a damn and will kill you without a second thought, and that walking away from a confrontation, and getting back home to your family safely, is a win.

Keep your options open, deescalate and escape, because confrontations on the road rarely end well.

I’ve had at least three with drivers. One went well but I had been chasing the car for about 2 miles and had time to calm down and think it through, and when I pulled up alongside the car in the parking lot, it was two young kids. I stayed calm and kept it brief.

Another time I confronted the passenger of a car who had given me the finger as they passed on a mountain road on which I was doing hill repeats. I rode up to them in the parking lot at the top. It was two guys, punks in trench coats. I was tired and in my cleats. Had the guy I confronted decided to fight I probably would have been history. And if I had got the upper hand, his buddy would surely have jumped me.

Back then I had no idea what I was doing, I was just plain angry… usually a good sign that it’s time to walk away.

But let’s assume for a moment a scenario when everything turns out in your favor, you get into a confrontation, he’s not armed, has no friends, you go at it and you kick his butt.

What then? What do you gain? So you won the physical fight, that’s the easy part, it usually only lasts a few seconds. Then comes the legal fight, and that too has its cost, financial, psychological, it could take a months or years to resolve. It could even cost you your freedom.

It’s at least worth thinking about now, because when tempers flare on the road, it’s usually too late. As it was for Mr Lock.

Not what I planned to write about today but there you go. Had a road rage incident? Tell me about it.

Let’s try to keep brain engaged and fists holstered.

Stay safe.

 

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Davo Smith

Cycling Gear Reviews, News

Clever Low Tech Light for Your Bike

Here’s a neat little accessory that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Sigma have brought out a rear brake light for cyclists. It’s small, simple to install, and no fancy gimmicks… it won’t even tweet or post to Facebook that you slowed down. It attaches to your brake cable and is mechanically triggered when the brake calipers tighten. Simple.

Big advantage… the battery will last forever, well at least for months. They say 100,000 illuminations. Depending on how heavy you are on the brakes, that’s a long time.

Sigma’s $10 Brakelight

http://www.sigmasportstore.com/Sigma-Sport-Brake-Light-p/brakelight.htm

New Cycling Gear, News

World’s First 3D Printed Bike Frame

The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will. – Vince Lombardi

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World’s First 3D Printed Bike Frame

It’s a titanium alloy mountain bike from Empire Cycles. It consists of titanium alloy printed parts glued together.

3D printing is in its infancy… and expensive, so why do it? Well the big reason is that they can custom make intricate parts that are super light yet super strong. They do this by refining the design to remove any bits that are not contributing to the strength of the part.

Other advantages over traditional manufacturing:

Weight savings, traditional titanium frame weights 4.63 lbs, the 3D printed version 3.09 lbs – a weight saving of 33%

Lot more freedom in design, not limited to gluing tubes or molded segments together.

Design can be modified easily, you basically just edit a 3D model

Rapid prototyping and iteration, create and test designs quickly

There’s a lot more interesting stuff they can do too, such as print the actual serial number into the frame, or your name, or an RFID chip for identification. I imagine sponsors would love to have their logos printed into the frame.

The 3D frame cost $31,000 so don’t expect to buy one off the shelf anytime soon. Until then use a name sticker like everyone else.

http://empire-cycles.com/article.php?xArt=31

New Cycling Gear

The Bling Helmet: A Smart Helmet

Helmet technology has been pretty static for decades, but lately it’s been hotting up. I can think of a few helmets in the last couple of years, from the moderately innovative, to the radical “Invisible” helmet.

Now there’s a new shell for your nut, waiting in the wings. The Bling Helmet claims to be “smart” and brings new powers to the lowly and previously dumb helmet, including lights, music, phone calls, walkie-talkie and SOS messaging. Phew.

Livall Bling Helmet

The helmet comes with the Bling Jet, a remote control for your helmet. It allows you to control your helmet’s lights and control your phone, so you can answer calls, play music, and even shoot video of your ride.

The SOS Alert is triggered when the helmet detects a crash or fall, it automatically messages your emergency contacts.

Can’t you just see your buddies slapping you around your head trying to trigger the SOS message? Or is that just my idea of fun?

The Bling with the Jet remote control will retail for around $238.

The Bling Helmet is marketed as “the first smart and safe helmet.” Hmm… how safe is it to use that technology while riding?

IMO the big danger with phones is not the device and whether it’s hands-free or not, it’s the divided attention. You can’t have your full attention on the road, be fully aware of what’s happening around you, and be anticipating dangers and “what-ifs,” if you’re having a conversation with someone.

How about fiddling about on the handlebar remote trying to find that song?

Ain’t smart. Ain’t safe. Not saying you shouldn’t do it. I’ve done it in certain circumstances. But let’s have no illusions as to the dangers involved. And having our helmets call our friends to tell them we’re dead, but hey we went out rocking, isn’t much consolation.