Thread: A real WTF moment.

Originally Posted by DAMINK

Look mate i have rode bikes my whole life.
If you dont assume cars are trying to run you over then you have no right to ride a bike. Its the mentality a rider must have to avoid situations.
Your not a rider so you have no idea about this.

I'm a rider and I have many friends that are too. I too ride like everyone's out to get me and I'm still around thankfully but I have a mate that rides the same way, but still ended up almost being killed by a car that shot out from a driveway - behind a garage, so my mate riding carefully and safely ended up hit in the side by a car. Broken leg, lost an eye and 8 months off work. It can still happen no matter how careful you are if you're unlucky.

I do agree you're much more likely to get to a ripe old age with the right mentality behind the bars, which I see a complete lack of everyday by some riders I see.

I always wear protective clothing on the bike, and personally I think you're a fool if you don't IMHO, I have come off bikes at various speeds over the years (racing mostly)and have been so glad I had the gear on to protect me.

I don't really care if you don't, I just laugh when I see riders without the appropriate gear, the daughter and I have a quote we say when we see them, "chuckle..... that's gunna hurt"

It's just not worth it!!!!!

Baz.

Originally Posted by 4bee

But it is not just about Protective Gear & Personal choice is it?

It's also about the ongoing Medical Care you may need, & those family members who you will expect to look after you for years afterwards.
No, I am not a rider, so may be able to see it clearer from where I stand.

Seems like I can now rest my case, M'Lud.

All you riders can't be wrong.

Originally Posted by 4bee

Seems like I can now rest my case, M'Lud.

All you riders can't be wrong.

The minority have gone quite or fallen off their bike
Or are licking their (wounds)gravel rash

Originally Posted by Redback

I always wear protective clothing on the bike, and personally I think you're a fool if you don't IMHO, I have come off bikes at various speeds over the years (racing mostly)and have been so glad I had the gear on to protect me.

I don't really care if you don't, I just laugh when I see riders without the appropriate gear, the daughter and I have a quote we say when we see them, "chuckle..... that's gunna hurt"

It's just not worth it!!!!!

Baz.

I dont care but i don`t laugh either as i have been there
I still shake my head in disbelief at the tools

Statistically though i do wonder how many people die from motorbike accidents where they would have lived with the correct gear.
If your in a real bad crash odds are the protective gear will do little to nothing. Head on or riding into a tree for example.
I recall arguments being made that even helmets do little to help and at times can be dangerous themselves? Whiplash and limitations on view or something to that effect. Personally i dont agree with that but perhaps thats why the yanks can ride without them?

The smaller falls off bike sort of crashes then yea gear can at times help a lot.
I have told the story here of where i fell off my bike at 100kms and slid down the road a fair way. Did not have gloves on or my kevlar pants i normally wear. Just my leather jacket.
I had a little cut on my hand and my pants wore a hole in the bumb and wore into my wallet a bit. Thats the extent of my injuries that day so more gear would have made little to no difference. Very much circumstance based that one.

Back to the specific thread. Its not against the law for someone to not wear protective gear apart from a helmet the best i can tell.
So based on that then its THERE choice, and a choice they should be freely allowed to make without being criticised by people knowing better.

If medics have to scrape them off the road then good, more work for the medics!
If the family needs to listen to them cry and sook about the rash then good, family needs to feel needed.
If he gets 3 months off work and use up some of those sick days then good, he deserves it and earned em.

Yous old timers must be mortified when people do things like the World Naked Bike Ride (World Naked Bike Ride - Wikipedia) Imagine the potential gravel rash and crying there!!

Originally Posted by DAMINK

but perhaps thats why the yanks can ride without them?

There are only 3 states in the good 'ol US of A that don't have helmet laws - Iowa, Illonios and New Hampshire. All the others require some form of helmet to be worn when riding a motorcycle at some point although there are exceptions in other states. It's common misconception that you can ride a bike over there without a helmet - sort of like them thinking we ride around in Kangaroos pouches....