A Pleasant Helmet Debate

02-23-2004, 12:18 PM

Was riding my bike through downtown Northampton late
last week from work and stopped at a light at the main
intersection of town. While waiting for the light to
turn green, a woman walked up to the street corner and
after looking me over a bit, spoke.

"I admire your spunk, riding in weather like this!".
I replied it really wasn't a big deal. It was actually
about mid-30's and anything above 20 is pretty good for
this winter.

"We need more people like you riding bikes to help with
the pollution problem." "Indeed yes" I replied.

"But you're not wearing a helmet". "No I don't really
take to them. I think they're over-sold for safety". I
have become deadened towards helmet scoldings. Just about
every organized ride I've ever done over the past 5-7 years
has had someone ride up alongside of me and critique my
sanity by not wearing a helmet. Sometimes it's a very
righteous warning, sometimes downright rude.

"My life was saved by a helmet once", she declared. I
replied that most everyone I know who wears a helmet has
had their life spared by its use.

She smiled slowly, looking almost amused at what I'd said.
The light changed to green. Time to continue on. "Well
have a pleasant ride home. Keep up the good work!"

"Thanks!" A nice lady and about the most pleasant and brief
helmet debate I've ever engaged in. I don't think much more
needed to be said by either of us, and I certainly parted
feeling a little better from her pleasant remarks and manner
in stating them.

SMH

02-23-2004, 12:39 PM

On Mon, 23 Feb 2004 16:18:28 -0500, Stephen Harding wrote:

> Was riding my bike through downtown Northampton late
> last week from work and stopped at a light at the main
> intersection of town. While waiting for the light to
> turn green, a woman walked up to the street corner and
> after looking me over a bit, spoke.
>
> "I admire your spunk, riding in weather like this!".
> I replied it really wasn't a big deal. It was actually
> about mid-30's and anything above 20 is pretty good for
> this winter.
>
> "We need more people like you riding bikes to help with
> the pollution problem." "Indeed yes" I replied.
>
> "But you're not wearing a helmet". "No I don't really
> take to them. I think they're over-sold for safety". I
> have become deadened towards helmet scoldings. Just about
> every organized ride I've ever done over the past 5-7 years
> has had someone ride up alongside of me and critique my
> sanity by not wearing a helmet. Sometimes it's a very
> righteous warning, sometimes downright rude.
>
> "My life was saved by a helmet once", she declared. I
> replied that most everyone I know who wears a helmet has
> had their life spared by its use.
>
> She smiled slowly, looking almost amused at what I'd said.
> The light changed to green. Time to continue on. "Well
> have a pleasant ride home. Keep up the good work!"
>
> "Thanks!" A nice lady and about the most pleasant and brief
> helmet debate I've ever engaged in. I don't think much more
> needed to be said by either of us, and I certainly parted
> feeling a little better from her pleasant remarks and manner
> in stating them.
>
>
> SMH

I wish you luck trying to keep this pleasant!
Peter

--
This transmission is certified free of viruses as no Microsoft products
were used in its preparation or propagation.

02-23-2004, 12:39 PM

On Mon, 23 Feb 2004 16:18:28 -0500, Stephen Harding wrote:

> Was riding my bike through downtown Northampton late
> last week from work and stopped at a light at the main
> intersection of town. While waiting for the light to
> turn green, a woman walked up to the street corner and
> after looking me over a bit, spoke.
>
> "I admire your spunk, riding in weather like this!".
> I replied it really wasn't a big deal. It was actually
> about mid-30's and anything above 20 is pretty good for
> this winter.
>
> "We need more people like you riding bikes to help with
> the pollution problem." "Indeed yes" I replied.
>
> "But you're not wearing a helmet". "No I don't really
> take to them. I think they're over-sold for safety". I
> have become deadened towards helmet scoldings. Just about
> every organized ride I've ever done over the past 5-7 years
> has had someone ride up alongside of me and critique my
> sanity by not wearing a helmet. Sometimes it's a very
> righteous warning, sometimes downright rude.
>
> "My life was saved by a helmet once", she declared. I
> replied that most everyone I know who wears a helmet has
> had their life spared by its use.
>
> She smiled slowly, looking almost amused at what I'd said.
> The light changed to green. Time to continue on. "Well
> have a pleasant ride home. Keep up the good work!"
>
> "Thanks!" A nice lady and about the most pleasant and brief
> helmet debate I've ever engaged in. I don't think much more
> needed to be said by either of us, and I certainly parted
> feeling a little better from her pleasant remarks and manner
> in stating them.
>
>
> SMH

I wish you luck trying to keep this pleasant!
Peter

--
This transmission is certified free of viruses as no Microsoft products
were used in its preparation or propagation.

02-23-2004, 02:01 PM

My life was saved by my left arm.

It cradled my skull when I went over the bars in a traffic crash. a
h*lm*t might have done as well. I'm ambivalent.

-Luigi

02-23-2004, 02:01 PM

My life was saved by my left arm.

It cradled my skull when I went over the bars in a traffic crash. a
h*lm*t might have done as well. I'm ambivalent.

-Luigi

02-23-2004, 05:46 PM

Well, I doubt you'll get as sweet a responce here, LOL! In fact, I find
it rather amazing how short this thread is!

BTW, I don't ride anywhere without a helmet, But that's my choice.

"May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

02-23-2004, 05:46 PM

Well, I doubt you'll get as sweet a responce here, LOL! In fact, I find
it rather amazing how short this thread is!

BTW, I don't ride anywhere without a helmet, But that's my choice.

"May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

02-23-2004, 08:34 PM

i don't like helmets either, but i think if i don't wear one, that will be
the pricise time that i would have needed it

and my mom told me to wear it too

"Stephen Harding" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].umass.edu...
> Was riding my bike through downtown Northampton late
> last week from work and stopped at a light at the main
> intersection of town. While waiting for the light to
> turn green, a woman walked up to the street corner and
> after looking me over a bit, spoke.
>
> "I admire your spunk, riding in weather like this!".
> I replied it really wasn't a big deal. It was actually
> about mid-30's and anything above 20 is pretty good for
> this winter.
>
> "We need more people like you riding bikes to help with
> the pollution problem." "Indeed yes" I replied.
>
> "But you're not wearing a helmet". "No I don't really
> take to them. I think they're over-sold for safety". I
> have become deadened towards helmet scoldings. Just about
> every organized ride I've ever done over the past 5-7 years
> has had someone ride up alongside of me and critique my
> sanity by not wearing a helmet. Sometimes it's a very
> righteous warning, sometimes downright rude.
>
> "My life was saved by a helmet once", she declared. I
> replied that most everyone I know who wears a helmet has
> had their life spared by its use.
>
> She smiled slowly, looking almost amused at what I'd said.
> The light changed to green. Time to continue on. "Well
> have a pleasant ride home. Keep up the good work!"
>
> "Thanks!" A nice lady and about the most pleasant and brief
> helmet debate I've ever engaged in. I don't think much more
> needed to be said by either of us, and I certainly parted
> feeling a little better from her pleasant remarks and manner
> in stating them.
>
>
> SMH
>

02-23-2004, 08:34 PM

i don't like helmets either, but i think if i don't wear one, that will be
the pricise time that i would have needed it

and my mom told me to wear it too

"Stephen Harding" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].umass.edu...
> Was riding my bike through downtown Northampton late
> last week from work and stopped at a light at the main
> intersection of town. While waiting for the light to
> turn green, a woman walked up to the street corner and
> after looking me over a bit, spoke.
>
> "I admire your spunk, riding in weather like this!".
> I replied it really wasn't a big deal. It was actually
> about mid-30's and anything above 20 is pretty good for
> this winter.
>
> "We need more people like you riding bikes to help with
> the pollution problem." "Indeed yes" I replied.
>
> "But you're not wearing a helmet". "No I don't really
> take to them. I think they're over-sold for safety". I
> have become deadened towards helmet scoldings. Just about
> every organized ride I've ever done over the past 5-7 years
> has had someone ride up alongside of me and critique my
> sanity by not wearing a helmet. Sometimes it's a very
> righteous warning, sometimes downright rude.
>
> "My life was saved by a helmet once", she declared. I
> replied that most everyone I know who wears a helmet has
> had their life spared by its use.
>
> She smiled slowly, looking almost amused at what I'd said.
> The light changed to green. Time to continue on. "Well
> have a pleasant ride home. Keep up the good work!"
>
> "Thanks!" A nice lady and about the most pleasant and brief
> helmet debate I've ever engaged in. I don't think much more
> needed to be said by either of us, and I certainly parted
> feeling a little better from her pleasant remarks and manner
> in stating them.
>
>
> SMH
>

02-24-2004, 04:28 AM

Luigi de Guzman wrote:

> My life was saved by my left arm.
>
> It cradled my skull when I went over the bars in a traffic crash. a
> h*lm*t might have done as well. I'm ambivalent.

Perhaps a couple more left arms might be useful then?

SMH