“Who is paying for these ads? The motor industry?” Cyclists blast Endura’s ‘Don’t be a helmet, wear one’ safety campaign… inspired by guy who rode a Lime Bike into a canal; Cyclocross cramps; Van der Poel’s rustiness; Pog’s plans + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
“Gear restrictions are an absolute no-brainer. At the end of the day, you want to see riders racing their bikes and not crashing”: Aussie special podcast klaxon!
It’s the Cadel and Stuey show on the latest episode of the road.cc Podcast, as I caught up with 2011 Tour de France winner Evans and 2007 Paris-Roubaix conqueror O’Grady to discuss their shifting perspectives on the sport since retiring, the impact of this year’s protests on organisers, teams, and riders, why wider bars and smaller gears are “common sense stuff”, and why Tadej Pogačar isn’t boring… he’s just a “freak”.
Get your earphones in and enjoy some office listening this morning, I promise you it’s a good one:
> “Gear restrictions are a no-brainer”: Cadel Evans and Stuart O’Grady on cycling’s safety debate, how the sport has changed, protests, and why fans should “just enjoy watching Pogačar’s greatness”
‘Let’s do the most Mathieu van der Poel thing imaginable for Instagram… But make it Christmassy’
What will MVDP and Lamborghini’s marketing people think of next? Van der Poel driving at speed towards the guy who spat at him at E3, while wrapping presents at the wheel, maybe?
Oh, and spoiler alert: He actually rocked up to Namur in a very sponsor-unfriendly Merc van:
I guess he needed more space for his stuff.
“It was not the easiest course to open my winter”: Mathieu van der Poel blames “small steering error” for crash on cyclocross return, before recovering to edge out Thibau Nys in thriller front of record Namur crowd
If you had just glanced at the results, you’d be forgiven for assuming that Mathieu van der Poel’s triumphant return to the world of cyclocross on Sunday was a straightforward affair.
After all, his victory in Namur – secured in front of a record crowd (that’s the MVDP effect for you) – marked the seven-time world champion’s 12th cyclocross victory in a row, a record that stretches all the way back to January 2024.
But au contraire – Van der Poel was made to work for his debut ‘cross win of the season, thanks to a third-row start, a mid-race crash, and the brilliance of man-of-the-moment Thibau Nys, who was able to match his Dutch rival’s late attack but fell victim to his own crash on the last lap, allowing Van der Poel to ride away.
Mathieu van der Poel is DOWN in Namur ?
The world champion quickly remounts and appears to be uninjured. pic.twitter.com/EchumwfVuB
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) December 14, 2025
“Just a small steering error,” Van der Poel said when asked about his crash, which saw him hit a muddy rut and fly off the bike – a result, he says, of some ‘cross rustiness.
“I just couldn’t correct it anymore. I made a little too many mistakes in the wheels. Sometimes it’s a little easier to ride in the lead. In the end, when I went to the front on the last half-a-lap it was my best technical part of the race.”
“It was certainly not the easiest course to open my winter. I had to get into it a bit,” he continued. “Last year, I think I was just a little further [in his preparations]. I had just done a little more specific [cyclocross] training. This year we planned that a little later.”
MATHIEU VAN DER POEL WINS A THRILLER IN NAMUR ???
An enthralling battle with Thibau Nys across the race, with a slide out costing the Belgian a shot at victory ? pic.twitter.com/NhXTmB43Vi
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) December 14, 2025
Meanwhile, Nys was left to rue that race-deciding late crash, revealing that he felt “in control” while battling with Van der Poel for the win on the fourth round of the UCI Cyclocross World Cup.
“With Mathieu coming back, you can’t predict how he is going to attack and explode,” the multi-disciplinary star said. “We turned into the last lap, I had the feeling that I had a big explosion in the legs and I just took the front to be in good position.
“I made a super small, stupid mistake that cost me a lot of seconds and dropped me back to fourth place. I still had the feeling that I had the power in me, but Mathieu was gone. I don’t think I was dropped. But I can’t complain, because it’s my own fault.”
And while the men’s race was a complicated thriller, Lucinda Brand made sure the women’s event was as straightforward as a Richard Osman novel, the 36-year-old continuing her 100 per cent record at this winter’s World Cup by dominating from start to finish in Namur, her tenth win out of 12 races during a staggeringly successful season so far.
A perfect TEN ? ?️?️
Lucinda Brand dominates in Namur to claim her 10th victory of the season. pic.twitter.com/J6Y0Ky054N
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) December 14, 2025
Now that’s what I call dominance.
“You work at the Tour for 21 stages and after you’re happy with what you’ve done”: Tadej Pogačar says “it’s impossible to have the same amount of fun at the Tour de France” – but world champions insists he’s not “obsessed” with Paris-Roubaix
Tadej Pogačar just wants to have fun.
But the world champion knows, as he stands on the verge of ‘completing’ cycling, that he also has to go to “work” from time to time – which, in his rarified world – means winning the Tour de France every July.
The 27-year-old, speaking at UAE Team Emirates’ media day in Benidorm, where he unveiled his plans for 2026, also insisted that he’s not “obsessed” with winning Milan-Sanremo or Paris-Roubaix (the two monuments he’s yet to conquer), but did admit that he’d rather win a maiden Roubaix than another yellow jersey.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Pogačar’s 2026 will see him follow a broadly similar plan to this year: Strade Bianche, the four spring monuments (so another crack at the Hell of the North), the Tour de France, and the world championships. Things will be spiced up a bit by trips to Switzerland for the Tour de Romandie and the Tour de Suisse, two week-long stage races the Slovenian has yet to win – another potential step on the road to completing his sport.
Asked by a reporter during the press conference “when” he would win Sanremo and Roubaix, Pogačar pointedly said: “If I win these races. But if I never win them, I will think that, more or less, there was not much more I could do.
“But there’s always something else, anyway. There is a list of one week races I haven’t been to yet, the Vuelta [a España]… there are so many things left to try to win. But the years are going so fast that maybe there’s not much time to try to win everything that is left.
“There is quite a big calendar in cycling – big races, smaller races, and that’s super nice, but I don’t rush myself to win any of these. I like to go back to some races, I try to win the ones I haven’t won yet but I am not obsessed about it like some people might think.”
When asked again about Sanremo and Roubaix, where he was spotted reconning the cobbles last week, he insisted: “Like I said before, I’m not obsessed with any of those.
“But I think if I could choose one [race to win], it’d be Roubaix. I’ve already won four [Tours], so if I win four of five… there is a bigger difference between zero and one than four and five.
“The classics are one day: you go there, everything is concentrated on that one day, and it’s not like the pressure of the Tour, where every day you are focused on the big goal.
“The Tour is way more stressful, and it’s impossible to have the same amount of fun when you go deep every day on the bike and you get tired. You work at the Tour for 21 stages and after you’re happy with what you’ve done.”
Job done, clock out – another day in the life of Tadej Pogačar.
Ineos Grenadiers confirm signing of Red Bull-Bora sprinter Sam Welsford on two-year deal
It’s been a long time coming this one, but Sam Welsford’s arrival at the Ineos Grenadiers was finally confirmed by the British squad this morning, the Australian fastman’s arrival marking the latest step in newly installed director of racing Geraint Thomas’ Ineos revolution – albeit one in this case focused on the sprints.
Since turning pro with DSM in 2022, 29-year-old Welsford has established himself as one of the fastest sprinters in the world, winning six stages of the Tour Down Under for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, while also posing a threat in the flatter classics.
Welsford, who will work alongside recently retired sprinter Elia Viviani, now a DS at Ineos, has agreed a two-year deal with the British squad.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
“I’m really excited to become a Grenadier. I’ve always admired the team’s professionalism and the way they commit fully to a goal,” the Australian said in a statement.
“I feel like this is the exact right environment for me to keep progressing as a sprinter and to chase big results. I’m very hungry to contribute, to learn and to race with the kind of intent that this team is renowned for.”
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Meanwhile, Thomas added: “We haven’t had many sprinters in the team in the past but when we have, they’ve been pretty successful, so hopefully Sam can continue that history.
“Having been given an early insight into what he’s capable of physically, we believe there’s still plenty to unlock with Sam. The team has shown how dialled we are in positioning our fast guys for the finish, and we’ll do the same to give him opportunities to win.
“He’s got a great track pedigree – Olympic and multiple world champion in the team pursuit – so the way he’s used to working there will fit right into our team environment as well. I’m super excited to see him get stuck in.”
“Having had three years of tough trading, we’re beginning to see a recovery”: Brompton’s sales drop but profits rise in latest financial reports
> Brompton reports lowest annual sales since 2021 as CEO warns government not to “stifle” growth
Who says city bikes are just for the commute?
This is French endurance mountain biker Maël Féron, testing the limits of a hire bike beyond coping with bike lane potholes and terrible drivers:
Have to say, there were some proper skills on show there. And he didn’t even finish last in the race…
Unibet Rose Rockets confirm they have ripped up contract of Italian rider Giovanni Carboni over biological passport abnormalities
The Unibet Rose Rockets team announced at the weekend that they have terminated the contract of their Italian rider Giovanni Carboni, after conducting an internal review in the wake of his provisional suspension by the UCI and team for biological passport abnormalities, first reported in September.
The abnormalities in Carboni’s passport, which tracks a rider’s biological markers to indirectly identify potential doping, stem from 2024, when the 30-year-old was racing for Japanese team JCL UKYO, winning the Tour of Japan and a stage at the Tour of Bulgaria.
Since signing for Unibet Tietema Rockets (now Unibet Rose Rockets) at the start of 2025, Carboni finished eighth overall at the Tour of Turkey, seventh at the Settimana Coppi e Bartali, fourth on a stage of the Ruta del Sol, and won the mountains classification at the Tour of Hellas.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
“After careful consideration, we have decided to terminate our collaboration with Giovanni Carboni early,” the team, which has signed Dylan Groenewegen and Rory Townsend for 2026, ahead of a possible debut Tour de France appearance, said in a statement at the weekend.
“The decision follows notification received on September 11, 2025, regarding a provisional suspension issued by the UCI for facts pending investigation prior to his arrival on our team on January 1, 2025. Upon receiving this information, we initiated a dialogue with the rider.
“Notwithstanding the presumption of innocence regarding the UCI matter, our internal review confirmed a violation of the rider’s duty of transparency and loyalty.
“While this decision stands apart from UCI’s disciplinary process, it underlines our uncompromising commitment to integrity, transparency and open communication, in line with our values and our status as an MPCC member.”
Bianchi recalls Impulso RC Bikes due to handlebar defect
“Clearly there was just nowhere else to park”: Why don’t cyclists use the cycle lane? #347,812
Clearly there was just nowhere else to park.
— jaj991.bsky.social (@jaj991.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Alright, I’m off early today, but Megan will keep you up to speed with the latest news and other developments around the site this afternoon. I’ll catch you all on Wednesday!
“An absolute sense of loss”: Winning bike stolen from world champion duathlete
> “An absolute sense of loss”: Winning bike stolen from world champion duathlete
When you’re getting lapped, cramp strikes, and you fall and block the path of Mathieu van der Poel… and just want the ground to swallow you up
Yesterday’s round of the UCI Cyclocross World Cup may have been all about the victorious, and surprisingly exciting, return to the ‘cross field of Mathieu van der Poel, who got the better of Thibau Nys, the heir to MVDP’s muddy throne, in a thriller in Namur (more on that later).
But spare a thought for poor young Vilmar Aastrup. The 18-year-old Swedish rider, making his elite World Cup debut on Sunday, was pushing his bike up one of the Namur course’s horridly steep, muddy slopes when disaster struck: a terrible case of leg cramp.
And to make matters worse, Aastrup’s cramp struck just as Van der Poel, Nys, and Michael Vanthourenhout were fast approaching, on their way to lapping the Swedish teenager – who, much to his own horror I imagine, fell right in front of the race leaders, forcing Nys and Van der Poel to veer either side of him as he hit the deck:
Ouch. That’s got to hurt, in more ways than one.
I feel for you Vilmar. But don’t worry, kid, you’ll be able to laugh about it all one day. In a few years maybe. Or after your own big win.
£1.5m cycle route plan scrapped after two years
“Who is paying for these ads? The motor industry?” Cyclists blast Endura’s ‘Don’t be a helmet, wear one’ safety campaign… inspired by the guy who rode a Lime Bike into a canal
Ah, cycling’s seemingly never-ending helmet debate, it’s been a while.
Last week, you may remember, we reported on the live blog that Endura had launched a new ad campaign in London, encouraging helmet use featuring the slogan: “Don’t be a helmet. Wear one” (helmet manufacturer wants people to wear helmets, shocking I know).
The Scottish cycling brand’s Dan Walker-inspired slogan wasn’t the only intriguing thing about its fancy new billboard on Quaker Street – there was also a massive apparently bike-shaped hole in it, too:
That conveniently-positioned ‘crash’ – and even more convenient saddle angle and block of wood, holding the stricken bike in place – certainly raised a few eyebrows online (and fooled a few of the more gullible types in the road.cc office, it has to be said. Though I’m not naming names…).
Endura later told us that the campaign’s attention-grabbing billboard was inspired by Nathan Hugh Robert, a Londoner who went viral last month after riding a Lime bike through the city… and crashing it into Regent’s Canal.
@nathanhughrobert I fell in a London canal
After the video of Nathan’s soggy detour racked up two million views on TikTok, Endura asked him to follow it up by becoming the face of their new cycling safety campaign, new bike safety campaign, which they say is focused on “encouraging cyclists to wear a helmet and rethink road safety”.
And to do that, they asked Nathan and his hipster moustache to pretend to crash a bike into a billboard in the hipster paradise that is Shoreditch.
“Nathan’s viral video about his dunk in Regent’s Canal was pure comedy. Still, we couldn’t help but worry for the guy. Not just for his guts afterwards. But he wasn’t wearing a helmet,” Endura said.
“Luckily, Nathan collided with something liquid, not concrete. But it goes to show – hits happen. And not everyone emerges with nothing worse than soggy clobber.
“So, we figured – who better to front our campaign about helmet safety? It might not protect you from a wee dip in the wet stuff. But it could save your life.”
Away from their viral clout-chasing ad antics, Endura’s latest helmet safety campaign has, rather inevitably, kicked off another round of cycling’s perennial debate: to helmet or not to helmet. Or, more pertinently, is it up to other people to tell you whether you should wear a helmet?
Over on Reddit, one user captured what he described as the “world’s most ironic drive-by”, as he took a photo of Endura’s new ad – which formed the backdrop to a cyclist riding a Lime bike with, you guessed it, no helmet:
[SeaworthinessLow1360/Reddit]
“Where was he meant to get one? They don’t come with the bikes you rent,” noted another Reddit user in the comments.
“Don’t think I’ve EVER seen someone wearing a helmet on a Lime bike. But I agree, everyone should,” came one reply.
However, one cyclist said: “To be honest, that advert makes me want to not wear a helmet (I still will though).”
“Who is paying for these ads? The motor industry?” asked GiganticCrow, to which Shoddy Enthusiasm replied: “Big helmet”.
“Running for the Ipswich South seat at the next election,” the Crow joked (now that would be an interesting campaign, for us, anyway).
“YOU should feel bad,” noted Swy. “Always wear a helmet when walking. Certainly when driving. All activities with either similar or much high risk of head injury.”
> Why is Dan Walker’s claim that a bike helmet saved his life so controversial?
Over on Instagram, one cyclist was even angrier with the tone of Endura’s campaign.
“This is such blatant dishonesty. Where is this advert posted, so I can complain to the relevant advertising standards organisation?” they said.
“No dissembling, answer the questions: Are your helmets rated to protect against traumatic brain injury? Are your helmets rated to protect against collision forces encountered when a rider is struck by a car? What are the testing protocols your helmets undergo and what impact force are they rated to withstand as a result?”
Nevertheless, others were baffled that some cyclists “feel victimised for being encouraged to increase their own safety”.
“This isn’t even about hate for cyclists,” Ultra said on Reddit. “I’m a cyclist who values his life, so I wear a helmet. If you cycle without one, you’re a melon.”
Well, according to Endura, you’re actually a helmet.
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Latest Comments
The reckless behaviour may have been intentional, but can you prove beyond reasonable doubt that the specific intent was to kill the cyclist? If you charge with murder instead of manslaughter and can't convince all 12 jurors of that, you get no conviction.
The French will try anything to get a Tour de France winner.
Unfortunately convicted Fraudster Louise Haigh is unavailable to serve as Transport Minister as she has been given (checks notes) the lead role for Ethics and Propriety as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. That’s right - Burnham has appointed to an ethics and propriety role a person who not only committed fraud, but reportedly stayed silent when the person she sold one of the phones she stole to got arrested for having bought it from her in good faith.
Perhaps because the riders are going to fairly fatigued at this point of the race, and with a load of big stages still to come, so more likely to be using (if indeed they are)?
Well, "Texas law recognizes manslaughter as criminal homicide under section 19.04 of the state’s penal code. A person commits the crime of manslaughter if he or she recklessly caused the death of an individual. This differs from murder, where the accused intentionally and knowingly caused the death of someone. Manslaughter can be interpreted as an action that unintentionally caused a death, which is referred to as reckless behavior." I would say trying to hit a biker with a car so hard that she completely shattered the Honda's rear hatch window and crushed the hatch inward is severely intentional. The driver has been "booked into the Brazos County Jail 13 times since 2012...Those include criminal mischief, theft, resisting arrest, assault, hit and run, escape from custody, deadly conduct, possession of a controlled substance, and multiple driving offenses."
Well, the new transport secretary isn't Lousie Haigh, she's been appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Has anyone worked out what that job is yet?
@jh2727 I fear you may be right but if you are I find it a very unsatisfactory state of affairs. If it is an offence then they have the choice of sending a NIP, a warning letter or an advisory letter instead of NFA. All of these should be just a matter of pressing a button. In the case of the NIP, once the driver has been identified and checked for previous they have the option of a course, a fixed penalty notice or taking it to court. The first actually generates income, the second only goes to court if it's contested. I can see why they don't always use the courts but I can't see any reason not to use the others. Some on here would say that letters and courses are a waste of time but I don't. It hasn't happened to me yet but if a driver has already been dealt with in that way then the next time it's going to be very difficult to justify not taking action. I have also noticed a marked improvement in driving around me since Gloucestershire started sending advisory letters rather than NFA for close passes.
Also, with 8 seats and space for 6 standing, that's over 1 tonne just in passenger weight, plus the weight of the vehicle. Okay, they might not usually be at capacity, but a company is hardly likely to run them almost empty. It was vehicle weight which damaged the bridge and they're solving that with more vehicles? This report is just a press release reissued. The Barnes and Hammersmith Electric Light Transit is supposedly a grassroots community group that developed this junk?
@Another_MAMIL I'd say yes. I've not read up on the requirements lately, but my understanding is that while the heavy lifting of doping tests can be done after competition as it routine at the Olympics and in tennis, or as part of the whereabouts testing (athletes specifying when and where they'll be for an hour each day), the doping authorities have the right to turn up and request a test any other time, specifically to deter microdosing. They can't get into trouble if they aren't there when the testers turn up, but refusing is not an option. I have heard of testers turning up on mass at tournament hotels used by tennis players, including one time in the run up to the start of the Paris Masters event. I remember because rumour has it that one well known player had a sudden and coincidental family emergency that meant they had to temporarily leave the country. That was around the time biological passports were coming in, and they were taking blood samples. If memory serves me right, that was late at night, but not the middle of the night. While some players may have been in their pyjamas, it sounded as if all of the top players were targeted, and the tournament hadn't yet started, so much less disruptive, and harder for any player to claim they'd been victimised. As much as I support actions to catch or deter doping, it's because sport should be fair. Having just one or two competitors woken in the night is not fair.
48 thoughts on ““Who is paying for these ads? The motor industry?” Cyclists blast Endura’s ‘Don’t be a helmet, wear one’ safety campaign… inspired by guy who rode a Lime Bike into a canal; Cyclocross cramps; Van der Poel’s rustiness; Pog’s plans + more on the live blog”
Whilst wearing a helmet is a
Whilst wearing a helmet is a personal choice for adults (children should always do so due to their own greater vulnerability) and as has been pointed out is unlikely to provide any help in anything but low speed collisions…
Are Lime missing a trick?
Shirley they should be selling their own bright green branded ones?
They could even provide them at a discount for regular users or free if they hit a usage milestone?
mitsky wrote:
Whilst it’s a popular opinion to mandate cycle helmets for children, it’s not entirely without risk: https://www.cyclehelmets.org/1227.html
There’s also risk compensation to think about – will children take more risks if they think that they’re safer due to wearing a helmet/knee pads etc? Also, as teens seem less likely to wear a cycle helmet, it might be useful to not present cycle helmets as necessary for small children as that can lead to teens wanting to become more adult in not wearing a helmet. Maybe only introduce cycle helmet wearing for when they’re off-road cycling or in icy conditions etc.
Referring to the Endura campaign – why aren’t they pushing for flotation vests? If someone falls into a canal, they’d be much better off with a flotation vest than a helmet, though maybe both is a good idea – you don’t want to hit your head and go unconscious whilst in water.
Good points on the helmets.
Good points on the helmets.
And if we are looking to extend personal protection, we could always also campaign for drivers and passengers to wear full helmets and HANS devices. 😀
mitsky wrote:
Since cars have a rigid protection shell, seat restraints and airbags on what basis do you think adding helmets is comparable?
because desipte all that, 25%
because desipte all that, 25% of drivers deaths are from head injuries.
Exactly. Also while I might
Exactly. Also while I might not be the best example (there are much faster cyclists) I have detected that people in motor vehicles seem to be going faster than me (on bike) quite often, sometimes much faster…
[/quote]
“Since cars have a rigid protection shell, seat restraints and airbags on what basis do you think adding helmets is comparable?“
Head injury was the main cause of death for 25% of drivers in England between 2007 and 2012; however, most driver fatalities (and pedestrian fatalities) were classified under the broader category of “multiple injuries” rather than a single specific injury. This means the number of deaths involving head injuries is likely higher than the specific “severe head injury” category in official injury reporting systems.
bikeman01 wrote:
Because the “rigid shells”, seat restraints and airbags in daily, retail cars are not very good. And hence, in case it escaped your notice, you will not find them relied on in race cars. Automobile racing associations instead mandate strong cross-braced cages, full helmets with tethers, multi-point restraints with a wrap-around seat, nomex undersuits, and sometimes other devices (e.g. HANS). Cause a monocoque box is very weak, cause of the missing internal bracing; and front and side airbags are very poor substitutes for helmets and wrap-around seats; as for 3-point seat-belts, those are pathetic and often fail to hold people.
I believe no one should be allowed to drive a car without at least a full internal, cross-braced safety cage, nomex undersuit, and a full helmet. If the racing industry can do it, there’s no reason the general automotive sector can not do it.
If it saves one life, it must be worth it!
bikeman01 wrote:
Well, if car passengers wore helmets, we could reduce A pillars to the pencil-thin structures that they used to be, thus reducing collisions at a stroke.
bikeman01 wrote:
No health negatives (reduction in exercise etc) and much higher proportion of all fatal head injuries, with a comparable rate per mile, (at least pre airbags).
No issue about what you do with the helmet when not travelling (just leave it on car seat)
Also research that you don’t need a full helmet. You can use a padded head band to protect forehead that has much better universal fit because the padded car cabin + car seat protects against injuries from most directions – the issue is you have to be able to operate the car + see, so can’t pad in front of driver…
Relative cost – same price for helmet but a car is 10x as expensive as a bike even before running costs are considered
I agree with you because when
I agree with you because when car drivers get out of their cars, they wander around in the middle of the road.
All incidents listed in your
All incidents listed in your link are not related to traffic but all because of not taking of the helment off bike. Most of them happend on a playground and this is why we have here (northern bavaria, germany) signs on all playgrounds that helmets should be taken off on playgrounds.
To assume from this, the risk for children (and adults as well) are larger while using a helmet while cycling is complete nonsense..
MatzeLoCal wrote:
I made no connection between children getting caught by their helmet strap and riding in traffic – I just made the point that it’s not entirely without risk to mandate children wearing cycle helmets. And it’s good that German playgrounds have those signs even though the risk is very small.
However, it’s possible that wearing a helmet whilst cycling in traffic can lead to both the cyclists and nearby drivers taking extra risks (i.e. risk compensation). There was a very small study that indicated that drivers pass closer by to cyclists that are wearing a helmet and it’s well known that protective gear does embolden athletes which can paradoxically lead to a greater chance of injury. In traffic though, it’s more the behaviour of the drivers that is relevant to us as the majority of collisions are due to them not paying attention.
Cue pic of squirrel wearing
Cue pic of squirrel wearing flotation device?
Pub bike wrote:
mitsky wrote:
Yes – to enhance safety beyond that delivered by avoiding falling off, they should be providing their own branded lentils (allegedly if deployed correctly these can enhance pedestrian AND even driver safety ?)
Just strapping in for
Just strapping in for (another) 100+ post thread about helmets…
Chocks away everyone.
Cycling dangerisation via
Cycling dangerisation via helmet obsession is a massive net detriment to cycling.
Cycling is a safe, normal activity, that comes with massive life-long benefits to health (above any accident risks), especially if incorporated into daily-life – no petroleum based, largely-ineffective PPE required!
Paul J wrote:
You’re confusing me with someone who gives a toss whether anyone wears a helmet or not. I really don’t care. It’s the evangelising of each polar view that I find ridiculous.
mark1a wrote:
I wasn’t making any assumptions about your views towards helmets, apologies if that wasn’t clear. That said, your comment does show an ennui towards helmet debates – however, I think the helmet crazies *always* need to be engaged and put back into their irrational boxes, with their fruit-loopery clearly exposed for anyone watching and not familiar with the facts.
mark1a wrote:
As I see it, the two polar views are
mark1a wrote:
— mark1aBut those of us opposing helmet compulsion are just reacting to those demanding it. If only the helmet zealots would desist, we could all take a well deserved rest.
Rich_cb did dig out some
Rich_cb did dig out some rural stats where the increased ambulance response times meant there was an advantage to having a helmet in terms of immediate treatment.
I’m just not convinced that if I come off at 25-30 mph that a helmet will make much difference.
Last time I went to the opticians, they were concerned I wasn’t wearing a helmet. Of course I always wear one when having an eye test !
It transpired the lady had seen a cyclist knocked off that day but when I queried the injury, she said he was clutching his stomach!!
Hirsute wrote:
I am absolutely convinced, in fact I know for a fact, that if I come off and hit my head at 25-30 mph a helmet is not going to make any notable difference to the outcome. However I’m also fairly convinced that if I come off at 25-30 mph and slide down the road, scrubbing off speed through the drag of the tarmac, so that when I hit the kerb/lamppost/garden wall I am doing 10-15 mph, that it will offer me some protection against skull fractures and severe lacerations. I’m fully in favour of everyone making their own choice and definitely not in favour of any mandatory helmet laws but it does get a bit tiresome having people (not you) constantly saying, “You know if you ride straight into a car at 40 mph that won’t do you any good, don’t you?” Yes I do, I’m not completely stupid, that’s not what I’m wearing it for.
Rendel Harris wrote:
In fairness, most of those people aren’t saying that out of nothing, though – they’re usually responding to people suggesting exactly that if you don’t wear a helmet then you’re taking your life in your hands because a car [sic] will knock you over and kill you, or to “helmet saved my life when someone ran over my leg” stories. It may get a little tedious for you to read in passing, but that’s a bit besides the point.
I did think that Jersey is a
I did think that Jersey is a place to wear a helmet as they have few footways and lots of walls, so if you do come off, you have a good chance of hitting a wall.
The parallel example to that
The parallel example to that is knowing if you are run over whilst walking to the shops by a speeding drunk driver, a helmet is not likely to be of use.
However, if you were to trip over on your way back from the shops and bang your head on a kerb, then a helmet will very likely have some effect at reducing injury.
But yes, everyone can make their own choices when out walking to the shops. I would not like to see shopping helmets made mandatory.
Shopping Helmet Inititative
Shopping Helmet Inititative Trust NOW! If it saves just one life………
Big Helmet is watching you
Big Helmet is watching you
lesterama wrote:
I actually think Johnson was bullied into wearing a helmet by the “must wear a helmet” brigade. I used to see him in London without one.
Steve K wrote:
And so we get into the position that mark1a alludes to: the squaring up of polarised factions resulting in an appeasement such as shown in the photo of Johnson.
In that photo we have a compromise that neither:
And that, together with the swords-drawn distraction of the helmet debate, is one component on the tribal barriers to consensus on promoting active travel that hampers policy improvements and infrastreucture implementation.
Steve K wrote:
I could believe it – his collection of children speaks to him not being a man in favour of donning protection.
chrisonabike wrote:
I actually think Johnson was bullied into wearing a helmet by the “must wear a helmet” brigade. I used to see him in London without one.
— chrisonabike I could believe it – his collection of children speaks to him not being a man in favour of donning protection.— Steve K
To be fair, there was pretty much zero chance of Johnson getting pregnant
chrisonabike wrote:
— chrisonabike I could believe it – his collection of children speaks to him not being a man in favour of donning protection.— Steve KHis father was a helmet too: if only he’d worn protection.
My guess is this poor helmet
My guess is this poor helmet placement is just BJ using the usual photo op to continue to project his “personality”.
A quick online search shows plenty of pics of him wearing a helmet properly.
I’ve heard the rumour that he purposefully messes up his hair moments before appearing in public or on TV for effect.
mitsky wrote:
Definitely does and I’ve heard firsthand from people who have sat next to/near him at dinners that if you get a glimpse of his speech notes all those “charming buffoon” interpolations (“Oh golly, I’ve lost my place, what were we talking about, you know the chap, Prime Minister of France, what’s his name again?” et cetera) are actually all carefully written out for him.
This is cooking up nicely!
This is cooking up nicely! Helmets, horrifying squirrel pics and BoJo already – by close of play I’m expecting Brexit/Reform, perhaps a foray into disc brakes and maybe even the curse of the wing mirror!
mitsky wrote:
Yes, he does. There is video of him waiting in the wings before press-conference or speaking event, and he reaches up and deliberately tussles up his hair before walking out.
Also, I agree the odious gas-bag was bullied into wearing a helmet. He used to not wear it, but then got lots of stick from the press for that – and so started wearing one.
When the Vilmar Aastrup thing
When the Vilmar Aastrup thing happened, it looked like some kind of AI glitch in the matrix 🙂
> He actually rocked up to
> He actually rocked up to Namur in a very sponsor-unfriendly Merc van
Nice numberplate there. Anyway, does Lambo do vans?
No vans. They manufacture and
No vans. They manufacture and sell a luxury SUV called Urus featuring a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine and all-wheel drive.
Does a urban commuter on a
Does a urban commuter on a Boris or Lime rented bike who travels at 10 mph on cycling lanes must wear a helmet? Just asking.
However, whoever rides a bicycle on open roads must wear a helmet. It saved my life, twice. Two hits from behind with no attempt at breaking by careless motorists.
Troll.
Troll.
Reality – the helmet is only
Reality – the helmet is only designed to help in injuries seen by the rider “who travels at 10mph on cycle lanes”
Helmets don’t save lives. They do prevent minor injuries.
Note cycle helmets are slightly less protective than ski helmets against the same type of accident. Ski helmet data is much more comprehensive (resort can track accidents (getting people off mountain) and helmet usage (how many people use them on lifts) with far greater precision. The result of increasing ski helmet usage is a massive reduction in all her injuries but no change in serious injuries or deaths. Basically helmets only work up to a threshold which you reach before you need more treatment than a competent first aider can supply).
This fits with cycle helmets making no difference at population level – hospitals only see the most serious cycling injuries, so minor injuries they do affect aren’t recorded reliably…
In Nathan’s peculiar case,
In Nathan’s peculiar case, wouldn’t the proper protective gear be a personal flotation device (PFD) or what used to be called a “life jacket”? Bike helmets will float thanks to their foam linings, but they won’t keep you afloat. Just sayin’.
And maybe a requirement all cyclists using canal/river/creek side paths wear a PFD. Cyclists have been known to fall into the water and drown: https://www.fox4news.com/news/bicyclist-drowns-after-falling-into-lake-lavon
I think if the water is deep
I think if the water is deep enough a properly secured cycle helmet will keep you afloat with your nose about 6 inches below the water line 😉
Perhaps someone should start
Perhaps someone should start campaigning for hydrostatic-release clip-in pedals (coincidentally selling same)? If it saves one life…
Shame on you, ENDURA for your
Shame on you, ENDURA for your patronizing BS ad. If you actually had a vision and some balls, you would have targeted this at drivers, as a publicity stunt. Do better.