I rode

[darxus]

I got my XX back on the road last night. I think I had ridden once in the few years since I moved to New Hampshire. Rode to work this morning (35 miles).

The cool thing about riding is presence. No tons of armor between you and the rest of the world. You're just there in it. It still blows my mind that there are people who deeply value this yet can't understand why someone would choose not to wear a helmet.

The other cool thing is lack of cumbersomeness. Not having to haul tones of huge air drag around. So much more agility. Add a little power, and you get stupid power to weight ratios.

This morning I passed an 18 wheeler on a double yellow on a curvy back road as he was coming well over the line. It was nice.

Comments

[mangosteen]

It still blows my mind that there are people who deeply value this yet can't understand why someone would choose not to wear a helmet.

It's possible that they're making the economic and actuarial decision that they'd like to keep doing it for a while.

[darxus.livejournal.com]

I don't mind people making educated decisions about what's best for them. What I find weird is that they can't begin to grasp why anybody might not want to wear a helmet.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

there's plenty of reasons to not wear a helmet!

o you enjoy wasps and large insects, rocks, and debris fling into your face, eyes, nose, mouth :)

o you don't mind getting extra dehydration and exposure, greater potential for skin cancer (people who don't wear helmets probably don't use sunscreen ;>)

o you reallllly enjoy the wind in your hair, and brushing for hours :>

o you're not worried about anything!

o freedom!

#

[milktree.livejournal.com]

The stats on helmet wearing don't support wearing one *that* much. Yes, you're absolutely better off wearing one, but lots of people die with one, and lots survive just fine without. The delta between "dead with helmet" and "dead without helmet" is real, but small.

Helmets (more than just a cosmetic brain bucket) are expensive, easily stolen, and kind of a hassle to deal with.

You (one) would be better off (actuarially) if you drove a much larger car with all the modern safety features, yet many many people chose to drive older cars without them.

Note that I don't condone riding without a helmet, just that I totally get why someone would want to do so.

[darxus.livejournal.com]

I suspected the statistics might work out something like that. Got any references?

I'm kind of surprised you're the one making this point, I'm pretty sure you're the biggest fan of wearing armor while riding that I've met. Or has that changed in recent years? Anyway, I'm glad you understand.

[doctordidj.livejournal.com]

Glad you're back in the saddle.

But the last time I passed on a double yellow in New Hampshire, a local cop stuffed a $100 ticket up my ass. Less inclined now.