Crashed twice this week! Helmet Replacement??

dannyfrankszzz

I can't believe it. The last time I remember falling off my bike was two years ago. Now, in the space of three days, I've had two heavy falls off my bike on both my left and right sides.

The other day, I was approaching a roundabout doing about 15 mph and I applied too much pressure to the front brake and not enough to the back brake and I think the front wheel locked and the back of the bike came round and wiped me out. Anyway, after getting splattered on the pavement, I was able to get up and walk away - fortunately only with bruises.

Anyway, today, again, I was approaching a roundabout and this guy pulled on to it with no regard for me approaching it. Rather stupidly, I did the finger wave to him with my right hand and forgot to brake properly with both hands, and ended up wiping out again. This time the fall was worse and I've got worse cuts and bruising. What's more my head (with helmet) hit the ground very hard (I'd hate to think what would have happened without wearing a helmet).

Anyway, I'm wondering if I should replace my helmet after this crash. It's a Met Ippogrifo. Would I be able to get it changed free of charge or what?

Zog The Undeniable

dannyfrankszzz wrote:

> Anyway, today, again, I was approaching a roundabout and this guy
> pulled on to it with no regard for me approaching it. Rather stupidly,
> I did the finger wave to him with my right hand and forgot to brake
> properly with both hands, and ended up wiping out again.
>
That would have been an excellent "You've Been Framed" video...

Tony Raven

dannyfrankszzz wrote:
> I can't believe it. The last time I remember falling off my bike was
> two years ago. Now, in the space of three days, I've had two heavy
> falls off my bike on both my left and right sides.
>
> The other day, I was approaching a roundabout doing about 15 mph and I
> applied too much pressure to the front brake and not enough to the back
> brake and I think the front wheel locked and the back of the bike came
> round and wiped me out. Anyway, after getting splattered on the
> pavement, I was able to get up and walk away - fortunately only with
> bruises.

The back wheel most likely locked and came round, not the front.

>
> Anyway, today, again, I was approaching a roundabout and this guy
> pulled on to it with no regard for me approaching it. Rather stupidly,
> I did the finger wave to him with my right hand and forgot to brake
> properly with both hands, and ended up wiping out again.

You only need one hand on the front brake. Read Sheldon at
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html. So gesture with your left
hand (assuming you have the brakes UK style) if you must.

> This time the
> fall was worse and I've got worse cuts and bruising. What's more my
> head (with helmet) hit the ground very hard (I'd hate to think what
> would have happened without wearing a helmet).
>
> Anyway, I'm wondering if I should replace my helmet after this crash.
> It's a Met Ippogrifo. Would I be able to get it changed free of charge
> or what?
>

You should throw it away if it has been hit. You either need to get a
new one if wearing helmets is your thing or try the MkI human skull with
the optional JZGYK "saved my life" acrylic beanie.

Tony

>

Simon Brooke

in message <dannyfrankszzz.1h495y@no-mx.forums.cyclingforums.com>,
dannyfrankszzz ('dannyfrankszzz.1h495y@no-mx.forums.cyclingforums.com')
wrote:

> I can't believe it. The last time I remember falling off my bike was
> two years ago. Now, in the space of three days, I've had two heavy
> falls off my bike on both my left and right sides.
>
> The other day, I was approaching a roundabout doing about 15 mph and I
> applied too much pressure to the front brake and not enough to the
> back brake and I think the front wheel locked and the back of the bike
> came
> round and wiped me out. Anyway, after getting splattered on the
> pavement, I was able to get up and walk away - fortunately only with
> bruises.
>
> Anyway, today, again, I was approaching a roundabout and this guy
> pulled on to it with no regard for me approaching it. Rather
> stupidly, I did the finger wave to him with my right hand and forgot
> to brake
> properly with both hands, and ended up wiping out again. This time
> the
> fall was worse and I've got worse cuts and bruising. What's more my
> head (with helmet) hit the ground very hard (I'd hate to think what
> would have happened without wearing a helmet).

Remember that your helmet is a lot weaker than your skull. If it hit the
ground, either replace it, or stop wearing one.

> Anyway, I'm wondering if I should replace my helmet after this crash.
> It's a Met Ippogrifo. Would I be able to get it changed free of
> charge or what?

Newish Met helmet, you ought to. Certainly my Parachute has a 'free
replacement if I crash within three years' guarantee.

--
simon@jasmine.org.uk (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; If God does not write LISP, God writes some code so similar to
;; LISP as to make no difference.

James Annan

dannyfrankszzz wrote:

> I can't believe it. The last time I remember falling off my bike was
> two years ago. Now, in the space of three days, I've had two heavy
> falls off my bike on both my left and right sides.
>
> The other day, I was approaching a roundabout doing about 15 mph and I
> applied too much pressure to the front brake and not enough to the back
> brake and I think the front wheel locked and the back of the bike came
> round and wiped me out.

Actually, you applied too much pressure to the BACK brake. If you'd let
off it completely, you would not have skidded.

> Anyway, today, again, I was approaching a roundabout and this guy
> pulled on to it with no regard for me approaching it. Rather stupidly,
> I did the finger wave to him with my right hand and forgot to brake
> properly with both hands, and ended up wiping out again.

I think you should learn how to use the front brake properly. Braking
"properly" involves at most a very light use of the rear brake,
especially when you are trying to stop fast.

James
--
If I have seen further than others, it is
by treading on the toes of giants.
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/julesandjames/home/