Use Your Head

I went on a Damndemic bicycle ride the other day.

It was a beautiful day, 68°f, and sunny. It was the first day this season I had bare knees. There was a bit of wind, though. 10 to 20 mph coming out of the Southwest. I use the wind’s whims to direct my bicycle rides. If possible, I ride into the wind on my outbound leg, and then with the wind to push me home. Riding around the lake is never perfect but you get the gist.

The Finest and I were feeling a little tired so we decided to just ride to Excelsior and back rather around the lake. We chose to mostly ride on the LRT trail to avoid cars even though there are less of them out there right now. The trail is kinder to the gravel tires on The Finest so I don’t wear them out prematurely. One would think that LRT trail riding would be safer than riding with cars on the street. I say Nay Nay. There are more variables on the LRT.

Most automobile drivers have a “Driver’s License”. They, at some point in their lives, studied and took a test to be allowed to drive a car on the road and share the tarmac with other users. The trail on the other hand is a free- for-all. Common sense and elementary school training to keep to the right in the hall are some of the elements involved. Things like “ Matter can’t occupy the same space”. “Time to distance”, and sharing, can be in short supply with people and dogs on the LRT.

One of my favorite stories was from a guy complaining about the trail. He was drafting his buddy who was all aero on a triathlon bike doing around 20+ mph with his hands nowhere near the brake levers. They both crashed into a woman’s bike who stopped on the trail. At least she did not get hurt. I laughed. It is a shared trail with a loose 10mph speed limit. The LRT is not a closed one way race course. Duh.

I’m not perfect riding on the LRT either. I’ve had my brain farts. 

I was traveling East, closing in on a couple walking the same direction. There was a rider heading West towards us. Not a problem. I would slow, timing my time till he would pass the couple. I would then shout “on your left” and then I could pass them and life would go on. What I didn’t see was that the rider had a dog on a leash running next to him kind of in the middle+ of the trail. As I approached the couple I slowed to let the guy pass. Then I saw the dog. At that moment the couple stopped dead in front of me when they saw the dog. I applied massive amounts of braking and slid the bike perpendicular on the trail and stopped about two feet from hitting the couple. The crunching of the crushed lime stone spray scared grandma. She screamed at me. He just stared. I was happy that I had enough skill to avoid hurting anyone. I thanked her for stopping.

 What is interesting to me is the amount of bicycle riders on the LRT who are not wearing helmets, Simon. I have personally broken three of them over the last seven years. They were stupid falls, not horrific crashes. Even the most expensive helmets are cheaper than the copay at the hospital.

 While riding on the trail, I have no way to accurately count what percentage of riders and families are wearing helmets. My guess is maybe 20%. It’s shocking to me. I’ve heard all the excuses why folks don’t wear helmets. Just the other night on CCO they had a story about some famous basketball coach going out on a family bike ride. It was too much trouble for them to find their helmets buried somewhere in their house, so they went without. They almost had to bury their son who crashed and sustained a horrible head injury. Luckily the doctors were able to help him just in time. The coach said that they will always wear helmets from now on. Duh.

One of my favorites is seeing the family with helmets on the kids and the parents with none. Who is going to care for the children when the parents are dead or worse.

From the appearance of the bikes of the helmet-less riders on the LRT, I’m assuming that a lot of these folks are now on their bikes for the first time in many years due to the Damndemic.

Back in my pre helmet days (early, early ‘80s), I was riding around Lake Nokomis on my new Fuji S-10S. Her misadjusted rear derailleur allowed the chain to drop between the smallest cog of the freewheel and the frame while I was pedaling hard in the big ring. (This was way before I learned bicycle mechanics). The bike stopped unexpectedly and I was launched over the handlebars leaving my arms back at my sides as I flew through the air like Superman. I landed mostly on my left side. I hit my head, shoulder, and broke the crystal of my wristwatch. When I awoke, I was surrounded by people I did not know, wearing a nice-someone’s “Members Only” jacket. When I looked down and saw the “Members Only” logo, I knew I was hurt bad. At the time there was no way I would willingly wear such an outfit. She Who Must Be Obeyed was summoned and I was taken to the hospital with a headache, and bruises on the tops of my quads from hitting the handlebar as I flew. This event is my excuse for all of my current bad behavior. 

Helmets have a limited life. One crash, or three to five years of gentle care. I’m begging you with tears in my eyes to get a modern helmet. Have someone show you how to fit it properly and wear it!  A new helmet costs around forty bucks! Again, far cheaper than the copay and far better than drooling into a cup after a crash with a brain injury for the rest of your life, Simon.