I forgot to throw my helmet in the car when I went for a drive with the non-cycling wife. I hadn't forgotten the bike, luckily, so I ended up doing the 30 mile ride home lidless. As the sun was out, and I am a slap-head, I dug my sun hat out of the panniers. This is the first lidless ride since I resumed cycling 11 years ago, so as I rode I pondered the comparisons. First, the "head-heater" thing. I found the hat seemed warmer because there was no air flow over my head, but I didn't get sweat in my eyes. It felt odd to feel insects impacting on my forehead both with & without the hat. The hat was good for up to 24 mph, at which speed it attempted lift-off. This isn't too much of a problem for me, my average speed for the ride was 13mph, so I only had to remove the hat for the downhills. When the hat got sweaty, it got a bit looser too, and the critical lift-off speed fell accordingly. I don't feel that I was any more careful without the helmet, so the security factor doesn't seem to affect me. I reckon I'm pretty careful anyway. My main problem was that I really missed my helmet-mounted mirror. I kept looking up into the brim of my hat. What is worse is that on a couple of occasions I caught myself assuming that there was nothing behind because I couldn't see anything in my mirror! (1). I found the hat marginally more comfortable than the helmet, but mainly because of its lack of strap. The most comfortable times were on those downhills, bareheaded. I suppose I could get a spectacle-mounted mirror, and fit a strap to my hat, or use copious amounts of sun-block in the remnants of my hair, but on balance I think I'll stick to my lid. I'll try to whip it off if I see anyone trying to count me.
(1) I find that when I hear something behind me while walking I now try to glance up & right to see what's going on. It must look like a petit-mal seizure to oncomers. --
The most comfortable times were on those downhills, bareheaded. I suppose I could get a spectacle-mounted mirror,
Might work..
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and fit a strap to my hat,
Hat lifts off at 24 and by 30 is doing a determined job of garotting.
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or use copious amounts of sun-block in the remnants of my hair, but on balance I think I'll stick to my lid. I'll try to whip it off if I see anyone trying to count me.
It is a buff in pirate mode that you need. I love'em.
I forgot to throw my helmet in the car when I went for a drive with the non-cycling wife. I hadn't forgotten the bike, luckily, so I ended up doing the 30 mile ride home lidless. As the sun was out, and I am a slap-head, I dug my sun hat out of the panniers. This is the first lidless ride since I resumed cycling 11 years ago, so as I rode I pondered the comparisons. First, the "head-heater" thing. I found the hat seemed warmer because there was no air flow over my head, but I didn't get sweat in my eyes. It felt odd to feel insects impacting on my forehead both with & without the hat. The hat was good for up to 24 mph, at which speed it attempted lift-off. This isn't too much of a problem for me, my average speed for the ride was 13mph, so I only had to remove the hat for the downhills. When the hat got sweaty, it got a bit looser too, and the critical lift-off speed fell accordingly.
If the cap is threatening to lift, turn it round so the peak is at the back.
"Martin Bulmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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I forgot to throw my helmet in the car when I went for a drive with the non-cycling wife. I hadn't forgotten the bike, luckily, so I ended up
doing
Quoted message said:
the 30 mile ride home lidless. As the sun was out, and I am a slap-head, I dug my sun hat out of the panniers. This is the first lidless ride since I resumed cycling 11 years ago, so as I rode I pondered the comparisons. First, the "head-heater" thing. I found the hat seemed warmer because
there
Quoted message said:
was no air flow over my head, but I didn't get sweat in my eyes. It felt
odd
Quoted message said:
to feel insects impacting on my forehead both with & without the hat. The hat was good for up to 24 mph, at which speed it attempted lift-off. This isn't too much of a problem for me, my average speed for the ride was
13mph,
Quoted message said:
so I only had to remove the hat for the downhills. When the hat got
sweaty,
Quoted message said:
it got a bit looser too, and the critical lift-off speed fell accordingly.
I
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don't feel that I was any more careful without the helmet, so the security factor doesn't seem to affect me. I reckon I'm pretty careful anyway. My main problem was that I really missed my helmet-mounted mirror. I kept looking up into the brim of my hat. What is worse is that on a couple of occasions I caught myself assuming that there was nothing behind because I couldn't see anything in my mirror! (1).
Martin Bulmer said the following on 15/06/2006 23:24:
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What is worse is that on a couple of occasions I caught myself assuming that there was nothing behind because I couldn't see anything in my mirror!
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I know that syndrome! Mirror on my tourer, no mirror on my MTB. Look at "mirror" on MTB, see nothing, therefore must be clear.
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I know, I know - we should still look over our shoulders!
I have a similar confusion between car and bike, trying to check the rear view mirror on my bike when I've been driving too much... And I recently passed the school on my way home when the lights at the 20 mph sign were flashing. I automatically checked my speedo, only to find I was on my bike (and probably going nowhere near that speed!). Same when I'm cycling a route I drive often or the other way around, I find myself trying to change gears at the same place as I would on the other mode of transport.
Martin Bulmer said the following on 15/06/2006 23:24:
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What is worse is that on a couple of occasions I caught myself assuming that there was nothing behind because I couldn't see anything in my mirror!
Quoted message said:
I know that syndrome! Mirror on my tourer, no mirror on my MTB. Look at "mirror" on MTB, see nothing, therefore must be clear.
Quoted message said:
I know, I know - we should still look over our shoulders!
I have a similar confusion between car and bike, trying to check the rear view mirror on my bike when I've been driving too much... And I recently passed the school on my way home when the lights at the 20 mph sign were flashing. I automatically checked my speedo, only to find I was on my bike (and probably going nowhere near that speed!). Same when I'm cycling a route I drive often or the other way around, I find myself trying to change gears at the same place as I would on the other mode of transport.
It's when I want to turn right and follow the bike path along the short cut, then realise that I've come a really stupid way for a car..
Martin Bulmer said the following on 15/06/2006 23:24: > What is worse is that on a couple of > occasions I caught myself assuming that there was nothing behind > because I couldn't see anything in my mirror!
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I know that syndrome! Mirror on my tourer, no mirror on my MTB. Look at "mirror" on MTB, see nothing, therefore must be clear.
Quoted message said:
I know, I know - we should still look over our shoulders!
I have a similar confusion between car and bike, trying to check the rear view mirror on my bike when I've been driving too much... And I recently passed the school on my way home when the lights at the 20 mph sign were flashing. I automatically checked my speedo, only to find I was on my bike (and probably going nowhere near that speed!). Same when I'm cycling a route I drive often or the other way around, I find myself trying to change gears at the same place as I would on the other mode of transport.
It's when I want to turn right and follow the bike path along the short cut, then realise that I've come a really stupid way for a car..
..d
Ever found yourself heading for the half-metre-wide cut-through at a traffic calming chicane, then remembered you're in a car? Me neither. --
"Martin Bulmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I forgot to throw my helmet in the car when I went for a drive with the non-cycling wife. I hadn't forgotten the bike, luckily, so I ended up
doing
Quoted message said:
the 30 mile ride home lidless. As the sun was out, and I am a slap-head, I dug my sun hat out of the panniers. This is the first lidless ride since I resumed cycling 11 years ago, so as I rode I pondered the comparisons. First, the "head-heater" thing. I found the hat seemed warmer because
there
Quoted message said:
was no air flow over my head, but I didn't get sweat in my eyes. It felt
odd
Quoted message said:
to feel insects impacting on my forehead both with & without the hat. The hat was good for up to 24 mph, at which speed it attempted lift-off. This isn't too much of a problem for me, my average speed for the ride was
13mph,
Quoted message said:
so I only had to remove the hat for the downhills. When the hat got
sweaty,
Quoted message said:
it got a bit looser too, and the critical lift-off speed fell accordingly.
I
Quoted message said:
don't feel that I was any more careful without the helmet, so the security factor doesn't seem to affect me. I reckon I'm pretty careful anyway. My main problem was that I really missed my helmet-mounted mirror. I kept looking up into the brim of my hat. What is worse is that on a couple of occasions I caught myself assuming that there was nothing behind because I couldn't see anything in my mirror! (1).
Sounds like an example of risk un-compensation.
Is that a smiley? Or should I reply as if it is serious? (Things Hamlet never said.)
Martin Bulmer said the following on 15/06/2006 23:24:
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What is worse is that on a couple of occasions I caught myself assuming that there was nothing behind because I couldn't see anything in my mirror!
Quoted message said:
I know that syndrome! Mirror on my tourer, no mirror on my MTB. Look at "mirror" on MTB, see nothing, therefore must be clear.
Quoted message said:
I know, I know - we should still look over our shoulders!
I have a similar confusion between car and bike, trying to check the rear view mirror on my bike when I've been driving too much... And I recently passed the school on my way home when the lights at the 20 mph sign were flashing. I automatically checked my speedo, only to find I was on my bike (and probably going nowhere near that speed!). Same when I'm cycling a route I drive often or the other way around, I find myself trying to change gears at the same place as I would on the other mode of transport.
I once pointed downwards to warn of a pothole, like you do. Except I was driving the car. Oops.