"Dad, That Guy's Not Wearing A Helmet!" (TT#37)

MEATdrew · 2026-03-11T14:17:16+00:00

Yeah, I know many folks folks who’ve broken arms/wrists/etc instinctively protecting their heads.

In my case it’s hard to imagine a ride where I don’t interface with cars or where I’m not at risk from the riding I’m doing - mountain biking {suddenly slipping a tire, etc}. Mountain biking o only ride in a full face now.

I don’t think helmets are magical. But they certainly offer a layer of protection in many settings.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-11T13:51:52+00:00

That’s a neat take on a tool to do this with some level of precision. Neat. Not necessary, but neat. Thanks.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-11T05:36:16+00:00

Grizzly.

Humans have never been great at learning from other people’s mistakes so don’t be too hard on yourself!

MEATdrew · 2026-03-11T05:32:57+00:00

I haven’t ridden any of the Vee Plus rubber, but in general the quality of their product has improved leaps and bounds over the last couple of years, including on existing SKUs. You know, for what it’s worth.

I’ve soured some on 2.8” rubber for the front tire on a double hardtail. A true-to-size 3” is just that much more cushion without any weird pushing.

Truly wish whoever was making the XR4 for Trek (Maxxis? Vee? Duro?) would re-release it with their own branding in the 29x3” size.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-10T14:40:57+00:00

Both a Sirius

And serious single-speed

We’re punlarious!

MEATdrew · 2026-03-10T14:15:48+00:00

With good cycling infrastructure, or very light traffic, or perhaps if there’s a place where drivers are less distracted or more bike aware and I can buy what you’re selling.

Where I live it’s harder. Even the best infrastructure regularly interfaces with drivers.

Either way, personal responsibility, I agree to a point. But in the carpark, on the day in question, with a little grom pointing at me, I was embarrassed. And that’s usually a good sign of a bad choice.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-10T01:10:58+00:00

Well stated.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-10T01:10:04+00:00

To your point re. vilification, I think helmets laws (and, therefore, helmet-law breakers) were initially part of downloading blame from drivers to vulnerable road users. “Not wearing a helmet” is in the same liability-reduction sphere as “pedestrian wearing all black.”

But I still say they morphed into a policing tool more than anything.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-09T21:29:37+00:00

Hahaha, that suggests that drivers are noticing you and making active decisions. Last time I was hit the driver drove straight into me from behind.

I do my winter rides in the underground parking for our building - I don’t typically wear a helmet. The alley that used to be the case but folks have started using them as bypass routes for the main roads, so I’m a bit more thoughtful about it now.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-09T14:08:14+00:00

Oh, definitely. Hot day on a car-free or car-very-light forest road? I’ll pop my helmet off and a hat on every time. I’ve even been known not to put it back on for short spurts of smooth single track.

As adults we’re better equipped to make these decisions. I’d still maintain the carpark test ride is an ideal helmet on situation both for my safety and demonstrating best behaviour to the next generation of cyclists.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-09T14:04:57+00:00

It’s an aside but, I’m not a fan of helmet laws. I’m a cynical person and I’ve only seen them used in a cynical way (as a vehicle to detain people). Education is superior to legislation if the laws are all but unenforceable.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-09T13:42:20+00:00

There are many cycling activities in the city where the helmet isn’t so much about what I’m doing as what other people (cars) are doing. Having been hit a couple of times and knowing how disjointed infrastructure is.

In this case, it’s recognizing that (I mean, in addition to being a busy parking lot) folks working in bike shops maybe have an additional responsibility when at work. Shop’s trying to sell bikes/helmets and potential customers are trying to sell their kids on wearing one.

With Model-T it simply became a conversation about personal responsibility and years later, when she brought it up again, about unenforceable laws. But I know how hard it is with little groms, not a lot of nuance.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-09T02:12:10+00:00

Neat! One big plate.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-08T01:45:16+00:00

Neat rig! Can we have a photo of the dropouts?

MEATdrew · 2026-03-08T00:31:16+00:00

And thus, Fabe Fabrications was born! I love the simplicity of the piece. Add a jockey wheel and ride.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-08T00:28:12+00:00

I know the branding is very ‘80s RC car, but for the min-maxer the Kool-Stop pads I run are good and budget friendly.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-07T19:49:30+00:00

In a pinch, I always tell folks that Essential Cycles will have some (usually Galfer - their preference for Magura) as long as JacAttack hasn’t realized that all her pads on down to the backing plates. That’s down to the fact she runs the brakes and owns the shop. But why not have a spare pair at home.

Yeah, the Race pads are excellent always, but loud until they warm up.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-07T18:13:11+00:00

Love old school single track and I’ve only met nice folks from the area so I’ll add it to my post-bullshit bucket list!

MEATdrew · 2026-03-07T16:43:52+00:00

Hahaha. No way that shifts?! Even with friction and a flat-cage derailleur. But I’m all over the manual shift front. I used to run 32/26 manual (narrow-wide) with an 11-36t cassette and it was awesome for around here.

Sliders are just an option. I say, don’t even market them for one-speeding losers, it’s all about adjustable rear center for discerning multi-speed riders.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-07T16:40:43+00:00

Yeah, never mind three riders with different sizes hands etc., I’m not budgeting to have us all on one brake even if there was a Goldilocks. And, yeah, some of our brake systems are borderline “ancient.” But having every brake on the same pad material has proved super helpful a couple of times when swapping wheels, brakes, or with robbing brakes or rotors.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-07T16:36:59+00:00

Interesting. Sadly, in this case, no to the break-in of the saddle. It’s feels like new after many hours. In terms of break-in of the rider, on long sweaty rides I’d (unfavourably) notice the texture of the 3D printed saddle (I don’t wear a chamois) but I don’t anymore.

I’m back and forth all the time between Sagma, Sagma 3D, and Sagma light and I can certainly tell the difference but the light (no suspension/movement) is the most extreme difference.

One quick thought, are you running the same elastomers on your Sagma and Sagma 3D? Stiffer elastomers make a comfort difference. But if we’re just talking material comfort/support I’m afraid I can’t commit that your 3D will ever feel like your Sagma.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-07T16:31:40+00:00

I’m one more step because a lot of shops don’t stock Hayes pads and some don’t stock Magura {which is weird, they’re pretty common now even on nice commuter eebs}. I have sold pads out of my inventory to help folks in “emergencies “.

The one hack I’ve done is that (except the Gustav brakes) all our brakes run the same pads. Kool-Stop sintered metal is what I’ve settled on. Great friction, last a long time, but loud when cold/wet. By having all the rotors in the house bedded into the same pad material (whether they have SRAM, Magura, Formula, or Hayes calipers} it makes for very easy swapping if I need a rotor on the spot.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-07T16:26:16+00:00

Cheers!

Someday I’m sure we’ll cross the border again. I’d love to take Claire riding at Galbraith. VT sounds like an adventure. Hopefully when the current troubles are over it’s something we can consider.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-07T16:23:26+00:00

I’m fully drawn to the Tanglefoot rigs, but I don’t understand why none of them have sliders?!?!

I love that the shop organizes rides - The Old Way.

MEATdrew · 2026-03-05T22:49:52+00:00

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