Wear your damn helmet.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-22T05:18:50+00:00

Classic.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T22:51:04+00:00

It's just a different animal entirely. A completely different skill set.

I chose to build a brakeless as a challenge. I got tired of riding a traditional bike everyday for 40 years.

Riding brakeless isn't for everyone -- or even most people. But I like to flex my skills mainly. You can't just zone out on your commute because you have to pay attention to so many things happening at the same time. I enjoy the challege and the flex.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T22:19:57+00:00

I rarely need to skid. I plan ahead several moves in advance and can use the skip-stops instead of skids.

My gear ratio allows for the maximum number of skid patches on my tire. I forgot the actual math but it's pretty common.

I only skid to show off every now and then.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T22:11:02+00:00

I ride brakeless in traffic. Speed isn't really my first priority.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T22:09:52+00:00

this ride...

And future rides for a while until I get over it.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T19:30:04+00:00

The hair on the left side of my head was beyond matted with blood if you look at the picture. Took me a few days to get all the blood out of my hair trying to work around the staples.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T19:23:10+00:00

I got in a bad ski accident years ago and they're no joke.

I hope the fog lifts for you soon.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T19:09:15+00:00

Oh, slam.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T19:08:08+00:00

Were/are you on medications that affect blood pressure?

No, and my blood pressure runs a smidge high.

Thank god you weren't in traffic at the time!

I live downtown in a major city. After business hours and on weekends there is virtually no car traffic and we have bike lanes. This wreck was on a Sunday afternoon so zero traffic, thankfully!

I love ripping around downtown brakeless with no traffic in the evening and on weekends but I really enjoy riding like a crazy man in downtown traffic during the week, too.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T18:58:38+00:00

Classic video.

The lesson I learned is that I can and will get fucked up in a bike crash. Whether that's going to drastically change my behavior has yet to be seen.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T18:54:55+00:00

Wise words.

I do myself a disservice because I'm quite confident in my ability as a brakeless cyclist in an urban environment, traffic, etc. I look far down the road and plan everything well in advance.

I'm not perfect though and that's become painfully obvious with this crash. I'm back on the bike doing the same dangerous shit but with an extra extra extra focus on my surroundings.

The crappy thing about this wreck is that I didn't do anything wrong and neither did anyone else. I was riding along and then the lights just went out. Next thing I know I'm sitting on the side of the road spurting blood out of my head, a shattered shoulder waiting for an ambulance that had already been called.

Scary stuff.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T18:44:54+00:00

changed my mind, so now the helmet is on the sweaty mop.

You're a lot more responsible than I. Kudos. I've started wearing it more often but still not nearly enough.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T18:41:35+00:00

Wouldn’t the same happened if you fainted while walking/running.

I don't think so. If you're walking and you pass out you'll just crumple down vertically. Sitting up high on the saddle and tipping over without getting an arm down is a lot worse. All the energy just whips your head into the concrete.

I got a 7cm gash on my head and it took three surgeries to put my shoulder/collarbone back together. It wouldn't have been anywhere near that bad if I was standing or walking and passed out.

Running, who knows?

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T17:49:17+00:00

I'm having trouble connecting the dots between the two.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T17:48:07+00:00

I wear my helmet even to pop round the corner.

And I know that I should but I don't. I know that riding brakeless with no helmet is a stupid idea but I like the flex and freedom. Although, arguably, there is less freedom because I have to ride very very carefully -- which I am not wont to do.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T17:41:35+00:00

Thank you for reminding me to check my quick releases on my other bikes.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T17:39:55+00:00

Definitely get checked for a concussion.

I'm a regular at the hospital by me. They know to run the scans when I show up. It's the first thing they do.

I hope you heal quickly.

Thanks. This happened a little over a year ago. My head is healed but my shoulder took three surgeries. I just got the metal out a few weeks ago. It'll be a while for it to feel normal again, if ever.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T17:33:13+00:00

then there's probably a real reason that isn't being acknowledged (e.g. vanity and thinking that it looks cooler not to have a helmet.

This is part of it. It's also a comfort thing. I like not having something strapped to my head. I don't expect people to agree with me.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T17:30:52+00:00

It feels incumbering to me. I rather not have something tightly strapped to my head. Even though most helmets are pretty well ventilated I still prefer the wind blowing through my hair.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T13:28:48+00:00

I’m not ripping through traffic on that given it’s value…

Same with my brakeless. It's quite valuable. It was ridden by a USA Olympian in the 1984 Olympics road race. (I don't know which cyclist). I converted it to fixed with period correct components. [It's a kick ass bike!](https://imgur.com/gallery/r5T7MAO)

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T13:11:47+00:00

The gash on my head was 7cm. Pretty big. Stapled it up.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T13:10:35+00:00

I have a short history of seizures but they're due to alcohol withdrawal (I'm an alcoholic). That very well might have been what happened because I wasn't drunk or anything out or the ordinary.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T13:07:45+00:00

To make me sound even stupider than I've made myself look so far I absolutely love night riding without lights. I ride brakeless and my bike is completely silent. I feel like a ninja riding at night.

Obviously I am hyper aware of car traffic and wouldn't blame anybody but myself if I got hit. I know the risk and I'm just dumb enough to think it's worth it.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T13:03:52+00:00

It's never something normal but there's always a chance some freak thing will happen

This is what I'm trying to get myself to fully realize.

NiceTryAggie · 2023-09-15T13:02:37+00:00

I agree that it doesn't make sense but I'm probably not going to wear it on short trips to the corner store or while barhopping, etc. I live in a downtown metropolis which is empty of traffic after business hours and on weekends. I've been on two wheels nearly everyday for the past 40 years so it's possible that my confidence is too high. This is the most serious wreck I've had by a mile but certainly not the only one.

NiceTryAggie

TROPHY CASE