Comments on: What Should a Cyclist Look Like?

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:49:18 +0000

I hate high vis-ability clothing with a passion – that said my rain wear is high vis – this is because people vision is reduced in the rain. So it has a place – but generally I will be decked out in black (I think I look cool in black ).

To be honest the only way to stay safe is to be more alert than the drivers are – I have lost count of the amount of accidents I have avoided by using common sense.

As for a helmet – I never used to wear one on my commute – I loathe the sweat and heat – but my wife nagged every time I left the house and every time I would get comments like “all the cyclist I see have helmets on, why don’t you?”. For this reason alone I bought a very light and airy top of the range helmet. Just about bearable – but I still occidentally forget it on some hot days – how can I amble along and enjoy the weather with a hat on? But once again – if I am going out on a fast ride where I know I will be taking a few risks I will wear the helmet regardless.

But if you say you don’t always wear a helmet the amount of comments that are made are numerous. I even get people commenting about it on the road! Talk about peer pressure!

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 06:02:57 +0000

Perhaps I am too late to say to Steve something along the lines of “C’mon, really…..” but others have said it already.

Interesting post as always from Tejvan and fascinating seeing the discussions develop. I do like blogs!

By: sm

sm — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 10:06:11 +0000

The deleted post was mine and was no more offensive than Madelaine’s post which still remains. I thought it ironic that somebody complaining about sexist remarks chose to call the agitator a ‘knob’. Ho hum.

My post was probably deleted because it used exactly the same terms of reference as Madelaine’s post, only I used the female genitalia rather than the male genitalia. I chose the V word (not the C word). The comment deletion only emphasises the irony and also the original point of my original post. It’s fine to call somebody a male genitalia but not the female.

Anyway, maybe I should have let it be. Two wrongs never make a right and I apologise because as some of you point out, this is a cycling blog and not the guardian.

By: Hurumph

Hurumph — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 21:33:53 +0000

Steve had his say, Madelaine complained, fair enough both sides equal; but I’m surprised someone with a pink swastika on a pink piece of toast as his/her/its logo considers complaining about offense. What does it mean?

I’m really disappointed I missed the offensive post by SB.

By: steve (another one)

steve (another one) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 18:14:44 +0000

Ooooh, dissent amongst the Tejvan faithful. Proof, should it be needed, that the following grows!

On topic, I instinctively rebel against all this nannying and will only wear such stuff if the sword of Damocles itself hangs over me. That said, as someone who drives a truck – pause for pantomime boos to subside – I’d comment that orange hi-viz seems to me to be both less offensive and more visible than the omnipresent yellow. On country roads in particular, just a flash of this several bends ahead can give very helpful warning of the cyclists presence. As for helmets, not until my cold dead body rots away!!!

By: Amoeba

Amoeba — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 07:10:03 +0000

I’m glad the offensive post by ‘SB’ was removed, I was just about to complain. I wouldn’t be very surprised if he were a sock-puppet of ‘Steve’.

By: Amoeba

Amoeba — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 07:07:24 +0000

As you pointed-out, cycle helmet statistics do not justify the claims in the poster.

Suspected typo.
‘White front light and rear back light’ – I suspect that ‘rear’ should be ‘red’.

By: Hurumph

Hurumph — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 23:31:15 +0000

I don’t really understand the long sleeves/long trousers requirement unless it is to protect against road rash when the cyclists come off? I very much doubt that either would make any significant difference – coming off hurts, and jeans or long sleeve shirts provide miniscule protection to cuts, abraisions and bruises! The Elfin Safety chaps ought to be promoting bikers leathers if they want to see that sort of protection, and then we woud see cycling plumet! Imagine the smell of sweaty teenagers at secondary schools – euch!!! Or at the office.

I’ve never seen a picture of a young Sheldon Brown – thanks for that.

By: Tom Larsson

Tom Larsson — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:50:00 +0000

I think that cyclists have to adapt to surroundings. If there are good cycle paths, then it is less important to to wear high viz and helmets. But, if the car dominates, you tend to be more defensive

By: Madelaine

Madelaine — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:34:51 +0000

Well done, Steve for reducing a genuine enquiry about cycling and reducing it to a glib bit of sexist banter. Congratulations… you knob. Amazingly, this kind of attitude is really quite offensive, believe it or not. Who knew, eh?

Otherwise an interesting post Tejvan… thank you.