Crash Protection

[fossyant]

Gets to the point where you start pointing out cracked tiles that haven't been replaced.

Or stains !

 

[classic33]

Or stains !

On ceiling tiles?

 

[Drago]

If you race wear the gear, if you ride as transport shops and general day to day stuff why would anyone have a load of special gear? Ultimately the more people cycling daily means less pointless car trips and a healthier population and better environment. If people are are scared in to buying loads of specialist products they don't actually need how will that ever get more people on bikes?

Absolutely. No way woukd I give up riding my my sequined ball gowns for snug fitting lycra.

 

[boydj]

If you race wear the gear, if you ride as transport shops and general day to day stuff why would anyone have a load of special gear? Ultimately the more people cycling daily means less pointless car trips and a healthier population and better environment. If people are are scared in to buying loads of specialist products they don't actually need how will that ever get more people on bikes?

It's all about risk assessment. The only people wearing protective gear that you see in Holland are racers. Very few helmets or lycra for utility cycling, and a very low rate of head injuries. Interestingly the highest rate of head injuries is in the countries with the highest rates of helmet-wearing - Australia, USA and UK.

Unless you are racing, or taking part in fast club rides, the risk of coming off on a road ride is very low. Off-road, the risks are higher.

 

[mikeIow]

.
So I have recently had another look at helmets and there doesn't seem to have been much change in the design or the impact absorbing materials used in quite a few years.

I would say https://hovding.com/ is radically different, no?

Hope you’re doing well, sounded nasty.

Brakes, Electrics, Steering, Trainsmission, Chain, Oil, Pressures, Assesories.

Surely you’d check your chamois cream first

No doubt someone will develop a crash helmet airbag or even one for the bike itself, perhaps they already exist ? See above!

Can't see roadies wanting to pad up for a descent though although agree it's very high risk effectively zooming down a mountain at 100kmh practically in your birthday suit

agreed!

 

[Illaveago]

Having been off twice this year, the latest being a couple of days ago I feel a need for a bit more padding .
Both were slow speeds offs so I just went down on my side .
I agree with the previous comment about helmet design. My head hit the ground. From the way it felt it didn't seem much difference from the tarmac . I feel that there could be a bit of soft padding inside like motorcycle helmets have to cushion the impact.
The other point of impact was my hip. This is an area where I think a bit of padding is needed , not that I'm planning on falling off soon .

 

[matticus]

The other point of impact was my hip. This is an area where I think a bit of padding is needed , not that I'm planning on falling off soon .

I think hip-padding is underrated - it would be so simple to include in clothing, and almost unobtrusive (if you're not a pro roadie!)
I once had a walking-pace ice off and landed there - no lasting damage but a lot of muscle/joint disruption for a week or so. Just riding home was hard.
Lots of folk break their pelvis on the road (I've actually seen a 15year-old do it - he was in a LOT of pain).

 

[Mike_P]

Impossible to cover every eventuality, I loss control on a corner due to a puncture and came to a halt still sat on the bike, which now had a pretty square front wheel from the wall it had hit, to find I had broke my collarbone thanks to a low overhanging tree branch.

 

[Illaveago]

I just tried putting 2 pieces of pipe insulating foam into the pockets of my jeans and then cycled on our exercise bike . I could ride with it , so the theory is there.
Weight wise it is negligible ! It means that I will have to use other pockets for things . At least it will give me an inch of foam padding .

 

[GoldenLamprey]

I just tried putting 2 pieces of pipe insulating foam into the pockets of my jeans and then cycled on our exercise bike . I could ride with it , so the theory is there.
Weight wise it is negligible ! It means that I will have to use other pockets for things . At least it will give me an inch of foam padding .

I wouldn't think that would help much. I am not volunteering to try it, anyway...

 

[Illaveago]

I wouldn't think that would help much. I am not volunteering to try it, anyway...

I don't want to try it. I've already been off twice and felt the effects .
It would be cheap £1+ for about a metre which would do a load of pockets. Simple to apply, just cut to length and pop two into each pocket.
It would be like a helmet . There just in case I fell off again .

 

[matticus]

When I hit the ice I researched armored shorts for BMX and dowhhill racing; they were a bit expensive, and eventually my leg stopped hurting so I gave up on the idea!
Other sports may have them too.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

If people are are scared in to buying loads of specialist products they don't actually need how will that ever get more people on bikes?

You won't, it's that simple. Cycling only works as an everyday activity if it's casual and impulsive so doesn't entail a regimented routine be undertaken before every ride.
The virus lockdown fashion for entire family groups to kit themselves out head to toe in hi-vis gear and helmets, even little kids doing single-digit speeds, just for a summer afternoon ride, is going to be counterproductive in the long term.
Firstly it sends out the message that cycling is a hazardous activity (if it needs a load of PPE then it must be dangerous, right?), and the faff factor of being convinced that you need all this gear to ride discourages incorporating a ride into any other casually-dressed activity.
It seems to be largely a middle class thing too. I spent a lot of time driving around the M25 commuter belt during the summer lockdown and the sight of all the family groups in places like the Epsom Downs on shiny bikes with all the gleaming hi-vis gear and helmets was frankly rather comical. It was like some sort of uniform dress code, and almost all of them were kitted in a similar way. Casual jeans & T-shirt summer cycling types like me with no headwear were a rarity. Most of the locals I see riding don't dress like that and the kids messing around outside in the street on BMX's and MTB's aren't all kitted out like a health & safety fashion show.
The best form of protection is to ride carefully and keep your speed down according to the road conditions. Too many riders are obsessed with maintaining a certain pace and take stupid risks on dodgy surfaces, either because they're slippery, have loose stuff on them, or are frosty. Cyclists aren't exempt from the laws of physics that apply to other vehicles; if your cornering or braking forces exceed the available surface grip - you crash.