Nearly did a SMIDSY

[BentMikey]

Like one of those lemming pedestrians then? The ones cyclists love to hate because they cross the road without looking, instead relying on their hearing.

 

[thegrumpybiker]

Like one of those lemming pedestrians then? The ones cyclists love to hate because they cross the road without looking, instead relying on their hearing.

Maybe I'm higher up the evolutionary chain because I can use my eyes and my ears AT THE SAME TIME! It's not either/or.

 

[BentMikey]

And yet seeing is the primary sense when you're cycling/driving/etc. It's no good being able to hear and not bother to look, which is what so many cyclists out there do. There's your red herring. You don't need hearing to ride - if you think you do, then you're not looking properly.

For that matter, the same argument you present goes for headphones - it's not an either listen to music or listen to the traffic.

 

[summerdays]

Last night I came across this bike - it was going across the grass - so was I so I could test out my new light away from the street lights. I was surprised when cyclist passed me to see that it was a child who actually had on decent lights on their bike. Their front light wasn't one of those vague glow things either.

As for the head phones - it is presumably similar for deaf people although they will normally have an increased visual sense as a result.

 

[thegrumpybiker]

As for the head phones - it is presumably similar for deaf people although they will normally have an increased visual sense as a result.

Bent Mikey seems to be under the illusion that wearing a pair of headphones instantly turns you into that lifelong deaf person and your visual sense is automatically increased.

 

[palinurus]

If you are going to do a SMIDSY can't you at least do a proper one and pull out on an MTBer with twin Lupine Bettys on full beam.

 

[Norm]

For that matter, the same argument you present goes for headphones - it's not an either listen to music or listen to the traffic.

Mikey

I think I've got the rest of your discussion from here saved in my favourites somewhere. Do you want me to pick it up for you? B)

 

[Crankarm]

Was the POB wearing a helmet? Suicidal if he wasn't . It might have saved his life if you had pulled out on him.

 

[J4CKO]

If you are going to do a SMIDSY can't you at least do a proper one and pull out on an MTBer with twin Lupine Bettys on full beam.

That is a fair point, no matter how powerful or expensive your lights are, dont assume you have been seen, assume you havent and base your decision on that, especially as some see you and go anyway through bloody mindedness, stupity or mis-judging speed.

 

[eldudino]

I wouldn't worry about your actions, you did good. It's very difficult to encourage utility cycling when people act like this and motons think we're all have the same "if you don't see me it's your fault" attitude.

The hard fact is that if you want to be seen it does cost a fair bit - I know you can get cheap lights, cheap hi-vis (there really is no excuse not to have a vest on if you've not got a suitable jacket) but if you're cycling every day in the darkness through winter, you want something that's really going to make you visible such (Hope Vision 1, Cateye EL530 etc). It's pretty hard to convince someone who spent £70 on a bike to spend another £70 on a light, or even £50 on a decent set of front and rears, they're also probably not clued up on wiggle etc. so will go down the local Halfords or worse - the local pound shop to buy lights.

 

[J4CKO]

Was the POB wearing a helmet? Suicidal if he wasn't . It might have saved his life if you had pulled out on him.

Nope, no helmet.

 

[J4CKO]

I wouldn't worry about your actions, you did good. It's very difficult to encourage utility cycling when people act like this and motons think we're all have the same "if you don't see me it's your fault" attitude.

The hard fact is that if you want to be seen it does cost a fair bit - I know you can get cheap lights, cheap hi-vis (there really is no excuse not to have a vest on if you've not got a suitable jacket) but if you're cycling every day in the darkness through winter, you want something that's really going to make you visible such (Hope Vision 1, Cateye EL530 etc). It's pretty hard to convince someone who spent £70 on a bike to spend another £70 on a light, or even £50 on a decent set of front and rears, they're also probably not clued up on wiggle etc. so will go down the local Halfords or worse - the local pound shop to buy lights.

True but anything is better than nothing, £5.99 hi viz vest from Decathlon and some cheap flashers for less than a tenner.

 

[eldudino]

True but anything is better than nothing, £5.99 hi viz vest from Decathlon and some cheap flashers for less than a tenner.

Completely agree.

 

[potsy]

Last night I came across this bike - it was going across the grass - so was I so I could test out my new light away from the street lights. I was surprised when cyclist passed me to see that it was a child who actually had on decent lights on their bike. Their front light wasn't one of those vague glow things either.

As for the head phones - it is presumably similar for deaf people although they will normally have an increased visual sense as a result.

What do you think about the new light Summerdays? Picked mine up today so now have 2 of them on the front and 2 cheapish Smart's on the rear,hopefully Jacko will see me coming

 

[thegrumpybiker]

It's up to you to prove that headphones decrease safety.

FWIW the whole headphone issue is a red herring. Those of you who are relying on your hearing aren't looking enough. Secondly, there's no need to make the assumption that headphones prevent you from hearing.

I stand corrected. You're absolutely right. I couldn't find a scrap of evidence to back up my flimsy theory that minimising distractions to all senses is the safest option. I believe I was labouring under the discredited notion once known as "common sense".
In light of the indisputable scientific evidence of Bent Mikey's theory "Listening to music while riding makes no difference to safety and in some cases actually improves visual activity" I will withdraw my comments and say I know when I'm beaten.

Following my superior's logic I will from now on ride without a helmet as those that do aren't using their protective cranial bones enough.