Trace The Mitten
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Gallery
    • Michigan Lighthouses
    • Historic Sites
    • Day Rides >
      • Michigan
      • Indiana
      • City Signs
    • Tours >
      • Trace the Mitten 2011
      • Trace the Mitten 2012
      • Great Lakes Relaxed
      • Great Lake to Lake Inaugural
      • Michigander 2017
      • Michigander 2018
      • Michigander 2019
    • Equipment
  • Links
  • Blog

Happenings, Reflections, Ideas, Analysis

TRACE THE MITTEN

What do you think of helmets?

3/26/2019

0 Comments

 
When I started riding a bike as a kid helmets were not on our radar. When my kids started riding they were starting to promote them in bike safety classes at school. I did not see the importance, even though I used them on tours and races; don't ask me to rationalize that.

When I started riding steady and seriously ten years ago I bought a good helmet. I had read that my old helmets could not remain safety rated effective. I use a helmet close to 100% of the time now.

Five years I experienced a fall that showed the value of my helmet. I was riding a single track connecting two paved walkways. I was going less than 10 miles an hour when I touched the pavement. My street smooth tires grabbed hold and wrenched the tires 90°. I immediately hit the pavement! My head hit the hard surface, my glasses flew into the grass. Skinned elbow and knee paled to my embarrassment. I looked around with an air of bravado for anyone who might have seen me. As I removed my helmet to replace my glasses, I noted a crack in the helmet from the impact.

​Wo! A cracked helmet from that speed.
Picture
0 Comments

Be prepared

3/12/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Soon into my ride today my chain came off as I downshifted going up a hill. The photo above shows how the chain was wedged between the gears and bottom bracket.

There was no way my fingers could pry the chain out. I travel with a bike multi-tool and a leatherman type multi-tool. I was able to use the pliers to loosen the grip on the chain.

​I do not use tools each outing, but when I need them; I am glad to have them.
0 Comments

    Author

    I love my riding days and look to find interesting and informative items to share.

    Picture

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Lands End To John O' Groats
    MUP
    Pacific Coast Highway
    Route 66 Virtual Tour
    Sites During Rides
    Tour Prep
    Upper Peninsula
    Virtual Tour Yellowstone

    Pacific Coast Highway
    ​MUP

    RSS Feed

Home  |   About  |  Contact  |  Blog  |  Gallery  |  Links  |  Tours  |  Rides   
Trace the Mitten - Footer Icons
Proudly powered by Weebly
TraceTheMitten.com © 2014
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Gallery
    • Michigan Lighthouses
    • Historic Sites
    • Day Rides >
      • Michigan
      • Indiana
      • City Signs
    • Tours >
      • Trace the Mitten 2011
      • Trace the Mitten 2012
      • Great Lakes Relaxed
      • Great Lake to Lake Inaugural
      • Michigander 2017
      • Michigander 2018
      • Michigander 2019
    • Equipment
  • Links
  • Blog