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Sometimes You Fall

Door Jeremy Dunn • 15th June 2011 07:43pm • Gepost in Rapha Continental

"You're not wearing a helmet. Is that because you want everyone to see that fancy hat you've got on?" This is Rapha Continental Rider Ryan Thomson commenting from behind the windscreen of "Big Jän" the dark blue Sprinter van that we have been piling in to explore road rides around the United States. It may seem a bit rude at first, but, Ryan has a right to say things of this manner to passing cyclists. One reason for this is because he always wears his helmet, always, you could say almost religiously. The other reason is because he took a bit of a tumble last week when we were riding through the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. He was wearing his helmet at the time, but the resulting injuries will keep him off the bike for the next six weeks.

There are people that wear their helmets all the time and there are people that sometimes choose not to wear them. They claim that it is too hot out, or they do not like the way that they look. Sometimes they do not even give excuses, they just do not wear them. Whatever it is, the key there is that it is a choice. You do not have to wear your helmet, really you do not. However, when you are flying down a descent at 40+ miles per hour and the car in front of you smoothly glides over a rock the size of a fist, disguising it until the moment it connects with your front wheel, you will be happy that you did. The other people that you are riding with, the ones that are there to help you into the back of the ambulance and shove your mangled bike into the the van, they will be glad you wear your helmet too.

NOTE: Aside from a broken scapula and a few scratches on his otherwise beautiful face, Ryan Thomson is on the mend. Thanks should go out to the two lady paramedics that stopped to help and the fantastic Emergency Response team from Aspen, Colorado. Ryan's euro-mullet was not injured in this crash.

Opmerkingen

rodney

15th June 2011 08:05pm

Cyclists who ride sans helmet are so Fred. I'm glad Ryan is okay.
How did his Rapha clothing fare after the crash?

Jeremy Dunn

15th June 2011 08:06pm

Thanks Rodney, stay tuned for a word on the clothing. The Medic's scissors got it good…

Samuel Klontz

15th June 2011 08:20pm

The gloves appear to have done a good job from the first picture. Yikes though, that sounds like a horrific crash. Glad he is doing well. Best wishes for the recovery.

Otis Rubottom

15th June 2011 08:57pm

Evil can never be defeated. Heal up fast Ryan.

Brendan Ryan

15th June 2011 09:09pm

Glad he is OK. Will Rapha ads still use images with riders that do not wear helmets?

Ross Douglas

15th June 2011 09:27pm

Brendan makes a VERY good point.. Maybe this is something you guys should think about with your ads.. I for one would like to see that..

colin mcsherry

15th June 2011 11:44pm

Everyone has the right to wear what they want, but after seeing my father sprawled out on the pavement for not wearing a helmet. I realized that there are too many things on the line to not wear one. I will always wear mine and will do everything to convince my kids helmets aren't nerdy or uncomfortable. Keep em upright and be safe out there.

michael ghitelman

16th June 2011 03:32am

I'm reading this piece in bed at night; my broken arm and finger make it difficult to sleep. The road rash has mostly healed, now its a badge of honor.
On a 50 mile social ride we were descending after a long climb. At a leisurely 32 mph it only took another riders front wheel touching my rear to send us flying. My slide across the tarmac ended when my head slammed against the road.
While my body mends my bike has already been repaired; the wheel rebuilt, the shifter replaced, the bar rewrapped with new tape. Glove needed to be cut off, no repairing it.
When I mounted the bike that morning I didn't expect this. I am certain that had I not worn a helmet I would not be looking forward to autumn riding in a few weeks. Or looking forward to anything else.

Malcolm Bracken

16th June 2011 09:01am

When you're riding in a group, off-road, or competitvely where you might crash, wear a helmet.

When the danger's cars, they give you more room if you don't. Perversely you're possibly safer without.

Ian Winfield

16th June 2011 09:32am

Only a fool or a sad, vain fashionista does not wear a helmet.
Last year on the Brighton Gentleman's ride my friend Matt hit a pothole, catapulted in the air, landing on his bonce.
The helmet cracked in half and according to the medics in the ambulance, almost certainly saved his life.
The face is back to it's fuggly old self and even the skin on his nose has healed with the help of some medical honey. (down to the bone).
So I for one am thankful for a helmet, otherwise there would be no Matt to service my bike.
Take note Hoxton Hipsters. Nathan Barley mullets do not stop your head cracking on tarmac.

Daniel James

18th June 2011 12:54am

First, I am glad that Ryan is OK and will be. None of us likes to see a fellow cyclist or in fact any human being hurt in an accident.
Second, 18 months ago I bit the back of my head on the road after being hit by a car and flying through the air with the greatest of ease. I genuinely thought I'd done myself some serious damage as did the ambulance crew, doctors and nurses as they looked after me. Apart from serious whiplash and twisted tendons in my shoulder for my pains, I was relatively lucky. I put that down to wearing a helmet. I still get pains at the back of my head when I fly or go through tunnels on the train but the fact that I can still have those pains just goes to show me how lucky I was and makes me glad that I am still here. If you are riding on the road, wear a helmet- it is that easy.
Third, just to echo Brendan's point, how about ads with all riders wearing helmets when they are actually riding on the road? Off the bike and stopped, then fine, no helmets. Please seriously consider this. Nobody would think any the worse of Rapha if you did this. Wearing a helmet may not save you from serious injury but it might save your life. I know which one I would rather choose.

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