can a overweight male ride a fixed gear bike?

Joshua

i was wondering cause i am 5`7" and i weigh 250 and i am interested in buying a fixed gear bicycle but when i saw the frame im kinda not sure cause it looks like it wouldn't be able to support my weight

Answer
You are overweight, but that will not be relevant if you buy a bicycle. You only weigh about sixty pounds more than me. I carry at least a ten-pound pack every day. The point that makes me wonder is the reason that you are buying a single-speed bike.

If you are going to really ride any miles, you want a dedicated road bike. You should invest in a good quality, aluminum-frame road bike if you want efficient transportation on pavement. I found that switching from a hybrid comfort bike to a low-end road bike increased my commuting speed 30% over my sixteen-mile daily ride.

I found a Trek 1500 that weighs about 20 pounds with narrow tires. I travel downhill at 42 MPH, level at 25 MPH, with an uphill speed of about 8 MPH. Total terrain average is 12 MPH.

I shopped around year-old models at 20% discount, but found a Trek 1500 demo model at a 40% discount in a 60 cm frame size. I am 6'2" at 195 pounds, a perfect fit. With accessories, I spent $800 with a tire repair kit, pump, and lock.

Within the first 1,000 miles, I had five flat tires. I replaced the tires with a Schwalbe Marathon Plus on the rear and a Continental Gator on the front. I had no flat tires over the second 1,000 miles. The tires cost about $100.

I spent more than $100 on Night Rider 15 watt headlight and rechargeable battery pack. I bought a back-up Cat Eye lamp with four rechargeable AA batteries. I also bought red flashers for the seat post and helmet, with a duct tape loop on the helmet to hold the LED lamp. Since I ride in below-zero windchills, I paid $160 for Hotronic electric footbed heaters in leather shoes that cost $100. I also wear layers of fleece with North Face waterproof pants and Spyder backpack cover, figure another $200.
So, I spent about $1,600 on everything that I needed for 2,000 miles of riding in the past year. Spread over five years, bicycle commuting will cost me less than $0.15 per mile, which is cheaper than driving a car and provides great fitness.

Regarding your weight loss program, I can give you the following ideas:

Check a BMI calculator to set your weight goal.

http://www.aarp.org/health/healthyliving/bmi_calculator/?CMP=KNC-360I-GOOGLE-HEA&HBX_PK=bmi_calculator
Your BMI should be between 19 and 25.
http://www.aarp.org/health/healthyliving/bmi_calculator/?CMP=KNC-360I-GOOGLE-HEA&HBX_PK=bmi_calculator

You should find exercise that fits into your daily routine, like walking to school, bicycling to the grocery store, and hiking through a local park. Try to perform these moderate exercise activities for at least an hour every day. Eat more fruits and vegetables, since these are both filling and filled with the nutrients that your body needs.

Let me give you a summary of my meals in a typical day:

Breakfast: A high-fiber cup of oatmeal, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. A pint of coffee or green tea.

Alternatively, a high-protein scrambled egg with an Anaheim or Pasadilla pepper, a handful of mushrooms, and half-cup of cheese, with a topping of Greek or Italian spices. Two bananas.

Lunch: Snacking and a meal at work is one orange and two apples; ten-grain, flax-meal, psyllium home-made crackers or rice chips with an ounce or two of spreadable soft feta; a quarter-cup of cinnamon-sugar almonds; a pint of coffee; a quart of water.

Alternatively, a soup of clam chowder with a half-cup of added mixed seafood such as clams and octopus or split pea soup; dried figs and apricots to satisfy hunger between meals; a quart of water.

Dinner: A half-head of lettuce with thousand island or blue cheese dressing. Two bananas with a glass of milk. Two cups of herbal tea.

Alternatively, a high-fiber, multi-grain and flax meal pasta with red sauce, adding mushrooms, peppers, bok choi, and a few black olives. Another meal is stir-fry vegetables in a ginger terriyaki or vegetable spring rolls with duck sauce. A cup of brown rice or wild rice, not a true rice, as a high-fiber side dish is very filling with green tea or herbal tea.

My daily exercise routine is 16 miles of biking, unless the weather is nasty. If the weather is bad, I run 4 miles a day with a backpack. On my days off work, I usually hike about 5 miles in winter due to snow on my paths and 10 miles in summer. Try to do at least an hour of moderate exercise per day, which can be a commute to pick-up groceries, get to work or school, or a hike in a park or neighborhood.

Look-up healthy eating and other topics related to your health at WebMD as well:

http://www.webmd.com/default.htm
http://www.webmd.com/diet/default.htm
The best colon cleaners: strawberries, bananas, oatmeal, apples, psyllium husk powder, and flax meal. If these do not work, try a cheap laxative like generic calcium polycarbophil or sennosides. If you still want to pay more for roughly the same effects, try "Acai Berry Cleanse" or Cellular Research Formula "Colon Clear" and "Total Body Purifier." Buy a juicer and pulp apples and ot

Beginning Cycling?

Big D

Im looking for a good resource to get into cycling. And perhaps information on what kind of bikes would be best for a beginner.

Answer
Very good question.

3 steps to answer.
Discover where the bike may go
Find a bike that fits this and your body
Test drive this bike against its peers in competition for your pleasure

Go to the bike shop for cycling club information and look online for cycling clubs in your area.

At the same time, look for bike paths and bike trails. Paths/courses=road or road-ish hybrid and trails=mountain or mountain comfort hybrid.

So, discovering who to ride with and where to ride can be very helpful in selecting a bike. That way, it will have the most pleasing results--since it matches the application.

Here's a few examples of un-flexable bikes:

Road racer, not all season, pavement only.
2 versions available, ergo and traditional (non ergo), and performance varies wildly, no matter which sort, so test drive (many times) is paramount.

Double sprung mountain bike, very slow on pavement, use only for dirt or a very short pavement trip.

Single speed bike, not good on hills.

Three speed bike, not good on hills

Heavy bike of any kind, not good on hills


Here's a few examples of flexable bikes:

Road-ish hybrid and cyclocross (same bike, different prices), pavement, short trips on gravel, and all season, also handles rough pavement with grace, and 700c varieties with road wheels usually go at a similar speed to road racer, yet with far more comfort and longer distances than the road racer. Hill speed is slightly slower than the racer, but averages are similar.

Mountain comfort hybrid and XC racer (same bike, different prices), pavement, long trips on gravel, mountain bike trails, no "jumping" and has enough road speed to go road touring with a club, as long as the wheels are the narrow XC variety. These usually have an 11-32 rear and a 28, 38, 48 front, thus making a "road" bike that is also at home on gravel. These are heavier than road racer, so make a slower trip up paved hills.


Select a bike from the bike store.
This is incredibly important!!

At the bike store, price does not have much merit at all, because they do not carry junk.

At the bike store, all the bikes are new, unlike used bikes that are sold because they displeased somebody.

At the bike store, you can test drive, and there's no other way to get the bike that fits you and pleases you.

Test drive until you find a bike that is more pleasant in comparison to others--and quick!

Put that one near the door so you don't have to fish it out of the big jumble of bikes in there. ;)

Test drive other bikes and each time, again test drive the "pleasant" bike directly afterwards.

This is a competition. Buy the winner.
The winner will be faster (because it fits) and it will make you smile.


Now that you have a bike that pleases you, you will want some supplies.

Helmet, Trek Vapor or Trek Police (police label peels right off, nice white helmet) $30 (great value) for a helmet that is a pleasure to wear--because your head is cooler with it than without.
On my last bike tour, I left it on when walking around camp during the day, because it made my head cooler. Very good for hot weather!
Very likely to use it too. ;)

Speedometer (Schwinn at Wal-Mart) because you need to change your chain at every 1000 miles (dirt) to 2000 miles (pavement) to protect the gears. At 1500 miles or so, the battery will go low, freak out, and refuse to read the speeds. Time for a new chain, and a very small battery. How convenient is that? The Schwinn is very durable, waterproof, works better than most for the price (as anything of that brand), and it is extraordinarily easy to use.

Flat-Pac (under seat bag, Bell at Wal-Mart) because you need to put an extra inner tube in there and maybe some other things, like keys, wallet, a few allen wrenches, tissue pac, small camera. . .

Extra inner tube (from the bike store).

Frame pump/bike pump (from the bike store) so that you can fix a flat while away from home.

Rear blinkie (triangular red Bell from Wal-Mart) so that cars can see the bike (from the rear).

LED headlight (from the bike store) Serfas SL-400 featherweight, inexpensive and very conservative on batteries, with a huge, wide, moped like headlight beam, because cycling doesn't end at sundown. Unbelievable performance.

If you plan on using an XC racer or similar "mountain comfort hybrid" mostly on pavement, then I'd suggest Kenda Kross Plus Yellow Label (insist on the yellow label--its faster and flat protected) for quicker road speeds and grace on gravel, for about $9 ea.

If you've no intention of riding on gravel, take a look at Specialized Cirrus and Schwinn Super Sport for comfy results and such speed that you won't get left behind in the road club.

But the thought I want to leave you with is to go to the bike store, where price has neither consequence or merit, and test drive a lot.
This will work really very well.

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At what age can a baby use....?

BEC

A bike seat??

I want to start riding my bike with my daughter...she is 9.5 months...is she old enough? Or is should I wait? What age is ok?

Answer
At an absolute bare minimum the child has to be able to wear a bike helmet, which means their neck must be strong enough to support the weight. That happens at about 1 year of age and parents are advised to discuss it with their pediatrician -though I do not actually believe that pediatricians or family doctors have *any* training in this.

In some places (NY for example) it is the law that no child under age 1 be attached to a bike in any way.

http://www.bhsi.org/little1s.htm
Nobody we have met in the injury prevention field recommends taking an infant of less than 12 months in a bicycle child seat, trailer, sidecar or any other carrier. Nobody. And we do not either.
New York state law prohibits it. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission thinks it is dangerous to take a child under one year on a bicycle, and here is their rationale:

Maurice Keenan, MD, from the American Academy of Pediatrics [21], requested that a minimum age of 1 year be reflected on the label for helmets intended for children under age 5. This would better convey the message that infants (children under age 1) should not be passengers on a bicycle under any circumstance.

The Commission agrees with the commenter that children under 1 year of age should not be on bicycles. Children are just learning to sit unsupported at about 9 months of age. Until this age, infants have not developed sufficient bone mass and muscle tone to enable them to sit unsupported with their backs straight. Pediatricians advise against having infants sitting in a slumped or curled position for prolonged periods. This position may even be exacerbated by the added weight of a bicycle helmet on the infantâs head. Because pediatricians recommend against having children under age 1 as passengers on bicycles, the Commission does not want the certification label to imply that children under age 1 can ride safely.

Source: 16 CFR Part 1203 Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets; Final Rule, page 11726

That explains why you will not find a child helmet on the market sized for a tiny tot. You certainly do not want to ride with a bare-headed child, and in some places it is illegal. In fact, several states have laws against taking children under one year of age on a bicycle, even with a helmet.

Parents love their babies and love their bicycles, so it is natural to want to put the two together. That thought occurs to every bicycling parent, generally before the child is born. We see messages on the Internet indicating that some parents do put their children in baby seats of one design or another and take them along on trailers starting as young as five weeks. Others use a baby backpack. At slightly older ages, people use front or rear-mounted child seats. A few (mostly in the UK) use sidecars. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. A disclaimer: our purpose here is to highlight the risks. We are hearing more now about undiagnosed brain injuries, with symptoms too subtle for doctors to detect in a clinical setting, but very real to families. And that comes to mind whenever someone asks us about babies and biking. We worry about your six-week-old entering the first grade six years from now with a small but detectable mental handicap. That is alarmist; this is an alarmist page!

For an official US Government view, we have excerpts from the Consumer Product Safety Commission's age-related guidelines for ride-on toys.

Baby in a bike seat- what's the youngest age?

Mrs. Kelly

I want to get a bike seat for my baby so she can ride with me. What is the minimum age she can be to ride/wear a helmet? Anyone know?

Answer
Obviously a child can't be on a bike until they can safely wear a helmet.

http://www.helmets.org/little1s.htm
Nobody we have met in the injury prevention field recommends taking an infant of less than 12 months in a bicycle child seat, trailer, sidecar or any other carrier. Nobody. And we do not either.
New York state law prohibits it. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission thinks it is dangerous to take a child under one year on a bicycle, and here is their rationale:

Maurice Keenan, MD, from the American Academy of Pediatrics [21], requested that a minimum age of 1 year be reflected on the label for helmets intended for children under age 5. This would better convey the message that infants (children under age 1) should not be passengers on a bicycle under any circumstance.

The Commission agrees with the commenter that children under 1 year of age should not be on bicycles. Children are just learning to sit unsupported at about 9 months of age. Until this age, infants have not developed sufficient bone mass and muscle tone to enable them to sit unsupported with their backs straight. Pediatricians advise against having infants sitting in a slumped or curled position for prolonged periods. This position may even be exacerbated by the added weight of a bicycle helmet on the infantâs head. Because pediatricians recommend against having children under age 1 as passengers on bicycles, the Commission does not want the certification label to imply that children under age 1 can ride safely.

Source: 16 CFR Part 1203 Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets; Final Rule, page 11726

That explains why you will not find a child helmet on the market sized for a tiny tot. You certainly do not want to ride with a bare-headed child, and in some places it is illegal. In fact, several states have laws against taking children under one year of age on a bicycle, even with a helmet.

Parents love their babies and love their bicycles, so it is natural to want to put the two together. That thought occurs to every bicycling parent, generally before the child is born. We see messages on the Internet indicating that some parents do put their children in baby seats of one design or another and take them along on trailers starting as young as five weeks. Others use a baby backpack. At slightly older ages, people use front or rear-mounted child seats. A few (mostly in the UK) use sidecars. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. A disclaimer: our purpose here is to cover the risks, so you know what you are getting into. We are hearing more these days about undiagnosed brain injuries, with symptoms too subtle for doctors to detect, but very real to families. And that comes to mind whenever someone asks us about babies and biking. We worry about your six-week-old entering the first grade six years from now with a small but detectable mental handicap. That is alarmist; this is an alarmist page.



http://www.ibike.org/education/infant.htm
Infants: Child Seats Vs. Trailers Vs. Backpacks Vs. Third-wheel Cycles

The primary determinant of when an infant can join his or her parents on bike rides is the strength of the the child's neck. Because of the jostling and the additional weight of a helmet (8-10 oz.), this is a few months after a baby can firs

How old should a baby be to ride in a bike seat?

blank

Like one of the seats that attaches onto the back of a bicycle? They need to wear a helmet in that, right? Where can you get helmets for babies, do they make them?

Answer
Hi, yes they definitely need to use a helmet, buy a high quality one from a reputable bike store not a toy one for use on kiddies bikes, as if they do fall they will fall from a much greater height. Bell is a good make I believe. My daughter rode in the back from about 9 months they need to have complete head control, and be able to sit reasonably still or they will throw you off balance a bit. The problem I found was I had a non recline seat and as the helmet was at its tightest setting it stuck out a bit at the back and made her head drop forwards if she fell asleep. I replaced this with a reclining seat which helped with this problem a little. She is now 2 and rides on the back no problem at all, all though she prefers to ride her own bike now. Make sure you ride in high visibility jackets and stick to quite roads, or cycle paths as much as possible - cars make no allowances for children!!!

At what age did you put your baby in a baby bike seat and take them for a ride?

lilsnob868

How old were they? I researched it on the internet and they recommend them to be one year old. My son is 9 months and sits up well and everything. All i have to do is buy him a bike helmet online. So what age was your baby? thanks
if you fall the baby has a helmet on duh? and he is securely strapped in his bike seat.
is the baby trailer safe? does it securely strap the baby in? does it just lay down or can you sit your baby up?

Answer
I don't have the seat, I have the pull behind trailer. I started using it as soon as I got it, my son was 6 months old. I like and trust the trailer more than I would the seat. If for some reason I should fall, the trailer will remain upright. There's a roll bar in it too, so if it does flip I know he's safe.
*edit* He gets strapped in

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What would be the most affordable bike to get that is safe to put a 2 year old on the back?

Paula G

Hey There - we are looking to get a couple of bikes to ride around white rock lake with our 22 month old son. We are novices - so we just want something decent, but doesn't need to be the tour de france. Also - what is the best seat for the baby to get? Thanks!

Answer
You do not put a child of 22 months on a bike!!! Are you out of your mind?

OTOH your child can ride WITH you on almost any bike with age appropriate compatible equipment

The child goes on/in the equipment, the equipment attaches to the bike/bikes you choose.

Got it?

Generally speaking if/when your child is old enough to hold his/her head up WITH an infant helmet the progression is usually this:

infant to toddler - best solution is a child trailer. Your kid is sheltered, somewhat protected, sheltered from the sun, and if YOU take a tumble the trailer stays upright!! This will let you go from novice to experienced while your child is safe.

A trailer can go on almost any bike. Some will convert from trailer to jog/stroller.

Check with your local bike shop.

DO NOT BUY AT A BOX STORE. Your LBS will show you how to attach it safely and use it and what bikes will be compatible.

Toddler to lets say maybe 4-5 depending on kid. Some manner of rear mounted child seat. Who knows what will be available by the time the fruit of your loins reaches that age. Same principle, go to your LBS and have them show you how to safely attach it to your bike.

BTW in all this and at all stages GET A HELMET FOR YOUR CHILD and you too. Makes no sense for the child to survive and you to be relearning the alphabet. ;-)

5-9 or so depending on child: tag-along trailer. Like a tandem in principle attaches to your bike. Your child can pedal ... or not. But gets the feeling of participating and helps Mom/Dad move along. You know where said child is (behind you). Said child is not likely to hit me or veer all around the trail unless you do that too ;-)

9 and up plus or minus depending on your child, their interest etc now you may be talking ride with their very own bike or some equip a tandem with crankset the right length for said kid (which can be adjusted as your kid grows)

Have fun out there!!!!!!

gift ideas for 9 year old boy?

tIgErFaCe2

My son is turning 9 next month. We are getting him a new bike and new helmet. We were also considering getting him a skateboard. We don't have cable at home so he doesn't really have any TV Shows that he follows. He likes WWE and anything to do with cars. He really likes golf but he already has golf clubs that still fit him. Same with baseball, he already has a bat, glove, and lots of balls. He doesn't normally ask for alot so it's a little difficult to shop for him. What are other 9 year old boys into.? And suggestions would help.
We already have a wii and a ps2. We have plenty of games for the ps2 but only a few on the wii. But he's more interested in doing the real activities rather than the game. We have wii sport and wii fit plus. We also already have the movie cars.

Answer
Nerf gun, RC car, basketball hoop, trampoline, scooter, drum set, electric or acoustic guitar, Martian Matter, tether ball, Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.
Hope this helped!

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Helmet or no helmet. am i ok???????

carmasterz

when riding my bike i always see some people wearing helmets, and some do not. I personally do not wear a helmet.

i learned to ride a bike when i was around 4 yrs old. i wore a helmet of course till i was like 10. im 15 now and i don't remember wearing a helmet for a long time , and i have not fallen on my bike ever i think. the only times i do fall is when im walking the bike lol. i have noticed that people who wear helmets crash more frequently, its like in their sub-conscious they fear falling so they make mistakes. Personally i don care if i fall and get hurt, i ride like a freaking maniac but i ride logically (not cutting people off , or riding on the road....most of the time). yes i get into close calls but its cuz drivers seem to forget to use their signals of something. i cant read their mind. Im a pretty good bike, i guess. My biking line is good, i know when to brake and how/when to turn....all aggressively.



i was just wondering if you guys/girls wear a helmets, if you do why? and if you dont why?

do u guy think im ok?
guys im not talkign about motorcycles.....im talking about riding a bike
if i was riding a motorcycle i would wear a helmet and all of my gear, but for a bicycle im going like what 20-30 mph at most

Answer
You are OK.

Studies have been done on bicycle helmets, and you are correct, the helmet wearing riders suffer more and greater injuries. Google "risk compensation" for more information. It is not that they fear falling and make mistakes, it is that the "protection" relieves the fear and they take greater risks. Same with motorcycles, which is why mandatory helmet States have insignificantly higher accident and death rates.

If you are getting into close calls the law of averages says that eventually one of them will be more than 'close.' You might want to consider backing off the agression to where you no longer have close calls.

Do bicycle helmets protect?

me m

My mother tells me everytime I go ride a bike to wear my helmet, but my friends think its ridiculous. I ride bicycles well i.e. never fall, but how much protection does a bicycle helmet offer.

Answer
TWEETY HAS THE BIGGEST LOAD OF RUBBISH STATS I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!!!

I do wear a helmet, but the chances of you having a serious brain injury is minimal at the least! - You are more likely to break your collar bone, wrist, or lose some skin from legs arms,etc.

Have you ever seen the 'Final Destination' films??? this is what the Pro helmet people think is REAL!

It's up to you mate but don't listen to doom and gloom merchants who believe all they read in the papers and who are even frightened of their own shadow!!!!

Just be aware and ride safe.

.EDIT: Stats can be manipulated any way you like , particularly, if the company that commissions the research is Industry related!!! - Helmets have only really been around the last generation - what about the generations before??? half the population should be dead because they never had cycling helmets??( Most of China should be brain-dead vegetables or dead!!!!) Don't be told what to do by scare mongers ! - NOBODY BUT NOBODY can state whether an accident victim would be alive if they wore a helmet !!! -WHAT A LOAD OF TRASH !!!!

Don't believe the CR*P - make your own mind up!!!

EDIT2: Thanks for your 'half witted' comments Stephanie, but you are missing my point. Yes, I do wear a helmet and I am not telling people "don't wear them" - Read my posting again or better still, get an adult to read it to you and explain it's content !!

Up until a few years ago I didn't wear a helmet and the reason I do now is nothing to do with 'scaredy cats' or being a man! (your statements regarding this, belies your intelligence, or lack of!)

If you fall for every piece of Hype and Dogma, you would never eat sleep or do anything, you can't even hide indoors cos the Radon gas seeping through the rocks would kill you, or your house dust mites would eat you alive! Live in YOUR 'scaredy cat bubble' if you must - but there are intelligent people out there that are able to make up there own minds.

By the way do you have any stats reporting the people that have died of strangulation or throat laceration because they fell off their bike wearing a helmet??? YES it happens!

EDIT3: I was riding a sportif a few weeks ago and another rider hit a sheep!, broke her collar bone and punctured her lung - Perhaps you should consider shoulder pads and a chest protector next time you ride to the shops!!!!!


.

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new to the world of bikes!!!!?

Camron R

today i found out im not aloud to use my parents car and that sucks in many ways one i cant get to work and two im stuck in the house where i dont want to be ... so i came up with the ideal to get a bike :D

A nice sporty one is what i want

im 19 years of age and i make roughly $250 a week so yeah i can get money.
and my cool grandma said she will co sign :D helps me alought.

anyways i have a few questions regaurding buying a bike from the dealer .....
do i needa liecense to drive a bike off the lot....
what kinda insurance should i get....

small things like that ... now lets talk about the type i want and price range the highest i will go is $7,500
for a new bike... i found one that caught my eye tell me what you think about it and help me find the right bike for me THANKS

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/25/0/home.aspx

Answer
$250 a week, huh? If you're under 25, that won't even cover the insurance, let alone the payments.

Yes, you need a license to drive it off the lot. Yes, you have to pass a motorcycle test just like you did for your driver's license. Yes, you need to have at LEAST $500 to purchase motorcycle gear before you ride.

Your grandma isn't cool, she's ignorant (sorry, would "ignant" work better for you?). Your grandma has never seen a motorcycle that can do 0-60 in under 5 seconds, and you probably sweet-talked her into it because your parents already said NO.

Why can't you use your parents' car? I'd be willing to bet there's a reason for it, and if you still live with your parents at 19 you don't have enough experience with the real world to handle the responsibility of a motorcycle.

Granted, you did pick out a decent starter bike, even if it is a bit heavy. But all you seem to convey is BIKE BIKE BIKE BIKE BIKE! without mentioning anything else that goes along with it.

Here's how it would break down for you, even if you got a cosigner:

$7500 bike.
Bike payments @ 22% APR: $207.14 /month
Insurance for teenage male: ~$330 /month
Gasoline: $40 /month
Total: over $577 per month, whether you ride it or not.

On top of that, lets look at other expenses for your first 1000 miles:
First service @ 600 miles: $300
New tires every 3000 - 5000 miles: ~$400
Full face helmet: $200
Armored jacket, textile: $170 leather: $350
Gloves: $30 - $90
Boots: $100 - $250
Total: $1200 to $1600

So with all the costs, not even counting new fairings when you drop it (and you WILL drop it), you'll be shelling out over $8100 that first year for your $7500 bike.

Sounds like a great idea, doesn't it?

Where can you get dirt bike helmets?? like idk canadian tire or something?

Q. a store in st.Johns nfld preferably

Answer
ebay is the best place to buy dirtbike and streetbike helmets just make sure there dot approved and you'll be good to go .you can get a simple one for under $50 and If you want it to look awesome around $100 . any shop around me charges over $100 for their simple helmets and $200 and up for there stylish helmets . hope this helps

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Cycling tips for beginner?

Paul

I've just bought a bike, and plan to cycle to and from work. I also have a helmet and lights. What other kit do I need? Also any general cycling tips, I've not been on a bike for years. The journey to work is about 5 miles with some quiet and some busy roads. I'm a nurse in a hospital. Thanks

Answer
1) Read this thoroughly!!! http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
2) Understand that a bicycle is a legal street "vehicle". You have the same rights & responsibilities out there as any car, truck, bus or motorcycle.
3) In a narrow lane situation - "take the lane". Ride right down the center of the lane until such time it's safe to move over to the right a little.
4) Don't be a "gutter bunny". Always ride at least 3 to 4 feet away from the curb to #1) Avoid road debris which causes flat tires. #2) You will be SEEN by motorists!
5) Always go around parked cars leaving 4 to 5 feet of space in case some fool doesn't look opening car door. Stay out of the "door zone".
6) Get yourself an under-the-seat bag. Carry a spare tube, tire levers, folding hex head tool & CO2 cartridges or frame pump. A frame pump is better. See your local bike shop.
7) Get a GOOD U-Bolt lock and thick cable or chain. LOCK the bicycle up.
http://bigshark.com/how-to/locking-your-bicycle-pg263.htm In fact, lock it up inside if possible in a store room.

Watch all the You Tube videos & read one more article...
http://thinkbicyclingblog.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/2012-01-18-stl-beacon-knowledge-is-best-protection-for-bicyclist/ This man is over 70 & has been accident free for YEARS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFjCza5e1kw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIr3mI96FZk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLu0DHPeYm8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU4nKKq02BU

Motorcycle Accident-Need lawyer's opinion-Please Help!!?

Faria

I was in a motorcycle accident Dec. 30, 2012. It was the other guys fault, I didn't have insurance on my bike, I was in the hospital for 3 weeks, and have had 9 surgeries (10th one to be within a month) since.

My medical bills are $350,000+ but the guy's lawyer said they're willing to settle with $100,000 if I don't take him to trial.

I do have an attorney and when I asked him how long it would take to settle he said he could do it within 60 days but will still have to negotiate with his insurance company. I've constantly been emailing my lawyer in regards to my case, yet he hasn't responded in over a month because he is apparently taking another case to trial.

I've read some cases in which you can settle without a lawyer? How does this work? and could I do this and then pay my lawyer the paperwork fee's and such so that I can go about this faster?
Idk why it is taking so long, and why my lawyer isn't informing me on anything, I need to know my options, any advice will be greatly appreciated! :) thank you!

Additional Details
All my medical bills are paid for through my parents insurance, it would be a reimbursement.

I know I have a case because I've talked to 3 different lawyers and they all say I have a slam dunk case. I'm only 19 so I don't want to come off naive but a police officer witnessed the accident, the police report states it was his fault, his policy limits are $100,000 for personal injury, I was expecting $30,000-$35,000 to come directly to me if I settle because the typical payment for everyone involved is 1/3 to me, 1/3 to my lawyer, and 1/3 to the insurance company.

I have considered taking him to trial however my lawyer doesn't even want to represent me if I do that because he thinks the guy will just file for bankruptcy and then the judgement is thrown out, and I lose everything.

Legally we can't ask him if he has any assets which I can pursue if I take him to court (house, car, business, etc for the $350,000)

I don't understand why the insurance company would take all of it if I settle? That's RIDICULOUS. My parents have paid for insurance for 25+ years. Taking everything is hard to believe. (someone said that I wouldn't get a penny of it if I settle due to my really high medical bills)

I am now really considering changing my lawyer, if I fire the one I have right now what could be the consequences? I know I have to pay about $4500-$5000 for his paperwork fee's but I can't afford that until I receive money from this case.
I have already talked to another lawyer (who specializes in personal injury) and he is willing to take my case and use private investigators and such to obtain information. I am thinking about signing a contract with him now.

Any advice will help a lot. Thank you

Answer
Discuss with a lawyer. A good Bike Accident Lawyer knows that in a large majority of bicycle accidents cases that the fault lies with the driver of the vehicle rather than the cyclist, especially in cases involving children. Motorcycle accidents often occur due to the fact that cyclists frequently share the road with vehicular traffic. Unlike people traveling in cars and trucks, a cyclist is not enclosed in essentially a metal cage protecting them from others traveling the same route they are. A bicycle has no seat belts, air bags or other safety equipment that come standard in a car or truck. A cyclist has no protection in the event of an accident other than a helmet, assuming that the cyclist chooses to wear one. As such, a cyclist must be diligently aware of their surroundings because a cyclist is constantly mindful of vehicular traffic, whereas vehicle traffic is not necessarily mindful of those on bicycles.

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what type of bicycle helmet is this?

Theo

http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/8/1/e/c/Tour_de_France_f2ba.jpg

a brand name would be nice i really want to get one

Answer
That photo is of the Cervelo Test Team. Their helmet is made by the company Catlike: http://www.catlike.es/ingles/index.html

The particular model is the Catlike Whisper.

Hope this helps.

I have a question about biking and skating helmets... you all should know the answer?

Frank

you know how bicycle helmets look like this

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VBFFTKQSL._Bell%20Influx%20Bike%20Helmet_.jpg


And how skate boarding helmets look like this...


http://www.trimmerassist.net/images/tec_skate_helmet.jpg



my question is


WHY!?


One clearly has more ventilation

So why have less holes?

And it's more aerodynamic too!


So why does the skate boarding helmet look like that?
AND WHY DOES IT EXIST IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Answer
Well, the skateboarding helmet is probably designed more for protection and less for its aerodynamic ability. Think of it like this, who goes further more often without crashing, the biker or the skateboarder? Obviously the biker. Skateboarding will expose you to injury very very often, whether it be a scrape or something more serious like a concussion. While biking you don't really have to worry about accidentally falling or hurting yourself, at least not that often. Biking helmets are more of a just in-case precaution to make sure you don't sustain any very serious injury, if god forbid you do get hurt. Oh, plus - less ventilation on the skateboarding helmet means more protection.

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Looking for a toy Motorcycle Helmet for my toddler!?

Jeff H

I cant seem to find any place that makes toy, full face, motorcycle helmets that i can have for my child to play in. She wants a hat like daddy's!

Answer
They make full face bicycle helmets: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8467093

But that probably would not fit a toddler.

Are full face helmets ok for non motor bike riding?

nick

Noticed that's all that was left at Walmart . They're obviously bike helmets , sticker said not for motorcycle use

Answer
Full face bicycle helmets are for use in BMX , freestyle (aka extreme), and Downhill mountain bike riding. Otherwise, they would be too hot and impractical. These are not DOT approved and will not give much protection on a motorcycle.

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Trying to buy my first road Bike. Choosing between Trek and Specialized?

Mike Barne

Price range is probably at most 700 (not including lights, helmet etc.) Trying to choose between a Specialized Allez double (684), or a trek 1.2 compact (600). Would use the bike sometimes in the city, but also to travel on the road to other states.

Answer
Both excellent companies. This may sound "over-simplified" but true. Test ride both bikes extensively. Fit & feel is THE #1 priority. Whichever bike feels the best & rides the best to you - buy it. Yep...it's that simple.

Good first starting bike?

spirk

I have been contemplating my first motorcyle and I have basicly decided to get a ninja 250. I wanted the 600 but after reading forums, i realize that it's way to much power for starters. I just wanted to know if there were any other good bikes out there for starters. I'm still open to suggestions.

Answer
Buy something used and inexpensive for a starter bike.

Look for something old but not too old. You don't want something so old that it is a junker, but not something so new that you'll feel bad if you lay it down.

Look for something in the 250 - 500 CC engine size. This will be powerful enough so you don't get bored too soon, but not so fast that you will be afraid of it.

Look for a Standard or Cruiser bike for your first bike. They are more forgiving and usually have less power than a Sport Bike with the same size engine. Although Cruisers are heavier than other bikes, they have the lowest center of gravity and are easy to balance considering their weight. Balance is more important than weight for your first motorcycle. In addition, if you compare specifications, using 600CC bikes for example, a Cruiser will weigh about 5% to 7% more than a comparable sized Sport Bike. Not really enough weight to make all that much difference. It is the 1200cc + size Cruisers that are heavy.

Stay away from the Sport Bikes for your first bike as they require more skill. Going with a Sport Bike for your first bike is like getting a Formula 1 race car for your first car, not a good idea. Any decent Sport Bike can go from zero to deadly faster than you can say "Oh Sh**". Also used Sport Bikes tend to be more abused.

Consider the fit of the motorcycle. People come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes. So do motorcycles. When selecting a motorcycle consider how well it fits your body. Ask yourself how well you can put both feet flat on the ground. Ask yourself how well the seating position feels. Do you have to reach too far to the handlebars? Riding hunched over can get uncomfortable very fast. Is the foot peg location comfortable? Does the bike feel too big or too small? An uncomfortable motorcycle won't be much fun to ride for any amount of distance. However, a bike that fits you well will be lots of fun.

In general, Cruisers will have a shorter seat height than most other bikes. You may want to consider this if you are a short person.

Avoid buying over the Internet. I would never buy a motorcycle sight unseen. You could very easily end up paying too much for junk. Always do a visual inspection and test ride before buying a motorcycle. When you go to look at the bike, bring a helmet. If you do not have your motorcycle license yet, bring a friend with a motorcycle license and 2 helmets.

Watch the classified section of your local news paper. Some locations have shopper magazines with used motorcycles in your area. Reasonably priced used bikes are out there. Be patient. Don't buy too quickly, but if you find one you like, buy it right away. Unfortunately, as the price of gas rises so will the price of used motorcycles. If you find a good starter bike, don't hesitate as they can sell quickly.

Don't get hung up on any particular brand. All of the name brands are about the same. Pay more attention to the bike's condition. If any one brand were really superior to all other brands, this would be the only brand bike on the road. In addition, if any brand bike was really inferior to the other brands, nobody would buy them and the company would be out of business.

Learn on this bike. Make your mistakes on it. You will make mistakes. Nearly all new riders will lay their bike on its side at least once. Would you rather make your mistakes on an older bike or your nice shiny expensive new bike? Some additional advice. Sport Bikes have lots of expensive to replace plastic fairings. Dropping a Sport Bike, even at low speed, can get very expensive, very fast.

The most important thing you should do when getting your first bike is to take an accredited motorcycle safety course. Keep an open mind during the course. You just might learn something that may save your life some day.

After you have been riding a while and gain some experience, you can sell your starter bike and get the bike you really want. If maintained properly and not abused, you won't lose too much money on your starter bike. Put the money from the sale towards the bike you really want. By this time, you will have figured out what style bike best suits your riding style and needs. Even a Sport Bike if this is what turns you on.

If you settle on a Sport Bike for your next bike, avoid the used ones. Young riders think they are racers on racing bikes and tend to beat the crap out of them so they are likely to be more abused. So if considering a Sport Bike, consider something new.

I know I used variations of this answer before. However, I feel this is good advice.

Use your head while riding. Remember, on a motorcycle Stupid Hurts.

Have fun - Ride safe

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Mountain bike Accersorizing?

ErinChrist

So I am in need of some shoes and a helmet desperately and I am also looking into getting disk brakes for my Trek 6500 about how much should I spend on Shoes and a helmet i mean are more expensive shoes really that much better.???

Answer
If they are your initial pair of shoes,... honestly... don't spend too much... maybe $100 at the MOST. You can find some pretty good deals sometimes. Expensive shoes vary... some are lighter in weight but not strong while others are the other way around. Try 661's or even some PricePoint shoes.... they are good and decently priced and decent quality too. On a helmet... spend some money on it... at least $40-100. With helmets... price makes a difference on how many slots for ventilation you have as well as the material. the really cheap helmets are... well... cheap. Bell and Giro are good companies with various price ranges. As for the disc brakes for the 6500... if you plan on keeping the bike for a while... go with hydraulic brakes... Hayes and Avid are a good way to start... Magura and Hope are a little more advanced. If you think you might buy another bike in the future... get mechanical disc brakes or leave the bike as is. You could also look at replacing the fork if you want to keep the frame for a long time. If not... again... leave as is.

mountain bike related. several questions in one.?

vasili p

I have no idea what bike i should get. i thought i wanted an all mountain or a hardtail but now i'm intrested in dh too. i would use it to commute, ride trails, and possible do light dirt jumping and urban assault/ trial stuff.
can you dh on a hardtail? i've riden a 1980-somethin giant iguana with no suspension and i'd like to stick to hardtails but if there is a cheap-er dh or xc bike i'll try that.

i'm looking for a bike that isn't outrageously exspensive, durable, and has a nice front shock (lock out prefered) and disk brakes.
what bike would do that?

also what is the purpose/use of a full-face helmet. why do bikers wear them?
and how does the 661 pressure suit work? if it makes you all stiff, aren't you more likely to brake something?

another thing is i'm trying to learn three tricks: wheelie, stoppie/ endo and bunny hop.
i almost got stoppies but still kinda weak. any tips on how to do these tricks? also my bike frame feels strange in that it seems a bit long from handle bars to seat post. is it my imagination? or are old frames just strange?

Answer
Holy crap... You should check out the specialized p2 or the giant stp if you want a dirt jump bike. If you're doing extremely light DH you could make it down on a hardtail, but if you want to start racing or riding gnarlier trails, your gonna wanna invest some money into a real downhill bike, or at least something that would be a little smoother. The Santa Cruz Heckler and giant trance (set up properly) are great bikes that would work for light DH and jumping.

Full face helmets simply give you more protection. They aren't really necessary for dirt jumping. I only use mine at races or when im doing gnarlier trails. The pressure suit is basically designed to prevent you from breaking your neck, they prevent your neck from bending the wrong way. It'll also protect you from small bruises, i guess, but those are just a part of riding. I used a pressure suit at one bike race, they aren't really necessary for beginners though.

For the tricks you wanna learn, look for videos on youtube, it's too hard to explain. Mostly, just practice

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I have a few questions about mountain bike helmets.?

chance

I recently got back in mountain biking and its about time i start wearing a helmet before something bad happens.I like the looks of the skateboarding style of helmet,and im not thrilled with the looks of the regular mountain bike helmets,do people ever wear the skating helmets on mountain bikes? I realize the looks are not whats important but if i dont like the way it looks i probably wont end up wearing it.I am not doing much extreme stuff on the bike so i dont need a full face helmet. can anyone suggest a helmet or any info to help me out, thanks a lot

Answer
there lots of mountain bike helmets that look like skate helmets and as far as safety goes all helmets have to do the same cores so if some one tells you a $300 dollar helmets safer the the $50 dollar one they don't know what there talking about. my Buddy works for Bell and has for 6 years what you pay for is style ,fit,air dams ,waight ext a . so go get what you want to wear man a helmets better then no helmet just make sure you get a good fit or it might do you no good when it comes time to put it to the test.Giro or bell maybe 661 there good places to start looking. good luck have fun and be safe..

Helmet camera for mountain biking?

Tyler

What is a cheap, small camera that is pretty good quality and it very very good for mountain biking? or any biking in general

And if i had a full face helmet, how and where would i strap it onto
please help me out
thanks

Answer
Bike Nashbar got one. My bro is using it and he is happy with it. If you really want to go for cheap one , get on to ebay.

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bicycle helmet laws.ca?

JOSE J

does a bicycle rider over 18 yrs old require a
helmet by law

Answer
Hey Jose,

Here is the whole enchilada on the California bike helmet law. Anyone under the age of 18 years of age has to wear a helmet while riding any bicycle, scooter, skates or skateboard on any PUBLIC roadway, highway, bicycle path or street. The key word is Public. If your neighborhood is located on a private roadway then the law does not apply on private land. Here is the California Vehicle Code section:

21212. (a) A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard, nor shall they wear in-line or roller skates, nor ride upon a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or standards subsequently established by those entities. This requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer towed by the bicycle.

(b) Any helmet sold or offered for sale for use by operators and passengers of bicycles, nonmotorized scooters, skateboards, or in-line or roller skates shall be conspicuously labeled in accordance with the standard described in subdivision (a) which shall constitute the manufacturer's certification that the helmet conforms to the applicable safety standards.

(c) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, for use by an operator or passenger of a bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard, or in-line or roller skates any safety helmet which is not of a type meeting requirements established by this section.

(d) Any charge under this subdivision shall be dismissed when the person charged alleges in court, under oath, that the charge against the person is the first charge against that person under this subdivision, unless it is otherwise established in court that the charge is not the first charge against the person.

(e) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a violation of this section is an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25).

The parent or legal guardian having control or custody of an unemancipated minor whose conduct violates this section shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of the fine imposed pursuant to this subdivision.

(f) Notwithstanding Section 1463 of the Penal Code or any other provision of law, the fines collected for a violation of this section shall be allocated as follows:

(1) Seventy-two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall be deposited in a special account of the county health department, to be used for bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard, and in-line and roller skate safety education and for assisting low-income families in obtaining approved bicycle helmets for children under the age of 18 years, either on a loan or purchase basis. The county may contract for the implementation of this program, which, to the extent practicable, shall be operated in conjunction with the child passenger restraint program pursuant to Section 27360.

(2) Two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall be deposited in the county treasury to be used by the county to administer the program described in paragraph (1).

(3) If the violation occurred within a city, 25 percent of the amount collected shall be transferred to and deposited in the treasury of that city. If the violation occurred in an unincorporated area, this 25 percent shall be deposited and used pursuant to paragraph (1).

Added Ch. 1000, Stats. 1993. Effective January 1, 1994.
Amended Sec. 6, Ch. 674, Stats. 1996. Effective January 1, 1997.
Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 475, Stats. 2002. Effective January 1, 2003.

Kimber = )

Bicycle helmet for a child, how do we fit the helmet?

iceniequee

Ok my daughter is 4 years old and we are having a hard time with her bike helmet. It is a âtoddlerâ size helmet but my daughter is a bit big for her age (same size as the average 5 ½ year old). I know that helmets are supposed to fit âsnuglyâ but we are having a hard time getting the dumb thing to go on her head all the way! She is also having issues with the chinstrap; I know that is supposed to be snug as well but it cuts across her neck at a funny place and it irritates her skin because she has eczema. The real problem is this: I have only been able to find toddler sizes and adult sizes⦠arenât there sizes for children? Also what is the best way to keep the chinstrap from irritating her skin? Is there a way to figure out what her helmet âsizeâ would be?

Any advice would be great! Thanks for taking the time to read and answer.

Answer
measure around her head where the helmet will sit. this should be about 50cm ish.

go to a good cycle shop and try a few on. they should help you with the fitting. there are child sizes.

when you are fitting the helmet at home, make sure that the straps make a triangle around her ears.

when you fasten the chin strap, there should be room to fit one of your fingers (or 2 of hers) between the strap and her chin

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Where can I find a bicycle helmet in Bangalore?

Deepika S

Where can I find a bicycle helmet in Bangalore? Also, any idea about the pricing ?

Answer
Walmart??? forget Bangalore, it's not anywhere in India.
Why dont you try in Olympic sports on Double Road, few helmet shops on JC Road or near Urvashi theatre.

Is it possible to get cheap, safe and efficient private everyday travel?

Darkhoodne

I want to make spontaneous private journeys of varying long and short distances both safely and cheaply. Is this unrealistic? Must I bite the bullet and pay through the nose with a car or unaffordably-priced public transport, or put my life at risk when using a motorbike or a bicycle? Or is there another solution to this that I havenât considered?

---Long winded explanation---

This questionâs had me stumped for a couple of years. I'm unlucky enough to have friends and family that all live far away from me (but in the same country - I'm talking between 50 and 200 miles away), and also most nearby employment hubs are infuriatingly hard to get to when using public transport (not to mention the extortionate travel costs).

I live in the UK. Currently I go longer distances by train with a discount 16-25 railcard that will expire next year because I'll be too old to use it - Train prices are rising and are becoming unaffordable for frequent journeys (£30 return to go just 50 miles is stupid when I'm sure it cost £17 five years ago - I'd be paying that twice a month). Buses are slow and are also very expensive (hourly service, 2 and a half hours to go 16 miles and charging me £4 is unacceptable).

For shorter local distances I use my bicycle, but the UK's cyclist infrastructure is terrible (or non-existent) so I'm forced to use the roads, putting myself in danger from incompetent/disrespectful motorists (I've lost count of the near-misses - They're becoming more frequent with every passing year) despite following the rules of the road, learning extra tips on road safety and making myself visible from space. Putting my life at risk isn't something I'm willing to do any more.

I'd like to get a car but fuel prices are rising through the roof and are set to rise further. Electric cars don't have the range on them to do what I'd want them to do, plus the infrastructure for them isn't really in place yet. "Efficient" petrol, diesel and hybrid/electric models on the market now are extortionately priced or are still expensive to run and maintain anyway.

There are cars on the horizon that will be more affordable (or at least worth buying at high prices considering the lifetime fuel savings) and do what I'd want (like the Gordon Murray T.25), but they won't be available for a long while, and only IF they're successful.

Iâve considered buying a motorbike or a scooter, but theyâre not safe â Even with the ability to keep up with traffic Iâll still be subjected to idiots who canât drive, with only flimsy armour and a silly helmet to protect me. Transporting goods is also an issue â You can strap nearly anything to a bicycle if you know how, but you arenât allowed to do that with a motorbike.

Iâve even considered importing one of those auto rickshaw TukTuk things from India â At least Iâll be visible to other road users in one, but they seem to be a bit primitive. While safer than both a motorbike and a bicycle, they still have safety issues, and go about half the speed of a scooter for roughly the same fuel efficiency.

Are there any other options that I havenât considered? Many thanks if you read this far.

Answer
I am sure that you have heard the reference to looking at the world with the perspective of someone for whom a glass is always 1/2 empty. Life is full of compromises. You are asking for a mode of transportation that has no compromises.

We might refine that a bit by saying that you are looking for no compromises that you are unwilling to make... but if you are are willing to make compromises then perhaps they are not much of a stretch. You are willing to pay, but you want to pay yesterday's prices. There is something wrong with every form of transportation that you suggest. Very little is based upon statistics or facts but instead upon perception and supposition.

With these conditions it may be impossible to suggest an acceptable alternative. I might suggest instead that you examine instead the decision making process and do a bit more research in the outer world.

Best of luck to you, I hope you find what you need.

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Do you ride in full leather and gear?

Jay

When you ride you motorcycle do you ride in full gear? Im talking one piece race suit with back protector, knee pucks for putting your knee down(if you do) racing boots, gloves, etc. Do you do it on a commute to work? Why or why not. What kind of bike? Why do people talk crap when you don't do it on sport bike but when people ride a cruiser its fine to wear a half shield helmet and Denim vest? My bike is my main source of transportation. Its a super-sport but i wear a full face helmet, leather jacket, jeans, and boots. i also carry a backpack. What do you wear???????

Answer
I see a lot of people in full racing leathers--knee pucks, matching boots and gloves, sometimes even matching graphics on the helmet. I think they look a little silly for street riding, in fact it makes them look 'dangerous' to me, like they're taking chances they shouldn't take. Full leather suits are for the track, not the street.

I wear a full-face helmet because studies have shown (and you might have expected all along) that about half the impacts come from the front, so wearing a half helmet is like locking two doors in a four-door car. I wear gloves with leather palms because when you fall off, even at low speeds, you instinctively put your hands out (learned that one the hard way). And I have a leather jacket for when it's cold and a mesh jacket for the Summer. Actually I have two pairs of gloves, cold and warm.

I probably should have some kind of abrasion-resistant pants, like Draggin' Jeans or something like that, but I never have. Boots would be good too, for long rides anyway, but I never bothered with those either. I do wear leather shoes (I usually run around in just Crocs).

And my sweetie followed me home once at night on my vintage BMW and said she had a hard time seeing my tail light. So I bought a reflective vest. I wear it on the bicycle at night too.

I like long rides, like 200-300 miles in a day. I carry my whole 'wardrobe'--Leather and mesh jacket, a sweater for under the leather jacket, cold and warm gloves, reflective vest. So I'm ready for anything. 8^)

Does anyone feel that the USA has no right putting missiles in Germany?

emily Rose

Isn't this what the NATO and the United Nations are responsible for? Are you tired of the USA always sticking their nose into things that should be dealt with by already in place by the United Nations. Do you think Bush again jumped into putting the American people second. And not even considering the ramification it may mean how the world looks at us. Isn't this how we ended in Iraq, Bush satisfying a vendetta Saddam had out on Bush Sr. life. And lied about WMD's to try to make his case, even before the United Nations had a chance to work.

Answer
I think it's up to the Germans really. As a random musing, I read somewhere that the Israelis thought that Patriot Missiles ( of 1991 Gulf War vintage) did not actually work (ie intercept incoming missiles) , which could somewhat defeat the object of the whole exercise, really, unless they have improved since then.

A part of me always regards a lot of these weapons as scams against the taxpayer, really, especially the really expensive ones. You know, the ones that someone aims at you from 2,000,000,000 kilometres squared away from you, then it arrives, knocks on your front door, goes upstairs and looks for you under hiding under the bed. The ones that cost £34455503283-59p to blow up someone driving to work in Iraq.

A lot of these systems are a bit like building pyramids, except the Egyptians did not demolish the pyramids after thirty years and then bill the taxpayer for another lot.

I do wonder, and I am not an expert, what use are nuclear weapons and hi-tech weaponry in general, against people who use bicycles and Datsun pickup trucks, communicate by passing notes to each other? and use automatic rifles and suicide belts? I would have thought you would have needed more old-fashioned infantry with big boots and helmets, the sort of people who donât want to join the Army in the UK as the salaries are so poor, perhaps as much of the money has gone on pyramid-like nuclear weapons that will be dismantled, God willing, in thirty years time.

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I'm trying to find an affordable gift for a motorcycle enthusiast...?

jdee

My friend likes off-road biking and is a hard-core motorcycle enthusiast.
I'm going to Japan next month and would like to get him a gift any motorcyclist would die for. Any suggestions?
Maybe helmet brands or anything else which is interesting?

Answer
Can't help you on info in Japan. Affordable is not a great term in biking. Whats affordable to some is way out of price to others. Give us a price range to work with. A great store online is www.motosport.com. You can even buy gift certificates and send them so he can buy what he likes/needs. Gear is very personal. Most people are very loyal to one brand. Everthing is cut a little different so some gear fits while other gear feels like a straightjacket. That goes for boots, clothing and especially helmets. Have to agree with the guy who said a nice print or picture, but for gear, unless told what brand and size, go gift certificate.

Scooter rental in Japan [more specifically, Hokkaido] ?

sprinklegi

Hello ~
I'll be in Japan mid July ~ August and will be going through Tokyo for a week, Hokkaido for 4 days, Kyoto/Nara, and then Mie for the remainder of my trip [because my friend lives there and she is my main priority in my trip ~]

However I'm mostly interested in mountains and farmland ~ countryside views in Hokkaido and upon further research found that I cannot get to a lot of those places via public transportation.

I'm trying to look into scooter rental but unfortunately a lot of the sites are in Japanese, or simply not in Hokkaido.
I'm not a huge fan of driving and finding places to park, so I'd prefer not to have a car, but I'll be covering long distances in a short amount of time, so walking/skateboarding/bicycling is out of question.

I'm 21 years old, so I'm assuming I'll possibly be denied rental or be charged the underage fee, but I'd like to have a place secured before going to get my IDP.

~~
Does anyone have any recommendations or info in terms of scooter rental in Hokkaido? I'll be staying in the Sapporo area so preferably around there, but if need be, anywhere in the upper island and accessible by public transportation is fine by me.

Thank you for your time!
forgot to mention* I will be in Hokkaido for 4 days, but will probably just rent for 2 days if possible. I've seen some places go as low as $25/day in Osaka, but I guess my budget for rental would be $100~150 total?

Answer
You gave me a new idea of touring,thank you.
So,I checked your idea by internet in Japan.
The following is one choice.
http://www.rental819.com/english/

--One of choice plan---
Yamaha DS250-------------P-3 class
Rental motorcycle's fee (yen) --the first day 12000Yen the second day 8400Yen/day
Collision Damage Waiver (yen)---the firstday 2000Yen,the second day 1000Yen
(Disclaimer 50000Yen)
Optional fees (yen)-----Helmet the firstday 1000Yen the second day 200Yen
Disk lock/Wire lock200 100
Gloves 300 100
Touring Net 100 100
Total-----------------------the firstday 14600Yen the second day 9900Yen
Two days total------------------24500Yen
Not cheap! but powerfull!
You can ride on most of roads under 60km/hour in Japanese law.

--another choice plan---
HONDA CREA SCOOPY -------------P-1 class (50cc engine)
Rental motorcycle's fee (yen) -----he firstday4000Yen the second day 2800Yen
Collision Damage Waiver (yen)---the firstday 1000Yen,the second day 500Yen
(Disclaimer 10000Yen)
Optional fees (yen)-----Helmet the firstday 1000Yen the second day 200Yen
Disk lock/Wire lock200 100
Gloves 300 100
Touring Net 100 100
Total-----------------------the firstday 6600Yen the second day 3800Yen
Two days total------------------10400Yen
Cheap but powerless?
You can ride under 30km/hour in Japanese law.
50cc bike is limited in the speed.

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why do kids hate bike helmets?

I love tre

why does it seem that kids of all ages and generations thought bike helmets were for nerds or "not cool" I mean don't they know it could save there life.

Answer
Speaking of the word "cool" - because they are not physically cool. Most cheap helmets don't have good ventilation & it's like being in an oven wearing one in the summer.

Get a good helmet with good ventilation & watch them (hopefully) change their minds. I own a Giro Indicator in the white color for summer & dark blue for cooler weather & winter.

Are cheap bike helmets safe?

sside_chic

I haven't bought a bike helmet in years, but I recently went to Target to pick one up for my 3 yr old son and was surprised to see that the helmets were just $8-$15 for kids. I remember paying $50 or so for mine when I bought it in a bike shop years ago. Are these cheap helmets safe?

They do have a CPSC sticker. They don't have a Snell sticker, which I recall was the standard a while back.

Answer
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) bike helmet standard is required by law in the US. Some of the Snell Memorial Foundation standards (plural - Snell has multiple standards) are a bit more difficult to pass, but are not often used.

There are some great articles out there that explain the standards and what goes into the testing and certification of helmets:

http://www.helmets.org/#standards

A helmet sold at a Target is cheaper due to several factors. One, because those helmets are pretty basic. Foam, with a taped on shell - that's a pretty inexpensive production process. Two, in most cases, the manufacturers don't even change the helmet molds from year to year - just the graphics. That way, tooling costs are reduced. Three, because there's a much bigger market for the product. Just think of the sheer number of people who patronize the big box stores versus your local bike shop. The big box folks order exponentially more than your LBS, and so their savings get passed on to the consumer. There are a lot of deals made between the manufacturers and the stores - and that's done just to get the shelf space and to get their product into the stores.

The price of a helmet isn't generally a good indicator of how good a helmet will do its job of protecting in the event of an impact (note that no helmet will ever fully prevent injury), save for the really high end helmets. That's what the standards and testing are for.

Higher prices usally are the result of what goes into the production of the helmet, R & D, etcetera.

You take a helmet like the Giro Atmos (MSRP $189.99), and you have a lot of things that go into it. An in-molded (fused, versus taped on) microshell. Two carbon fiber plates to strengthen and reduce the weight of the helmet. An internal rib cage in the foam that acts much like rebar. An additional rentention device (Roc-Loc) that helps with the overall fit. All the while maintaining very minimal weight and maximum ventilation.

I could go on and on, but I think you get my point.

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bicycle helmet laws.ca?

JOSE J

does a bicycle rider over 18 yrs old require a
helmet by law

Answer
Hey Jose,

Here is the whole enchilada on the California bike helmet law. Anyone under the age of 18 years of age has to wear a helmet while riding any bicycle, scooter, skates or skateboard on any PUBLIC roadway, highway, bicycle path or street. The key word is Public. If your neighborhood is located on a private roadway then the law does not apply on private land. Here is the California Vehicle Code section:

21212. (a) A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard, nor shall they wear in-line or roller skates, nor ride upon a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or standards subsequently established by those entities. This requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer towed by the bicycle.

(b) Any helmet sold or offered for sale for use by operators and passengers of bicycles, nonmotorized scooters, skateboards, or in-line or roller skates shall be conspicuously labeled in accordance with the standard described in subdivision (a) which shall constitute the manufacturer's certification that the helmet conforms to the applicable safety standards.

(c) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, for use by an operator or passenger of a bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard, or in-line or roller skates any safety helmet which is not of a type meeting requirements established by this section.

(d) Any charge under this subdivision shall be dismissed when the person charged alleges in court, under oath, that the charge against the person is the first charge against that person under this subdivision, unless it is otherwise established in court that the charge is not the first charge against the person.

(e) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a violation of this section is an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25).

The parent or legal guardian having control or custody of an unemancipated minor whose conduct violates this section shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of the fine imposed pursuant to this subdivision.

(f) Notwithstanding Section 1463 of the Penal Code or any other provision of law, the fines collected for a violation of this section shall be allocated as follows:

(1) Seventy-two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall be deposited in a special account of the county health department, to be used for bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard, and in-line and roller skate safety education and for assisting low-income families in obtaining approved bicycle helmets for children under the age of 18 years, either on a loan or purchase basis. The county may contract for the implementation of this program, which, to the extent practicable, shall be operated in conjunction with the child passenger restraint program pursuant to Section 27360.

(2) Two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall be deposited in the county treasury to be used by the county to administer the program described in paragraph (1).

(3) If the violation occurred within a city, 25 percent of the amount collected shall be transferred to and deposited in the treasury of that city. If the violation occurred in an unincorporated area, this 25 percent shall be deposited and used pursuant to paragraph (1).

Added Ch. 1000, Stats. 1993. Effective January 1, 1994.
Amended Sec. 6, Ch. 674, Stats. 1996. Effective January 1, 1997.
Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 475, Stats. 2002. Effective January 1, 2003.

Kimber = )

HELP! My 3 year old is driving me CRAZY!?

Q. A little background on me. I am a mother of 5- my youngest being 5 month old twin boys. My 3 year old has tantrums 4-6 times a day where she literally slams her entire body against the wall. We HAVE taken her to the pediatrician twice for this, one time he told my husband and I to buy her a bike helmet for her tantrums.
We have tried everything it feels like. We have tried cuddling and holding her through tantrums, time outs (ineffective after a while) spanking, losing privilages- nothing is working.
We try asking her why she gets so upset- and she won't say... she just screams and hits and throws her body around.
We thought maybe it was something to do with gluten so we cut that out of meals and we are using organics now to cook with.
Im seriously at my wits end with her. I love her so much but we are so frustrated with her bad behavior. The pediatrician calls her 'spirited' and says she'll grow out of it. It's been going on for months now.
Anyone else have a kid like this?
We tried timeouts for 22 days. They quickly became ineffective. She would scream in her chair- we tried talking to her then, ignoring them- you name it. They just didnt work.
We have to keep a 'behavior' journal. We had Help Me Grow evaluate her and they said she was right where she needed to be she was just 'stubborn' and agreed with the pediatricians evaluation that she's "spirited".
We have tried getting her to help out with the babies, but she sees them like toys- and tires of them quickly.
Im really afraid she is going to hurt herself with the way she throws herself around.
We have tried giving her more attention- the past two nights I let her cosleep with me. (my husband is a 3rd shift police officer) She used to cosleep as a baby before she transitioned into a big girl toddler bed. She cuddled and all that fine, but this morning she woke up and had a massive tantrum when I didn't have breakfast made fast enough. I just want to do the right thing here- I appreciate all your responses.

Answer
hehehe.. I WAS one of those kids....

Is she normally a good kid, loving, happy.. just likes to push buttons? Do you ask her 'pick up her toys' and she responds with a big loud 'NO'??? Does she stamp her feet, throw things when she's in a rage because she hasn't received what she wanted (or doesn't see the fairness in what you are asking)? Then... well I'll let you know what my mom did with me. (Gawd, I hope I won't have a kid like I was - luckily my mom was like me when she was little and therefore understood it)...

Anyway, My mom would ignore me when I would get into a rage like that. First she would put me in my room and close the door - I would tear it up, throwing things around - literally making it look like a cyclone went through it. If I would storm out of the room, she would put me back in, kicking and screaming on occasion. I had to be confined when I went into my rages (not just an 'open-air' time out, but in my room). She put all my breakable stuff up high so I wouldn't destroy that stuff - until I was about 4.5-5 years old. Eventually i would calm down. She would hear me talking to myself. She would keep listening until she would hear me playing. it wasn't until then that she would come in, calm and collected and nice. She would say to me "have you calmed down now? Do you think you're ready to come out? Do you know why I put you in your room?" After I answered those questions she would help me pick up my stuff I threw about the room. She would be really cheery about things though. I am sure it was frustrating on her lol. We would then go and have a few minutes just her and myself, without my brother or sister. She would get me to clean up the toys I had a rage over (or do whatever it was that she'd asked me to do prior to my tantrum). I would end up doing it most times, without fuss.
There were times when I would be so bad that she would almost lose her temper herself. She would lock herself in the bathroom, turn on the bathtub and sing to herself, blocking out my kicking and screaming. I would eventually calm down. and she could come out.

I remember being in those rages, even 30 years later. I remember being afraid of my anger but not understanding it. Having my mom let me get my rage out, and then coming in and tell me things would be ok and that she still loved me helped me to deal with them. I out grew them by the time I was about 4-4.5. I don't have anger problems now but I do fight for myself - I am sure just part of my personality. Just don't lose your cool with her whatever you do. Don't go into a rage yourself. Also, there are times when you will have to raise your voice and say 'NO' (say she tries to bite you when you pick her up). Don't raise your voice often though becasue then it'll just be expected. My mom raised her voice very rarely so when she did - I would know that i had really disappointed her (like when I would try and bite her.. eeks). I hated to disappoint my mom! My dad would yell all the time - I didn't care so much if I disappointed him because I always got that reaction from him. Anyway, if you refrain from getting really angry with her, she'll be less likely to respond with anger herself.. she'll probably out grow this earlier and it'll help her in the future. She'll mimic your responses and how you deal with your anger. She needs you and your husband to teach her that anger will be ignored and that she won't get what she wants. I know it's odd but she also needs comfort (that is probably partly why she's acting out). She's got a strong will - which is a good thing so you don't want to break her of her will (she'll be a fighter in the face of adversity) but you don't want her to focus her energies into anger but developing another productive focus. Mine became school and sports and making my parents (particularly my mom) proud of me.

I hope that helps

Edit: I noticed that someone said consistency.. that is totally true! My mom, without fail, sent me to my room. It was always the same routine. I guess that is why I remember it so well haha. Also, don't worry, the tantrums will slow down as she gets older, over the next year. I still had the occasional one when I was about 5-6 but really, it wasn't often!

Good luck!

I saw that you added that you ignore her.. keep that up - put her in her room and she'll learn to calm herself down. If you go in while she's screaming and throwing herself around, she's getting attention. Just let her rip her room up, throw herself around the room. If she hurts herself, she'll learn (I did a few times - I kicked a solid wood foot of my dresser so hard it cracked apart!!. I learned to never do that again). Ignore, Ignore, Ignore (while she's in her room where she can do the least amount of damage to things and herself). if the screaming is driving you up the wall, put on loud music or start to laugh (I talked to my mom today about your question, she would try and find the humour in the situation, the fact that such a little kid could get into such a rage) She sounds exactly like I was. Peace to you! ;-)

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