Better late than never. I must thank the one reader of this drivel for pointing out my laxness in not riding Monday. This was not the case it was not typing (however poorly) that was the real issue.
Ride was in 3 parts. On bike at 6.13pm.
Across town plus a play in town on trials obstacles. Which are off road as it happens. This was not constant riding and may have involved some time chatting about important things like bikes etc.
Then the real riding started at around 9.09pm.
By my self again. No one wants to ride at night even though its far to hot during the day. Oh well. I was kitted out for the long haul - night light - reflective vest.
Reflective vest - $2(shop) item. Very Very highly reflective strips on a blue mesh. The blue mesh is nice and cool (air flow not cool like hip or whatever the word is now).
This does not look like a workman safety vest but is very effective. Now I am not a big one for UNESSERY and ineffective safety equipment. Hence no rear safety light for riding across town. BUTTTT up this way the drivers have a habit of running over pedestrians and cyclists at night.
Soooo I want to be seen. I want to be really seen. Not a shitty wee red light seen. A glow in the dark bloody miles away seen. This is exactly what this vest provides and far more effectively than a rear light. The car lights are far stronger than any rear cycle light (red ones) and pick the vest up at a far greater distance.
Yes i am aware that rubberjaws has a red rear light that can be seen from the moon. I am not sure how good it is to blind the car drivers who are coming up from behind however.
Its is also obvious that its a vest and so there is no confusion over it possibly being a rear light of a motorcycle traveling at the same speed as the car.
There is a particular 80kph section of road with no streetlight where this is the issue.
Little safety rant over - well other than this - For f#$ks sake if you want to be safe -
1) Access the ACTUAL danger you want protection from.
2) Access the BEST way to actually avert this danger in the most effective way.
3) DO NOT be diverted into thinking INCORRECTLY that the norm ie helmet - or bullsh%t wee red rear light - equates to safe.
4) dont use bullsh%t saftey devices when not needed because this will install a FALSE sence of saftey. The False will be shown AFTER you are seriously injured.
5) Answer this question - if you really really want to save yourself from damage - why is the back of your head worth so much to you than the front - jaw - nose - teeth - cheek bones etc. Why wear a helmet that only does half the job??? Unless the job is to feel safe but not actually be safe?????
oops rant was not over was it... perhaps it is now???
The question now becomes - did I actually do any riding mon evening or just compose that rant???
Oh yes i did....
across and up hill. Playing on difficult climbs - that gets the heart pounding. It actually began to get cool around1pm so Icut short from going to the top as I know i get very cold on way down and then cant warm up heading back across town.
As I am training for a possible try at the 24hr I rode the majority of the time standing. This also was handy due tot he sore butt from Sundays ride.
Off bike 12.30pm.
3529 cal for the days ride - from 6.13pm.
big day.
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