They rode the Tour de France for years without helmets.

While smoking.

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Awww, Katy's not all THAT evil. Only slightly evil. In a good way. - JasoninHalifax

LOL. Classic.

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You sir, are my new hero! - Trifan 11/13/2008

Casey, you are a wise man - blueraider_mike 11/13/2008

Casey, This is an astute observation. - Slowbern 11/17/2008

I wonder how many people in America, end up in the hospital with head injuries from bicycling without a helmet when compared with those in the hospital due to,

• smoking
• high fat diets
• driving an automobile
• not wearing a seat belt
• no physical exercise

Agreed again and extends my point. I have no problem whatsoever with someone chosing to smoke or deciding to weigh 300lbs. In fact I partake in a few habits that some would consider "unsafe", most people do. However I also must take some responsibility for doing those habits.

Certainly we can't create various "health plans" for every combination of situations but on some levels certain known and preventable habits already effect health care costs at the outset. Alot of smoking members to a group increase the rate adjustment. My opinion is that this should simply be extened. A non smoking, healthy BF%, active person that wears his/her helmet, seat belt should have lower rates than a smoking, overweight, couch potatoe that refuses to wear their seatbelt.

A simply audit, questionaire and occasonal health examine should give the insurance companies a pretty good idea where someone lies.

~Matt

I completely agree but of course some people will be offended by the questions and that will be the end of that.

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You sir, are my new hero! - Trifan 11/13/2008

Casey, you are a wise man - blueraider_mike 11/13/2008

Casey, This is an astute observation. - Slowbern 11/17/2008

Come on Matt, fess up, what are your bad habits? You can't mention it and then leave us hanging. Please let it be hookers and snake handling.

I east to much crap food, I don't work out enough, I drive to fast, and spend WAY to much time on the internet and playing video games...that would be the short list.

~Matt

Imagine how offended people would be when they were reported by their doctors to have 250% BF percentage...that would definately be the end of that.

~Matt

Good shout - I work in a bike store, when people are talking about not having helmets i tell them about the crash my (60yr old) dad had. A car came out of a side road straight into him (even though he was 'lit up like a christmas tree' to use the phrase of the off duty policeman in the car behind the crasher(!)). He had 6 weeks off work due to bruising across his hips and lower spine, and as his job is physical, he needs that stuff. His helmet in the road in 3 pieces only held together by the plastic cover.
I sometimes tell them about the guy I saw on a charity ride who had crashed on a downhill - semi-conscious, and trying to cope with what his hand was telling him. Yep, you are putting your fingers inside your skull and feeling the soft stuff.
What are the excuses for not wearing one???

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'to give anything less than the best is to sacrifice the gift'...Pre

Hello PSA and All,

Where not to bother wearing your helmet:










Cheers,

Neal

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Cheers, Neal

+1 mph Faster

Where the hell is that ?

Hello Blacky,

>where the hell is that?<

Part of new the IM course designed to prevent drafting packs. ;)

Do you think it will work?

Cheers,

Neal

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Cheers, Neal

+1 mph Faster

Is that Hans Rey? That's an awesome set of pics!

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Las Vegas NV | IM KY 07

Exactly - well stated, Matt.

is that a parachute they are wearing ?

So as I see it before a bike ride I should think:

some guy in North Dakota will have an increase in his health insurance premium if I crash today, so I guess I'll put on a helmet, since my health care will probably run out if I crash and hurt my head.

We are taking this way too far about health care increases if you don't wear a helmet. Increases in health care and cycling injuries are about comparable to a needle in the ocean.

BTW - I always wear a helmet, but it has nothing to do with health care increases for some guy in N Dakota. It has to do with me and my wife. I don't want to hurt my head and my wife won't let me ride without one.

I really don't care if you have your helmet on or not and I'm not going to mention it to you if you don't.

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Paul