Guess what I did?

[bike4ever]

Yesterday i went scouting a ride for some women on Saturday. Last time I did this, I crashed - broke my helmet and a bone in my wrist. Luckily, yesterday no issues.

As I was putting my bike away, I saw a woman getting ready to ride. Of course, I quickly noticed that she didn't have a helmet!:( :( I have never been one to walk up to folks and preach helmet safety - I do it plenty at work. Well, this time I did. I asked her if she had a helmet - "No, I keep meaning to get one." Her vehicle was a large SUV, so I asked if she had children - yes she had kids.

I went into my story of crashing on a simple, leisurely ride. I told her the whole story - hubby out of town, kids scared seeing me all bruised and bandaged. The biggest thing I emphasized was that I walked out of the hospital and went home to my boys.

She said she'd go get a helmet that afternoon. I hope she did!

[bcipam]

Good for you! At one time I used to ride without a helmet but after crashing several times, some on my head, I thank God I now wear one and believe everyone else should too, you just don't know when an accident is coming. Keep preaching. We should all preach and try and get others to wear helmets etc.

[SalsaMTB]

Good job! I hope she did! It will make all your preaching worth it :)

[Lenusik]

You are soo good! We can all thank you fo doing this!
I have good helmet story as well. At the beginning of April we were hosting a Belgium professional Ironman at our house. His name is Lucky Berlage. He was particpating in AZ Ironman. It was so much fun to have him around and also ride with him. It was almost impssible to keep up with this guy.
Well, the first day we went riding together he was no planning to weah his helmet. He said that his aero helmet would be too funny for the common eye. He does not even wear it in Belgium while practicing. My husband and I told him that we will not go ridign with him if he does not wear a helmet. So, I gave him my old one and luckily it was perfect for him. Our Belgium Ironman is a little guy :)

Well, he finished 16th in the AZ Ironman and we are hoping that he is coming back next year.

Here is his website and pictures from AZ: http://users.skynet.be/fa207839/images/fotos/arizona_2006/index2.html

[latelatebloomer]

Good for you! I am shouting "helmet" everyday at one of my neighbors as he rides alongside his pregnant triathlete wife as she runs (not too fast these days;) . He's young and immortal and full of jokes. I wish I could get him to walk through the halls of the brain injury rehab I work at.

[kelownagirl]

We have a helmet law here. Most people wear 'em, but still don't. They usually just get a warning from the cops.

[Lise]

Yeah. The words "brain injury rehab" have a lot of meaning for me.

I've never crashed, yet. But when I was 4, my dad had a brain tumor. The surgery left him unable to talk or read. He was my hero. He died later that year. I got it, in a profound way, about how fragile the brain is.

Good for you, telling your own story, to which she could relate. Maybe she'll be telling someone else your story, and how it got her to start wearing her helmet.

Lise

[Geonz]

Our rider who spent a long time unconscious Monday gets out of hospital today - but his rather busted up helmet has been on display in his room.
Skiddling and sliding are, I have decided, better than splatting.

[Brandi]

You know that kind of preaching is a good thing! Hate it when like ex smokers ride smokers about quiting and stuff. But telling someone to wear a helmit you are really looking out for them. And you know first hand what could happen.

[bcipam]

Just to add - and why I now believe in helmets more than ever - 3 years ago (come July 4) I had a bad accident. I was tossed off my bike and landed first on the side of my head, was knocked out and then landed on my collarbone. Both the head injury and collarbone cause me problems to this day. The collarbone has been a real issue causing me to have surgery in November 2005. The head injury continues to plague me. I see a specialist next week for a entire day of testing. I mean its not like it caused me to go retarded or anything but I now have this slight disability that causes me time and worry. I have to re-read all my work over and over to catch some errors caused by my head injury. I also have "blank-outs". My mind just goes numb for a moment. But I thank God and my lucky stars it wasn't something worse but it could have been had I not worn my helmet. It obviously saved my life!!!!