Wearing jewellery while cycling

[Crankin]

I used wear a lot of jewelry. Now I wear my wedding band, which is a skinny gold band with a circle of diamonds and my birthstone ring (golden topaz), which my dad brought back from Japan for me when I was 13. I also wear earrings, usually a pair of larger gold studs. Oh yes, and a watch. When I am dressed for work or something more than lounging around, I usually have a bracelet on, too. Most of those I inherited from my mom; a couple were gift from my husband.
When I ride, I keep the rings on. Once in awhile, the birthstone bothers me under full fingered gloves, but then I will turn it around or adjust it and it's fine. If I want to wear a watch while riding, I have a plastic Nike watch that Trek Travel gave me for going on 2 tours with them. It has a lot of features I don't use. I never use my HR monitor anymore; I was paying more attention to it than to enjoying my ride.
I recently stopped wearing my earrings while riding; the holes where my ears are pierced are enlarged and I can't wear anything except studs with the big plastic backs. I lost the earrings Steve bought me for Mother's Day last year when I was taking my hat off at the theatre a couple of months ago. They are constantly falling out of my ears just from a slight touch, so I quit wearing them because the helmet sometimes knocks them out. I want to have surgery to fix the piercings, but insurance doesn't pay for it; I am going to save up and have it this year, hopefully.

[redrhodie]

I'm a goldsmith, and I'd strongly advise against wearing rings when riding. A fall would jeapordize most types of settings, making it likely that stones could be lost. Semi precious stones are especially vulnerable to breaking, so Brandi, if you love that moonstone, take it off before you ride!

Maillotpois, your ring may not be destined to have those dents forever. Have your jeweler take a look at it. She may be able to remove some of the lesser damage, and minimize the bad dents through sanding and polishing.

[Aggie_Ama]

My husband wears his Timex Ironman Watch and his silver chain with a cross. He has a silver wedding band in addition to his actual band which is gold with diamonds. The silver one he wears to work at his plant nursery.


Sad story.... The first Christmas we were a couple (10 years ago) I purchased him a silver chain. A couple summers ago he was working a terrible job and I bought him a handsome cross to comfort him. Last fall we were riding and the chain and cross fell off. The chain was inexpensive but the sentimental value to him was huge. Moral of the story? Check your clasps and prongs often.

I prefer not to ride with my rings so I don't risk losing a stone. I also don't want to have what happened to my Pawpaw- he had his wedding band cut off while getting a work injury tended to and the emergency room staff lost it! My rings are insured but what a headache to get a new stone.

[evangundy]

Got my ears pierced when I turned 15, and have probably only had a dozen days since then without earrings of some sort in them (and I'm 50 now). I feel naked without them, it's part of getting dressed. Nothing fancy or too big or long, just small post in upper holes and small to med hoop or dangle in lower holes. Wear wedding set (gold band w/one diamond + engagement band with center ruby flanked by two small diamonds) and anniversary band even when riding. Low profile so fit under gloves fine. Used to wear necklaces all the time but last few years find they bug me after a couple hours, especially if I'm sweating, so mostly wear them when "dressing up". Batteries in all 4 watches died within 6 months of each other about 10 years ago. Never replaced the batteries and haven't worn one since. Time shows on computer and 3 walls at work, 2 walls at home, oven, microwave, coffee pot, alarm clock, computer, cell phone, camera, in my car ........... I get by just fine without a watch.
Edna

[Grog]

Can't wear my rings on the bike, even if I wanted to. My hands swell. (Same when I'm running... or any sport, for that matter... or on a plane.) I always put my rings in the very same place in my apartment, and never ever take them off and put them, say, in my pockets. I would be really angry with myself if I lost them...

I don't wear earrings when I do sports, either. I can't bear the thought of what it would do to my earlobes if I was in a crash or something. Too much of a risk for very little aesthetic benefit, in my book of course. Note that I wear very little jewelry anyway.

So that leaves only my RoadID, which I wear in my neck (Fixx). It has a little flower etched on it...! And my sports watch, a Timex Triathlon that I definitely wouldn't call jewelry!