The Chainlink

Bike The Drive - Tell me about it...plz ?

Just signed up for Bike the Drive. There are going to be 5 or more of us doing it. Various skill levels and rides.

We tried to find out about trailers and/or Trail-A-Bikes (are they allowed, how much extra do we have to pay, do the children inside/on have to pay, how much, etc.?). Nothing on the website. Does anyone have any info on that?

Also, if you have participated in it previously, what kind of experience(s) did you have? Any recommendations?

All advice will be read, and we will sort out what we can to make it an excellent ride.

I will have my (by then) 10 yr old on his 20" bike, me on "The Beast", my wife on her Huffy Sea Pines (1974ish), an Army buddy on his Aluminum "hot rod" (that's what I call it), and George Vanderford on something that has 2 wheels (I hope).

Again, any advice will be helpful.

 

Thank you all in advance.

 

 

Respectfully,

 

Manny

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark Beard-Witherup on May 3, 2013 at 2:41pm

Try not to ride 3, 4, 5, 6, or more abreast...makes for awful clogs and pushes folks who want to pass you into faster lanes which can cause...problems.

 

Enjoy the ride.  Thank the voluteers!

 

BikeBoy5

Permalink Reply by Jane on May 3, 2013 at 6:05pm

Craig, I see what you mean : )

I've lived in many cities in several countries and I don't think I have ever met with such hostility from the cycling community as I have in Chicago.

I guess that if they all ride as aggressively as they write, they need helmets.

I prefer to just live a peaceful life.

I'm so glad this is a free country where everyone can have their own opinion and not be judged.

Permalink Reply by Michael A on May 3, 2013 at 8:09pm

It would also be impossible to know how many hospital visits were not needed due to the protection a helmet provided... I wear a helmet 99% of the time, as a competitive cyclist it is almost like putting on my cycling shoes....

Cameron 7.5 mi said:

While I personally wear a helmet, like most of the other posters here I believe in personal choice and don't really care if you wear one or not. However, opinions presented as facts and anecdotes presented as research are two pet peeves of mine.



Hilary Thorne said:

I don't have any links.

Like I say my belief is based on my experience of 20 plus years working in ER.

A group of us (ER docs and nurses) looked at this issue about twelve years ago, as we shared the same beliefs, but never actually got round to formally collating evidence, (as the Gulf War got in the way and we all went our separate ways due to half the team being deployed!)

Very few hospitals keep records of safety gear in use in road accidents, so its to difficult to find evidence.

It would be helpful if ERs across the country could use a standard reporting system to enable this data to be collected.

But how could you collect data on "non -events", meaning the accidents that did not happen because the cyclists did not have helmets and were therefore riding more sensibly?

Permalink Reply by Jane on May 3, 2013 at 8:14pm

I don't recall describing anything as "facts" or "research".

what exactly are you basing your pet peeves on?

What I have stated several times now is that my opinions and beliefs are based on my 20 plus years experience of working in ER and seeing the cycling injuries there.

As I also stated, its my belief that cyclists in helmets ride more recklessly, and therefore research cannot record the 'non-events' of cyclists without helmets who travel safely.

Incidentally, I can only recall maybe half a dozen cyclists without helmets attending ER. The last one was in 2011 and he had been hit by  - you guessed it - a lycra-and-helmet clad reckless cyclist.

No, I can't recall his name and address.

Have a great evening.

Permalink Reply by Dragonborn on May 3, 2013 at 8:44pm

Wow, I'm deemed "childish" just for merely expressing my personal opinion. Too bad that some of you can't seem to submit to the simple fact that not everyone automatically agrees with each other. Someone was certainly right, you can get ganged up on and ridiculed by the membership here if you present a conflicting opinion even in a respectful manner.

I will gladly "stay home" or go somewhere and stay away from this event "and sulk." When I first joined here a while back, I tried to participate frequently until I started seeing how elitist a bulk of this community is. Good riddance, Chainlink.

Permalink Reply by Jane on May 3, 2013 at 8:52pm

To Jennifer on the lake . . .

I guess that Dragonborn just answered that for me.

I made NO claims about medical evidence, but said several times that my opinions and beliefs were based on my experience working in ER.

Why is that so difficult to accept?

I explained my point of view and my reasoning.

i did not expect such rudeness in return, and apparently neither did Dragonborn.

Have a pleasant evening.

Permalink Reply by Jane on May 3, 2013 at 10:43pm

I asked if anyone could find info on the ride site whether a helmet was compulsory, as i could not find this information.

Why do you think that was hostile?

I said that I did not want to risk paying the fee and then be banned from riding for not having a helmet.

Why do you think that was hostile?

I stated my opinions about helmets, and the reasons behind them.

Why do you think that was hostile?

I did not take the stance of boycotting a charity event.

I was simply affirming my own beliefs, and my understanding that as this is a free country i am allowed to not only have my own opinions but also live by them. That includes the freedom to NOT wear a helmet.

Why do you think that was hostile?

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on May 4, 2013 at 2:11am

I remember that, you were coming to pick up my frame; if you had not been wearing a helmet I am reasonably sure you would not have made the pick up that day...

Duane Waller said:

I found BTD to be rather enjoyable (it was a few years ago); slogged along looking at the fancy buildings along the north section as the sun rose (the sun's reflections off the exteriors were beautiful), got to the turnaround and grabbed the wheel of some dudes out on some sort of training ride. That was fun, too, speeding along in the left lane. After that, I just paced along and took in the scenery. A nice way to spend 30 miles.

I wear a helmet and I never had a real reason as to why, until this January. Got doored, and the helmet has a lovely dent and crack right where my left eyebrow is. I hit the very edge of the opening door. HARD (hard enough to push the hinge pillar forward 2 inches). Don't think I'd be writing this if I hadn't been wearing it, as my head would have split into two, possibly 15 pieces. But I don't insist others wear one. Do what you like.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on May 4, 2013 at 2:13am

Exactly.  Both Michael and Cameron have voiced a huge part of my beef with the statements about helmets presented here.


Michael A said:

It would also be impossible to know how many hospital visits were not needed due to the protection a helmet provided... I wear a helmet 99% of the time, as a competitive cyclist it is almost like putting on my cycling shoes....

Cameron 7.5 mi said:

While I personally wear a helmet, like most of the other posters here I believe in personal choice and don't really care if you wear one or not. However, opinions presented as facts and anecdotes presented as research are two pet peeves of mine.



Hilary Thorne said:

I don't have any links.

Like I say my belief is based on my experience of 20 plus years working in ER.

A group of us (ER docs and nurses) looked at this issue about twelve years ago, as we shared the same beliefs, but never actually got round to formally collating evidence, (as the Gulf War got in the way and we all went our separate ways due to half the team being deployed!)

Very few hospitals keep records of safety gear in use in road accidents, so its to difficult to find evidence.

It would be helpful if ERs across the country could use a standard reporting system to enable this data to be collected.

But how could you collect data on "non -events", meaning the accidents that did not happen because the cyclists did not have helmets and were therefore riding more sensibly?

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on May 4, 2013 at 2:15am

Yes it is quite elitist to not want people to posy questionable info railing against helmets...

I know tons of serious regular cyclists and 95% of them wear a helmet; just sayin'

Dragonborn said:

Wow, I'm deemed "childish" just for merely expressing my personal opinion. Too bad that some of you can't seem to submit to the simple fact that not everyone automatically agrees with each other. Someone was certainly right, you can get ganged up on and ridiculed by the membership here if you present a conflicting opinion even in a respectful manner.

I will gladly "stay home" or go somewhere and stay away from this event "and sulk." When I first joined here a while back, I tried to participate frequently until I started seeing how elitist a bulk of this community is. Good riddance, Chainlink.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on May 4, 2013 at 2:19am

Actually right here you said you would not attend the event if you had to wear a helmet:

It is my personal choice to NOT wear a helmet, and i will continue until such time that convincing evidence appears to change my mind.

I will happily pay to attend the ride, but will not attend (and therefore not pay) if I am required to wear a helmet.

Does that make my opinion clearer?

So yeah, that is pretty much were you said you would boycott the event if you had to wear a helmet to participate...



Hilary Thorne said:

I asked if anyone could find info on the ride site whether a helmet was compulsory, as i could not find this information.

Why do you think that was hostile?

I said that I did not want to risk paying the fee and then be banned from riding for not having a helmet.

Why do you think that was hostile?

I stated my opinions about helmets, and the reasons behind them.

Why do you think that was hostile?

I did not take the stance of boycotting a charity event.

I was simply affirming my own beliefs, and my understanding that as this is a free country i am allowed to not only have my own opinions but also live by them. That includes the freedom to NOT wear a helmet.

Why do you think that was hostile?

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 4, 2013 at 7:23am

Well said, Jennifer.  It's a great event and well worth a few small inconveniences to enjoy it. 

In general, I consider wearing a helmet (or not) to be a matter of personal choice.  Among those I know who have suffered crashes, more of them have been helped than hurt by wearing a helmet.

Most people have a great time on Bike the Drive. There are always a few "oops" moments. The organizers choose to promote safety. If a helmet requirement is that big a deal that one would skip a great experience for it, one is free to make that choice.

BTW, I'm generally not an aggressive rider.  Bad pavement is abundant in the places where many of us ride. Inattentive people sometimes fail to see what's in front of them - could be us, could be drivers, peds or other cyclists.  'nuff said.


Jennifer on the lake said:

What is difficult for me to accept is your (and a few others') hostile reaction. I don't recall any hostility on this thread until the non-helmet-wearing population started railing against the helmet requirement. ...

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