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Post by Longy on Dec 18, 2004 17:00:54 GMT
My 2p worth, helmets over 2 years old that have had some average use (i think the old Rospa guidelines were 2 hours a week for 2 years) are pretty much useless as protection due to hair gel,grease,sweat etc rotting the foam inner. Plus those lids that have had either a knock from dropping or a stack are also shite. Tech inspection of all helmets at a race shouldnt take more than half an hour or so and if two folk do it then it will get done faster as all a visual test confers is a safe outer shell, inner shell,strap,fasteners,visor.
If you want i'll get a Health and Safety professional to write up a risk analysis and worksheet for racing locations and safety wear, some insurance companies require one of these and local councils (shutting down roads) wont even listen to you if you dont put one in the presentation.
Anybody in power (i forgets who the UKGSA main bods are) give me a shout and i'll get the ball rolling.
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Post by Michael on Dec 18, 2004 18:53:25 GMT
sorry, but I think one reason why you bought those non-motorbike helmets was: 1) they look good 2) they offer a fraction more aerodynamics 3) you need to keep up with others in termas of speed, so you are in effect forced to buy a more aerodynamic helmet over a possibly safer one. 4) they look good 5) they look good
Who said its a democracy? Frankly if you want to plant your head on the concrete that is your choice...but in a race where the more sensible and safer racers wish to wear a less aerodynamic helmet then you have an advantage (until you face plant). Possibly this will now be neagted by the areo helmet wearers sh*tting themselves with fear, thinking about what may happen when they crash. Who knows.
Me, I'll stick to a motorbike helmet thanks. Sorry if you bought a nice aero helmet, but hey, we are talking life and death here. And I hate funerals. I want to die peacfully in my sleep like my dad.....not shouing and screaming like his passangers!
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Post by Wookie on Dec 19, 2004 11:38:08 GMT
Hell, I don't care what helmet I have to wear so long as I'm able to race, I must admit how astonished I am at how surprised the whole downhill community is at the lack of protection offered by skydiving helmets, I thought it was obvious. Anyway, tech inspections? If thats what we need to do then fine, although lets be honest at the moment we're such a small community that we all know what everyone's riding and whether its safe or not, and as far as I know no-one has ever tried to fob off equipment that isn't safe
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Post by mobbsy on Dec 20, 2004 10:36:31 GMT
Nicely put, Wookie! I've done the tech inspections and put the safety gear requirements (based on IGSA) together for the last few years at Bude, and full-face motorsport helmets have been the usual. There are many different types of headgear available now for downhill skiing, Mountain Bike racing, powerboat racing, hang gliding etc etc that offer various types of protection. It's not, however, always about having a tough hat, as we initially saw deaths caused by the shape of the helmet breaking the neck with earlier aero helmets. Whilst we have a responsibility to advise and promote safe riding we still need to give the riders some choice. As Michael said, it's the riders own head he's dealing with and if "it looks good" is more important to that rider at the time and he's not endagering anybody else...........I would like to add though that many motorsports helmets are still chopped at the top to improve visability. The vast majority of motorbike helmets do not allow visabilty when racing in tuck, and need to be shoved back to get the "eyes looking through the top of your head thing", which in itself is dangerous because the helmet can move back over your eyes when you're racing.
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Post by sccbazil on Jan 4, 2005 1:54:53 GMT
Sorry to bring up an old topic, but I've always thought stand up is just an insane thing to do... I'd never consider doing a 30mph run let alone a 70mph effort.
It's sad news indeed, but he obviously knew the risks he was taking... Lying down just seems about 10 times safer because you've got less distance to fall and bailing's much easier.
RIP
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Post by Joel on Jan 4, 2005 9:20:26 GMT
Bazil, I totally agree, much safer on my back Joel
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