[Brenda]

raydan raydan:

I'm going out on a limb and saying that eventually, bike helmets will be mandatory.

If we keep it up like this, padded clothing and helmets will be mandatory to walk on the public street.

[andyt]

raydan raydan:

I'm going out on a limb and saying that eventually, bike helmets will be mandatory.

They already are in BC. Not enforced much tho.

[bootlegga]

andyt andyt:

No, I'm right there. Your way puts you too low on the saddle, which can cause knee problems and reduces your efficiency. The proper way, you'll wind up being able to just touch your toes to the ground, but not plant your feet. Your leg should have just a slight bend in it when at it's furthest downstroke. Your upper leg should have around 22 degree angle from the vertical (forget exact number) for max efficiency. Ride long distances with the saddle adjusted like you do, and you'll blow your knees out because you are over flexing them on the highest point of the stroke.

Do you have evidence/proof of this, or is this your opinion? just curious, because everything I've ever read says you should be able to plant your feet (like Brenda said).

[andyt]

bootlegga bootlegga:

andyt andyt:

No, I'm right there. Your way puts you too low on the saddle, which can cause knee problems and reduces your efficiency. The proper way, you'll wind up being able to just touch your toes to the ground, but not plant your feet. Your leg should have just a slight bend in it when at it's furthest downstroke. Your upper leg should have around 22 degree angle from the vertical (forget exact number) for max efficiency. Ride long distances with the saddle adjusted like you do, and you'll blow your knees out because you are over flexing them on the highest point of the stroke.

Do you have evidence/proof of this, or is this your opinion? just curious, because everything I've ever read says you should be able to plant your feet (like Brenda said).

I'm not sure who you're reading, but stop.

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

$1:

Set the saddle high enough so that your other heel can just touch the pedal with your leg straight, and with the pedal at the bottom of the stroke, in line with the seat tube. For most people this results in a saddle height that leaves some bend in the knee at the bottom of the pedal stroke, when you're pedaling with the balls of your feet over the axle of the pedals.

$1:

The most basic saddle adjustment is the height. Most bicyclists have their saddles too low, so that their knees are excessively bent as they pedal. This makes cycling much more tiring for a given speed, and is likely to cause harm to the knees.

http://www.caree.org/bike101bikefit.htm

$1:

Then raise the seat until, as you pedal backwards with your heels on the pedals, your legs are completely extended at the bottom of the stroke. If you have to rock your hips to reach the pedals the seat is too high.

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/sport/a/bikefit.htm

$1:

To adjust the seat height, wear your biking shoes and riding shorts and place your heels on the pedals. As you pedal backwards, your knees should fully extend in the down position. If your hips rock side to side the seat is too high. Now when you move your foot into the proper pedaling position, with the balls of your feet over the pedal, you'll have a slight bend in your knees.

Do you want me to keep going?

[raydan]

bootlegga bootlegga:

Do you have evidence/proof of this, or is this your opinion? just curious, because everything I've ever read says you should be able to plant your feet (like Brenda said).

Besides the answer Andyt gave you, you're talking about when you're NOT sitting on the seat, then you should be able to plant your feet when stradling the bike.

[andyt]

raydan raydan:

bootlegga bootlegga:

Do you have evidence/proof of this, or is this your opinion? just curious, because everything I've ever read says you should be able to plant your feet (like Brenda said).

Besides the answer Andyt gave you, you're talking about when you're NOT sitting on the seat, then you should be able to plant your feet when stradling the bike.

Oh, that's a whole different matter. Your nuts will tell you if your top tube is too high. Adjusting the saddle has no effect on this however. You need a smaller bike or sloping tt bike.

[Choban]

I'll have to check but I believe in Alberta it's law to wear one if your under 16 or if your an adult riding in traffic, but if your over 16 and not riding on roads your exempt.
I always wear one, any hit to the head can cause severe injury and I have fallen off a bike and hit my head (with helmet on)

[Brenda]

I'd like to have both feet touch the ground (not necessarily planted, but the balls of both feet). I don't necessarily care what that does to my body on a long ride, because I do not ride long rides. It is my feeling of safety (remember, I have kids) and I need to not fall when standing still with a bicycle and kids on them. Also, I like to sit straight up, so I don't use mountain bikes for those kind of rides.

[Regina]

Brenda Brenda:

2 kids, groceries. Daily basis. No helmet. We all survived. Busy roads. Really, it IS doable without stupid laws.

Yeah but throw in a Newfy and a few beer......then what do you have?

[Brenda]

Regina Regina:

Brenda Brenda:

2 kids, groceries. Daily basis. No helmet. We all survived. Busy roads. Really, it IS doable without stupid laws.

Yeah but throw in a Newfy and a few beer......then what do you have?

A few beer? Meh, a Newfy on a bike (That alone should be a sight ).
Throw in a LOTTA beer, then you get... my late teens, early 20's

[QBC]

I think the entire helmet law is goofy. Even the motor cycle helmet law is nonsense. I mean, if you happen to fall over while waiting for a the light to change and bump your head on the pavement, yeah. the helmet will help you out. You get hit by a city bus doing 50k, or dump your bike doing 100k down the highway (motor cycle of course) sorry, helmet is a moot point. I think most of these safety laws are only to make the government look like they're doing something for their people. I think it be a wee tad silly.

[Canadian_Mind]

I respect a persons right to not wear a helmet, and I don't think their should be laws forcing people to wear them. But, I personally have had my life saved by wearing one, so I damned near always do.

[QBC]

Canadian_Mind Canadian_Mind:

I respect a persons right to not wear a helmet, and I don't think their should be laws forcing people to wear them. But, I personally have had my life saved by wearing one, so I damned near always do.

Yeah, but you're supposed to wear a hockey helmet ALL the time.....

[CDN_PATRIOT]

I see this all the time. The part that bothers me the most is that they are setting a bad example for their kids (if they have any), and/or kids in general. I hate seeing anyone without a helmet. I never ride my bicycle without my helmet, as helmets saved me a couple times years back after a few bad spills.

-J.

[Canadian_Mind]

QBC QBC:

Canadian_Mind Canadian_Mind:

I respect a persons right to not wear a helmet, and I don't think their should be laws forcing people to wear them. But, I personally have had my life saved by wearing one, so I damned near always do.

Yeah, but you're supposed to wear a hockey helmet ALL the time.....

Only during league games.