Helmets

This is the first state I've been in recently that seems to have taken to the bicycle again : there are actually bike lanes!! And quite a few cyclists around.

However - a very very different sort of demographic cycles over here. For a start they ride these things that look a bit like mountain bikes, but have curved frames and handlebars.

And wait for it: no gears and no brakes.

yup, that's right: no brakes. at all.

seems to be some sort of fashion thing.

Which leads me to who rides em: 20 something hipster types.

Christ knows what the accident rate is: basically your choice is: have accident on bike or jump off and have accident next to bike.

Ah.. and helmets.. Now, the helmets for sale and worn in the UK are a joke: a bit of polystyrene sitting perched on top of your head like top hat on an elephant. No protection for the other 90% of the head, and hardly any for the bit they do cover.. and they are all streamlined as if it matters a damn: is a motorcycle helmet streamlined ? no.. and we don't cycle along at 8mph.

However, over here I don't believe cycle helmets actually exist! If they do I've not seen one… So we have these folk riding around on bikes with no brakes, and no helmets, and the traffic of course mainly consists of 3 ton flat bed pickups. quality.

Motorcyclists are also in abundance. Mainly of the Harley variety. Unlike cyclists, they all adhere to the same sort of protective clothing:

- tshirt
-shorts
- bandana (to keeps spilled brains in).

Again, not a helmet to be seen.

It's amazing natural selection hasn't eliminated them all yet.