John,
I wore one of those helmets 30 years ago. I was the only teenager in Kingston, Ontario to wear a helmet and when I went back to live in Wales in the 1980s I took that same lid with me - a Brancale Sport (made for the track and looking a bit like a flimsy hockey helmet). I thought I was the bees knees at the time, but I am really glad that I don't have any pictures of me wearing it now! I would never ride without it. I was of the opinion then and remain so today that I was better safe than sorry. I now have a flash Louis Garneau helmet which, although not intended when I bought it, matches the paintwork on my 82 Bob Jackson!!
Paul B. Williams, BAH, MPhil, PhD
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
castell5@sympatico.ca
> At 04:04 PM 03/06/2008 -0700, ternst wrote:
>>What's even worse is out here in California, kids under a certain age
>>(Senior forgetful moment, don't remember what age) have to wear helmets.
>>The parents riding with them have none on!
>>Great role models and examples.
>
> Same thing in Ontario. No wonder you see all the kids with their helmets
> perched on the back of their heads, where they're quite useless.
>
> Reminds me of school uniform caps in England back in the 50s. We were
> required to wear them within a block of the school, so that's when we put
> them on; as far back on our heads as possible without actually falling
> off.
>
> I was never a proponent of helmets 20-30 years ago (except I had a
> "hairnet" for racing) because they looked so dumb back then. Today's
> helmets are actually quite stylish, extemely light, and actually direct
> the
> air to cool your head. Now I always instinctively wear one, just like I've
> worn a seatbelt for the last 40-odd years.
>
> John Betmanis
> Woodstock, Ontario
> Canada