I want to vigorously applaud list member Peter Kohler's brave stand in pooh-poohing various safety concerns and crash experiences that other listmembers have noted. Bravo ! I say, Bravo ! An unexpected tumble at speed isn't something to fear, you big panty-waists - it is a character-enhancing experience not to be missed ! I wouldn't doubt that "Stop treating me like like a child !" is a phrase often uttered by head injury victims as they are being taught the basics of how to walk, go to the bathroom, and feed themselves again. Why is society so misguided, I must wonder ?
In honor of his devil-may-care tone, and his ultra-brave shaking-his-fist-at-death attitude, I would like to be the first on the list to offer to send P.C. one of my life-and-liberty-affirming cracked French cast aluminum handlebar stems and severely droopy handlebars. Perhaps another list member can also offer up an honorary Lambert cast aluminum "death" fork - you know, one of those ones that was so foolishly and unneccessarily recalled by those silly nannies at the CPSC.
I have to laugh at all the overly-cautious types on the CR list. Why don't you simply look at what the Pro-feshionals do ? Why shouldn't their experiences inspire, guide, and inform us everyday riders ? Just like Nascar drivers should no doubt be the role model that every suburban driver follows on their way to pick up the kids at school, or when they are late for church. (Well, that actually DOES seem to be the norm, unfortunately.)
I will be sure to write "Joaquim Agostinho" as the sender on the return address on my bar and stem gift / salute to Mr. Kohler. Or perhaps I might use Jempi Monsere' ?
Look them up if you please. They are good examples of the sorts of inexperienced riders who I'm sure look back with fondness on their cotton caps and "Aspro" ambulance.
Chapeau ! Mike Fabian San Francisco, CA
Original Post :
From: "P.C. Kohler" <kohl57(AT)starpower.net> Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 18:59:51 -0400 Subject: Re: [CR] Death Stem and Hypocrisy
Well, I don't wear a helmet. Never will. And I ride a so-called "Death Stem" on my PX-10 and AVA 'bars too. And as I've related before, the only stem failure I've experience was with what? Why a Cinelli 1A, the standard of the world, no? I suppose one could photograph Cinelli and GB stem failures and start a "Death Stem" thread with that, too. I just threw my Cinelli stem in the trash where it belonged. I should have started a website.
I appreciate people's concern for safety. But I must say I firmly resist the increasing tendency to treat everyone as children and everyone aspiring to be proctors and hectoring nannies. Helmet laws, reflectors, those absurd CPSC mandated "safety" improvements to cycle components.. show me they have any impact on cycling safety. You can't. I won't ride on any of the Cirque sponsored rides (or others) because of their insistence on wearing helmets. I suspect AVA stems will be banned next.
I think I'll watch "Vive Le Tour" again.. AVA and Pivo stems (I love those little red painted inserts), cotton caps and if you had a fall, there was that cool "Aspro" ambulance on hand. I think they called it cycling back then.
Peter Kohler
Washington DC USA