Daz Marshall

I'd imagine it's an old helmet flecc?

I know.

Wow, some people will just never admit when they're wrong, will they. ALL motorcycle and motorsport helmets are constructed the same basic way. The compression substance has to be as shockingly hard to compress as polystyrene obviously feels to you do to the immense forces they're trying to deal with over very short times. As you know the greater the rate of change of acceleration the greater the force so all this layer tries to do is make the deceleration occur over a longer period of time, just like a seat belt and air bag (and, indeed crumple zones on the car itself). A soft piece of foam would compress almost instantaneously and provide almost no change in the rate of deceleration and thus no change in the forces felt on the skull. You crack me up, you honestly think bicycle helmet manufacturers would make the polystyrene layer of the helmet so thick and the (should I say it - comfort) foam inserts so thin if it was the (comfort) foam inserts that did the job of lowering the g-forces felt on the head? Bonkers. But anyway, you're obviously right so I really think you should get in touch with all the manufacturers and tell them how wrong they are and they should use some soft foam that will work much much better. When will I learn to never argue with someone on the internet. Someone stop me please

lol

Haha! Now I want to watch Tom and Jerry!

http://www.righttoride.co.uk/2013/02/07/motorcycle-helmet-law/

Amen. I still shudder when I remember back to being on the motorway on a motorbike and riding along behind an open-backed truck in the middle lane (it was busy and I was taking my time) and suddenly the truck passed over a 4 by 4 plank of wood just slightly narrower than the distance between it's tyres. God knows how I didn't crash and when I stopped to inspect my front wheel it has indented and cracked - no idea how the tyre hadn't gone down. PHEW!

Tilson, apologies you're very gravely mistaken - the polystyrene layer is what does the job in both motocycle and bicycle helmets. Nice page here http://www.grantadesign.com/resources/materials/casestudies/helmet.htm

The problem with protective garments on bicycles and motorcycles is that they have the surreptitious tendency to lull you into a feeling of false security, that you can take more risks because, heck, should anything happen you'll be fine, fine! When they enforced helmets on motorcyclists deaths didn't go down and injuries actually went considerably up - because the riders were less cautious in all probability. I know when I go out without my leathers on that I ride like a granny and then when fully suited and booted I ride like I stole it. I don't wear a helmet on pushbikes and I constantly worry about crashing as I quite like my head this shape and take the necessary precautions to keep it that way

Being an owner of both types I can tell you the difference in the thickness of the polystyrene layer is nowhere near as large as you're portraying. Without pulling one of my motorcycle helmets apart to measure exactly I'd say that the bicycle helmet is about two thirds that of a motorcycle helmet and the material used in both is the same - expanded polystyrene. It's actually a good material to use as it compresses well in any direction and as it compresses it spreads the force over a wider area than the impact area. There's lots of good info on the net about it.

I was thinking this the other day, I could get a decent second hand R6 or maybe even a R1 (or a car) for the same price of the ebike I'm thinking of. Scary thought but then we're never to burn many calories on a motorcycle. Then again how much are electric or hybrid cars - it's those flipping batteries isn't it.

What about on it's side on the top bar? Not sure if it'd get in the way of your thighs though. You could always add ballast i suppose but then your bike would be even heavier...

I think a lot of it comes down to our poor weather. Two wheeled vehicles are always more popular in warmer countries. Car drivers just don't want to get wet!

Which HRM do you use Gaz? Sounds spot on for me - think I'm going to so S10 though rather than the BS10 as it has a larger battery and I can't really see any improvements that the BS10 has over the 2012 S10? Seems like the same motor etc. That's fantastic that you specialise in the disabled - have you taken out any additional insurance in case the worst happens and you make their condition worse and they sue? How exactly can you declare yourself L4 - I can't find on the REPS site the info on this. Just one L4 course + time?

Good points Flecc and all likely to help you get home in one piece and since you've been cycling nearly twice as long as me I think you've proven this . I prefer a more 'positive' approach to dealing with cars behind me when cycling on the road - I make certain my maneuvers are very clear and decisive and leave no room for doubt in the drivers mind. Hesitant / slow / nervous riding is more likely to get you into trouble imo. For instance with a parked car coming up and with traffic behind me I'll always start moving out early in advance and make it clearly understood that I'm going to go around the vehicle and the driver behind has no real option but to allow me to do so. It boggles my mind the number of cyclists that I see stay in tight to the curb until they're upon the parked car and then get themselves in a right pickle, worried that they'll put themselves into the path of a car as they try to go around it and nine times out of ten will have to stop or slow right down. Be assertive, be predictable and you'll have to worry about what's behind you much less. I also think that having a mirror tempts you into using it far more than you need to. Oh and physiologically it's very difficult to keep your eyes distanced focused whilst moving your sight from in front of you to your mirror - it is akin to the whole 'relax your eyes and look past an object' thing. Normally you'll go from distance to close and to distance again as your eyes refocus on the distant object shown in the mirror. This normally takes around a second.

The usefulness of knowing whats behind you vs. the risk of not concentrating on what's ahead of you during the time it takes your eyes to go from distance focus to close up and back again is open to debate I think. My old motorcycle instructor always told me that despite him having to teach us to do a million life-savers a minute (looks over your shoulder) that once we'd passed our tests to forget all that crap and worry about where you're going, not where you've been. Sure, when you're stationary and about to pull away do a left life-saver to check nothing's coming up underneath you (especially if you're going to turn left straight away) but on the move it's just not sensible to take your eyes off the road ahead. Obviously if there's absolutely no threats ahead, no traffic, no parked vehicles, obstructions, pedestrians that might suddenly decide to move into your path then sure but in on a busy road - no way. Just mho.

I never knew that halfer, thanks. I'm currently deliberating between a second hand or new Pro Connect / Endeavour so that makes things interesting. Having another bodybuilder recommend the BS10 has put that or an old S at the top of the list. I've ruled out Woosh as the big bear isn't in stock and tbh I don't like the battery position - so old school and I think it'll affect the handling... I'd rather not feel like I'm moving a full pannier around unless I actually am I've also ruled out Kudos (sorry Dave) as I just don't want a mountain bike style bike, silly I know but there it is.

Thanks Trex

Hehe it's fine. Thanks Trex. I did look at that and it's on the list for sure. His website doesn't mate it easy to see the differences between the four BPM models (as far as I can tell there are frame differences, gears and the Escape has hydraulic brakes).

Yep! Thanks for those threads Geebee, very interesting. I can't hack road bikes though unfortunately, just puts too much pressure on my wrists from having a bulky upper body.

Hi Trex, been reading a lot of your posts and learned a lot from them so thanks very much, much appreciated. You mention the BPM motor a lot and it powers the big bear and four of the Kudos bikes doesn't it? I'm tempted as I'm a big lad and the primary reason for the ebike is to get up hills and let me power along on the straights. So the BPM will sort the first but I'm worried that the heavy bikes and fat tyres won't really allow me to do so well on the straights. I have to remember though that distance / speed covered isn't so important as calories burned and CV fitness gained... hmmm. I could get a cytronex for only a bit more than a Kudos and as long as I only use the assistance on hills (and it's adequate) I am swinging towards a lighter more capable bike on the straights...?

Hi Tim, as a web dev can I just say I really like your website! Nice, clean and uncluttered. I'd been looking at the NuVinci's actually - very impressive looking and I like the Endeavours too. And the Pro Connects... and and and. Can I ask how some of the Impulse II bikes say they have a 28mph limit yet others don't please?

Hi Gaz - I'll be joining you soon as a PT. Currently trying to get through the level 2 and 3 courses as quickly as I can (since I've been training 27 years and have a nutrition, physiology & biochemistry degree I have no excuses really ). Still enjoy being a PT? Self-employed or for a gym? 4th knee op? Really sorry to hear that - what caused all the problems? I saw the high powered Kalkhoff BS10 but it's not on 50cycles website any more so assumed it no longer for sale? I have also read about people struggling with crank based as they feel quite different to hub based - which is what I had previously...

Thanks Deus - good look with your purchase and look forward to hearing how you get on with it. I've always been a fan of the eZee Torqs and it's good to see they're still going well! I'll add it to the list, thanks

Hi all, I missed this place! Back in the day I owned a cheap synergie ebike that helped me cycle 22 miles a day between bristol and bath and along with weight training it helped me lose five stone or so in five months. Without the electric power there is no way that 21 stone fat Daz would have been able to do those hills on a normal bike and still been able to study all day once I got to Uni. Eventually I got a road bike and sold the ebike but I've missed it to this day. So to present day and I'm older but much fitter (though more in terms of being quite an advanced bodybuilder than cardiovascular-wise) than I was back then so my requirements are a little different. I'm looking to use cycling as one of my CV / fat burning activities and will be looking to go from zero as it is currently to around two hours a day. I want an ebike to cope with hills and stop them knocking my training too much into anaerobic training and reducing my time spent cycling and burning fat. I envision cycling above assistance levels on the flats. I'm 16 stone and 5' 10" and hope to cover good distances so I don't want a mountain bike based bike, needs to be a fairly light hybrid I think. I've been considering cytronex 9 (charge grater 3), kalkhoff pro connect, Woosh Sirocco CD and the Burisch Synergy GT250. Bikes like the KTM's and Haibike's don't interest me - way too off roady moutain bike style. Budget is up to £2k but lower if I can Do you think these would suit me or do you have any other suggestions? Any answers very gratefully received. Thanks in advance, Daz