The last
time I wore a full face helmet, I dropped it onto cement driveway and it
bounced merrily towards the road. After that, I could no longer pretend it was
undamaged.
This isn’t
a huge impediment to riding, because generally I prefer an open face anyway.
But the bike has no screen, so if I expect more than a couple of junctions of
motorway, a full face is somewhat imperative, if only for the sake of not
having to stop every 10 miles for eyedrops. So when such a trip loomed, I went
shopping.
Helmet
regulations and shopping have changed since the last time I bought a lid. This
says something for how long I keep my lids, which is partly because they cost a
bomb (for a good one) and partly because disposal of the old is always the big
problem, as they’re too composite in make-up to recycle.
I’ve seen
some creative solutions- repurposing lids to be hanging flower baskets, or small
storage hutches, but I lack the tools to do either conversion and the space for
use afterwards.
So I went
down the usually suggested route of offering it as a training aid to my local fire
service – who still haven’t replied and
it’s been months - or ambulance service,
who didn’t initially understand the question, put me through the training, who
haven’t responded to my voicemail.
You’d think
such places would be grateful for a supply of free lids on which to practice
cutting up and removing safely.
What I don’t
understand is why the bike shop chains don’t make a deal with the ambulance and
fire services by which they collect lids (dropped off when you buy a new one)
and the services pick them up in bulk from there. It would make things easier
and probably cheaper for bikers & services, and wouldn’t do the stores any
harm either, especially as a PR exercise.
(If anyone
wants to act on this idea, please be my damn guest).
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