Is biking REALLY dangerous or only midly dangerous?

[embee]

Pretty much as everyone says.

I've been riding for 30+yrs, no accidents.

Recommendations?
1 - sit down and think what can happen.
2 - look in the mirror, think what can happen
3 - look at the bike, think what can happen
4 - watch some traffic on a busy road, think what can happen
5 - think what can happen

Once you've thought about what can happen, get some training. Learn road-craft, where to place yourself, what to look for.

Learn about the bike. You can't be a good craftsman unless you know the tool you're using.

Recognise your own limitations, and don't take risks. OK, getting out of bed is a risk, but you know what I mean.

If in doubt, don't.

Live to ride another day.

Use your imagination, what might be round that bend?

On SidSquid's theme, biking is dangerous and hazardous. Bikes aren't.
"Hazardous" is where there are inert things laying around that need consideration in order to stay safe, like climbing the stairs.
"Dangerous" is where you can't necessarily predict what something might do to you, like standing in a tiger cage.

You should have all the hazards under your control, and be prepared to get out of the way of the dangerous things.

Ride down a nice clear straight road at 60mph, and just think "if I hit that tree I'll die". That's the reality. Don't hit trees.

I ride bikes because I enjoy it, but I'm very well aware of my own abilities, limitations and mortality. I'm still here. I'm not Rossi, I'm not superman, but I'm still here.

Puts on cardigan, slippers, and lights pipe.

Originally Posted by embee

On SidSquid's theme, biking is dangerous and hazardous. Bikes aren't.

Correct.


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Throwing yourself out of aeroplanes with a piece of cotton and some string is dangerous!

Swimming with sharks is dangerous,

Biking and riding bikes is only dangerous when you or someone else gets it wrong.

Reading about the crashes and offs posted here, and about people's sometimes long periods of hassle and recovery,

I think you have been reading too many of Northwinds posts :P

Dont forget its not speed that kills, it is the sudden stop afterwards

Originally Posted by wheelnut

I think you have been reading too many of Northwinds posts :P

Also don't forget, Northwind broke his hip when he slipped over in his driveway!

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by jonboy

Correct.


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Disagree entirely, bikes and biking are not dangerous, they carry risk - they do not cause danger, thus the difference.

my 2 penneth for what its worth - as others have said - life is dangerous because you are going to step off the mortal coil one day and too short to worry about what might happen. What I have tried to do is - do it as safely as I can, with as much training as I can, while I can (could).

You dont get that choice with your health - Ive been riding 3 years and now have lost my licence for a year because of a seizure (brought about by a brain hemmorhage just over a year ago). I consider myself lucky to have survived the latter - but as soon as I was able too I got back on the bike and had a very enjoyable 11 months biking and I cant wait to again next year (its killing already and not even 2 months into the ban )

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

Disagree entirely, bikes and biking are not dangerous, they carry risk - they do not cause danger, thus the difference.

No difference, just semantics.


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Well, thanks again for the wise words. I won't reach for the dictionary though...

The good news is that I have bought my SV! I've ridden on it for 2 hours and just got in. WHY OH WHY do I have guests coming round?!?!? I want to go back out!!!

Have to keep it under 5000 revs though. Poo. Good for the gear work though I guess.

Hope to see some of you soon!

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by jonboy

No difference, just semantics.

Not so, a fundamental difference in meaning: At risk from is quite different to causing a danger, it's not semantics at all, the change is very real.

But you have your inalienable democratic right to be as wrong as you like.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

But you have your inalienable democratic right to be as wrong as you like.

Precisely (though I still say it's nothing more than semantics). My view is utterly correct for my world. It's not a world everyone would like to live in, I realise this, and it's one that's certainly full of clean and shiny metallic objects.

(Oh and thanks for the loan of the bucket of soapy water yesterday, it was a only a bodge job of course, I've now done it properly, am totally de-stressed, and might just wrap the whole bike up in cling film overnight as it looks a bit damp again ).

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