{"id":4167,"date":"2020-02-05T05:39:23","date_gmt":"2020-02-05T05:39:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/accordingtokirsty.com\/?p=4167"},"modified":"2020-02-05T20:20:01","modified_gmt":"2020-02-05T20:20:01","slug":"plot-twist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/accordingtokirsty.com\/index.php\/2020\/02\/05\/plot-twist\/","title":{"rendered":"Plot twist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another day off, another bike ride to keep my stats looking good. Did the Waikanae River again. It\u2019s a lovely ride but I do it so often, I really need to change things up a bit. However, there\u2019s another reason I like that ride so much – none of it is on the road, so I don\u2019t bother wearing a helmet. \u201cWhat!\u201d I hear you cry \u201cbut you\u2019re a doctor! You must see the damage that head injuries inflict.\u201d Well, actually, no I don\u2019t, because I work in theatres. The people who see head injuries are ED docs, neurosurgeons, or those who work in rehab. Yes, head injuries are awful, but what I see far more of (or I would, if I was a GP), are those people with poor health due to an inactive lifestyle. Move it or lose it, people!<\/p>\n

……..<\/p>\n

Well, that\u2019s the post I had already written in my head when – surprise! – I came a cropper. I was just deciding between two different paths, when I suddenly caught a glimpse of two elderly ladies walking their enormous dogs on the path I was going to go down, so I decided to take the other path instead. Well, as any fool will tell you, suddenly changing course while traveling at speed on a gravel path is a sure recipe for disaster. As my bike skidded out from under me, and I went flying through the air, I had no time for my life to flash before my eyes. I remember only thinking \u201cwell, that was dumb\u201d before I hit the ground. I landed on my hands and knees as this photo will attest.<\/p>\n

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Somehow this doesn\u2019t look so impressive as it does from above. I\u2019ll do a zoomed in version. This does, however, show the dog, clearly lusting for blood.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Gruesome enough for you? Doesn\u2019t actually hurt, though.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Strava map is virtually identical to the other day, even though I was going in the other direction and I had a lot of trouble needing to adjust \u00a0my bicycle seat. As well as the near death experience of course, which I\u2019ve marked with a cross.<\/p>\n

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The little old ladies strolled slowly to my aid, and were very nice. I tried to explain I\u2019d changed direction in order not to hit them, but it sounded funny when I said it, even to me. I\u2019m sure they thought I was going too fast, and perhaps I was. The 64 thousand dollar question is, of course, does this make me change my mind about wearing a helmet? I\u2019ll think on it.<\/p>\n

…..<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve realized on further reflection I haven\u2019t explained myself very well here. My point is that when helmets are made compulsory, bicycle use goes down. It\u2019s not fear of helmet hair, but just that it makes it slightly more difficult, which adds a barrier. You can\u2019t just hop on your bike and go somewhere, you have to dig out your helmet as well, and then what do you do when you arrive at your destination? Wander around with it over your arm like a pillock, or leave it with your bike to get stolen? It must be a major issue for bike rental schemes, that the e scooter hire companies don\u2019t have to deal with. I\u2019m not against helmets per se, I just think the downside of making them compulsory is too great. We must get more people out of their cars.<\/p>\n

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