EXUP Worldwide

I'm sure even the non-football fans have heard about Ben Rothlisberger wrecking his 'Busa, and not wearing a helmet.

I only became a "geared rider" (helmet, jacket, gloves, jeans, and boots) earlier this year when my wife and I found out we are pregnant. Until then I wore my gear for the twisties, but not around town. I figured it was time to get more responsible, and we agreed I'd only leave the helmet at home when I was cruising the neighborhood.

I changed my mind yesterday, and will not ride without the helmet anymore. Not for short trips, not around the block, not ever.

Anyone else having similar thoughts today?

I never ride without a helmet. I feel no sorrow for him, If he would have at least worn a helmet he would probably have walked away. His main injuries where facial and head trauma.

I may be part of the "asshole crowd" but I totally agree with WS! You ride without a lid, you are taking a risk and you know it, it is your own mindset to don the lid before you leave the driveway. Although a helmet will help you at a low speed crash from bangin ur noggin too hard, a head on with a car, the helmet is the least of your worries...

Although I dont always wear mine, but know I should, it is simply too hot some days to wear it. But if I know I will be out after dark, I do wear it, gotta stop those june bug splatters ya know...

I've tried it a couple of times, riding without a helmet, but didn't like the feeling of being so exposed like that.

i always ride with a lid , just as i always buckle up in a car.

I always ride with full gear (jacket, gloves, helmet, boots, pants). Dressing down for me is wearing jeans instead of riding pants (which I only do if I'm going somewhere local where riding pants are going to be inappropriate). I have been trying to find a pair of riding jeans with armor/padding but have not found any that fit.



Don

i love eBay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 8075272567

&

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ben-Roethlisberger- ... dZViewItem

oh man....now thats funny on a sad event...


the truth is I hate any rider down news....but then he is an idiot now isnt he ?

I think of it like this Ben ol' boy - would you play football without a helmet and pads? So why would you ride without a lid?

I'm not a gear Nazi, but I always wear at least a helmet and gloves. I'm guilty of just wearing jeans and my jacket, but if I have shorts on I put my First Gear overpants on. Which reminds me, I need to start shopping for a lighter jacket since it's getting toasty during the days now.

jjs777 wrote:....the truth is I hate any rider down news....

yeah, so do i...especially when a driver turns in front of a fellow rider...i'm no helmet nazi either, but i believe if my carreer was on the line, i'd at the very least wear a helmet...

OMG!!! THose ebay auctions are just WRONG! LOL BTW, Weezle, ur signature is sooooo true, it is like I have always said "women come and go, friends are forever!"

Being in the 'Burgh, I can say that this story is truly the buzz of the town. The thread on our local forum was well over 10 pages just yesterday. I don't wish anyone any harm - especially a fellow rider, but he is just retarded.

I'm not a football fan but from what I have heard/read Big Ben wasn't a licensed rider and on top of that he was on an expired permit. If that is really the case then Pa law says that he should have had a helmet on, but whatever. Multi-million dollar football career and he put it in jeopardy because he wanted to look cool so everyone could see Big Ben on his Big Busa. If he had a helmet on all his injuries would be are a couple of banged up knees and maybe a stiff neck. At the very least he'd still have all his teeth.

Again, not happy it happened, but feel no pity for him at all. I used to ride thru that intersection every day and it's a bit odd, bridge on one side, a tunnel with a curve near the end that makes it hard to see the light. Been lots of fender benders there.

hahahahahaha, the first ebay link is quite funny. some of the comments/questions are great!

no pity for him. especially because he isn't even licensed. f'in morons like that are what make my insurance rates increase.

i went to college in pittsburgh. the roads that surround downtown are nutty.

I ALWAYS wear a helmet and it saved my bacon yesterday and it wasn't from a crash.

As I was was passing a hopper bottom gravel truck (running with the hopper open) at about 70 mph, about a dozen rocks came flying out of the bottom of the truck and bounced up towards me. Three small ones hit my helmet leaving gouges in the helmet and face shield, a fourth one about half the size of my fist hit me in the shoulder right where the padding is thankfully. If it wasn't for my helmet and riding jacket, I would be in pretty bad shape compared to what I am now. As it is, I only have a sore shoulder and no head injuries. I believe if it weren't for the helmet, I would at the very least have been in the emergency room getting a bunch of stitches in my face and lost an eye (one of the gouges is dead in front of my left eye).

I am a firm believer in having the choice but an even firmer believer in wearing a helmet at all times.

Wow, I'm a bit shocked that so many people think he's an idiot, moron, etc. I've been reading the same type of thoughts on my local forum.

He took a risk by not wearing a helmet. He knew what might happen, and he made his decision. We all take a risk every time we ride. We know what might happen, that we could die or be hurt, gear or not. Are we all idiots?

My boss sure thinks so. She lost both parents in a motorcycle crash, and hates that I ride.

Risking his career? So what? Aren't we all risking our various careers if we go down hard? If he was a furniture mover he'd be risking his career, but nobody would care.

The riding without a valid license is the idiot part, to me.

I hope he gets back on after he heals up, and becomes a pro-helmet kind of guy. I think a lot of kids would follow his lead.

To end this rant, I'm not a fan of Ben's. I live in Bronco-land!

NoItsNotAnR1 wrote:Risking his career? So what? Aren't we all risking our various careers if we go down hard? If he was a furniture mover he'd be risking his career, but nobody would care.

Interesting point, I agree.....


I'm not a helmet Nazi either. However, I do believe that its foolish not to wear one all the time. June bugs alone are a good enough reason for me

That gravel truck story sounds awfully familiar, I lost a very nice Targa windscreen on my FJ last year because of a gravel truck. Large chunk of gravel hit it (while my best friend was riding) and put a huge hole in it. Piece of the windshield flew up and hit my friend in the face at 60mph. Luckily he WAS wearing a helmet, no damage. If that rock had been a little higher, the face shield on the helmet would NOT have stopped it... The windscreen was way thicker than the helmet face shield.

Helmets aren't enough, and unfortunately, thats about all I use for safety gear right now. Need to change that and get a good jacket at least.... Road rash sucks!

i find that in general, 99.9% of the population is made up of idiots.

Ummm.... thanks Hooli....

NoItsNotAnR1 wrote:Risking his career? So what? Aren't we all risking our various careers if we go down hard?

true, but with one difference...his contract/salary has a very big number, followed by a bunch of zeros...having that kind of money is everyones dream, especially earning it by playing the game you love...

I have a wife and 2 kids, can't put enough zero's on that.