# Cyclists.. help?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyclists-help/401661>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 25, 2007, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyclists-help/401661 "2007-04-25T22:26:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2007, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyclists-help/401661/21 "2007-05-01T17:09:15Z")

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[QUOTE=Lord Il Palazzo]  
Very, very true. A helmet is a must no matter how long or short your ride, but even more so for longer rides. I’m a strong proponent of bike helmets since a few of my friends have had them save their lives.  
[/QUOTE]

:dubious:

Actually, polystyrene cycle helmets are probably of no use whatsoever in any serious accident, and might even lead to an increased risk of neck injury. Don’t fall for the propaganda - see [http://www.cyclehelmets.org/](http://www.cyclehelmets.org/)

I do sometimes wear a helmet, but mostly when I’m riding off-road, to protect from tree branches etc. If you get hit by a car a helmet is very unlikely to do anything. BUT cycling is statistically ~30% safer than walking on a per-mile basis.

Kudos for considering cycling – I got rid of my car at the start of the year and have been commuting to work by bike - train - bike instead of car - train - Tube. It has cut about 20 minutes off the total journey time, and 35% of the cost, and I now cycle 15 miles a day so I feel a hell of a lot better.

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**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2007, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyclists-help/401661/22 "2007-05-01T17:27:29Z")

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I change my clothes completely upon arrival: on the trip in, underthings can get sweaty and overthings can get wet/dirty/wrinkly. So I keep a couple changes of clothes at work and always carry a stash of clean socks and undies. Changing into something clean and dry after arriving has greatly enhanced my quality of life.

I don’t carry a lot of tools because I pass no fewer than eight bike shops on my way to work. But I still don’t leave home without my tire pump.

Depending on your workplace circumstances, this story may be useful: at my former job, the Bike User Group worked and lobbied and so on and so forth until the employer installed a shower for their use. The employer was finally convinced that it was consistent with all their corporate mumbo-jumbo speak around (a) employee health and wellness, and (b) lower-impact commuting.

(Bike User Groups are also a good way to pool tools (once I needed a chain breaker to get home; the BUG was very useful) and tips. I’ve had them at a number of workplaces and they’re great.)

My current employer has a shower and wins a Clean Air Commute award every year.

So dream big.

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