ATGATT - Motorcycles vs Bicycles

I have a bunch of friends that are avid bicyclists. They are "ATGATT" types for bicycles, which means a helmet and spandex, and 45mph on the downhill sections around here.

At those speeds (and on those roads, where they can and do PASS cars going slower than them), they're going to get massive road rash and/or a broken bone or two.

Now, they get sympathy. If I'm not wearing leathers and armor, and bite it at 35-45mph and go for a tumble (and I have), people ask if I'm still going to ride motorcycles... But they won't suggest that someone stop riding a bicycle after an equivalent accident.

So, I guess my questions are:

- Do you suit up differently for motorcycling vs. bicycling, even if the speeds will be the same? why yes/no?

- Do you think a bike helmet is adequate for 35mph bicycle riding?

- Do you think just a motorcycle helmet is adequate for 35mph riding? why yes/no?

I know we'll have a few avid bicycle riders on here, so I'm really interested in your thoughts/experiences.

Thanks (just curious)
woody

 

Interesting topic woody. I don't bicycle, but see plenty on the road and have considered similar things. Interesting to see what the replies will be.

 

Hey now.. Actually lost 6lbs last week! :flex:

 

Yeah, road rash is one of the risks of road biking. Any kind of protective gear other than gloves is pretty impractical. IMO most types of road bike accidents at speed are usually just lowslides as opposed to car/motorcycle accidents so maybe the lower tech helmets are okay. I can't imagine doing much high effort riding on a hot day with a helmet that flows any less air than a good bike helmet.

The two (bicycles and motorcycles) seem similar but the differences are enough to allow for different thoughts about safety/protection. JMO of course.

 

The day after the infamous day in Winthrop Washington where I had a meteorologic experience, I came within a few inches of riding off a trail down a very steep and rocky cliff. I don't think the helmet would have helped. But I can say years ago, I was riding on a particularly hot day and had my helmet off. I had just put it back on and sure as hell, rode into a ditch, over some vegetation that covered a hole in the ditch, then flew over the bars and landed head first into the rocky upward slope of the roadway embankment. Cracked the helmet but I got up and road away. Have never ridden the bicycle without it since.

You can get additional gear like Stuke mentioned and he is a more responsible person than I that way. If I were to ride in the same manner that I used to, then I would be acquiring the knee, shin, elbow and whatever pads available.

But as stated, it would be almost if not impossible to ride a bicycle geared up to the extent that we should on the motorcycle. At 45 - 50 miles per hour, I don't think the existing helmet construction would be all that effective, but maybe just enough to allow you to heal enough to have some quality of life after recovery. I would be willing to bet, few bicycle accidents happen at speed higher that 20-25 MPH tough

 

I just picked up a new bicycle helmet, my previous one was 10 years old and I was worried the foam had deteriorated even though it looked ok. Interestingly, the bike shop said 'don't bother, if you've never crashed it should be fine'. Complete opposite of what motorcycle helmet manufacturers recommend, a 5-8 replacement cycle. For $50 I wanted the piece of mind..and the better fitment system on the new helmets.

'Downhill' reminded me of this vid, bit nuts.
[video=youtube;AbT8N42QJik]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbT8N42QJik[/video]

 

And clarification on "downhill", I meant street riding, on mountain roads. Same hazards as for motorcycles (gravel, cars, trees, sand, bad lines through turns). A competitive cyclist friend of mine goes down about yearly, with major rash, usually in the 25+ mph category. Of course, his eyesight is too poor to get a driver's license, so he rides bikes a crazy amount instead (100s of miles a week). And the same mountain roads that make great motorcycling around here (Santa Cruz) are also great bicycling roads.

 

My top bicycling speed was around 47mph iirc, going west down hwy 92 in to Half Moon Bay. :thumb:

 

I live in Boulder Creek, so I commute on Hwy 9 through Saratoga into the Valley every day for work. Best long commute I could really have, I think. But I hate 1hr commutes.

 

I hate commuting too but that probably is one of the best motorcycling commutes. I'd be so tempted to cut out early just for the ride home. :biggrin: