Saved by the Helmet

I have always tried to make this site a commentary about Masters Short Track and I rarely comment about my own experiences, but today, I felt compelled to write a little about a recent Sunday experience.

I have been involved in skating and cycling for almost 25 years (less than some, more than others) and I have had my fair share of mishaps. I have always worn a helmet, even before it was law to do so in Australia. In my former role as a police officer, I had the unfortunate experience of attending two fatal 'cyclist vs motor vehicle' crashes. On each occasion, neither cyclist was wearing a helmet, but also, on each occasion, it had been through driver inattention that lives were lost.

Although I have had encounters with errant drivers whilst riding my bicycle in the past, this past Sunday really blew me away with the total disregard that some motorists have with other road users in Australia (whether cyclists or other drivers).

I had just completed a light 30km ride in Centennial Park in Sydney and was riding home when I started through an intersection on the green light. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a black 4WD coming from my left and I could tell that they were not going to be able to stop for their red light. I always look left and right going through intersections - a legacy of my pursuit training.

I managed to brake hard and the black 4WD commenced a full brake lock up and I was hit at about 40-50kmh with the front right quarter panel of this car, sending me and the bike flying into the middle of the intersection. (I can't repeat the exact words that I yelled - it may be illegal). I felt my head hit the road hard, along with sliding along bare bitumen, just to let me know I could still feel pain!

I scrambled out of the intersection and onto the kerb where a few people had come to assist me. I did the regular pat down and slow movements to ensure no limbs were pointing in the wrong direction, and was slightly relieved to feel pain in my legs and left knee, indicating that the pelvis pain may not have been serious.

All I could think of was "Two weeks to Nationals and this happens!"

Anyway, the point of the story is that later that night, I inspected my helmet, and what had not been initially obvious was that where my head had hit the bitumen, the helmet had cracked straight across the side and top of the helmet, obviously spreading the impact of it to save my head, and probably my life.

A $300 helmet - worth the expense????? I say 'HELL YEAH!' I had that helmet for 8 years - that's $37.50 a year - and the manufacturer is replacing it with a 40% discount off the new helmet.

So anyone who thinks not wearing a helmet is cool, all I say is that being dead would surely be less cool than wearing a helmet.

By the way, the driver's excuse - She was in a hurry to get home to her husband who really didn't like her being away from home and their kids because he doesn't cope with them all that well. PLEASE! I thought as a police officer, I had heard all of the excuses going!!!

Anyway, I'm still in pain, but it looks like I will still be able to skate the New South Wales and Australian Championships. Back on the ice tomorrow morning!

Keep wearing those helmets people, some of these manufacturer's have got it right.

Frank