Safety Most important saftey Item

[SimpleSimon]

While I absolutely agree that situational awareness and attitude are the single most important factors in road safety (or safety in anything, really), the question was about equipment for safety. Things we wear and/or equip our rides with.

Fabian makes an excellent point regarding brakes - all of the safety equipment and apparel, all of the situational awareness and defensive riding skills on earth won't save your behind if you NEED your brakes RIGHT NOW and they aren't adequate. At best those things will reduce the damage you suffer.

Personally, I'd prefer no bruises, let alone road rash, or concussion, or broken bones. When I was younger I'd just clean a wound, superglue or butterfly tape it shut, and go on about my business. Nowadays, with my diabetes, a wound is a MAJOR problem - it is a virtual certainty to turn into a suppurating infected ulcer, especially on my legs and feet.

 

[give me vtec]

I dont wear any equipment other than a surplus military jacket and boonie cap.

Equipment on my bike... I would say battery powered blinking red taillight and battery powered headlights (plural because I use two, one for right in front and one aimed further down the road). If people cant see you they cant plan and react to you....

 

[SimpleSimon]

I sure hope you don't end doing a header into a solid object. Your wife is pretty darned young to be a widow.

 

[give me vtec]

I sure hope you don't end doing a header into a solid object. Your wife is pretty darned young to be a widow.

I appreciate that simon... I dont ride that much anymore though. Mostly recreational at this point. Around the neighborhood is as far as I get to go these days and my need for stupid fast speed is all but gone.

Good LORD Im starting to feel old...

 

[Cavi Mike]

I'd say eye protection on a bicycle. I have no idea what hit me in the eye the other day but it startled and hurt me so bad that I almost went down. If that happened to me around traffic, I'm sure I'd be dead. Then again, bugs this size aren't around in urban areas but regardless, I can avoid something potentially head/brain damaging at cycle speeds on something as light and nimble as a bicycle so a helmet isn't that big of a concern. If I'm on my motorbike, helmet definitely, but full-face. Kills 2 birds with one stone.

 

[Stan4d]

I dont wear any equipment other than a surplus military jacket and boonie cap.

Equipment on my bike... I would say battery powered blinking red taillight and battery powered headlights (plural because I use two, one for right in front and one aimed further down the road). If people cant see you they cant plan and react to you....

I appreciate that simon... I dont ride that much anymore though. Mostly recreational at this point. Around the neighborhood is as far as I get to go these days and my need for stupid fast speed is all but gone.

Good LORD Im starting to feel old...

I also ask you to wear a helmet....I would hate for the worst to happen and not have anymore invigerating talks (or heated discussions if you prefer.)

 

[Stan4d]

Item can mean anything.

The rider's attitude: The one that says I will stop myself from getting careless and will protect myself in every reasonable way to keep others from hurting me. From there, the list of behaviors (situational awareness) and physical protection grows.

Situational awareness ("What could happen in the next 10 seconds?) is your first line of defense. The physical gear helps when your first line of defense breaks down.

While I absolutely agree that situational awareness and attitude are the single most important factors in road safety (or safety in anything, really), the question was about equipment for safety. Things we wear and/or equip our rides with.

Fabian makes an excellent point regarding brakes - all of the safety equipment and apparel, all of the situational awareness and defensive riding skills on earth won't save your behind if you NEED your brakes RIGHT NOW and they aren't adequate. At best those things will reduce the damage you suffer.

Personally, I'd prefer no bruises, let alone road rash, or concussion, or broken bones. When I was younger I'd just clean a wound, superglue or butterfly tape it shut, and go on about my business. Nowadays, with my diabetes, a wound is a MAJOR problem - it is a virtual certainty to turn into a suppurating infected ulcer, especially on my legs and feet.

These two post have nailed it, There is a point that Mike J made about it being attitude, and the point that Simon made about it not being about just apparel but about equipment also.
I am beginning to think from the posts that I am reading that there is not a singular most important item. It is a whole package that is modified for the situation at hand.
For example, riding around on level streets with no traffic requires different needs than riding around dirt trails with a lot of obstacles. Another example would be the one that Simon made. (I made it bold)
Keep the thoughts going, this is sheding new light on how one should view safe riding!
Thank you to everyone for sharing!

 

[Fabian]

Let me try and condense on these themes, although some are particular to where i live and the stupid laws we have to live with:

Firstly, a helmet (in theory) is the most important item, as to a degree, your body can heal itself but your brain can't, and thinking outside of your own world, it is your parents, brothers and sisters and friends that have to try and work in with your life if sustaining a brain injury.
For this reason my preference is to wear a full face motorcycle style helmet, but unfortunately, living in the state of Victoria (Australia) i can't wear a full face helmet without attracting negative attention from the police.
A friend of mine is a police officer and he has mentioned that if the rider or pushbike looks like a motorcycle or motorcyclist, they will be treated like a motorcyclist.
Considering that the anti-hooning legislation in Victorial allows the police to permanently confiscate your motored bike, it's all about trying to fly under the radar, naturally compromising your safety wear.

Secondly, eye protection is extremely important, almost as important as super effective brakes.
Not so long ago (summer time in Australia) i had a wasp strike me on the face and sting my lower lip.
I've been stung by a bee, and this sting was nothing like it.
My whole lower lip and face swelled up to the point where i couldn't talk. Thankfully i was wearing good quality eye protection with soft foam surrounds on the inside of my lightly tinted sunglasses. The foam surround also prevents dust and grit getting in your eyes, particularly as trucks pass you by.

Thirdly: Effective brakes are an absolute must have item. They must work well in all weather conditions and be able to continue working when large amounts of heat are dumped into the system.
More than once my brakes have save me, when drivers decide to abruptly stop in an attempt to enter a driveway behind their forward field of vision.
I know there are people on here batting for antiquated rim braking systems, but from my own experience, nothing, and i mean nothing works as reliably and effectively and cost sensitive to the wallet as disk brakes with an 8 inch rotor and Avid BB7 mechanical caliper.
Everyone should consider this setup as the "minimum" braking standard.

Fourthly: Effective lights are as important as a helmet on low light days and travelling during the evening hours.
My bike has two high intensity flashing red lights on the rear and two high intensity flashing white lights on the front, and a further 4 high intensity night lights for forward vision.
My trailer has two high intensity flashing red lights on the rear and two high intensity flashing white lights up front.
At night, the bike and trailer combo looks like a UFO coming down the road.

Fifthly: an effective horn is also desirable. My bike is fitted with an AirZound system, and it's damm loud.

Fabian

 

[Neon]

I agree with what everyone is saying, but i didn't see any mention of tires. It's very inconvenient when you lose control because of tire failure. They are really the only things that are keeping you on the road. Personal choice of tires doesn't matter, but they should be properly inflated and have decent tread. No weather cracks either. I have never given much thought to eye protection simply because i have had to wear glasses since i was 14. Most of the time i wear my prescription safety glasses when riding because i am usually going to work anyway. Other than that a good helmet and good common sense are important. If you stop and ponder you'll probably find everything is important and should be looked at and addressed.

 

[Fabian]

Since tyres have been mentioned, my opinion is any reputable; branded, kevlar reinforced tyre will hold up for our application; and using thorn proof tubes for insurance minimises chances of catastrophic failure.

Fabian