Helmets and Racing Report

[Sandy]

     Effective 1995 it became law in Ontario for all cyclists under the age of 18 to wear a helmet.  Failure to do so is a $75.00 fine...but worse in the case of an accident could result in brain damage or death.  According to the Centre for Neuroskills with 100% helmet compliance 500 deaths and 151,400 non-fatal brain injuries could have been prevented in one year.  Why wouldn?t you wear one regardless of your age?
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     On Friday June 10 the 25th running of the Surf & Turf was held with over 720 participants covering 60k of Quinte West.  In the solo Tinman event Jeff Walsh reclaimed the crown finishing in 3:10:52, in the two person Tinmate local team Wonder Boys made up of Ivan Dube and Joe Kerlow crossed the line second in 3:10:14 and in the eight person team event, Team Avaya was fastest in 3:05:08.
     On June 12 Ashley Armstrong raced the Multisport Woodstock Sprint in 1:14:13; Rachel Parks raced the Ottawa River Sprint Tri (200/23.7/5) in 1:38:30 while David Conroy crossed the line in the Kayak Tri (5/23.7/5) in 1:48:39.  Patrick Foran was first out of 215 participants at the 5 Peaks Hardwood Enduro 12.2k trail race finishing in 56:15. 
     The County Kids of Steel raced on Sunday with a smaller than usual field but in perfect weather.  In the 6-7 age group (25/1.5/500) were; Ella O?Neill (14:39), Mya Banez (15:18), Anna Walsh (15:53), Isabelle Cakebread-Kraus (15:12), Elyse Blair (14:48), Sarah Voth (15:30) and Ethan Geen (16:39).  Ages 8-9 (50/4/1); Mason Forsey-Mackinnon (32:03), Caleb Ramnarine (26:53), Liam Walsh (27:30), Jenna O?Neil (27:55), Jade Banez (28:42), Beatrice Yee (29:14), Ashley Allaire (29:18), Lauren Lavictoire (31:53), Isakk Harris (32:26), Max Lindsay (23:21), Cole Lavender (28:00), Teagan Caulfield (24:03), Olivia Blair (25:17), Cameron Pero (24:38), Sydney Davies (25:13), Tristan Leclerc (25:55), Hayden Evans (29:11), Alannah Voth (26:11), Jeffrey Snider (29:26), Ethan Erwin (21:05), Ryan Erwin (21:44) and Aron Brooks (30:25). 
     Ages 10-11 (100/6/1.5); Holly Tetzlaff (29:55), Michelle Cormier (36:04), Mitchell Mowbray (24:52), Rafik Jiwa (27:05), Matthew Birchard (27:23), Hannah Farrell (29:00), Grace Black (30:49), Angelo Brown (32:17), Robin Mackinnon (33:02), Grace Moher (33:39), David Kuntz (33:40), Madeleine Yee (34:43), Craig Bekker (37:23), Karolyn Yee (38:25), Tyler Banez (41:57), Julia Martin (34:17), Thomas Butler (29:23), Henryk Luczynski (30:19), Simon Hawes (32:18), Chase Lavender (34:26), Matthew Baranyai (34:55), Monica Lindsay (43:38), Miles Cakebread-Kraus (44:18), Nick Milligan (29:45), Alex Caulfield (32:47), Grace Vandervelde (32:56), Emma Goodman (33:40), Colby O?Hara (36:55), Olivia Goyer (34:35) and Bruce Reynolds (35:47).
     Ages 12-13 (200/8/2): Carolyn Cormier (54:47), Shakil Jiwa (31:22), Isacc Jarvis (34:41), Ryan Jarvis (34:41), Cameron Clarke (36:11), Cooper Christopher (46:49), Jacob Lavictoire (50:02), Natalie Butler (37:19), Kurtis Wright (38:40), Matthew Doxtator (38:34), Tyler Allison (39:35), Meagan Baranyai (40:23) and Mallory Lindsay (42:54).  Ages 14-15 (300/10/3); Abigail Refausse (49:05), Mac Graham (52:34), Marc Brown (56:10), Erin Young-Lowe (56:29), Aiden Uns (42:46), Liam Garvin (48:31), Andrew Hatt (52:02), John Butler (42:46) and Devon Hawes (47:13). In the 16-17 age group (300/10/3): Brianna Christopher (43:57), Adam Doxtator (34:57) and Sofia Arnekull (51:25).

[The Moose1]

For those of you who think they're "too good" to be injured in a bike fall, remember Brett "The Hitman" Hart?  He's one of those statistics, and he's the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be.  Put your helmet on.

Mike

[Allan]

A friend of mine from Ottawa was racing IM Switzerland last weekend. An athlete he was passing swerved suddenly and their handlebars hooked up (one rider wit bullhorn base bars the other with drops). They ended up crashing into the wall of a house alongside the road. Bad concussion but still alive and expected to make a full recovery ..... good helmets are a must!

[Sandy]

Geez that's scary but proves the point that it may not be "you" you have to worry about but rather all the obstacles out in the world.  Glad your friend is ok!

[homer]

You got that right. Last year my 75 year old mother was riding her bike (yes she can out cycle me I think) and a car ran a stop sign and ran into her sending her flying and crushed the bike. Her helmet was smashed but lucky no head injury. Surgery for screws and plates in elbow but I am sure the helmet saved her life. The law should be for everyone not just under 18.

[Jane]

When I fell off my bike a few weeks ago, and I felt my head hit the ground, I was sure glad that I was wearing my helmet!  I wasn't even going all that fast and I hate to think what it would have felt like if my head hadn't had the protection. 

So I totally agree -- everyone should wear helmets.  One girl at work told me she didn't need one because she never bikes fast!  Hitting your head on the ground at 20 km/hr can still cause a lot of pain and damage.  Strange that people just don't get it!  Maybe they don't see the need to protect their skulls because there isn't much in there that needs protecting???  And at 18 years old, the once sensitive skull/brain, now becomes less valuable?  Weird!