You'll just have to picture it in your head, but that's the unlikely combo I saw on my way to work this morning 😆 Commuting in London must've gotten much more rad to the max fully sick hardcore gnar when I wasn't looking… I wonder if he's considered wearing his DH armour as well?? 😯

Soooo disappointed I didn't get my camera out in time to take a snap! Would've been a hilarious shot for posterity 😆

Safety first, fun last

I think I've seen this guy too. I like to think he is 'core, but only has one helmet. Mind, I usually go lid-less on my Brompton because if you aren't living on the edge you're taking up too much space. Maan. 🙂

They say that there London town is the at the cutting edge of fashion

maybe he's heard of the untold damage that the peak on a normal mtb helmet can cause?

I've seen him too 🙂

(unless there are multiple – my one was near westminster or vauxhall, can't remember which)

Dave

Seen on the Skyride the other day – Intense M3, Fox 40s, gold THE fenders and a sprung, yes a sprung Brooks saddle.

Shizzle dat mixed-niche bizzle, homeboy.

CFH – Probably realised his usual hardcore razor blade saddle was going to murder his arse and went for something a bit more friendly. On the other hand, if he rides with it all the time, kudos, but I wouldn't.

I was out in the Chilterns the other day and saw some middle aged chap ride past with full body armour on but a normal helmet. No where near Aston and it was a normal looking XC bike. WTF !

Cycling plus had a guy on a full face on a brompton with a ridiculously high gear trying to break 50mph on flat in the last issue. But he also was just wearing lycra shorts and top, so his body would've been ripped to pieces if he had come off.

I think that might be the bloke I served whilst working weekends at Cycle Surgery.

A very normal middle class bloke who had his face smashed up in a car accident. It took ages to get it back together with wire etc, so he's a bit nervous about it.

Similarly; I went to Wales a month ago and the newbie in the group (you know, suntour forks and vbrakes) had a MET parachute. He had just had a £6K teeth reconstruction job done.

fair enough 😯 Did look funny to me, but who am I to talk, I ride around London on a triple-crown 6" travel Enduro 😆 Been thinking about wearing the full-facer for winter as well, would keep me mouth nice and warm 8)

there was someone crossing London Bridge in full black and grey stormtrooper get-up the other morning on his hardtail – full-face helmet, body armour, the works!

There are a few full-face commuters in London these days. I saw about 3 or 4 on one journey the other week.

But when you think about it, is it any more worthy of ridicule than wearing any other kind of helmet?

Who decides on the 'right' level of protective gear for a given bike or route?

I think the fashion police need to chill out a bit…

@ Llandegla one mid-week day I saw a guy on a full suss, bib-tights with a bright green lycra long sleeve top and a full face helmet.

Did make me chuckle

I think the fashion police need to chill out a bit

For sure. I don't believe many would dispute that a full face helmet provides more protection than a "normal" one, so if he's OK with the comfort aspects why not?

I often ride with a girl who's a model (No, I am not going to post pics and no she is not that kind of model) and she is very carfeul about always wearing armour. As she says, she can hardly work if covered in scars! She does fall off a bit as well…! 🙂

Doesn't wear a full face, though.

Im currently full-facing it to work on the road bike due to smelly helmet straps on the normal one.

The Mendip exile Tangent should have worn a full-face helmet, given the way he used to [drunkenly] pilot his Brompton around Bristol (including, on occasion, Leigh Woods).

Is that any more worthy of ridicule than the hardtail hardcore XC whippet brigade that ride all the nasty stuff in just lycra and an xc helmet?
No offence meant, been there, got the scars to prove it and moved to a more bouncy and armour plated style of riding.

I only visit London on a bi monthly basis but it strikes me as a place I would want as much armour as I could carry. I imagine the comuters are just used to it and take the risk in their stride. These guys are probably just new to the commute thing and will relax into it over time. That or their mum's wont let them out on their bike without the pads. 😆

I commute in baggies on my Marin Quad 140. 😀

Did see a guy at ours on a fully tricked out Socom running Fox40's wearing full Dianese head to toe and a TLD D2 lid, Llandegla has got that gnarr now 😉

Having had my 3 front teeth smashed in and rebuilt AGAIN and had a canine pulled out due to it being fubar'ed from just one crash on my commute – I shall soon be investing in a Met parachute. Dentist (dour chap) says that if it happens again then my teeth won't last 5 years before falling out.. this being my top front row. I would have to get each re-implanted at a cost of £2.5k EACH .. after going 6 months looking like shane mcgowan to let the gum 'settle' .

In all my years on an MTB my worst injury has been scratches and scrapes from branches …but tarmac has claimed my shoulder (philos plate) and 4 teeth.

Ow.