Gordon Ramsey…Ouch.

Seems Gordon Ramsey has come off his bike. Doesn’t say if he fell off or was hit by something but says his helmet saved him. He has one hell of a bruise on his body in the clip. Wear your helmet folks

https://news.sky.com/story/gordon-ramsay-lucky-to-be-alive-after-bike-accident-13153706

Do you think James Martin ran him off the road?

“Ramsay became a father for the sixth time in November when his wife Tana gave birth to their son Jesse James Ramsay aged 49.”

Pretty old for a baby.

He’s apparently quite a keen cyclist, he’s been pictured on a variety of top end bikes. Think he does marathon running too.

Although his “always wear a helmet” comments can **** off.

I,d be more interested in how his accident happened rather than the helmet preaching. Always open to learning from someone else’s mistakes. Some crashes are unavoidable many are though.

He’s done a few ironmans, so is certainly capable of riding a bike.

The way I read the article, I’d assumed it involved a vehicle.  But not 100% certain.

I’m certainly no fan of what we see of him on TV, but a friend spent a half day to a day around him a couple of years back, at a swim event (relates to triathlon) and said he was very pleasant, he engaged and was great with the kids that were there, and all round nice. No pretences or aloofness.  (Did say a couple of other ‘celebs’ / notable  sports people there were dicks!)

I think most people after a big ‘off’ where the helmet takes a big hit are of the same view – they are (can be) cheap enough and it’s pretty stupid not to use one really.

that’s an impressive bruise. To be honest if the helmet is damaged (and I assume it took a beating too) then it’s an obvious comment to make. I’d be tempted too.

He’s done a few ironmans so is certainly capable of riding a bike.

Have you seen triathletes/TTer ride? Riding and controlling are very different things

Argh, not the “I survived a crash therefore everyone MUST wear a helmet” thing again, **** off.

Have you seen triathletes/TTer ride? Riding and controlling are very different things

Yeah, and most of them are pretty good. Still, the mid-pack pro-wannabees trying to get on the bike barefoot with their shoes already clipped in and not fall off does make for amusing viewing.

Argh, not the “I survived a crash therefore everyone MUST wear a helmet” thing again, **** off.

There’s no decent reason for not wearing a helmet if you are cycling, especially on road or for us, off road, and i think on here, it should be an easy sell for anyone who has any care for their wellbeing.

He hasn’t made it law, he’s expressed an opinion. Calm down dears.

And I think that once you’ve woken up to find your helmet pieces it kinda overwhelmingly informs your opinion – it did me anyway.

Do your own thing, your choice if you don’t want to wear one , I choose to , that’s my decision.

“Have you seen triathletes/TTer ride? Riding and controlling are very different things”

So very true. Despite being fat and slow, and certainly one of the slower decenders in my mountain biking circle, I’m often passing people on tri on down hill sections or where there’s a hint of gravel or dirt – even when I’m taking zero risk.

My point really was that at least he’s not some total noobie to riding a bike, and has raced in the winds of Kona.

@kcal

picture of helmet on the link

“There’s no decent reason for not wearing a helmet if you are cycling”

Leaving aside racing and off road MTB cycling is safe. No head injuries in over half a century of cycling here.

I don’t wear a helmet for any other safe activities I do.

Although his “always wear a helmet” comments can **** off.

Yup,TJ has already sent him a strongly worded letter 🙃🙃😁

“nO hElMeTs iN hOlLaNd”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/16/the-brain-is-very-vulnerable-dutch-cyclists-urged-to-wear-helmets-as-road-deaths-rise

Got two mates that have come off on the road and don’t remember what happened – no helmets. I’ve come off and remembered all the gory details (with a lid on) – massive crash broken spine.  I’ll still wear one as gravel rash isn’t fun on yer bonce.

Came off on the commute a few weeks ago, bike just slid out. Given the amount of mud I picked out of the lid air vents, it saved me some messy hair to wash.

Whilst I don’t really agree with the pro-helmet evangelists, he’s taken a big chunk out of it. It’s not hard to imagine that could have been nasty without a helmet on.

So very true. Despite being fat and slow, and certainly one of the slower decenders in my mountain biking circle, I’m often passing people on tri on down hill sections or where there’s a hint of gravel or dirt – even when I’m taking zero risk.

Yeah, but you’re only overtaking the crap ones. If you’re a shit swimmer (and I am) you’ll be overtaking riders, and if you’re good at running (and, relatively, I am) you’ll be overtaking runners. It’s amusing and an easy win to claim all  triathletes are shit on a bike, but it’s rubbish.

That’s hell of a big bruise on his left ribs, I suspect many would take a sick day or two after that!

No head injuries in over half a century of cycling here.

Well that’s that then.

Argh, not the “I survived a crash therefore everyone MUST wear a helmet” thing again, **** off.

Apparently he also said that Linux was better than Windows, and that Teslas were inferior to most other EVs.

Nothing quite like having a doctor say ” you don’t remember me do you?” “Nope” ” The results of your cat scan and x-ray are fine,  do you remember having them” “nope” to make me wear a helmet every ride.

That was with a full dh carbon job on.

I think my shock damping went and spat me off, I’ve got no memory of half a day.

This was in a blue run I’d done 3 times a day as a warm up for a week.

I was very very glad to have to bin that helmet from that days ride.

I can’t imagine how hard Ramsey must have hit something to get that bruise!

Specialized Prevail II – that’s a huge hit to the back of the helmet…over the bars?

I split a Prevail in a 30kph crash on an icy/wet road.  Hit the front, right with enough force to flatten two structural bits and crack it on the leading edge.  But for 10-15mm of foam, that would’ve been my head on the road.

I’m no helmet evangelist but this is mine after a sudden stop courtesy of a Volvo/tarmac/bicycle interface. Broke my neck too so it did smart a bit.

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Apparently he also said that Linux was better than Windows

You’re missing the latter part of this quote which goes:

but since System D it’s gone downhill.

No head injuries in over half a century of cycling here.

the ones with traumatic brain injuries find it hard to type… 😉

There’s no decent reason for not wearing a helmet if you are cycling

Agreed.

While we’re at it, there’s no decent reason for not wearing a helmet while you are driving, walking, drinking alcohol, going up or down stairs, being old, etc.

Wearing a helmet while showering might be taking things a bit far.  Maybe take it off for washing your hair but put it back on straight away.

Wearing a helmet while showering might be taking things a bit far.

Definitely a full facer in the shower – club mate passed out in the shower* and hit his chin on the side of the bath on the way down.

*Concussion from sliding off on his commute

Definitely a full facer in the shower

You keep your specialist websites to yourself.

Broke my neck too so it did smart a bit.

Yikes. Hope you’re feeling better

There’s not a lot of nuance in the helmet/ no helmet discussion.
I’ve been saved from head injury several times because I was wearing a helmet and was hit by a car / truck / tree.
You’d be foolish not to wear one in a high danger situation like mountain biking on an actual mountain or riding on any road with car drivers.
I don’t wear one when I’m bimbling around fire roads listening to podcasts though. Low danger. I suspect the anti helmet brigade would have also railed against compulsory seat belts in the 70s.

or riding on any road with car drivers.

Or walking on a road with car drivers.  Or driving on a road with car drivers.  Basically any time you find yourself near a car driver you should be wearing a helmet.

I suspect the anti helmet brigade would have also railed against compulsory seat belts in the 70s.

Not really.

Those of us in the ‘anti-helmet brigade*’ generally like to look at things like data.  Helmet use doesn’t really show a statistically significant overall reduction in harm (once you take everything into account which is actually quite tricky).

Seatbelts don’t really have the same amount of noise in the data.  People don’t drive less because they are forced to wear a seatbelt and other drivers show no signs of taking more risks around other drivers they see as being strapped in.

Helmet compulsion definitely reduces the number of people riding bikes.  Helmet promotion may even reduce the number of people riding bikes (some data but not conclusive).  No matter which statistics you use, society is better off if more people are riding bikes.

The ‘pro-helmet brigade’ are like religious fundamentalists.  They have their magic polystyrene talisman of protection and insist that everyone else subscribe to their beliefs.

*soon to be designated a terrorist group.

…riding on any road with car drivers.
I don’t wear one when I’m bimbling around fire roads listening to podcasts though.

I ride perfectly happily on the busy SW London & Surrey roads without one it’s fine, I also manage just fine out on my cx bikes – because both are, to me, low risk. Your life , your choice seems like quite a reasonable perspective on helmet use.

I suspect the anti helmet brigade would have also railed against compulsory seat belts in the 70s.

The anti-helmet brigade – I didn’t realise it was an organised movement. It’s strange that those brigading and forcing their narrative, and anecdotes masquerading as statistical certainty  seem to be those in favour of helmet compulsion.

Should helmets be compulsory, no.

Is it sensible to wear one, yes.

Should helmets be compulsory, no.

Is it sensible to wear one, yes.

The problem is that if you continually say the second sentence with no context or nuance then the case for the first sentence gets stronger and stronger.

Interesting injury – mahoosive bruise and supposedly his helmet was in play. But no sign of any abrasions to hands, arms, face or body.