Snowball effects |
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Snow ? In the warm and beautifull after-summer in 2006 ? Septembre
2006 where the sun gives a last effort in an attempt to let us forget
that we live in a cold and wet land ? Snow ? It's not real snow. It is a story about snowball-effects, about one sentence can gets a live of it's own, a chain of events that lead towards..... But let's begin at the beginning |
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It starts snowing.... On a bright and sunny day I return from work, and because it was such a bright and sunny day I went on the Honda from Ede to Doorwerth. It's remarkeble : three system-administrators on the LKH, and we all ride motor. "A familiar look" says Joke, when I enter the livingroom. I don't get it, what's so familiar ? What ? |
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The first snow flakes fall on the slope.... Me, with my white helmet, my red CX500, my dark coat. Just as in the past, when I, without the extra kilo's, with my white helmet, a red CB200 and a dark coat rode through Bodegraven.  
1978 - 2006 I realize that the helmet is that old. It gives Joke a feeling about then... when everyting was more simple, in the old days...... I'm not so happy with the remark, I the 30 years that we know eachother I've changed, and not only in size, weight and hair color. I've grew in size, gain a few kilo's and the hair changed from dark to light-gray. So, I look the same as I used to do, on my bike. Can I change that ? I can paint the CX green or buy a white coat or change helmet ? Hmmmmm....different helmet....maybe..... |
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The flakes star to form a snowball... The computer is started and I go for a look on the Internet. I choose Marktplaats - Motoren en Brommers - Kleding en Helmen ( Marketplace, Motors and Mopeds, Clothing and Helmets) Helmet in abundancy, brands and sizes. But do I realy need another helmet ? I'm busy to find a screen on the CX, so my own helmet won't dance around my head as soon as I reach a speed higher than 90 Km/h In the past a windscreen was sufficient. Way back ...... in the days that I owned a CB200 or CB550k3 or CB400f. And why is a helmet of 20 or more year to be replacet ? My helmet is fine, I think. Yes, I think... Until I read the specification on a random helmet, and make a shocking discovery. |
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The snowball rolls from the slope...br> Looking back, yes, looking back I knew. There is of course a recommended maximum lifespan for a helmet. Sure. But I forgot that the lifespan is five years, or less, if the helmet is a lesser quality. And I forgot that a helmet, even is it bounced from the kitchen table can obtain some invisible structural damage. And this helmet was fallen, many times, when it was a toy for the children, or during moving or ..... The fitting is not great, as is shown by the fact that it is very loose on my head. |
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The snowball rolls faster and faster... And now this imaginairy snowbal is to big to overlook. My helmet is way to old, and that can have some nasty consequences, when on one day, one very bad day, the helmet must do what is is meant to do : Protect my head. And as a result of this imaginairy snowball I go on a friday afternoon to a newly opened motorshop THV motoren in Veenendaal to find a new helmet. After trying differend brands and sizes I choose a L-60 helmet from Caberg. Sure, I want to have an system helmet, but that is way over budget. I put the helmet on, and make a testride. I had a 1 kilometre testride in mind, but it became a ride of four or five kilometres.  The old and the new on the counter at THV motoren There is a big differance between the old and new helmet. This new one is warmer, as a result of the way it enclosures my head. And it sit solid. This helmet does not seems to have a will of its own, but follows the movement of my head. And the sound of the CX is drasticly changed..... |
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Bigger and bigger grows the snowball.... On the way back to home I pass the viaduct of the A30. I haven't tried it before, but with this new helmet, can I....... ? I turn left, up the A30. Behing a row of cars to the highway. When the whole row of cars slows down for a truck, I do what I would do if I was driving a car. Throttle up, blinker on, and without any effort I pass the whole row. Just as it's written in the books. I go 100 Km/h, and without any scarry lifting of a helmet. That's good, let's take the next step. Carefully I turn my right hand, and the Honda responce willingly. The speedometer points 110 km/h. And still no problems, no troubles, no helmets flying around. The next level is the allowed top speed, 120 Km/h. A few minutes later the needle points toward 120 Km/h. And it goes great! I enjoy the 120 km/h, and way to soon the exit Lunteren appeares. I leave the highway, go left, under the road, then left again, and ride the same stretch of road again, back to Ede. This time I stay at 110 Km/h. The helmet stays steady on my head. |
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The snowball comes to a halt with a bang!.... At home I place the motor on his own parking space. According to Joke I look different now. When I think about the stretch of highway that I drove on, I only can come to the conclusion that the problem riding at high speed was a problem of material, the helmet, and nothing else. Now with this helmet a few km's of highway, with that speed, is not such a big problem. It's a shock, to realize that the helmet, wich I depend on, was the cause of my problem. I don't need a fairing or windscreen, a good helmet is sufficient. |