Charity Bike Ride - Compulsory Helmet

[threebikesmcginty]

My work has organised a bike ride to raise funds for a charity it supports.

I said I'd take part, even though after years of pestering they refused to take part in the C2W scheme (thanks for your help with the facts and figures Norm) so we have to do the ride on bikes paid for by ourselves and not helped out in any way by The Man.

Just noticed yesterday that Rule No1 is compulsory helmet wearing. I questioned the rationale behind this as I don't wear a helmet and was told it was for safety reasons and to minimise risk.

Now, this isn't a helmet good thing/helmet waste of time debate for me - not interested in that part of it, but am I being childish in thinking I don't want to do the ride if I have to wear a helmet? That's how I feel about it, not childish but that I don't want to do the ride.

 

[2Loose]

Nope, I felt the same when the entry form for the Great Notts Ride made a statement about helmets.
A quick phone call and I found they were not compulsory, so I did the ride after all, but I don't think I would ridden if they had been.

 

[ianrauk]

Your thinking is fair enough Ed. Not childish at all.
They want your time, effort and sponsorship money then they can work it your way... or the highway.

 

[PoweredByVeg]

I am sooooo pro helmets, but even I would have told them to shove it up their arse in your case :-)

Our company's like yours, so I see where you're coming from.

As for the charity aspect, next time you see a charity box, pop something in

 

[snorri]

You could express your reservations to the organisers, tell them you haven't got a helmet and rather than buy one for the event, offer to add the cost of a helmet to the sponsorship monies you raise.

 

[SquareDaff]

Is it an insurance issue? I.e. are work insuring the event?

 

[TrevorM]

I agree with you. I registered for a charity ride last year because it was the only one I could find where helmets were 'recommended' but not compulsory.
5 days before the event they changed their mind and made them compulsory. I complained about the lateness of the change but they wouldn't budge.
So I withdrew and they returned my registration fee.

 

[Durian]

If I was in the same position I wouldn't bother with the ride.

 

[the snail]

I think in that situation I would bite my tongue and wear a helmet in order to participate, support the charity and perhaps encourage colleagues to get on their bikes. Then again maybe I would just say f*** it - I totally understand your attitude.

 

[frank9755]

I'd pull out, stating why.

While compromise is great, if you just go along with something that you resent you'll never feel good about it, and about the fact that your acquiescence implies support.

 

[amaferanga]

Its their ride and therefore they make the rules. If you don't like it don't ride.

(FWIW I don't usually wear a helmet, but I do to race cos thems the rules)

 

[Moodyman]

Your thinking is fair enough Ed. Not childish at all.
They want your time, effort and sponsorship money then they can work it your way... or the highway.

Agree, especially as they'll likely to use the efforts of the participants to get them some browny points - Corporate Social responsibility and all that.

 

[Chris S]

Just turn up and don't wear a helmet. If anybody raises any objections then ask them if they want to lose your sponsorship money - it should be enough to make them change their minds.

 

[Chris.IOW]

Its their ride and therefore they make the rules. If you don't like it don't ride.

Well said. I had to endure a barrel load of abuse from someone who turned up for a sportive without a Helmet. The event sets the rules, we all have to endure rules we don't like at various times. If you feel that strongly don't ride.

 

[Alien8]

The event sets the rules, we all have to endure rules we don't like at various times.

"If we had no rules where would we be? France! If we had too many rules where would we be? Germany!"

The Pub Landlord