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New School BMX 2004 - Now => New School Park, Street & Dirt => Topic started by: oldschool rider on November 16, 2008, 09:26 AM

Title: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: oldschool rider on November 16, 2008, 09:26 AM
Just seen on the SNAFU website that Mike Aitken walked himself out of hospital (How cool is that) he still has a major struggle ahead of him but he hopes to be riding again by the spring, He says his riding will be different coz he's gonna wear a helmet !!

I personally think that due to the level of riding nowadays that "REAL HELMETS" not PISSPOTS should be worn period, I also agree with the article when it says that if more of the pro riders wore full faced helmets that the kids would follow, so to all you pros out there set a good example and wear a real helmet.
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: lazychubs on November 16, 2008, 01:42 PM
thats great news glad hes on the mend
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: muttley on November 17, 2008, 09:12 AM
 :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: Midlife! on November 18, 2008, 08:36 AM
On the news. Scroll down a couple of inches.

http://www.mikeaitken.com/blog/?id=54&showEntry=1
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: JT71 on November 18, 2008, 09:11 AM
good to see him on the mend.

what's the deal with pro riders and lids then?

are they compulsory in comps, like X-Games and Dew Tour? they always seem to wear them then, but when it comes to making videos
then lids seem to very often be missing.

is it the riders choice, vanity or pressure from the film makers/sponsors to look better or cooler?
I would be suprised if sponsors didn't want their riders to waer lids as it's one of the most visible areas for stickers. 

for me my helmet is as important as my bike, I gotta wear it, though I must admit I didn't wear one for the london cruise, which did make me nervous when we were in amongst the traffic.





Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: jedi on November 18, 2008, 09:13 AM
makes me laugh to see riders putting knee/shin pads on but no lid!
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: Midlife! on November 18, 2008, 09:23 AM
It's not cool. But then neither is brain damage.

On bmx zone some kid came on and asked how to man up because he was scared of smashing his head in trying new tricks. Took a few replys before someone told the little prick to wear a lid!!!

The Aitken incident is at least getting them talking about wearing one. But if they do they say some of the other riders take the piss.

There needs to be more top line riders seen wearing them. If you make money from any sport then like it or not you are an influence and have a responsibility. I don't care how rad someone is, if they make a vid with no lid they are a d1ck head.
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: jedi on November 18, 2008, 09:27 AM
skaters get more cash for pics in mags if they wear no lid!
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: SaMAlex on November 18, 2008, 09:40 AM

Its a fact that if you do a trick, in shorts, no shirt, no pads, no lid .... it DOES look cooler.
Its wrong, but its a FACT, and at the end of the day most riders want to look as good as posible, esp if someone is paying them for it.
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: jedi on November 18, 2008, 09:44 AM
i have to disagree with ya there alex  :(
the trick is whats cool.the rider just thinks he/she is
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: SaMAlex on November 18, 2008, 09:48 AM
Thats fine Jedi, you dont have to agree. Cos it aint you and me who most companies are aiming their products at. Its kids, who dont know better.

It maybe that if everone rode in full face lids they would be cool (remember the 80s?), but its still always cooler to have a "dont give a f**k" attitude. And not just in BMX.
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: JT71 on November 18, 2008, 09:56 AM
Thats fine Jedi, you dont have to agree. Cos it aint you and me who most companies are aiming their products at. Its kids, who dont know better.

It maybe that if everone rode in full face lids they would be cool (remember the 80s?), but its still always cooler to have a "dont give a f**k" attitude. And not just in BMX.

and if Alex always wore lids we wouldn't see them cool haircuts on old pics and vids.
 :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol:
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: SaMAlex on November 18, 2008, 09:58 AM

It worries me seeing old footage of me riding without a helmet.
Even if its just a piss pot, Im never without it now.  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: JT71 on November 18, 2008, 10:01 AM

It worries me seeing old footage of me riding without a helmet.
Even if its just a piss pot, Im never without it now.  :daumenhoch:

but you are right, pics old do look cool, would they be less cool with a lid? I dunno, but the facial expressions would be the same
especially in that 24" test.

 :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol:
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: oldschool rider on November 18, 2008, 10:48 AM
I just read that another kid fooked himself......Chris Childs (DK) was in his words "not doing anything very difficult" He was doing a busdriver when he slammed on to his face hard and now has a fractured eye socket and nose, he woke up 3 hrs later in hospital, would this of happened if he was wearing a real helmet ??????? maybe or maybe not but he wouldn't have knocked himself out for 3 hrs i don't think. However they show a pic of him riding before the accident and he is wearing head gear..........

























A FOOKIN WOOLY HAT and we all know how wool protects our heads.     :idiot2:
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: pickle on November 18, 2008, 10:50 AM
i just can't ride without a lid.........even being pants i still can't do it.  it's like being/driving a car without your seatbelt on....it just feels wrong
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: TwoBobRob on November 19, 2008, 05:52 AM
I can feel I'm in the minority here, but  I personally think its all relative.  I don't like pisspot helmets, I don't believe they offer very much protection at all.  I wear a full face motocross lid (an expensive one) when I ride vert.  Not just to look after my noggin, but because it helps with my confidence and the tunnel vision that you need for vert.  I'm not a very good vert rider at all, but I'd be hopeless without a lid.

But, in a public park or riding mini ramp where you look down a lot more than you think, I believe a fullface is a hindrance. In a public park you need all your periferal vision and your ears, if you're not going to run people over, especially skaters.  When riding mini  (again, I'm not that good - I'm not airing or pulling spine variations etc)  a fullface restricts your vision a little too much for my liking. That, and the attitude change makes for a lot of slams in my case - anyone who's ever seen me forced to wear my lid when riding mini will tell you how much time I spend on the floor...

Which leaves me with a dilemma.  I won't wear a pisspot because I don't agree with them, and fullfaces make me slam  (apart from vert).  I could wear a motorcycle openface lid like Dave Friemuth used to which would protect my skull, but the faceplant risk is just the same as a pisspot and the broken neck risk is higher.

So for now at least I'll be using my old tried and trusted technique of self preservation.

And we haven't even spoken about street rding.  Arguable THE most dangerous riding of all.  But if you think street riders are going to start wearing fullfaces, you're deluded  :)

Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: lodge on November 19, 2008, 06:58 AM
Some good points Rob, but surely a pisspot lid offers more protection than no lid and you barely know you have them on.
You could easily crack the back of your head on the coping of a mini ramp and know i would rather have a pisspot on than nothing.
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: TwoBobRob on November 19, 2008, 07:16 AM
I know mate, it's a fair point.  Trouble is, I think that pisspots transmit more shock than they absorb.  I may well be wrong now, I know they're being developed all the time.

Actually, some ski/snowboard lids look ok.  They're designed to protect you specifically against ice and rocks. Bit like concrete I suppose?   Might look a bit gay in a skatepark though  :-\
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: lodge on November 19, 2008, 07:22 AM
Yeah I have seen those snowboard lids they do look nice ,I wouldn't worry about the gay thing theres plenty of riders at the skatepark with there jeans down and there undies on full display. :2funny:
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: JT71 on November 19, 2008, 07:53 AM
Rob do you wear a lid when you snowboard?

I wear my Pro-tec snowboard p1ss pot with the ear pads taken out for riding bmx, i have noticed I'm the only perosn wearing a lid with a google retainer.


Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: TwoBobRob on November 19, 2008, 08:14 AM
No, no lid when boarding.  I'm thinking of trying one this coming season.
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: Zippy on November 19, 2008, 09:00 AM
Totally agree with Rob on this one. For racing it's a full face all the way, wouldn't ride round a track without one.

However when I was at Rom many moons ago I was riding the little wooden mini ramp and I found it better to ride with no helmet. I think a pisspot would have been better but I had much better awareness than I did when I had my full face on.
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: reay900tap on November 20, 2008, 08:08 AM
ah'hum.. right prob gona get some stick now, got pulled up on this the other day at creation,

I don't wear a lid, not because it ain't cool, or people may take the pizz but because it puts me off and cause's me to fall, I find them very very irritating, infact so much so I avoid going to parks wear you have to have them.. most people I ride with give me sh*t for not wearing one, so I'm not to sure about it being 'not cool'.. I think lazyness comes into it more...

que the 'how stupid are you Ray replys'
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: JT71 on November 20, 2008, 08:16 AM
YEAH RAY. how stupid are you?

 :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol:

but that funky little cap will hold your brains in.  :daumenhoch:

Corby today?
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: reay900tap on November 20, 2008, 02:12 PM
YEAH RAY. how stupid are you?

 :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol:

but that funky little cap will hold your brains in.  :daumenhoch:

Corby today?

mate I wish I could do corby today,but I've got sh*t to get sorted, I'll try and get sorted for the next session :daumenhoch: keep me posted on gmail brv
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: Midlife! on November 20, 2008, 06:30 PM
I know mate, it's a fair point.  Trouble is, I think that pisspots transmit more shock than they absorb.  I may well be wrong now, I know they're being developed all the time.

You are wrong mate.

If I did not have my 'piss pot' on first week back into BMX I would have left some of my skull on the crete floor at Higgs when all I did was drop in.

I hit the floor hard with my head and as it was sliding along the floor I was thinking how fortunate I was to have picked it up earlier that week. Not even a headache.

I've had around 30 stitches in my head over the years and I reckon it would have been at least 10 more for the collection  ::)

As it is, only my lid shows the battle scar, and I can buy a new one of them  :daumenhoch:



Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: JT71 on November 21, 2008, 02:17 PM
I know mate, it's a fair point.  Trouble is, I think that pisspots transmit more shock than they absorb.  I may well be wrong now, I know they're being developed all the time.

You are wrong mate.

If I did not have my 'piss pot' on first week back into BMX I would have left some of my skull on the crete floor at Higgs when all I did was drop in.

I hit the floor hard with my head and as it was sliding along the floor I was thinking how fortunate I was to have picked it up earlier that week. Not even a headache.

I've had around 30 stitches in my head over the years and I reckon it would have been at least 10 more for the collection  ::)

As it is, only my lid shows the battle scar, and I can buy a new one of them  :daumenhoch:





that was nasty...i thought you'd done some damage even with your lid on.  :daumenhoch:

but now you are a master of the 'crete.

Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: RADHAB on November 21, 2008, 02:29 PM
Great news about Mike. :daumenhoch:

And the great crash helmet debate carries on..........In competition, headprotection should be worn whether thats full face or p1sspot thats up to the individual........and that my fellow radsters is how its been for 25years!

You'll all be saying that we should wear rigid carbon kevlar composite body armour and steel toe cap boots and not jump anything over 24 inches or ride any ramps over he height of 365 cms!!!!! the reason this country is so fcuked is because of bl00dy people who take away people freedom of choice! let people ride how they want to ride and wear what they want to wear, if everytime someone has an accident and breaks a bone we then decide they werent wearing the correct safety gear this sport would turn to sh1t again.....remember the BFA??? yep, just a memory now.....THANK god!

Mike and all the other guys we here about are all professionals and fully understand the risks they take, as we all do the minute we put foot to pedal, thats the way the cookie crumbles guys and gals.
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: Midlife! on November 21, 2008, 07:43 PM
Great news about Mike. :daumenhoch:

And the great crash helmet debate carries on..........In competition, headprotection should be worn whether thats full face or p1sspot thats up to the individual........and that my fellow radsters is how its been for 25years!

You'll all be saying that we should wear rigid carbon kevlar composite body armour and steel toe cap boots and not jump anything over 24 inches or ride any ramps over he height of 365 cms!!!!! the reason this country is so fcuked is because of bl00dy people who take away people freedom of choice! let people ride how they want to ride and wear what they want to wear, if everytime someone has an accident and breaks a bone we then decide they werent wearing the correct safety gear this sport would turn to sh1t again.....remember the BFA??? yep, just a memory now.....THANK god!

Mike and all the other guys we here about are all professionals and fully understand the risks they take, as we all do the minute we put foot to pedal, thats the way the cookie crumbles guys and gals.

I am God to my kids cos they are young and they are proud to wear their lids even when outside the front of the house!

As they get older I will look way uncool and they will look up to the pros. I could not give a fukin monkeys about freedom or crumbling cookies when it comes to them giving themselves a better chance of avoiding brain damage in the inevitable spills of any extreme type of sport. I do not want them to not enjoy the cooler things in life but just use some precaution.

My job as a father would be made much easier if those people who are paid to make vids etc. took some time to think about the influence they have on the up and coming. If anyone thinks that all pros wearing lids would not have an influence on the kids riding now then they are seriously underestimating how fashion led BMX has become. Probably good money to be made in signature lids too.

It won't happen though. So I will keep praising my boys for grabbing that lid without prompting before they even grab their bikes.

CONFESSION - when not with the boys and in the street I do not wear a lid! Why? - well, it's just not cool is it  :uglystupid2: (as if a bald 39 year old on a kids bike is LOL)

It could be cool to wear a helmet though. Until then I am as big a twat as the next man.

Sorry - rant over dudes. Peace to all  :)


Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: RADHAB on November 21, 2008, 10:00 PM
Good for you Pal...............Its all about freedom of choice and i'm glad you conscribe to it :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: macky on November 22, 2008, 09:52 AM

Great new about Mike Aitken!!

If all the top pro's started wearing full face helmets... all the kids would follow!!

and the X games showing the street contest were NO-ONE wore helmets was just irresponsible!!

the amount of kids who would have watched that and followed suit!!

You'll see more riders in full face helmets soon!!

Title: Re: Mike Aitken Update
Post by: Longun on November 24, 2008, 09:15 PM
I don't wear a lid, not because it ain't cool, or people may take the pizz but because it puts me off and cause's me to fall, I find them very very irritating, infact so much so I avoid going to parks wear you have to have them.. most people I ride with give me sh*t for not wearing one, so I'm not to sure about it being 'not cool'.. I think lazyness comes into it more...

I can totally understand that. The only time I ever used to wear a lid bitd was at race meetings and it always felt horrible and had a detrimental effect on my riding. As a result I still rarely wear a helmet irrespective of what bike I'm riding (inc commuting across London). If people want to wear them great but I'm not going to start wearing one now unless I feel that I'm putting myself in a position where it might help (riding Saffy being a good example)
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