SpokEasy

At the Helm?

\"helmAt the helm sounds like sailing. I know this much, I wouldn\’t want to be at the helm in the conditions that we could get tomorrow! Again, severe T-storms are possible.

\”Helm\” is also German for \”helmet\”, which is how I got to thinking of helms, tillers, and sailboats. I had noticed that the helmet I\’ve had for about 18 months was too loose.

Why? It had seemed to fit before. Now that it\’s been warm enough sometimes for me not to need a skull cap, the helmet is too big. Maybe the ratchet was wearing out?

So, off to the bike shop. At present, customers aren\’t even being allowed inside. COVID-19 has infiltrated nearly everything! Someone had to bring a couple of helmets out for me to try on. While I was at the bike shop anyway, I got a tube of Chamois Butt\’r.

I decided to wear the new helmet to ride back home, but didn\’t have a way to cut off the tag. So there I was, riding along with the yellow MIPS tag dangling from my chin strap. It made me think of Minnie Pearl and her hat with the perpetual tag hanging from it.

OK, now I have a new helmet. What to do with the old one? I still have my hemet before that one for a spare. I don\’t like to throw helmets away, but I don\’t know what else to do.

Sunday is my usual long-ride day, but I\’m not so sure it would be wise to try one tomorrow. I\’ll see what the weather is doing in the morning. And next time I ride, I\’ll be wearing my new \”helm\”.