Carbon Trace

What do you do with your bike helmet when you arrive at your destination (assuming the destination requires that you keep it in your possession)?

I wear mine like a hat.

Now I’ve had students tell me that’s a huge fashion faux pas. I tell them I’m not out to impress anyone with my looks, and, besides, one of the perks of being an academic is that people kind of expect you to be a bit odd.

Wearing the helmet instead of stashing it in my backpack (always with me when I ride) also allows the people I encounter to ask: “Do you ride a bike?” They know the answer. They’re aren’t looking for an answer. What they want to know is why I ride or how I manage it. Some are even looking for encouragement to do it themselves. So I always answer: “Yes. I ride most of the time. In fact, I’ve cut my driving down to once every couple of weeks.”

And then the conversation begins.

The conversation is the point. It’s the thing. The helmet makes it possible. No one is afraid to talk to a guy wearing a bike helmet because, I assume somewhat fancifully, they figure there’s no way they can be any weirder than I am. I must be safe to talk to.

I rode to Bass Pro Shops today. I’m a regular customer. I enjoy numerous outdoor sports–especially fishing. I needed to get a promotional hat made for Carbon Trace–low profile, canvas, environmentalist green.

You don’t see many people walking around Bass Pro with bike helmets. Today was a big day for people asking me about biking. Four askers. And two of those engaged me in fairly extensive conversation. Excellent.

I think I’ve noticed more people asking me about biking lately. So now that I’m writing Carbon Trace as a commuter biking resource, I think I’ll need to be better prepared. Would it be too weird to give out Carbon Trace business cards while wearing my helmet?

Technorati Tags: bicycle commuting