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which I just thought was taboo, not a crime.

About time Japan's Finest do something about those half-naked sumo guys too! ;)

In my view, Japanese tradition is very different from current regulations, witness not just sumo and various shrine festivals but also Edo era depictions of workmen in loincloths and nudity in public baths (sento), phallic symbols at certain shrines, etc. With Westernization in Meiji era came a nasty Victorian streak and despite all that talk about Japanese pornography, in many ways Japan is still stuck in the 1950s.
 
The assistant mayor of Utsunomiya dies in a cycling race....


As I read it, he was the assistant mayor of the "city" of Yūki (Ibaraki). Regardless, I'm sorry to read of this. My sympathies to his family.

(When thirsty yesterday, I managed to squirt water from my bottle straight into my windpipe. My life didn't flash before me; instead, a newspaper headline did: "Dead white European male cyclist drowning mystery". Cough splutter spit; I was OK.)
 
And he just dropped over without any visible trauma, gotta suspect a heart or brain attack. RIP sir.
 
Heat stroke will be high on my list.
 
The 'invisible' air-bag style bicycle helmet - crash test dummies



Any thoughts? I've tried one on, and found it to be really hot (around the neck) after just a couple of minutes.

The mannequin rather resembles microcord's crashing style... splat first/react later.
 
The mannequin rather resembles microcord's crashing style... splat first/react later.

I hope I don't seem to boast when I say it's rather a good style. I tried it out a third time just three days ago: excellent results. True, a fourth time I may "break my fall" (and my jaw) on a guardrail or similar. But as long as I stay in the Tokyo area rather than in, say, Paris or London, I'm unlikely to land on doggy-do.
 
I did the "object in front wheel" flip once--new to V-brakes and a school kid cut in front of me. I came down on my hands and don't think i even hit my head.

I'd think a standard helmet might be better when hitting something that's not flat--a windshield wiper, a door handle, a curb, or a railing.
 
The 'invisible' air-bag style bicycle helmet - crash test dummies



Any thoughts? I've tried one on, and found it to be really hot (around the neck) after just a couple of minutes.

The mannequin rather resembles microcord's crashing style... splat first/react later.

Looks like this does protect the neck as well as the head, so I guess this could have saved me in my last crash? Though in our heat probably heatstroke would get me first...
 
Cycling gets £94m push in England

A number of English cities and national parks are to share a £94m cash injection to promote cycling.
Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle, Bristol, Cambridge, Oxford and Norwich will share £77m, with four national parks getting a further £17m.
The money is to improve existing and fund new cycle routes. The government says it also wants to cut red tape to facilitate cyclist-friendly planning.
more (bbc news)
 
The word you were looking for was "pedalling"! ;)
 
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