I am just recalling something for this topic that happened to me some years ago that prevented me
from ever wearing a full face helmet again.
A little background music please maestro...
I have been riding since 1974 and have had over 35 m/cycles to date. I started off wearing a second hand
open face helmet that a racing car driver friend gave to me in the 70's. It was red so you just looked fast the
moment you donned it.
I quickly progressed to a full face job after feeling that I needed to at least look the part following several bike
upgrades to my first BMW. A piece of crap, the R65, looked good and I thought that wearing my first full face
helmet would make it a little bit better. As it turned out the full face helmet was the better part of the combination.
The bike was horrible.
A succession of bikes followed (yes, yes, I'm slowly getting to the point) and I persisted with the full face because
of it's superior protection and simply that I was now totally comfortable in wearing it.
About 10 years ago this all changed. I had tonsilitis for the first time in my life and it was not nice at all. I was initially
worried that it was something more sinister until the Doctor reassured me it was only tonsilitis and that it would soon
run it's course.
However, it was severe, and it was as if I had to physically inhale and exhale every breath manually. If I tried to relax
and just breath normally I found momentarily that my breathing would stop. I was petrified to go to sleep and this
triggered an anxiety attack that resulted in me now suffering claustraphobia.
From that moment on I haven't been able to wear a full face helmet, no mater how many I try, the anxiety/panic sets in
straight away.
So, open face helmets it is for me. Funny how something simple like this comes along yet can have far reaching consequences
in your life.
But then again that's life in general isn't it?
cheers and happy travels,
Wayne
