Tuesday 29 November 2016

Get On Your Bike

Cycling laws in the UK do not currently require you to wear a safety helmet and as I'm not a cyclist I don't feel its my place to comment on if this is a good or bad thing, the law that is, wearing a helmet just makes sense even if it provides a small percent of protection its just got to be worth it.


I have not really cycled since my school years, however a friend took up cycling and needing to get fit I decided it might be idea to give it a go so I bought a cheap bike and helmet and then quickly decided the roads a scary dangerous place for anyone on a bike.

I suggest all car drivers try it and they will give more room in the future when passing cyclists


The cycling helmet is basically a low speed shock absorber for your brain, they are not designed for high speed impacts to protect against object hitting them like some safety helmets. 

Evidence says cycling helmets have reduced head injuries somewhere between 18%  to 50% 

Those against helmets point to helmet strangulation from the straps and the fact helmeted riders take greater risks or look more competent to other road users so give them less space. These are all claims without evidence as far as I can see.


Made usually of expanded polystyrene or dense foam and then coated in plastic,straps and a liner are then added.





















Sunday 20 November 2016

Witchfinder Hat

So called witch finder hats are wide brimmed, with a tall flat topped tapered crown and with a large single buckle around the base of crown at the front.


The hat gets its name from the witch finder general Mathew Hopkins who hanged over 100 people accused of Witchcraft and can be seen wearing a hat of this shape in contemporary imagery.

Historically this shape of hat is a 17th Century hat style worn during the English Civil War and would have been made of felt.



The stiff dark leather witchfinder's hats you will find nowadays come from modern imagery and films.





The proportions have all been exaggerated in the hat I'm wearing. 


This is very heavy hat, but not uncomfortable to wear, you just have to remember your a bit taller and duck or you will lose the hat to low hanging branches or beams


Sunday 13 November 2016

Coonskin Cap

The coonskin cap was originally worn by native Americans but were adopted by some European colonists as hunting hats 



The hat is associated mainly due to film and folklore with Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, although according to Wikipedia the font of all knowledge Daniel Boone never wore a coonskin hat.


A real coonskin hat is made from the whole skin from raccoon, tail and all stretched over the head.


This reproduction was a gift from my mother when she visited Texas this Autumn, the label says Dan'l Boone Coonskin cap.


Why am I wearing fur inside, its too warm


I surrender


I need a bigger beard

Monday 7 November 2016

100th Hat Blogged

I've now blogged about 100 hats, so here is collage of the hats so far


I have plenty more to follow.