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Shield Your Eyes Around String Trimmers

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Shield Your Eyes Around String Trimmers

Old 05-23-21, 11:24 PM
  #1  
rsbob 
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Shield Your Eyes Around String Trimmers

Was doing a ride and past three guys weed whacking with their backs to me on the side of the road. Past the first two with no issue, but the third one threw a rock into my right cheek adjacent to my cycling glasses. Hit me so hard I was surprised it didn’t break the skin. Was extremely lucky it didn’t go behind my glasses and hit me in the eye. In the future when passing the same or a county mower on the side of the road, I will use my right hand to shield the side of my face especially by my eye.
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Old 05-24-21, 04:07 AM
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I swing as far left (US centric...) as possible, and turn my head away when I'm passing anyone mowing their lawn or whacking their weeds - and give out a Thanks wave whenever they see me and are nice enough to stop until I pass.

I know how far stuff gets flung when I'm mowing/whacking!

That's one advantage of using GPS bike computer on organized group rides vs. relying on the markings they paint on the roads: someone mowing their lawn and spraying the clippings over the road markings doesn't cause you to miss a turn!
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Old 05-24-21, 04:12 AM
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in the history of the weed wackers, how many eyes have they put out?

i was riding and shielded my eyes too. the problem is the weed wacker man cannot hear you and dont know you are there. they oblivious and keep wacking. i hate to image someone not aware and losing an eye.

Last edited by mtb_addict; 05-24-21 at 04:18 AM.
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Old 05-24-21, 04:19 AM
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Ah Japan, where they are considerate enough to have an extra dude who carries a screen to stop stuff flying on to the road. Also helps they tend to use metal blades with teeth, which don't throw around as much crap.
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Old 05-24-21, 05:36 AM
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Have always moved over and turned slightly away >> COMMON SENSE << and certainly wave to the person who halts their actions JUST AS I DO for walkers, bikers and even vehicles.
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Old 05-24-21, 06:10 AM
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I find the blowers are worse
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Old 05-24-21, 07:18 AM
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Most of the time, those I pass using gardening machines stop when they see me. I always try to turn away and move over if I can although I've felt some things hit me a few times.
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Old 05-24-21, 07:22 AM
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avoid blowers, trimmers and mowers if possible, and look away
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Old 05-24-21, 07:23 AM
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some people seem to get a kick from mowing, blowing, or trimming right down to the road, exactly as you are passing
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Old 05-24-21, 08:48 AM
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Originally Posted by rsbob
Was doing a ride and past three guys weed whacking with their backs to me on the side of the road. Past the first two with no issue, but the third one threw a rock into my right cheek adjacent to my cycling glasses. Hit me so hard I was surprised it didn’t break the skin. Was extremely lucky it didn’t go behind my glasses and hit me in the eye. In the future when passing the same or a county mower on the side of the road, I will use my right hand to shield the side of my face especially by my eye.
Just another reason to wear cycling glasses while riding.
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Old 05-24-21, 10:36 AM
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We're out riding one day and three operators in olive-drab uniforms are testing Proton Blasters from Ghostbusters and suddenly one fires at us and my friend disappears in a flash of smoke and we never saw him again. This is another reason that riding on the road is so dangerous. Everyone should wear lead aprons while riding.
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Old 05-24-21, 11:15 AM
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Originally Posted by mtb_addict
in the history of the weed wackers, how many eyes have they put out?

i was riding and shielded my eyes too. the problem is the weed wacker man cannot hear you and dont know you are there. they oblivious and keep wacking. i hate to image someone not aware and losing an eye.
Probably the biggest issue with weed whackers is hearing damage. I rarely see people wearing earplugs while operating those things.
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Old 05-24-21, 12:24 PM
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Most of the time, the equipment operators are primarily paying attention to the operation of their equipment, and not collateral traffic tangentially passing the work area. While you should be aware of your surroundings while operating powered landscaping equipment, it’s also on the passers-by not to unnecessarily encroach on the work space.

An old MTB trick (also works on puddles and splash hazards) is to close your near-side eye, and turn your head away about 20-30* degrees so that your nose ‘shadows’ your open eye.
Works surprisingly well, even without glasses.
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Old 05-24-21, 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by dedhed
I find the blowers are worse
They are, but I've seen an unusual degree of courtesy lately. When the operator sees me coming they stop for a moment so they don't blast me. I tip my hat to them as I pass to thank them.
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Old 05-24-21, 02:09 PM
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Yep. This needed a thread.
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Old 05-24-21, 02:49 PM
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Lawn sprinklers that aren't aimed well [intentionally?] are a problem too. Some folks pull water from a non treated source & who knows what is spitting out of those.
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Old 05-24-21, 02:51 PM
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Originally Posted by dmanthree
They are, but I've seen an unusual degree of courtesy lately. When the operator sees me coming they stop for a moment so they don't blast me. I tip my hat to them as I pass to thank them.
could end up as an insurance claim if they are not careful with the work they're doing.
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Old 05-24-21, 02:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Flip Flop Rider
avoid blowers, trimmers and mowers if possible, and look away
...and welders. Look away.
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Old 05-24-21, 03:01 PM
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Originally Posted by dmanthree
They are, but I've seen an unusual degree of courtesy lately. When the operator sees me coming they stop for a moment so they don't blast me. I tip my hat to them as I pass to thank them.
You should swap your hat for a proper bike helmet. Otherwise, chapeau!
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Old 05-24-21, 03:25 PM
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It's common sense to exercise some extra caution whenever passing people who are using various types of landscaping equipment....and wearing safety glasses is always a good idea too.
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Old 05-24-21, 03:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Fahrenheit531
Yep. This needed a thread.
Just wait until all the lawyers and legal experts on this forum start posting.
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Old 05-24-21, 03:32 PM
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Maybe you need a plastic Jesus riding on the handle bars.
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Old 05-24-21, 03:53 PM
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THIS is why I wear safety glasses when riding.
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Old 05-24-21, 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted by AdkMtnMonster
You should swap your hat for a proper bike helmet. Otherwise, chapeau!
Hey, my hat is a helmet! Fairly new, too, since I needed a new one two year ago. If not for that one, well...
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Old 05-24-21, 06:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Troul
could end up as an insurance claim if they are not careful with the work they're doing.
If that's the case, fine. As long as I don't get blasted.
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