N_C

Let's make a list of excuses we have heard or perhaps even used ourselves for not wearing a helmet. I know we have all heard them or maybe even used some of them to justify not wearing a helmet. As far as I'm concerned no excuse is legitimate or even viable to not wear a helmet. After we have a list made up in this thread I am going to take it and try to have it posted in my local newspaper and at the bike shops here in town. After you post the excuse you have heard also post the appropriate response to it.

I am the RIDE RIGHT coordinator for my local area so it is my responsobility to help educate people on the imprtance of wearing a helmet while riding.

I'll start:

Excuse: I only ride on rec. trails, not in the street with traffic so I feel I don't need to wear a helmet.
Response: A cyclist can sustain a head injury even on a rec. or bike trail. There are things along the trail that if a person impacts with their head can cause serious injury or even death. While it is the popular belief motor vehicles are not the main cause of head injuries while riding on the street. They may have something to do with a cyclists having an accident but the cyclist often impacts his or her head on something other then a vehicle.

Excuse: I only ride on limestone or soft surface trails so a helmet is not needed for me.
Response: While a limestone or soft surface material trail is softer then a concrete or asphalt trail there are still things along the trail that can cause serious injury or death if a helmet is not worn. Trees, rocks, dead logs, ets just to name a few.

Excuse: A helmet will mess up my hair so I don't want to wear a helmet.
Response: Which is more important a messed up hair-do or a protected head? Which would you rather have, messed up hair or having to re-learn the alphabet or how to walk all over again because you were more concerned with the way your hair looked rather then protecting your head with a helmet?

These are just a few that I can think of right now. Please come up with some more excuses you have heard and the response to it. And even come up with a differant response to what I posted here or what others will post.

Finally, I also encourage others here to take this list we will all help create to your local paper & bike shops.

Thank you.

John

rykoala

My head gets hot and sweaty under a helmet, and I don't like the restricted feeling.

I ride because I am poor and can't afford to drive my car very much, let alone the $$ for a helmet.

No, I don't ride a helmet and the above is real.

That being said, when I have some more $$, I will be buying the best helmet I can afford.

N_C

rykoala, granted a helmet does cost some money. But believe it or not you can get a helmet for around $10.00 to $20.00. They can be found at your local discount stores such as Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc. Since you don't drive your car much, take the money you are saving from not buying gas and go buy a helmet. Hell it probably costs you more to fill up your tank then it would to buy a new helmet.

You can try them on in the store, just take them out of the box to do so. If the sotre employees give you any grief over it just tell them you need to try them on for fit & comfort so you make sure you buy the right one.

One final piece of advice: When you try the helmets on have your hair at the lenght you intend on having it when you ride & if you're going to wear a head band or do-rag under your helmet make sure you have that with you too to make sure the fit is correct.

SchreiberBike

How about: I live in the world and every decision I make involves some element of risk, some great some small. In my judgment I am willing to accept the risk of occasionally riding my bike without my helmet.

Or better yet, how about we don't start another thread on helmets.

Let's try and maintain some control here and learn from every other thread on helmets. No one learns anything. No one changes their mind. People post rude remarks. Feelings get hurt. Nothing is accomplished.

Maybe I've just got a bad attitude today because I've got pain in my better knee and can't ride.

noisebeam

I bought a $25 Schwinn helmet at Target that I use everyday (before I was certain I would be riding as much as I do). Its a bit bulkier and less stylish than the high dollar ones and its vents are a joke, but it is comfortable. As to heat I wear it every day in 105degF plus weather with no particular head heat issues (very low humidity which helps). I do hope to get a better vented helmet as tempuratures start to exceed 110degF.

Al

markm109

That is fine if you are single, no kids, no parents and no living relatives. I sure wouldn't want to take care of a relative that was riding and fell off their bike, hit their head, suffered brain damage and now has the mentality of a 5 year old. Don't put that responsibility on others - take care of yourself and don't selfish.

My wife and son don't like wearing helmets either - if they ride with me they must, I make them and the above argument is hard to get around. It doesn't matter you're the best rider, etc, etc, accidents happen, that's why they call them accidents.

My son was walking up to the house after school 6 weeks ago, looking off into the back yard and stepped into a soft piece of ground (gopher tunnel) just before getting onto the pavement. He had paper and mail in the left arm so he put his right arm out to catch his fall, landing the right wrist on the pavement. He broke both bones in his arm just above his wrist. Stupid accident, he wasn't running or anything. Accidents happen. Do make others pay for your accidents / mistakes.

I picked up decent well ventilated helments from Performance (prior year model clearance) for 50% off. A few bucks is cheap compared to hospital bills or a lifetime of disability. Protect the brain, even if you don't think you have one.

Mark

markm109

Sorry, got off the subject there.

THERE IS NO GOOD EXCUSE. WEAR A HELMET.

Wearing it is not to protect you - it's to protect others from what could happen to you.

Mark

operator

Riding around the neighbourhood I see many people not wearing helmets when biking. Mostly I see very young kids chaperoned by their parents on the sidewalk. Most of the times if they are wearing a helmet, they are improperly worn (helmet tipped back, not secured properly etc).

At my high school, out of say 20-40 bikers in the summer (i'm the only nut that bikes all year when tons of snow accumulate in the trail) only 1 or 2 wear a helmet, including me.

It's not so much of an excuse than more of what everyone else is doing. No one else is wearing a helmet, if I wear one I will be uncool. I don't buy into that stuff. If you fall and hit your head - we all pay for it (that is if you don't die).

Trab

How about: I don't wear a helmet to spite annoying self-appointed safety monitors.

noisebeam

Helmet use is clearly touchy subject. If one searches around one can find endless debates.

But I did want to comment on the 'appearance' factor. I think there are just as many folks who (appropriately or not - that the debate) negatively judge a cyclist for not wearing a helmet as there may be those who (mostly inappropriate as critising a person for wearing one is silly) judge those who do.

Actually I really don't get the appearance issue - don't all the cycling athletes who are role models wear them - at least on TV and the commercials?

Al

H_Roark

How about because I'm sick of harpies constantly bringing up the issue and am offended by condescending tones?
This is not kindgergarten. We are free adults possesing independant volition and reason. As such, we will make our own decisions.
Btw-I wear a helmet about 70-80% of the time. My personal decision is that the cost/benefit analysis works out in favor of the helmet. I'm simply sick of self-appointed nannies.
The "everyone is affected" argument is also tired. If we are obligated to to everything in a perfectly safe manner, then it only makes sense that the community at large seal us up in heavily padded rooms, provide us with nutritionally balanced meals through an IV(risk of choking), and never let us leave. Someone will point out that this is absurd. If, however, we accept the right of the community(read, the mob) to impose safety on us, then there is no reason not to call for such a thing.

ArtM

"My son was walking up to the house after school 6 weeks ago, looking off into the back yard and stepped into a soft piece of ground (gopher tunnel) just before getting onto the pavement. He had paper and mail in the left arm so he put his right arm out to catch his fall, landing the right wrist on the pavement. He broke both bones in his arm just above his wrist. Stupid accident, he wasn't running or anything. Accidents happen. Do make others pay for your accidents / mistakes."

Was your son wearing wrist guards? Why not? It would have prevented his broken arm. What are the top five reasons for not wearing wrist guards when walking?

DnvrFox

Oh no, not another helmet thread!

Please, please, no more!

(One of the effects of the continuous "helmet safety rhetoric" is that many parents are now absolutely convinced that biking is one of the most dangerous activities known to mankind, resulting in a reduction of bike riding by children, an increase in obesity, and more future deaths due to lack of exercise!)

H_Roark

ngateguy

or independently wealthy so we taxpayers don't end up paying for someone to wipe the droll from your face or clean your arse for you when your insurance runs out.

My favorite excuse is: I am an excellant rider if your were a good rider you wouldn't need one.

I have never seen a profesional rider ever fall not once (note sarcasm)

SchreiberBike

Has anyone found that arguing this issue makes any difference? I find that it's like the thing about arguing with a pig. Very quickly people on both sides of this issue start to look like the pig.

Just in case anyone is curious: (especially markm109 above) I have ridden with a helmet 99.6% of the time this season. That is not a made up statistic, that is based on the one four-mile grocery run I made where I forgot my helmet this year.

I am pro-helmet, but pro-choice on this issue.

lala

I believe this thread was not intended as a debate, but rather as a tool for a local bike advocate.
If you don't like the thread's topic, don't read it.
Duh.

Ebbtide

Friend: I don't wear a helmet.

My Response: Good for you.

I never understand why the helmet thing is such an issue (for adults). If you wear one, fine. If not, I hope you understand the risks.

Oh, and yes these threads do help, but not the people who post in it (usually).

bombusben

Well said.

SchreiberBike

Perhaps that is what annoyed me so, the original poster claimed to be looking for excuses, then when someone responded with excuses, the original poster began debating.

It also bothered me to see the original poster emphasizing helmet use with no emphasis on other important safety issues. Bike safety requires education, but too often I see it reduced to "Bicycling is dangerous. Wear your helmet."

khuon

You might check with some local bike organizations in your area. The ones in my area have periodic helmet sales where one can get a helmet for as little as $10. Granted they're not the greatest high-fashion helmets out there but they're functional and they will do the job.

DnvrFox

I am just a bit confused.

The title of the thread was "List of Excuses"

How in the world would anyone know that it was about helmets, unless they read the thread. How would they know it was a "tool" (whatever in the world that is) unless they read the thread.

Any posted thread is subject to vigorous debate. If you don't want it debated, send a PM to someone!

Now, I wear a helmet 100% of the time.

But there is a common fallacy that a helmet will protect you in a serious fall, or having a car roll over your head. No way - they are not designed to do that, and simply are not strong enough. Get a motorcycle helmet if you want more protection.

Helmets do assist in reducing injuries in less severe accidents, and help with road rash and things like that.

Chris L

In which case, you'll die of heat exhaustion the minute you try to pedal uphill in a Queensland summer.

To be honest, I'm really not that concerned about whether others wear a helmet or not. I think there are far bigger issues relating to overall cycling safety than this one. I do believe helmets are a means of increasing safety, but helmets alone are not going to make you invincible.

If someone asks for my opinion, yes, I do believe people who are safety minded should wear helmets when riding (just as I do myself). However, if people don't want to wear one, that's their problem. Let natural selection take care of it.

supcom

How about: "I don't wear a helmet because I searched through the MANY old helmet threads on bikeforums.net, made a list of all the excuses that have been posted over the years, and found a few I agreed with."

seacycle

Wear a helmet, don't wear a helmet, I really don't care...I think it's unwise, but it's everyone's personal choice to make based on whatever reason they feel justifies it. However, IMO, spite's not the best justification. If you split your head open on the pavement, it's your brain and your pain.