Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Advocacy & Safety
Reload this Page >

The helmet thread

Notices
Advocacy & Safety Cyclists should expect and demand safe accommodation on every public road, just as do all other users. Discuss your bicycle advocacy and safety concerns here.
View Poll Results: Helmet wearing habits?
I've never worn a bike helmet
178
10.66%
I used to wear a helmet, but have stopped
94
5.63%
I've always worn a helmet
648
38.80%
I didn't wear a helmet, but now do
408
24.43%
I sometimes wear a helmet depending on the conditions
342
20.48%
Voters: 1670. You may not vote on this poll

The helmet thread

Old 03-17-13, 03:48 PM
  #4826  
Senior Member
 
ZmanKC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Overland Park, KS
Posts: 799

Bikes: 1999 Giant TCR 2T 2009 Giant Cypress DX 2015 Giant Anyroad 1

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by rydabent
Zman

For convienence I lump the all together. Far too many of them are over paid and under worked, thats why they come up with stupid ideas like MHLs.
genˇerˇalˇize
[ jénnərə lz ]

  • make sweeping statement: to state a supposed general truth about something on the basis of limited or incomplete evidence
  • express something general: to express something general on the basis of particulars
  • give wider use to something: to use something in a wider or different range of circumstances, or be used in this way
ZmanKC is offline  
Old 03-17-13, 04:15 PM
  #4827  
Senior Member
 
mconlonx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,558
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7148 Post(s)
Liked 134 Times in 92 Posts
Originally Posted by rydabent
Zman

For convienence I lump the all together. Far too many of them are over paid and under worked, thats why they come up with stupid ideas like MHLs.
Legislators rarely introduce bills which are not requested by constituents or lobbyists. Few new bills like MHLs are fostered by the executive apparatus you call bureaucracy, although plenty of housekeeping amendments do originate internally.
mconlonx is offline  
Old 03-17-13, 05:01 PM
  #4828  
Been Around Awhile
 
I-Like-To-Bike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,950

Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,517 Times in 1,031 Posts
Originally Posted by rydabent
Zman

For convienence I lump the all together.
"Convenience" is what you call it, I would call it being (must be PC here) not so smart.
I-Like-To-Bike is offline  
Old 03-17-13, 06:17 PM
  #4829  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,401
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times in 13 Posts
Originally Posted by rydabent

For convienence I lump them all together.
Kind of like you lumped together pretty much every cyclist in the world prior to 1985 as "stupid"?
Six jours is offline  
Old 03-17-13, 08:09 PM
  #4830  
Senior Member
 
mconlonx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,558
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7148 Post(s)
Liked 134 Times in 92 Posts
Originally Posted by Six jours
Kind of like you lumped together pretty much every cyclist in the world prior to 1985 as "stupid"?
Probably meant "ignorant." Good thing helmet companies showed up to tell us how dangerous bikes are...
mconlonx is offline  
Old 03-17-13, 09:07 PM
  #4831  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,401
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times in 13 Posts
I have an old Masi coming in the mail so have been looking through my picture books of old bike races while I think about how to build it up. And of course I was reminded that nearly the entirety of 20th century bicycle racing was done without hardshell helmets. It's hard for me to fathom how, in just a few years, bareheaded cycling went from being considered normal to being considered suicidal.
Six jours is offline  
Old 03-17-13, 09:09 PM
  #4832  
cowboy, steel horse, etc
 
LesterOfPuppets's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,800

Bikes: everywhere

Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12635 Post(s)
Liked 7,528 Times in 3,989 Posts
I like to review my DVDs of the 2005 TdF, sometimes just to catch the last bare-headed performances that I know of in that race.
LesterOfPuppets is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 08:00 AM
  #4833  
Senior Member
 
mconlonx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,558
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7148 Post(s)
Liked 134 Times in 92 Posts
Originally Posted by elcruxio
I'm unsure about your position on helmets while walking...

Running, skiing, skateboarding, cycling, even walking if you fall like a log head first etc. In only one of these are people touting that helmets should be used.
Let me know where to pick up a helmet certified regarding walking falls which result in head-strikes and I will consider it...

Looks like you haven't been alpine skiing or skateboarding lately. Plenty of people wearing helmets for both these activities, out of choice.
mconlonx is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 08:22 AM
  #4834  
Banned.
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Uncertain
Posts: 8,651
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Six jours
I have an old Masi coming in the mail so have been looking through my picture books of old bike races while I think about how to build it up. And of course I was reminded that nearly the entirety of 20th century bicycle racing was done without hardshell helmets. It's hard for me to fathom how, in just a few years, bareheaded cycling went from being considered normal to being considered suicidal.
Remember you are in America. Most of the rest of the world hasn't yet succumbed to hysteria.

The American psyche is interesting to me. Huge emphasis on personal freedom - in theory - but immense pressure to conform to certain societal norms, and extreme risk-aversion to some things but indifference to others. So, very little attention paid to high infant mortality - which is responsible for the unnecessary deaths of thousands of American children every year - but outrage at the thought of letting a kid ride a bike bareheaded - which isn't.
chasm54 is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 08:24 AM
  #4835  
genec
 
genec's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: West Coast
Posts: 27,079

Bikes: custom built, sannino, beachbike, giant trance x2

Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13658 Post(s)
Liked 4,532 Times in 3,158 Posts
Amazing... nearly 200 pages and I don't believe anyone has convinced anyone else of anything...
genec is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 08:28 AM
  #4836  
Been Around Awhile
 
I-Like-To-Bike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,950

Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,517 Times in 1,031 Posts
Originally Posted by mconlonx
Let me know where to pick up a helmet certified regarding walking falls which result in head-strikes and I will consider it...
What head injuries are bicycle helmets "certified" to mitigate in any significant manner? Are any type of head injuries or bicycling activities even mentioned in this "certification?"
I-Like-To-Bike is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 08:41 AM
  #4837  
Senior Member
 
elcruxio's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Turku, Finland, Europe
Posts: 2,486

Bikes: 2011 Specialized crux comp, 2013 Specialized Rockhopper Pro

Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 858 Post(s)
Liked 329 Times in 219 Posts
Originally Posted by mconlonx
Let me know where to pick up a helmet certified regarding walking falls which result in head-strikes and I will consider it...

Looks like you haven't been alpine skiing or skateboarding lately. Plenty of people wearing helmets for both these activities, out of choice.
It would seem to me you didn't read my post, or understand it properly. Let's start again when you have done so. Until then, stop taking phrases out of context in quotes.
I would like to make clear that alpine skiing and XC skiing are two completely different sports and have almost nothing in common. Look it up.
And had you read my post properly, you would have realized that the skiing in question meant XC-skiing and not alpine skiing.

Next time you read someone's post, pay special care to context. It usually makes a big difference in the interpretation of one's message.
elcruxio is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 08:55 AM
  #4838  
Senior Member
 
mconlonx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,558
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7148 Post(s)
Liked 134 Times in 92 Posts
Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
What head injuries are bicycle helmets "certified" to mitigate in any significant manner? Are any type of head injuries or bicycling activities even mentioned in this "certification?"
Less than serious head injuries, direct impact.
mconlonx is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 09:04 AM
  #4839  
Senior Member
 
mconlonx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,558
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7148 Post(s)
Liked 134 Times in 92 Posts
Originally Posted by elcruxio
It would seem to me you didn't read my post, or understand it properly. Let's start again when you have done so. Until then, stop taking phrases out of context in quotes.
I would like to make clear that alpine skiing and XC skiing are two completely different sports and have almost nothing in common. Look it up.
And had you read my post properly, you would have realized that the skiing in question meant XC-skiing and not alpine skiing.

Next time you read someone's post, pay special care to context. It usually makes a big difference in the interpretation of one's message.
OK, let's talk about context. In the paragraph before the one I quoted, you mentioned XC-skiing.

In the paragraph I quoted you just said skiing. Which could certainly be construed to include alpine skiing, just as you mention skateboarding without qualifying what kind of skating you refer to--downhill longboard? trick skating at a park? urban features riding? Consequently, because context is indeed important, I qualified skiing with "alpine" in my reply.

Maybe do some research on composition and figure out what a paragraph break means, regarding context...?
mconlonx is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 09:56 AM
  #4840  
Banned
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924

Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II

Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,054 Times in 634 Posts
six

Are you saying that people in 1885 were stupid for not driving places in a car? Good helmets were not generally available before approx 1980.
rydabent is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 10:09 AM
  #4841  
Been Around Awhile
 
I-Like-To-Bike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,950

Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,517 Times in 1,031 Posts
Originally Posted by mconlonx
Less than serious head injuries, direct impact.
Would you by any chance have a reference or URL where the text of the Bicycle helmet "certification" can be read?
I-Like-To-Bike is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 11:05 AM
  #4842  
Senior Member
 
mconlonx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,558
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7148 Post(s)
Liked 134 Times in 92 Posts
Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Would you by any chance have a reference or URL where the text of the Bicycle helmet "certification" can be read?
USA CPSC standard (I've not read it. If you're looking for some kind of "gotcha!" scenario, here's your chance...)

All I could find on CE EN 1078 was abstracts; the actual text of the Euro-spec helmet regs costs $200+
mconlonx is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 01:03 PM
  #4843  
Senior Member
 
Brennan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Midwest USA
Posts: 697

Bikes: Surly X√, Trek Earl

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times in 7 Posts
The opening credits to "On Any Sunday" made me smile. Made back in the early 70s when bicycling in the US was more about fun than fear. I love the "scuffy skillman" brake demo. Plus, who can resist that groovy music?

Brennan is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 01:10 PM
  #4844  
Senior Member
 
mconlonx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,558
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7148 Post(s)
Liked 134 Times in 92 Posts
Originally Posted by Brennan
The opening credits to "On Any Sunday" made me smile. Made back in the early 70s when bicycling in the US was more about fun than fear. I love the "scuffy skillman" brake demo. Plus, who can resist that groovy music?

Love that movie. I have it on LaserDisc. Note: not DVD, Laserdisc. Anyone got a Laserdisc player who wants a classic MX documentary? Free + actual cost to mail it to you... Features Mert Lawill of AMP fork design and various rear suspension patents fame.
mconlonx is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 01:16 PM
  #4845  
Senior Member
 
Brennan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Midwest USA
Posts: 697

Bikes: Surly X√, Trek Earl

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times in 7 Posts
Originally Posted by mconlonx
Love that movie. I have it on LaserDisc. Note: not DVD, Laserdisc. Anyone got a Laserdisc player who wants a classic MX documentary? Free + actual cost to mail it to you... Features Mert Lawill of AMP fork design and various rear suspension patents fame.
Yeah, it took me this long to finally watch it (it's streaming on Netflix). Laserdisc, yes! The original videophile format.
Brennan is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 01:17 PM
  #4846  
Senior Member
 
mconlonx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,558
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7148 Post(s)
Liked 134 Times in 92 Posts
Originally Posted by Brennan
Yeah, it took me this long to finally watch it (it's streaming on Netflix). Laserdisc, yes! The original videophile format.
The shots of Steve McQueen using that goofy helmet with the built in mirrors are priceless...

mconlonx is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 01:29 PM
  #4847  
Senior Member
 
Brennan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Midwest USA
Posts: 697

Bikes: Surly X√, Trek Earl

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times in 7 Posts
Originally Posted by mconlonx
The shots of Steve McQueen using that goofy helmet with the built in mirrors are priceless.
I didn't notice the built-in mirrors. I always figured the helmet-mounted mirror was the ultimate Fred-cessory. (With apologies to those who use them. I'm sure they work really well.) Apparently, McQueen was quite a good rider, but they did get a couple shots of him wiping out.
Brennan is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 02:43 PM
  #4848  
Senior Member
 
closetbiker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 9,630
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 24 Post(s)
Liked 18 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by mconlonx
Blame "helmeteers" all you want, doesn't mean it's so. Especially where an ill-informed judge making a political decision is concerned. "Judge made a decision I don't agree with, therefore helmeteers are at fault for MHL."

Yeah, right.

Except all those pro-helmet people who are, by and large, anti-MHL. And those who fight such legislation.

Need to refine your claims, too: who is responsible for pro-helmet "evidence"--individual pro-helmet riders as you are claiming here, or corporations making money off helmet laws who fund much cited pro-helmet studies, as has been cited in the past?
I would include corporations and foundations who would benefit from helmet sales in the Helmeteer group as many cyclists and non-cyclists are. There is no doubt that there are many sources that have contributed to the unsubstantiated claim that use of bicycle helmets save lives; the notion is quite popular.

Also disturbing is this increasing tendency to ignore or devalue the research that runs counter to a Helmeteers claims such as a recent claim by our government official in charge of our helmet law that said there is no evidence mandatory helmet laws have reduced the number of trips by bicycle and that because 75% of cycling fatalities are caused by head injuries, mandatory helmet laws are what will reduce the death toll to cyclists.

And imho, if no organized organization will stand up to fight proposed helmet legislation, that legislation will be passed. This happened recently in Manitoba (a child's helmet law) and it happened here in BC and the Maritimes (all ages laws). Where there has been opposition (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec) the proposed legislation was defeated.

Last edited by closetbiker; 03-18-13 at 02:48 PM.
closetbiker is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 02:46 PM
  #4849  
Senior Member
 
closetbiker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 9,630
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 24 Post(s)
Liked 18 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by mconlonx
Let me know where to pick up a helmet certified regarding walking falls which result in head-strikes and I will consider it...
Well, that would be in any store that sells bicycle helmets.

The director of Europes largest test facility for all helmets has written, The tests cycle helmets go through mean they could offer similar protection to pedestrians who trip and fall to the ground
closetbiker is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 02:48 PM
  #4850  
cowboy, steel horse, etc
 
LesterOfPuppets's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,800

Bikes: everywhere

Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12635 Post(s)
Liked 7,528 Times in 3,989 Posts
A nice On Any Sunday double feature pairing is Cycles South. IIt's probably still up on netflix
LesterOfPuppets is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.