View Poll Results: What Are Your Helmet Wearing Habits?
I've never worn a bike helmet
52
10.40%
I used to wear a helmet, but have stopped
24
4.80%
I've always worn a helmet
208
41.60%
I didn't wear a helmet, but now do
126
25.20%
I sometimes wear a helmet depending on the conditions
90
18.00%
Voters: 500. You may not vote on this poll
The Helmet Thread 2
#501
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Some are just pointing out that the protective benefit of helmets is not nearly as small as some would have folks believe, that it's not perfectly possible to ride in ways that negate the need for PPE, and that obnoxious helmet-nay-saying is unproductive at best.
-mr. bill
-mr. bill
Last edited by Six jours; 12-26-14 at 05:32 PM.
#503
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At any rate, it should be obvious that cycling in the pre-helmet days had nothing close to a 50% fatality rate. So I'm not completely convinced of the usefulness of surveys on the subject, except perhaps to illustrate the point that today's cyclist appears to grossly overestimate the risks of bicycling and the effectiveness of bicycle helmets.
#504
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#505
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And again, I don't think anyone is arguing that helmets cannot mitigate injury, even the occasional serious or fatal one. WRT to the data, there's enough wiggle room in it that we all get to see what we want to. That in itself reveals that the data does not point to any clear outcome.
Originally Posted by Six jours
And so again, nobody is telling anyone not to wear a helmet. Some of us are just pointing out that the protective benefit of helmets is not nearly as large as some of you would have us believe, that it's perfectly possible to ride in ways that negate the need for protective gear (and that some of us have decades of cycling experience without ever suffering a strike to the head/helmet), and that obnoxious helmet-nannying is unproductive at best.
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#507
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That would have more impact if you provided specifics. And more credible if you had previously cited some study yourself at some point, in support of your various claims.
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I do not need to provide reference to "studies" or "specifics" that demonstrate the non-existence of surveys or studies on a subject; try Logic 101. If statistics, data, or credible studies exist about the type of equipment worn by people uninjured in bicycling accidents I am sure lots of the posters here would like to look and see what an intelligent analysis of the data might indicate.
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Even if no one ever provided a clue about it was a valid objection, it remains to be seen how it calls into question this study's methodology or conclusions.
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I have seen of a number of them, that measure helmet use in general. Unless wearing the equipment makes one less likely or more likely to be involved in an accident, the numbers are the same. If it makes one slightly more or less likely, as has been suggested, the numbers will be slightly different.
Even if no one ever provided a clue about it was a valid objection, it remains to be seen how it calls into question this study's methodology or conclusions.
Even if no one ever provided a clue about it was a valid objection, it remains to be seen how it calls into question this study's methodology or conclusions.
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#512
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Apparently the anti helmet crowd here live in ------ never never land. They never crash, and they never hit their heads when they do.
#513
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I asked your opinion before, and you never did tell me at how much risk level the helmet makes sense. A crash every 10,000 rides for example? Have you had a chance to give it any thought yet?
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wphamilton
Then you are admitting that you may crash. It is total chance. You may crash on your next ride, or it may be ride 4589, but it is very probable it WILL HAPPEN. Why not wear a helmet and be prepared.
Then you are admitting that you may crash. It is total chance. You may crash on your next ride, or it may be ride 4589, but it is very probable it WILL HAPPEN. Why not wear a helmet and be prepared.
#515
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It probably won't happen that I crash again on the streets, but there is a chance. If I do crash, I probably won't hit my head but there is a chance of that also. If I do crash, and I did hit my head, it probably won't be more serious than cut or scrape, but there is a small chance of that also. Multiply these three probabilities together and that's my risk when not wearing a helmet. From the best information that I have available, multiple studies for which I do have the background and am qualified to evaluate, I judge that number to be very small for me individually.
What I'm asking of you is your evaluation of your risk. Do you think that it's inevitable that you'll crash, and when you do it's certain to be a severe impact on your head? It seems like that's your reasoning, but if not then about how much more likely does it have to be for you than the risk of walking down the sidewalk?
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wp
The point remains that a person can wear a helmet. It is so totally benign to wear why not? While riding with my helmet, I am totally unaware I have it on.
The point remains that a person can wear a helmet. It is so totally benign to wear why not? While riding with my helmet, I am totally unaware I have it on.
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For me there is no difference, much of the time. Not enough risk walking the sidewalk, not enough risk riding to the convenience store.
#519
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But what he is saying, is that it's actually less dangerous cycling than walking on sidewalks... And why don't you wear a helmet when you walk on sidewalks since statistics say there's more of a chance of needing one walking on sidewalks than riding a bike but nobody is expected to wear a helmet walking?
I wear a helmet when I ride and don't when I walk, because I perceive my bike riding to be a more dangerous activity than me walking, that would be my short answer, I'm willing to take the risk of walking without a helmet, not because nothing will ever happen to me or other BS reasons, I am just willing to take that risk...... And that is what non helmet wearers should be saying, not that nothing will ever happen or any other BS reason but that they are willing to take the risk...
I wear a helmet when I ride and don't when I walk, because I perceive my bike riding to be a more dangerous activity than me walking, that would be my short answer, I'm willing to take the risk of walking without a helmet, not because nothing will ever happen to me or other BS reasons, I am just willing to take that risk...... And that is what non helmet wearers should be saying, not that nothing will ever happen or any other BS reason but that they are willing to take the risk...
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Apparently the anti helmet crowd here live in ------ never never land. They never crash, and they never hit their heads when they do.
I had a Britton explain to me that the Dutch would also wear helmets if they where riding brake-less fixies through dense city traffic at 30+ km/h. He was probably right and he also made my point about the Dutch not being complete fu<kwits when riding a bicycle.
Last edited by Mark Stone; 12-28-14 at 10:52 AM. Reason: Please don't defeat the forum censor
#522
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I agree, a great point is being made here: crashing a bicycle is rare and most do not result in a head injury for which a helmet might be appropriate safety gear.
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Do you also wear and/or recommend wearing this personal protective equipment too, just in case?
If not, why not?
#525
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