mconlonx

We scared them off... something about mandatory helmet use...

mr_bill

AFAIK they departed as mutton. A helmet would not have saved their lives.

-mr. bill

350htrr

2001 helmet vote,...........................................................................2014 helmet vote,

Always.........74.44%,.....................................................................63.23%
Never............4.44%......................................................................16.29%
Sometimes....21.11%.....................................................................20.48%

The Bare headers are gaining....

Robert C

I question if there are more, or if the utility riders just feel a need to speak up to the sport riders.

Examples would be me, I just happened to wander on to this thread due to the "old" survey link. I seldom wear a helmet; but I am not passionate about it. Like my father did, and I recall his father doing; I just get on my bicycle and ride to work and the market, and other daily destinations. It is a means of transportation, not a sport.

In the past I rode for sport and when I did I wore a helmet. I even have one sitting on a shelf. I use it for club riding; but there is no bike club where I am now. One advantage of riding in a rural town is that I don't constantly get lectured about helmets by the kids (late 20s' to mid 30s' seem most prone to preaching) who grew up wearing them.

I think I got entirely out of the practice of wearing a helmet in China. I was thinking about wearing one this winter for the warmth; but it didn't fit over my baklava (I think I just spelled the version that is a pastry). I was also concerned about the potential of getting injured by slipping on ice. However, I decided to get studded tires instead of a helmet. I realize one can use both; but, as I said, it simply never got cold enough for a helmet.

I do agree that Mandatory Helmet Laws would help achieve the goal of, those I speak to, who call for things like auto style licensing and operators license for bike riders. The goal being to reduce bike usage.

daihard 

All he has to do is just ride the ride. I honestly don't see any reason why he (or anyone else) has to put other cyclists down simply because they choose not to wear a helmet while riding. Do what you believe is right for you, and let others do what they believe is right for them. Why is it so hard to do?

mr_bill

Actually, you are the raison d'être for helmet laws. You say you wouldn't wear a helmet *BUT* for the MHL.

FWIW, I'd oppose an adult bicyclist MHL in Massachusetts. We are at 75% without it, and that percentage is growing as folks age out of this life.

-mr. bill

daihard 

I will wear a helmet when I decide to. I don't need the MHL to tell me that I must do it all the time. So please tell me. Why is it that you push your pro-helmet attitude onto other cyclists? Why is it not okay for others to make their own decisions about whether or not to wear a helmet based on their own judgment?

mr_bill

?

-mr. bill

daihard 

It is really "mainly because," not "solely because." Hopefully it is clearer now. Now, do you care to answer my questions in #982 ?

mr_bill

Why is it that you push anti-helmet attitude onto other cyclists?

-mr. bill

daihard 

My own statement is:



How can you interpret this as an "anti-helmet" attitude? Or have I said anywhere else that cyclists should not wear a helmet? I'd very much doubt I have.

mr_bill

And in three, two, one....

Where have I said that folks must wear a helmet?

-mr. bill

daihard 

Oh, I must be mistaken, then. My apologies. Do we agree, then, that the decision to (not) wear a helmet should be up to the individual cyclist?

mr_bill

That's between you and your legislator.

-mr. bill

daihard 

Let me rephrase it. Absent the MHL, do we agree that the decision to (not) wear a helmet should be up to the individual cyclist?

karann9

I am relatively new to biking. Just got my hands on a 2015 Trek 7.2 FX. Looking for a casual commuting helmet to which I may attach some lights. Any suggestions?

(I just assumed that this being a helmet thread, this would be the right place to ask this question but if not, please guide me to the right one.)

CarinusMalmari

The Helmet thread is mostly a discussion about whether or not bicycle helmets are useful and/or worth it. This discussion has been going on (in various reincarnations) for at least a decade on the bike forums, and I think "Helmets Cramp My Style" was the first real predecessor of this ***The Helmet Thread*** When I said "on the bike forums" it's more accurate to say "quarantined in it's own thread to keep it away from the Bike Forums" which is a hint at the toxic nature of the discussion. So if I were you, I would take a moment to marvel at the grotesque beauty if this eternal flame war and then GTFO before it sucks you in and spews you out.

When using a helmet, just keep in mind that it's a very limited means of protection, (In my opinion to the point it's not worth wearing one) and that real bicycle safety comes from avoiding accidents altogether. As for mounting lights etc to a helmet: just don't. It adds unnecessary weight and protrusions to the helmet, which can exacerbate and even cause injuries in case of an accident. On top of that it will probably compromise the already weak design of the helmet. It's better to mount lights etc. onto the bike.

rydabent

carinus

"The real safety in cycling" as you state is avoiding accidents. Sound good, but it of course ignores the unexpected. And that is my point the unexpected does happen, even to the best cyclist in the world. Cyclist in the TdeF have died due to accidents. Trying to discourage riders, especially new riders from wearing a helmet is absolutely a disservice.

The fact remains that will a helmet protect you in all accidents-----------no-----------but it WILL save some from injury, and that is a good thing. My helmet did save me when I was hit in a low speed accident. All this when wearing a helmet is such a benign thing, it is stupid not to wear one. And lastly do I DEMAND you wear a helmet, not at all, but I still maintain you are foolish not to.

rydabent

Here is a question for the hand full of anti helmet posters here. Since you argue that you are fantastic bike handlers an the ultimate safe riders, when in your car do you drive without seat belts, and disarm your air bags. Do you tell members of your family you have done so because of your superior driving skills? Seat belts and air bags are auto safety devices, a helmet is one of a bike riders safety devices.

So----------can you still argue I am wrong when I say accident happen, and you never know when.

rydabent

By now everyone posting here knows I support at least a modicum of safety when cycling. That of course includes a helmet.

Since this forum wanders some, let me give you another example of cycling safety. I ride my tadpole trike about half the time. I use clip in pedals rather than just platform pedals. If you are not clipped in your foot may slip off the pedals in a bump, and get partially pulled under the frame causing scrapes and maybe a broken foot.

The bottom line here is that personal safety falls in the line of common sense and logic. There for in my case when on the trike I wear a helmet and use clip in pedals. And that is in light that on my trike, as low as I sit the need for a helmet is probably the lowest in any form of cycling. It still remains that sh---stuff happens.

Mark Stone

If you live in a world ruled by a big purple dinosaur . . . .

Although I consider cycling very, very safe, I wouldn't base a decision to go helmetless on the assumption that you're not ever gonna crash because cycling is so "safe". I would choose to wear one (or not) on its ability to protect my head when the inevitable crash happens.

mr_bill

I was unaware of marauding hooligans forcing helmets off an individual's head. I certainly didn't encounter any marauding hooligans while riding in Seattle. I would think that "advocates" would want to warn visitors of the marauding hooligans forcing helmets off an individual's head.

Around here, the dollar value of a used helmet is zero - so folks leave it alone.

(But yes, it's my decision to wear a helmet.)

-mr. bill

Mark Stone

Ignorance is no excuse.

mr_bill

Browse https://www.bellhelmets.com/cycling/h.../recreational/ , specifically the muni is built for mounting small blackburn flea lights front and rear . Also Urban Bike Helmets for Commuting, Free Riding or BMX - Giro or Women's Urban Bike Helmets .

BTW, many lights come with straps that you can thread through the holes in your helmet as well. (You'll quickly save money by going with a USB rechargeable light.)

Most important is fit, they'll give you good advice on fit where you bought your Trek. (One nice thing about Bell/Giro, is once you find a fit (S/M, M/L, or S,M,L depending on the helmet) all of their helmets follow the same sizing guide. So if the shop doesn't have exactly what you are looking for, they can order exactly what you want and you'll be pretty certain it will fit when it arrives.)

Anyhow, go to the shop, tell them what you are looking for, you'll find it. There are so many varieties of helmets now it's amazing. Back when I bought my first helmet it was pretty much any helmet you want - so long as it's a white Bell Tourlite with red stripes.

-mr. bill

CarinusMalmari

After reading countless of "AHSML stories" I can only conclude that a great many of the True Believers see Bicycle Helmets as the ultimate one size fits all approach to bicycle safety. In those stories they claim that people should always wear a bicycle helmet while they ignore the often painfully obvious ways in which the accident could have been avoided altogether. So they appear to be clueless in even the most basic safety stuff, which is especially worrying since helmets appear to be pretty worthless protection against the more severe head injuries. So I make a habit of spelling out that bicycle safety is mainly about accident prevention, especially in case of new cyclists. Apparently it's not as straightforward as I thought before I became aware of how people role in other societies.



@rydabent I made a habit out of ignoring you, your latest post directed at me is just another reason as to why I will keep on doing that.