Do you wear a helmet to ride?

[b00n]

Well, do you?

[Darin]

I ride on my own dirt track. When I'm just goofin around, no. But when I'm riding hard, like practicing for racing, yes.

[dirt rider]

nah i dont

[Brian]

Always. My head is worth a lot to me.

[lyledriver]

This pic was taken right before I bonked my head yesterday:

http://static.flickr.com/37/84235569_54c211d7c4_o.jpg

I was able to get up afterwards, and continue with the session.
That probably wouldn't have been the case if I didn't wear it.

[zx108]

not for regular bmx. when i used to mess in the park, yes. for mountain biking, always.

[bmx handyman]

i rarely wear mine, but i feel so much safer when i do. one day i will buy a good helmet and then i will wear it everytime.

are protech helmets good?

[Brian]

Pro-Tec are good helments. There's a thread around here somewhere.

[CMcMahon]

Ooh, ooh, the damage done.

[BikerLRY]

I don't wear a helmet because, I feel to safe with it. Every time I wear one I break a bone. When I don't wear one I'm perfectly fine. So my answer is no, I don't wear a helmet.

[Brian]

I don't wear a helmet because, I feel to safe with it. Every time I wear one I break a bone. When I don't wear one I'm perfectly fine. So my answer is no, I don't wear a helmet.

We're all free to draw our own conclusions.

[bmichaelx]

I dond't normally wear one, like riding street or local 3 foot skatewave parks, but when I go to a big park I normally do. I don't mind wearing a helmet if I have to, or if I feel the need.

[b00n]

Does looking like a [deleted by moderator] deter people from wearing lids?

Moderator's note: The word isn't even on the censor list at this time, you could at least spell it right.

[charlie@epicUK]

I always wear a helmet. You look like more of an idiot in a wheelchair eating your shoulder than you do with a helmet on.

[Darin]

You need full face helmet for racing. So it makes sence to practice with a helmet on. It would be a tough transition to go from not to wearing a helmet on race day.

[Brian]

I prefer a regular skate-type lid for practice. And I need to get a drink bottle with a straw. You can't drink with a full face helmet on.

[dooley]

A cycling helmets effectiveness in the event of an accident is overrated, especially when it comes to those crappy pro-tec lids. If something hits you at a force likely to mess you up those lids will do practically nothing, which is why vert guys ear motorcycle lids.

In fact if you take perceived risk into account wearing a helmet may make overconfident and more likely to crash.

[Brian]

Nothing is going to help with the rapid deceleration of your brain as it strikes the inside of your skull, with nothing more than a thin layer of fluid to protect you. But a helmet is quite effective in preventing your skull from getting damaged externally.

[Redline123]

i dont when im just messin around at my house but do when im at a skatepark

[mude]

my fried was jumping a fairly large step up last summer. nosed cased...shattered some vertabrae and broke his neck...lucky as i think it calls for the word...lucky as ****. he doesnt ride anymore....he wasnt wearing a helmet...the doctor said it wouldnt have been anywhere near as bad if he had because it wouldve also absorbed alot of impact

[Brian]

Better to compress some foam, rather than vertebrae.

[Mikato Soul]

When was the last time anyone has ever seen a flatlander where a helmet? I only wear them when im surfing my bike.

[zip22]

A cycling helmets effectiveness in the event of an accident is overrated, especially when it comes to those crappy pro-tec lids. If something hits you at a force likely to mess you up those lids will do practically nothing, which is why vert guys ear motorcycle lids.

In fact if you take perceived risk into account wearing a helmet may make overconfident and more likely to crash.

got anything to back either of your claims?

[lyledriver]

^There was actually an article recently, in one of the BMX mags (RideBMX?) where they took a couple helmets and tested them with lab equipment.

I think the point of the article was to compare a soft foam (skate style) multi impact helmet, to an expansion foam single hit helmet.

The single hit helmets are marginally safer, simply because of the amount of foam to compress, and the subsequent load distribution.

[tozovr]

When I used to flatland I never ever did (this was the 80's....I did wear my Hammer shin Guards.... ;) ) As soon as I started MTBing I did because speeds were hgher and the likelyhood of ejection at a greater rate of speed was higher....then I started riding a cyclocross bike...mixing cars in with speed etc...yeah I wear it....just got an older K2 DMC Pro...will I wear a bucket? Yeah.

We never wore them back in the day because we just didn't know better really. Unless we were riding ramp, it wasn't even thought of. Doing pinky squeaks in my driveway I may not, unless my son is watching LOL...

[Mikato Soul]

We never wore them back in the day because we just didn't know better really. Unless we were riding ramp, it wasn't even thought of. Doing pinky squeaks in my driveway I may not, unless my son is watching LOL...
Yep, always have to set a good example for those little ones

[FMFBMX]

I only will wear a helmet if im mtn biking

[mott464]

If I didn't, I'd be brain dead.

[DPC]

Always. About 5 years ago I made a no helmet-no ride rule for myself and I've stuck to it. My helmet goes on before I even get on the bike, and only comes off when I get off it. I'd never even consider riding without wearing it.

[Trapdoor]

Always ride with it on. Back in the day the one time I didn't wear it on some dirt jumps was the one time I even hit my head in a stack. None the less, in Aus it is the law that you must wear a helmet anyway.