Advocacy & Safety - Has a helmet but won't wear it?

On my commute (and sometimes when riding for fun) I see a lot of people with out helmets on. OK, I can kind of understand that (but don't agree with it), but what always shocks me are the people who have helmets but don't wear them.

What's the point of that?

I've seen riders with helmets clutched, buy the straps in hands, hung on handle bars, hung off backpacks and strapped down on racks. I don't get it, do they think they can toss the helmet on during the free fall of a crash? OK, that's a silly question, I don't believe anybody thinks they can put a helmet on during a crash. Maybe they were nagged by a parent/spouse/loved one/friend into taking the helmet but when out of site they took the thing off. I dunno.

Has anybody else seen this? If so what are your thoughts on the subject of helmet 'carrying' riders?

On my commute (and sometimes when riding for fun) I see a lot of people with out helmets on. OK, I can kind of understand that (but don't agree with it), but what always shocks me are the people who have helmets but don't wear them.

What's the point of that?

I've seen riders with helmets clutched, buy the straps in hands, hung on handle bars, hung off backpacks and strapped down on racks. I don't get it, do they think they can toss the helmet on during the free fall of a crash? OK, that's a silly question, I don't believe anybody thinks they can put a helmet on during a crash. Maybe they were nagged by a parent/spouse/loved one/friend into taking the helmet but when out of site they took the thing off. I dunno.

Has anybody else seen this? If so what are your thoughts on the subject of helmet 'carrying' riders?

99% of the riders I see doing this are kids under the age of 18. I imagine that you've hit it on the head: they put it on to ride out of the driveway and out of Dad's sight, and once around the corner off it comes because Oh My God only dorks wear helmets and I'd never get a date to the Prom.

If I'm in a joking mood, I'll usually say something like "Nice helmet! Uh, you do know that it only works if you put it on your head, right?"

If I'm in a non-joking mood, I might say "Put on your helmet, dumbass!"

99% of the riders I see doing this are kids under the age of 18. I imagine that you've hit it on the head: they put it on to ride out of the driveway and out of Dad's sight, and once around the corner off it comes because Oh My God only dorks wear helmets and I'd never get a date to the Prom.

If I'm in a joking mood, I'll usually say something like "Nice helmet! Uh, you do know that it only works if you put it on your head, right?"

If I'm in a non-joking mood, I might say "Put on your helmet, dumbass!"

You can't get a date to the prom when you're dead.

You can't get a date to the prom when you're dead.

I beg to differ. Such were the levels of my teenage angst and compulsion to conform to society that no small amount of consideration was given to the dearly departed as date material.

In retrospect a corpse would have been far less humiliating than the date I ended up with.

I sometimes strap the helmet to the rack on the way home if it is too hot instead of wearing it.

I sometimes strap the helmet to the rack on the way home if it is too hot instead of wearing it.

I can understand the heat issue. I have a helmet that looks like a cross between a BMX helmet and a MTN helmet. The thing is damn hot on summer days. I picked up a Headsweats skull cap to wear under it to keep the gallons of sweat I generated out of my eyes. Now I have a proper ventulated road helmet that I wear in the spring/summer/early fall months and wear the big nasty one when its cold (cuz with a wool skullcap, I'm very toasty in that thing, in Feburary, along the lake even!)

My new helmet (Giro Transfer) has been great in 80 degree weather.

If its too hot, I'd suggest (to the helmet carriers) that they get something else for the summer months.

My new helmet (Giro Transfer) has been great in 80 degree weather.

If its too hot, I'd suggest (to the helmet carriers) that they get something else for the summer months.

Wait, are you saying that 80 degrees is hot? You do realize where Rando lives, right? Even Delaware sees temps way over 80 (we usually get at least a few days of 110 degree heat indexes).

I do, and I don't mean any disrespect to rando. Chicago in July/August has days in high 90s with brutal (and smelly) humidity thanks to the river and lake we live with.

Since I got the new helmet (about a week ago) it has been fairly cool. I'll be the first to admit that I haven't worn it in real heat yet.

Having said that, I did wear the other, hotter helmet in 95+ degree, high humidity days and it wasn't comfortable. Which is why I bought the Headsweats skull cap. I was still hot with it, but not as bad as I was with out.

However, I saw people on Monday, along the lake in 75-80 degree weather with out helmets. Go figure.

...
What's the point of that?
....

The point is that it is not your business.

The point is that it is not your business.

Unless the OP's business is professional Safety Nanny, or a wannbe.:rolleyes:

It never ceases to amaze me the number of people around here who just show up to crap on threads.

If you don't like the thread, ignore it and move on.

When I was in school there was no way in hell that I would wear a helmet. I'd do a lot of other things that didn't make sense to fit in also. *****, look at all the smokers, something like 90% start before 18. I've thought about not wearing my helmet, and even rode around my neighborhood without it once, but when I hit 40 going downhill I'm glad I have that helmet on.

It never ceases to amaze me the number of people around here who just show up to crap on threads.


That would be I-Like-To-Bike's claim to fame.

When I was in school there was no way in hell that I would wear a helmet. I'd do a lot of other things that didn't make sense to fit in also. *****, look at all the smokers, something like 90% start before 18. I've thought about not wearing my helmet, and even rode around my neighborhood without it once, but when I hit 40 going downhill I'm glad I have that helmet on.

Harrowing story. I get your drift. When I was in school my mother made me wear a safety vest when riding at dusk/night. (no helmet tho) I hated it and took it off once I was a block away from my house. and put it back on when I was a block away on my return trip.

Oddly enough, now a days, I see the value of the vest. But I'm not old enough to have forgotten what it was like to be a teenager and have teenager concerns.

It never ceases to amaze me the number of people around here who just show up to crap on threads.

If you don't like the thread, ignore it and move on.

I don't know if anyone's, "crapping' on the thread. It's just that maybe if you ask an opinion, someone's might be that an individual might have a reason that couldn't possibly be explained or understood on a thread like this and maybe one should show a little respect that their choice is good enough for them, if not for others.

If it's kids doing it, find me an adult who can understand their minds. If it's an adult, he has a right to make his own choice. If it's not an adults choice (by way of law) maybe it's a way to get out of police persecusion. I understand this is common in Australia.

I didn't wear a helmet today! man I suck!

I didn't wear a helmet today! man I suck!

the majority don't, but that's not the point. Why do people carry them on the bike, but not on their head? Who knows? maybe they have a clasp or strap problem, maybe it's too hot, maybe someone wants them to wear it, but they don't. is it such a large problem that it's anything but a curiousity?

the majority don't, but that's not the point. Why do people carry them on the bike, but not on their head? Who knows? maybe they have a clasp or strap problem, maybe it's too hot, maybe someone wants them to wear it, but they don't. is it such a large problem that it's anything but a curiousity?

I don't think so.

That would be I-Like-To-Bike's claim to fame.

Yep, dat's me. Crapping on threads of jokers who are full of crap, as well as theirselves. What's your problem with how other people choose to ride their bicycle, Jack? My problem is with self described experts whose idea of advocacy is to look down on other cyclists who don't meet the nanny boys' lofty standards.

That would be I-Like-To-Bike's claim to fame.

Yeah, but even that is better than people that come on BF just to crap on other cyclist.

If it does not affect your safety, then stop worrying about them.

Yeah, but even that is better than people that come on BF just to crap on other cyclist.

If it does not affect your safety, then stop worrying about them.

what about your friends or family who don't wear helmets while cycling?
and even if i don't know them, i'd hate to see another cyclist done in
by an injury that could have been prevented.
it's all moot though, because no matter who says what,
whether it's friendly, sincere advice, or condescending scolding,
in the end it's their choice.

what about your friends or family who don't wear helmets while cycling?
and even if i don't know them, i'd hate to see another cyclist done in
by an injury that could have been prevented.
it's all moot though, because no matter who says what,
whether it's friendly, sincere advice, or condescending scolding,
in the end it's their choice.

Oh, I am sorry, I did not realize Apnu was talking about his friends and family. He should definetly lock them in the house until they learn their lesson.:rolleyes:

Be sure and inspect their frig - make sure they are not eating any meat as well.

And why are his friends and family riding bicycles in the first place, that is dangerous?

And why are his friends and family riding bicycles in the first place, that is dangerous?

That's right, they might fall down; presumably he is shocked, shocked that they are so foolish as to ride without training wheels. Just to be safe, eh?

what about your friends or family who don't wear helmets while cycling?
...in the end it's their choice.

this is one of the problems of helmet promotion, the presentation of the risks of cycling without putting it in proper context or considering the benefits in balance with the risk.

riding a bike is about as dangerous as taking a walk and I'd like to know how, when people who ride bikes their whole lives live longer than people who don't, that people think otherwise. Maybe the benefits that are there are ignored to place some fear into potential consumers of products who might not know of those benfits or the proper context of the risks.

You're right, in the end it is their choice and you better respect it because if you don't someone is going to start questioning your choices and someone might tell you not to do something because they think it's not a good thing to do, whether it is or isn't.

I know, call me stupid.

I have a helmet. I wear it on ALL group rides, and almost every solo ride. (these are the rides where i go out to ride... I usually keep a brisk pace, and have no destination other than just riding)

I haven't once worn it on the way to work. It's hotter, annoying, and no "wind in the hair" feel. I just prefer the feeling of no helmet. I also don't wear it putting around the neighborhood with my g/f either... but our top speed is 12, and we don't go on any busy streets.

With that said, as a kid, I only wore a helmet on the BMX track... never on the 8hr of day riding I did daily during summers, or on the way to school daily (rode my bike from 4th grade to 9th grade). but hey, I had a Prom date :D

Oh, I am sorry, I did not realize Apnu was talking about his friends and family. He should definetly lock them in the house until they learn their lesson.:rolleyes:

Be sure and inspect their frig - make sure they are not eating any meat as well.

take out the stairs, any furniture and anything that can be choked on too. end up watching them die from inactivity. (and for goodness sakes, don't let them cut the lawn with one of those ride-on lawnmowers!)

Such hostility in this thread.

All I did was ask a question about what looks like odd behaviour to me. I never said one way or another that people should or should not wear helmets. I'm not forcing anybody to wear a helmet, nor am I accusing anyone of their choice, regardless of my opinion. But some people like to put words and thoughts into other posters. Apparently attacking straw men is a favourite pastime for those people.

For the anti-helmet crowd bent on attacking me: You're way off base here. I've passed no judgements and none of you has said a single thing about having a helmet but not wearing it while riding a bicycle. Your attacks are ill founded, unnecessary and pointless. If you feel so passionately about trends in compulsory helmet requirements then quit complaining on BF, get off your butts and work to change the laws in your area. Most of us here live in some form of democracy, which means we can participate in our governments. So, do something meaningful and beneficial.

Thanks to everybody else who actually said something constructive or interesting relating to riders who possess a helmet but don't wear it.

I own 3 helmets - only wear one when required to by an event or for icy/snowy commutes. Been riding for over 40 years, commuting for over 30. I do do something meaningful and beneficial...I set an example that cycling is NOT DANGEROUS, as long as you pay attention. ride safely & courteously and follow the laws and rules of the road.

I own 3 helmets - only wear one when required to by an event or for icy/snowy commutes. Been riding for over 40 years, commuting for over 30. I do do something meaningful and beneficial...I set an example that cycling is NOT DANGEROUS, as long as you pay attention. ride safely & courteously and follow the laws and rules of the road.

That's very well said. Thanks for taking a stand for your beliefs and setting a positive example. I wear a helmet. That's my choice and I do not believe it tells everybody that cycling is dangerous, but hey that's my opinion. We differ on this small point, but we both try to set a good example and promote cycling. IMO, that's the best thing to do.

Such hostility in this thread...For the anti-helmet crowd bent on attacking me:... Your attacks are ill founded, unnecessary and pointless.

Wow. Someone's defensive.

It is an interesting thing, but I don't think anyone's attacking you over it (unless your referencing TeleJohn posting it's not your business or I-Like-To-Bike posting Unless the OP's business is professional Safety Nanny, or a wannbe, but I think those had been more than offset -or provoked- by caloso posting, I might say "Put on your helmet, dumbass!" or WesMorrison posting, You can't get a date to the prom when you're dead.)

It's just a message board. Clickity-clack in the corner.

Wow. Someone's defensive.
...
It's just a message board. Clickity-clack in the corner.

No I'm not defensive, I just don't like to see bullying. Its not me who's sensitive about this issue, its them.

No I'm not defensive, I just don't like to see bullying. Its not me who's sensitive about this issue, its them.

You are the so&so who made an issue out of nothing in the first place.

Here is the positive, no-nonsense answer to your question and should satisfy your curiosity. Some people carry a helmet and don 't wear it - because they feel like it! You got a problem wid dat?

Yes? Who cares?
No? Who cares?

but what always shocks me are the people who have helmets but don't wear them.

What's the point of that?

I think it is probably not unlike people who start out wearing a jacket, but, then, mid-way through their ride, take it off. I've never understood why some women (probably some men, too, but I don't spend time observing them) tie jackets and light weight tops around their waist, although I find the look very gratifying. I can tell by the looks I get from some walker and joggers - why would an old guy like me wear tight cycling clothes?

Heck, I've seen walkers who, I assume, started their session wearing their shoes, but, lo and behold, as they passed me, were barefoot with their shoes in their hand!!

The initial seeds of disrespect as I read this thread appear to have been cast by those constantly pushing the erroneous notion that if you don't have your helmet on while cycling, you are a priority candidate for death.

Far, far more prom opportunities have been lost to automobile accidents than cycling accidents.

I rode most of my life in an era when helmets for bicyclists were not even available - and I've taken my fair share of spills - and I'm still here.

In the interest of being with it, I purchased a helmet a couple of years ago, and have pretty much worn it during all of my subsequent riding. I have lived through more than my fair share of crashes since purchasing that thing. Not once has it played a factor in the degree to which I experienced or was spared injury. I'm not suggesting that it might not spare my noggin a bloggin' at some future point, but, I do believe if I had to carry an egg while riding, I'd put it on my head as that seems to be the least injury prone body part in the crashes I've experienced.

My collar bone has ached, my shoulders have been sore, my elbows and knees bruised, but, my head (and my helmet) remain without a scratch.

This is a forum where we are all free to express our opinions. I must admit, I get prickly heat whenever anyone suggests that it is somehow stupid, immoral, unsafe, and suicidal to ride without a helmet. That just ain't so.

Caruso

Good points Caruso. I'm in the same boat. Old enough to ride for 20 years without, managed to ride 20 years with. I've done a lot of research and not a lot falls in favor of compelling people to wear them, but then again, there's nothing wrong with wearing one either.


No I'm not defensive, I just don't like to see bullying. Its not me who's sensitive about this issue, its them.

I see. Them. Doesn't that insinuate an "Us"?

Bullying? Where?

I think you reveal your point of view and want to read responses that agree with it rather than what others views are.

I still think the point you bring up is good and says much about what people think about helmets.

Maybe more info would be good. As was asked earlier, were these teens? Were they adults?

I own 3 helmets - only wear one...You'd look kind of stupid wearing three. ;)

You'd look kind of stupid wearing three. ;)

:lol:

Not to worry. Darwin has a way of taking care of those who strap their helmet to their handle bars.

Don't believe me? Hang around in a metropolitan ER and you'll figure it out.

Yup, Darwin has been settling that forever.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1375/655932140_e42178e1f3.jpg

Hey, I can regurgitate statistics, too...

via New York City:


Almost three-quarters of fatal crashes (74%) involved a head injury.
Nearly all bicyclists who died (97%) were not wearing a helmet.
Helmet use among those bicyclists with serious injuries was low (13%), but it was even lower among bicyclists killed (3%).Like I said, hang around a major ER and you'll figure it out pretty quickly.

I own a helmet, yet I don't wear one. One reason is because 1/3rd of heat is lost through your head. I get hot when I'm riding, and it prevents me from cooling down. Those helmets are made out of styrofoam, it's a insulator material.

Hey, I can regurgitate statistics, too...

via New York City:


Almost three-quarters of fatal crashes (74%) involved a head injury.
Nearly all bicyclists who died (97%) were not wearing a helmet.
Helmet use among those bicyclists with serious injuries was low (13%), but it was even lower among bicyclists killed (3%).Like I said, hang around a major ER and you'll figure it out pretty quickly.

does any of that contradict the chart (scanned from Time magazine)? Just how large a slice of the pie are cycling deaths? Looks pretty small to me. 4% of deaths are from trama and half of those are MVAs. Looks like all those heart, stroke, diabetis and cronic respitory diseases could be reduced by cycling.

have you considered that pretty much the same percentage do not wear helmets in NYC and bicycle helmets were never meant to provide adequate protection in a collision with a MV (of which virtually all deaths come from)? Would it suprise you to know that in New Zealand where they have a law and an 80% compliance rate that 80% of cyclists die with helmets on?

but really, there's a thread for this topic.

the question is why there are these people riding around with them on the bars or back-packs.

maybe they don't buy the retoric such as the stuff presented here?

the question is why there are these people riding around with them on the bars or back-packs.

maybe they don't buy the retoric such as the stuff presented here?Then why bother to strap their helmet on to their bars at all? It does seem a bit bizarre to grab your helmet, strap it to your bar, and then go for a ride. If the rider doesn't buy the rhetoric, why bring the helmet?

Interesting sight the other day: a rider wearing cycling gloves, but no helmet. So he obviously feels his palms are worth protecting...

Then why bother to strap their helmet on to their bars at all? It does seem a bit bizarre to grab your helmet, strap it to your bar, and then go for a ride. If the rider doesn't buy the rhetoric, why bring the helmet?

my guess is they're kids whos parents want them to wear 'em, but they don't. Just a guess.

The parents would probably have done much better had they gone out and rode with them, shown them how to ride, what to look for and then watch them to see if they picked it up. It's how one rides that keeps them safe rather than what they wear.

Chances are, the parents manage safety by just "making them" wear a helmet. See how well that turns out.

Interesting sight the other day: a rider wearing cycling gloves, but no helmet. So he obviously feels his palms are worth protecting...

maybe the chances of needing protection for his hands is more likely than protection for his head?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0dzMp61G5w

my guess is they're kids whos parents want them to wear 'em, but they don't. Just a guess.

The parents would probably have done much better had they gone out and rode with them, shown them how to ride, what to look for and then watch them to see if they picked it up. It's how one rides that keeps them safe rather than what they wear.

Chances are, the parents manage safety by just "making them" wear a helmet. See how well that turns out.Nah, I saw a man riding the other day with his girlfriend. She didn't have a helmet, he had one strapped to his handlebars, and was wearing a baseball cap on his head. So there goes his "I like the wind in my hair" argument...

Then why bother to strap their helmet on to their bars at all? It does seem a bit bizarre to grab your helmet, strap it to your bar, and then go for a ride. If the rider doesn't buy the rhetoric, why bring the helmet?
The helmet might be required for a part of the ride to transit a specific property or installation, such as a college campus or government installation. Or it could be for the same reason that some people pay big bucks to wear products that advertise some product or sports team: because they feel like it and have no need to explain their actions to worry worts or the curious. Whatz da problem wid dat?

maybe the chances of needing protection for his hands is more likely than protection for his head?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0dzMp61G5wI've had two falls that resulted in injuries. The first time, I went over the bars just like he did. My fault, I cut the angle on a driveway too close and went down. Sprained my wrist. Second one, my fault, I rode up a curb, went down and rolled. May or may not have hit my head in the roll, I just don't know.

I still think it's bizarre to be more concerned about your palms than your head. Palms heal, heads may not. Now, maybe he's trying to keep his palms from going numb, but he should be looking at seat and bar position if that's the case.

...I still think it's bizarre to be more concerned about your palms than your head. Palms heal, heads may not...

It's natural to put your hands out in front of you to break a fall. The head is more often pulled away for protection.

If by, heads may not heal, you're referring to brain injury (not scalp lacerations) you might be interested to know the prevention of it by a helmet is in great dispute

wikipedia touches on it in its page on bicycle helmets

Recent research on traumatic brain injury adds further confusion, suggesting that the major causes of permanent intellectual disablement and death may well be torsional forces leading to diffuse axonal injury (DAI), a form of injury which helmets cannot mitigate.[18] Helmets may increase the torsional forces by increasing the distance from the extremities of the helmet to the centre of the spine, compared to the distance without a helmet.

this is backed up by other research

http://members.pcug.org.au/~psvansch/crag/h-i-mech.htm

and a leading expert on helmet mechanics wrote a paper here

http://www.cyclehelmets.org/papers/c2023.pdf

where he mentions a court case in Britain where a QC, tried repeatedly to persuade the equally eminent neurosurgeons acting for either side, and the technical expert, to state that one must be safer wearing a helmet than without. All three refused to so do, stating that they had seen severe brain damage and fatal injury both with and without cycle helmets being worn. In their view, the performance of cycle helmets is much too complex a subject for such a sweeping claim to be made.

he also wrote in that article,

"In many legal cases I have studies where a cyclist was in a collision with a motorised vehicle, the impact energy potentials were of a level that outstripped those that we use to certify Grand Prix motor racing helmets.

The tests that cycle helmets currently go through mean that they should offer similar protection to a pedestrian who trips and falls to the ground.

[the standard] is not intended for high speed cycling...it is intended for a fall without other vehicles [e.g. car] involved."

so if your concern is brain injury and not superficial injury, you might want to do a bit more research. I know I am.