View Full Version : Do U Use A Helmet?
I have to ask you Living Car Free Forum users: what's your helmet use?
I use mine always. But pics I have seen on this forum often show bare heads. is it an attitude thing? are you unconcerned about it? do you de-helmet for pics?
Most of the folks i see riding around this town (not that I see many) are bare-headed. a few fixie freaks, some students, yesterday a woman on a nice hybrid towing a fancy Burley. all naked-headed.
the occasional roadie always has a helmet, but they're a different breed anyway....
lima_bean
08-03-07, 08:11 AM
hmm.. I Always do, but I don't feel it's stupid not to. =/
goaliedb
08-03-07, 08:13 AM
Considering I would not be alive had I not been wearing one in 1991, I never ride anywhere without it
hmm.. I Always do, but I don't feel it's stupid not to. =/
yeah same here, though my original post might sound otherwise. I figure it's a personal choice like anything else, I'm just curious about the motives, especially in this eclectic group.
cheers
wahoonc
08-03-07, 09:28 AM
Mine is occasion dependent...like when I remember to wear it:rolleyes: I rode for years and years without one, wore one of and on in the late 70's when the Bell Biker came out, then started wearing one in the 80's when I was teaching my kids to ride. Didn't ride for a few years then got back into it. When I ride my city/commuter bike or tour bike I almost always wear it. When I ride my cruiser or Raleigh 3 speed, probably not...go figure. It also probably has a bit to do with where I ride too, cruising the neighborhoods or the MUP in the small town, likely not. Riding the main road to the stores or out for a weekend ramble I usually do. FWIW I never ride without gloves...
Aaron:)
wow, so far less than half always use a helmet! interesting :)
I always do, but it's not because I'm scared to ride without it - or think it's stupid to.
I've actually been meaning to stop riding with the helmet so much, but it's habit and I forget about it. I rode for what... 30 years of my life without a helmet - mountain, commute, etc. without incident. There's no reason to consider it mandatory now...
jamesdenver
08-03-07, 09:54 AM
For my daily commute and errands around town I don't wear a helmet. For long group rides or mini tours by myself in the country I do.
Reasons? Hmm. Conveniece, hassle, one more thing to do in the morning, have to carry around in stores, etc.
I know and am aware of the risks, and I'm an adult who can make a conscientious decision.
SilverRider
08-03-07, 10:03 AM
Hmmm, I find this interesting. I along with many friends of mine have been in numerous crashes where landing on the head is the norm. I have totaled 3 helmets in the last year alone. The turning point for manditory helmet wearing was in about 1992. I was hauling ass down a fire road and a stick flew up in the wheel wedging between fork and tire. I was ejected in the air going about 40mph. I landed on my head and ripped my ear almost all of the way off. I am lucky the ground was soft where I first hit but the ear had no protection above it so it just peeled away. It was reattached my a plastic surgeon and now I wear a helmet all of the time.
It has saved me from very bad head injuries or worse. I think it is dumb to not wear one if you are a serious cyclist, which increases odds. You never know when that stick/rock is going to jump up or that motorist on the cell phone is going to take you out.
crtreedude
08-03-07, 10:10 AM
Looking at your avatar - you appear to be a MTBer - hauling ass down a fire road - yeah, wear the helmet. Wearing bubblewrap might be a good idea too!
I am commuting from point a to be in the frontier of a third world country. Totally different. In other words, I wear a helmet as much as I would wear one while I am walking. Just about the same possibility of hitting my head, but much closer to the ground. ;)
You can't lump all cyclist in the same category. Different riding habits, different skills (I have been riding for 40 years without once hitting my head). For example, I would never go 40 MPH down a fire road. I consider that much more risky than not having a helmet when you are an old geezer just bopping around town.
Always do. Had a crash the other night and if it was not for the helmet, I would have sustained serious head injury. Safety is paramount to my riding.
lima_bean
08-03-07, 10:41 AM
Too bad that wearing a helmet in a car is such a social taboo.
ModoVincere
08-03-07, 10:45 AM
Voted Always...I wish there was an option for always with out the "It's stupid not too" part.
I have yet to crash and hit my head, however I ride mostly on roads with drivers who seem to have gotten their license from a cracker jacks box, and well, I'm not fond of the idea of being a vegetable.
However, if my commutes did not take me on such busy roads, or if was just riding to the coffee shop down the street, then I could easily see not taking my helmet.
Mine is occasion dependent...like when I remember to wear it:rolleyes: I rode for years and years without one, wore one of and on in the late 70's when the Bell Biker came out, then started wearing one in the 80's when I was teaching my kids to ride. Didn't ride for a few years then got back into it. When I ride my city/commuter bike or tour bike I almost always wear it. When I ride my cruiser or Raleigh 3 speed, probably not...go figure. It also probably has a bit to do with where I ride too, cruising the neighborhoods or the MUP in the small town, likely not. Riding the main road to the stores or out for a weekend ramble I usually do. FWIW I never ride without gloves...
Aaron:)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_compensation
Changing your behavior based on perceived risk. <shakes head> You wear your helmet on the scary main road, but don't bother with it in town on the "slow" bike. Sounds rather silly in my (never-so) humble opinion.
I don't throw a leg over a frame unless I've got mine on. Post repair test rides included.
Heck yes. I have the sweetest helmet ever. All the messengers are jealous.
wahoonc
08-03-07, 01:12 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_compensation
Changing your behavior based on perceived risk. <shakes head> You wear your helmet on the scary main road, but don't bother with it in town on the "slow" bike. Sounds rather silly in my (never-so) humble opinion.
I don't throw a leg over a frame unless I've got mine on. Post repair test rides included.
To each their own. I have been riding for over 40 years. I raced at state level for 6 years and only had one race crash and that was back in the day of the hairnet helmets. I have had one crash while riding on the road and one crash while riding in the woods. I did a transcontinental ride in 1977 and have probably ridden close to 200,000 miles so far in my life time and am still alive.
Aaron:)
radiofree
08-03-07, 01:39 PM
If I am just going for a ride around the neighborhood on one of my vintage cruisers, no. But out commuting and on the bike path with my road bike, yes.
To each their own. I have been riding for over 40 years. I raced at state level for 6 years and only had one race crash and that was back in the day of the hairnet helmets. I have had one crash while riding on the road and one crash while riding in the woods. I did a transcontinental ride in 1977 and have probably ridden close to 200,000 miles so far in my life time and am still alive.
Aaron:)
It doesn't matter how long you've been riding, and I'm not knocking that. The fact that you behave differently with a helmet than you do without it is plain silly. You don't wear it in "safe" situations, but make no bones about it in a situation that puts you at greater "risk" even though the chances of injury haven't decreased one iota. Wear it or don't, but don't dance around it like riding in town on a three speed suddenly places you in a safety cocoon.
I choose to wear one, because they've come a long way in balancing crash protection with comfort. When I was a kid I never wore one (largely because they were either hairnets or giant mushroom head looking things), but now there's no real reason not to. They're plenty light, comfortable, vent well and don't make you look like a Koopa Troopa. Sh*t happens even in quiet neighborhoods, I just want to know that I did what I could for myself to mitigate any injuries.
KrisPistofferson
08-03-07, 01:50 PM
Most of the time I do, except for 5 minute grocery store trips. It's really not something that bothers me as a cyclist very much. I get more mad at wrong way cyclists and grown men who ride on the sidewalk downtown. Being inconsiderate of others sucks, being inconsiderate of yourself is your own business, I suppose.
I always wear helmet. Long time ago I came to place right after ambulance where one older biker had felt down and hit her head to asphalt. Brain damage which could have been avoided with helmet. So no thanks - I rather use helmet than lose part of my brain cells. It doesn't matter who has the fault - me or someone else - it doesn't warm me if I'm at coma.
Teme
hmm.. I Always do, but I don't feel it's stupid not to. =/
I agree. I personally have doubts as to whether helmets really make much difference in a serious accident, but they're a lot better than nothing at all, so I always wear one anyway. I don't think people are putting themselves in grave danger if they choose to ride without one.
Cosmoline
08-03-07, 02:30 PM
I use this big snow helmet all year. It's one of the only helmets of any kind that fits me. I have never found a regular bicycle helmet big enough for my head. During the summer I remove the insulated lining and use a bandana liner. That thing on the side is a tool mirror that works fantastic as a rear view. People think I'm nuts, but it works. Even if I am nuts.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/Gussick/mirror.jpg
East Hill
08-03-07, 02:30 PM
Always wear one. Actually, I don't go outside without some kind of hat (I need the sun protection), so the helmet is just a big awkward hat.
East Hill
donnamb
08-03-07, 07:16 PM
I have never found a regular bicycle helmet big enough for my head.
Just out of curiosity, what's your head circumference? (Mine's larger than average for a male - the only women's hats that fit me are the ones I make myself.)
As for my helmet use, I almost always take it off for pictures. I also tend not to wear it for the 5 block ride to the grocery store or the 5 mph evening rides through the rose gardens that I often take with my housemate who has health problems. I wear a helmet all other times.
hmm.. I Always do, but I don't feel it's stupid not to. =/
wow, so far less than half always use a helmet! interesting
I think you skewed the results by putting "it's stupid not to" with "I always wear a helmet".
As for myself, I almost always wear a helmet (even to ride a quarter-mile to the farmers' market) but I don't freak out if I forget it. I probably do an hour or two of riding per year without a helmet.
I didn't vote in the poll.
Cyclaholic
08-04-07, 06:46 AM
I always do because we are required by law to do so, not because "its stupid not to" <- and I wish you hadn't put that in the poll, it's why I'm refraining from voting.
Always, regardless of the distance I'm riding. My helmet is strapped on before I even get on the bike and I only take it off when the bike is locked back up again. It's just a routine I've got myself into, so basically I'm never on a bike, even stationary, without wearing a helmet.
I usually wear one but I don't think it's stupid not to. I wear one becaus I promised my dad that I would, and he bought me one for my birthday. If it gives him one less thing to worry about, it's worth it.
I was in a bad crash and scraped my head on the pavement. Compared to my other injuries, this was nothing!
Frankenbiker
08-04-07, 02:10 PM
I always wear a helmet. I "used" the last one I wore in an endo last summer and it saved my head and face. Fortunately I haven't had to "use" the one I'm wearing now. I would much rather be wearing it than using it or wishing I was using it if it was sitting at home in the garage when I needed to use it but wasn't wearing it.
ALWAYS!
This past April I was on a ride. It was a drizzly day, but that was OK and the ride was going well. I rounded a corner and began a steep descent. As it happened, construction vehicles or something must have tracked dirt up this road, and the drizzle turned the dirt into mud ... very slippery white mud. I skidded a bit on the way down, but remained upright. Just as I was approaching the bottom, I noticed the 4-way stop. The 2 cyclists in front of me went through the 4-way stop, and I was about to do the same thing when cars from 3 directions pulled up. I hit the brakes.
My left hip landed first, and the first thought through my mind was, "Oh good, it's going to be OK". The second thought through my mind was, "MY HEAD IS GOING TOO FAST!!". I braced myself, but the next thing I knew there was a loud CRACK and the world went white and sparkley ................................................................. I struggled to open my eyes, focus, and sit up ......... but the world went white and sparkley again .................................................................
As a result of that crash, I had a very badly bruised hip from the hip right down to my knee. Both knees were badly scraped and I had scratches down to my ankles. My right hand was pretty scraped up and bruised. My left shoulder is separated (we're still working on that).
And my helmet was cracked through. But my head was fine.
You just never know ... and it can happen so fast.
jakbikesdc
08-04-07, 03:32 PM
I don't. when I mtn bike I do, but I haven't been mtn biking in a year or so. Usually just a cycling cap does it for me.
a little info: helmets are usually only rated for impacts for a rider at speeds under 15mph., I'm just saying. It's just what I've heard.
a little info: helmets are usually only rated for impacts for a rider at speeds under 15mph., I'm just saying. It's just what I've heard.
And aside from descents or maybe the occasional tailwind, how many people do you know who can honestly say they ride faster than 15 mph?
jakbikesdc
08-04-07, 04:09 PM
I skitch alot, usually at speeds exceeding 15mph....I do alot of dangerous stuff though.
alicestrong
08-04-07, 05:54 PM
Yes, I always wear a helmet...
15 mph sounds like a nice safe speed limit...
When I commute my average is slower. On the empty bike path with my roadie friends pushing me...well.
kjmillig
08-04-07, 06:59 PM
Since 1985 before my leg goes over the bike. I've been known to go down the driveway and a few yards down the street to check out an adjustment without it, but other than that...always.
jilla82
08-04-07, 08:58 PM
I honestly never wear a helmet. I know I should, but I have never done it in my life. I intend on getting one though.
Also, in all of my years I have never feel on my head...Id like to think its because I know how to fall (from being a crazy kid). Whenever ive gotten into an accident on my bike ive managed to avoid hitting my head.
Depends on which bike and what I'm doing with it.
Banging down the dirt roads around here, or cruising around on my town bike, usually no helmet.
Anytime on my road bike, I usually wear my helmet.
I never wear a helmet because I'm stupid. Heck, I don't even own one!
I fell 1 time in the last 3 years. It was on a MUP, at night, I had no strong light then... I don't ride downtown very often, and when I do it's not during rush hours so I haven't really felt the need for it.
The university I'll be going to is right into downtown so I will probably be getting one. I'm 21 but my mom wants to buy me a helmet, I figure I'll take the offer!
heywood
08-06-07, 02:11 AM
I always wear a helmet on the road with cars, it too saved my life in an accident in 2003.
In parks, trails, etc.. it's optional for me. Feels great not wearing it sometimes, I believe in the freedom to choose. People shouldn't push their paranoia on others..
Cheers!
palmersperry
08-06-07, 07:24 AM
Never wear a helmet, don't own one and don't intend to change. Well, on the rare ocassions I have do a cycle delivery for work I have to put on a cycle helmet (it's a "uniform non-compliant issue" if I don't!). However as soon as I'm out of sight of the office it comes off and gets hung off part of the frame!
Why would I want to wear something that will likely make car drivers pass me more closely, and which increases the risk of brain damage in the event of your head being rotated in an accident? I don't wear a helmet when I'm a pedestrian or when I'm driving a car, why should I wear one whilst cycling along the road?
I'd say I wear a helmet about 90% of the time. If I'm going to be in traffic with cars, always. If I'm going on a ride on trails with minimal car interaction, sometimes I'll skip it. I'm not exactly a speed demon, of course.
I don't think it's stupid to not wear one, and there are some convincing arguments against them. But overall I feel like the helmet increases my chances of avoiding the ER should I have a minor accident. If I have a major accident, I know the helmet probably won't save me, but then again it might.
Doug5150
08-06-07, 10:43 AM
I have to ask you Living Car Free Forum users: what's your helmet use?....
I very rarely wear a helmet now.
Since about year 2000 I have only owned recumbent bikes, and I tend to suspect they're considerably safer in this regard. Over the last couple years I've gone from "helmet always" to "helmet almost never".
Previous to recumbents, I used to wear a helmet all the time.
On a recumbent bike, you tend to crash feet-first, rather than being launched head-first over the handlebars of an upright bike. The typical recumbent crash involves the bike falling over sideways and sliding, and the typical injuries are scrapes to the legs and lacerations to the hands. Head injuries do happen, but not nearly as often as other injuries.
I ride pretty conservatively, in 20 years of adult riding I've never crashed.
And as far as comfort goes, no helmet feels as good as {no helmet}.
-------
I think that in terms of injury prevention, a rear-view mirror is much more important than a helmet--and nobody seems to be promoting rear-view mirror use, and most riders I see don't have them.
~
I personally ride pretty conservatively, and always ride a helmet. My noggin hit the pavement hard, once. In a parking lot, low speed, found a speed bump that was near-invisible! normally speed bumps are set off with paint or something but this one just "jumped out at me" in broad daylight.
I've taken a few other bumps to the noggin, but no others as hard.
i crash a lot more off road than on (I think this is generaly the case with a lot of riders...:)) but the speeds are often slower, the terrain more forgiving, and sometimes you can launch yourself off Super-man-esque to the amuzement of any onlookers.
paulwwalters
08-06-07, 03:51 PM
I find that the people that say "helmets might not help in a bad accident, etc." should know that oftentimes the helmet is the difference between a bad accident and a minor one.
$0.02
Most of the time I do, except for 5 minute grocery store trips. It's really not something that bothers me as a cyclist very much. I get more mad at wrong way cyclists and grown men who ride on the sidewalk downtown. Being inconsiderate of others sucks, being inconsiderate of yourself is your own business, I suppose.
Yeah. I often see helmet-less guys and wonder, "Hmm, where's his helmet?" but then I see guys riding on the sidewalk or on the wrong side of the road and wonder, "Hmm, where's his brain?" Just today I saw two helmet-less riders pedaling down the left side (fast lane side) of a one way street, against the traffic. Moments later, a motorcycle (not a moped or a scooter - a motorcycle) passed by riding on the sidewalk.
I always wear my helmet, but most of my riding is on city streets. I feel much more comfortable riding among the beasts, er, motorists, with some head protection.
Yes I wear a helmut always. Notice that this is the "living car free" forum, not the "dying car free" forum.
Actually, getting killed might not be the worst thing. Head trauma in an accident could leave you a drooling cripple - a very painful circumstance for the types of active and intelligent folks found on bikeforums.com
wahoonc
08-06-07, 06:35 PM
Yes I wear a helmut always. Notice that this is the "living car free" forum, not the "dying car free" forum.
Actually, getting killed might not be the worst thing. Head trauma in an accident could leave you a drooling cripple - a very painful circumstance for the types of active and intelligent folks found on bikeforums.com
I really think you are giving some of them too much credit....:rolleyes::roflmao:
Aaron:)
wahoonc
08-06-07, 06:39 PM
-------
I think that in terms of injury prevention, a rear-view mirror is much more important than a helmet--and nobody seems to be promoting rear-view mirror use, and most riders I see don't have them.
~
I am in agreement. If you know what is coming up behind you, you won't be surprised and make a sudden bad move. I have worn/used mirrors longer than I have used helmets. I use several different types of mirrors depending on the bike and the situation. I miss the old style mirrors that were attached with a wrap around wire to your glasses. The new style mirrors don't work well with wire rimmed glasses.
Aaron:)
And aside from descents or maybe the occasional tailwind, how many people do you know who can honestly say they ride faster than 15 mph?
I assumed (apparently incorrectly) that just about all frequent riders rode faster than 15mph.
MyBikeGotStolen
08-06-07, 08:38 PM
I never wear a helmet allthough I do want to start. But as a kid growning up it was allways what "dorks" and old people did so its kinda stuck in my head that way. That was in the 90's before all the kids started wearing them and not thinking of it as the dork think to do. So I'm stuck in the middle of not being "old enough" and not being young enough. And I have been to the store and tried them on numerous times but never bought one. Surely when and if I have kids one day, I will wear one to help set the good example for them.
Oddly enough, I went to Wal-Mart (of all places) to help my dads girlfriend pick out a bike that she could go on short rides with, and she told me she needed to get helmet so people dont think she has a DUI. And said thats how she tells who is riding for fun and who is a drunk driver. By their helmet or lack of a helmet.
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