BMX - Helmet or No Helmet...?

So how many of you wear a helmet when riding? Actually what I'm looking for here is how many of you DON'T wear a helmet? I'm not talking about your practicing tailwhips in the driveway or riding up to the store or whatever. I'm talking about goin'-all-out riding with a bare melon: street, ramps, serious dirt jumping, etc.

I'd also like to know why you don't wear a helmet?

i can tell you one thing..
i've done many action sports in the past..
scootering, skating, inline, just not yet bmx..
i would always wear a helmet at park, but in street, i refuse the wear a helmet because it's uncomfortable.
sounds like a stupid reason, it probably is, but i think this is why most people don't wear helmets.

i refuse the wear a helmet because it's uncomfortable.
sounds like a stupid reason, it probably is, but i think this is why most people don't wear helmets.

Ya go ahead and check off the "I'm just stoopid" box in the poll above :D

i dont wear a helmet because i cant really afford one. theyre getting really expensive now, and the only reason i would wear one is to go to the indoor park near my house, which i dont do. i mean, im not gonna go out and spend $50 for a helmet when i dont really need one. thats just stupid

i dont wear a helmet because i cant really afford one. theyre getting really expensive now, and the only reason i would wear one is to go to the indoor park near my house, which i dont do. i mean, im not gonna go out and spend $50 for a helmet when i dont really need one. thats just stupid

Why don't you think you need a helmet?

Byron Center, that's over by Grand Rapids right? I used to love riding street over in GR.

I wear one. I you saw a crash I did once, you'd know why. Landing on my back from 4 ft. wasn't exactly a good landing, without the helmet-- blood.

L4M2 found some good pics I could use for a reason...

http://www.bmx-zone.com/en-gallery-section-crash.html

just going out street riding I dont where one. not because I refuse to, it just doesnt cross my mind when i go out. When I used to jump dirt I wore one and it saved my head on more than one occasion. On the rare occasion I go to a park, I where one there. Ive ridden with guys who go out of their way to make the guys not wearing a helmet feel stupid and try to force them to wear one. While I respect them for caring enough about other's saftey, I think just telling them and leaving it at that is enough. if they refuse, not much is going to make them wear one and maybe one bad day they'll learn the hard way. force and insults arent the most effective teaching method.
ugh, sorry for the rant. it was on my mind so I typed it... i need to stop doing that. in short, do I agree with wearing helmets? yes. do i wear one? not usually(unless im dirt jumping or at a park). why? I just dont think of it usually and I know whatever happens is completely my fault.

yea byron center is about 10 min south of GR.

i just dont really think about grabbing a helmet on my way out the door. and if i ever do go to the indoor park ( modern ) then i can rent it for like $2

i dont wear a helmet because i cant really afford one. theyre getting really expensive now, and the only reason i would wear one is to go to the indoor park near my house, which i dont do. i mean, im not gonna go out and spend $50 for a helmet when i dont really need one. thats just stupid

you wont think it's a stupid idea when you crack your head open... if you can think anymore

I don't wear anything when just riding around the hood despite the fact that I often blast down hilly streets at full speed. My hands and various bones are my main concern during regular riding. I definitely plan on buying a helmut for my occasional skatepark visit though. the last thing I want to do is slam my head on the concrete and wake up semi-conscious at the bottom of a bowl with a shadowy circle of kids staring down at me.

I need to buy the full safety package! A light, comfortable helmut, a set of soft, yet durable gloves for my "schwetty" palms(I like the Odyssey Power Gloves), and some unobtrusive knee and elbow pads. Is there any way a man could rock all of this and still remain cool and comfortable??

hehe... The end of my last post reminds me of that Old Spice commercial! "I have hair here..but not here. Is Old Spice Right for me??"

I don't wear anything when just riding around the hood despite the fact that I often blast down hilly streets at full speed. My hands and various bones are my main concern during regular riding. I definitely plan on buying a helmut for my occasional skatepark visit though. the last thing I want to do is slam my head on the concrete and wake up semi-conscious at the bottom of a bowl with a shadowy circle of kids staring down at me.

I need to buy the full safety package! A light, comfortable helmut, a set of soft, yet durable gloves for my "schwetty" palms(I like the Odyssey Power Gloves), and some unobtrusive knee and elbow pads. Is there any way a man could rock all of this and still remain cool and comfortable??

I too live in Austin and no, you'll be uncomfortable as hell in all those pads in the Summer.

I wish I had an age factor to go with this poll. I have a feeling that the younger crowd is going pad/helmet free while those of us who have a little more life experience (bad crashes) consider a helmet essential.

100psi do you ride at 9th Street? That looks like an awesome place to ride. I heard that Taj Mehalic built that? I used to ride with that guy YEARS ago in Michigan. Even as a kid that guy stood out at the track.


yea byron center is about 10 min south of GR.

i just dont really think about grabbing a helmet on my way out the door. and if i ever do go to the indoor park ( modern ) then i can rent it for like $2

Wow a rented helmet. That's gotta smell great! Haha well hey at least you got something between your skull on the ground.


L4M2 found some good pics I could use for a reason...

http://www.bmx-zone.com/en-gallery-section-crash.html

Ya I saw these, and after looking through the pages and seeing how many idiots were laying there with a bleeding head I decided to start this thread. I just can't believe how many people were not wearing a brain bucket and trying backflips, nose manuals on a ramp, and so on. And this is just the few who happen to have a camera around when it happened.

I wish I had an age factor to go with this poll. I have a feeling that the younger crowd is going pad/helmet free while those of us who have a little more life experience (bad crashes) consider a helmet essential.


Yeah. The older riders(like myself) aren't willing to risk a serious and expensive injury.


100psi do you ride at 9th Street? That looks like an awesome place to ride. I heard that Taj Mehalic built that? I used to ride with that guy YEARS ago in Michigan. Even as a kid that guy stood out at the track.

I have only been a few times. The last time I was there, I had my old hi-tensile bike and was not about to skewer myself with the tubing of my suddenly-snapped frame. I also had my 8 year old son with me. He doesn't like to see Daddy crash! I drove by there last week and it looks totally different the guys were in the process of fine tuning the lines. There a group of guys that are dedicated to maintaining 9th. Most are local veterans. Taj was one of 'em.

I haven't done any real jumping since I was a teen back in PA. I plan on taking my new bike to 9th to start practicing at the small lines and work my way up. Those new lines are serious business - major air can be had. As well as major injuries for the uninitiated! I would love to be able to run that main line by summer's end. If you're there at the right time, you'll catch some of the skilled, sponsored locals and maybe a local legend like Taj or a Chase jammin' -rare. I've never met Taj but I know his T1 headqueaters are here in Austin(I want one of those '08 barcodes!). They hold movie premiers and all sorts of jams there from time to time. I'd love to hit up the T1 ramps too!!

For the history and latest on 9th, check out these sites:
http://www.ninthstreetbmx.com/
http://www.liquorbikes.com/

I don't wear one when I'm just fooling around, but if I was to ride trails and stuff a lot, I would invest in a good skidlid.

http://www.andover.edu/bikesafety/images/brain_and_helmet.jpg


GET WITH IT.