Road Cycling - Do you wear an helmet

I know that the politically correct (and healthy) response is yes. But I just hate to wear one, especially on hot days. So I end up riding without. Do you wear one?

Always!

Abso"fricken"lutely!!!

Always, and if its the sweat, then wear a dew rag under your helmet to absorb the sweat.
I dont notice my helmet anymore, its there but once you are used to it, you wont even notice it, its part of you or the bike.

You are an absolute fool if you don't wear one. We have a club training ride and after the ride was over on the cruise back to the shop, one of the riders hit a pothole going only 15mph.. He was not wearing a helmet and died from his injuries. You don't have to be going 30+ mph to crack your skull open on the pavement..

Yes, it just takes one fool in a car and game over.

ALWAYS. I read somewhere a average height man (5' 8") will fall at 22mph from a bike sitting at a standstill.

What does politically correct have to do with being smart and wearing a helmet? No matter the weather,it just does not bother me,like wearing a seatbelt,its just not an ordeal.

Yeah, I wear one. In fact, I need to replace it since I crashed in a race last week.

As long as you haven't had any offspring, go ahead and don't wear one, otherwise you should show some concern for people who may rely upon your being there for them. Thankfully, you're in Canada so I won't have to pay for any long-term health care for you if you become a vegetable. Your fellow citizens may not be so happy to provide you continued life-support.

Yes, absolutely. I don't even think about getting on my bike without a helmet. As others have said, they've become so light and comfortable now, I barely remember I'm wearing one...

Always, every ride. No exceptions!

I always wear one now. A couple of years ago I was out riding with a bunch of friends it was in the high 90's and I was not wearing a helmet, I took a flyer and when I turned around to see how much of a jump I got I went off the shoulder of the road when I tried to get back on I fliped and landed on my head it knocked me out cold. I woke up in the middle of the road with a lot of people standing over me, sure was embarasing.

God made out head in this shape so it will fit into a helmet...

You obviously have a full head of hair or you would give another reason for not
wearing helmets: tiger strips on the scalp from sunburn through the vents. Steve

I got to meet someone last week who used to work with my coworker. It turned out he is an avid cyclist and started out the conversation by asking if she was still cycling. He also mentioned how he had a bit of a break from cycling while recovering from an accident.

Later on that day, as I was getting a ride from said coworker to my hotel, she mentioned to me that she always felt a bit uncomfortable when her friend talked about his accident. Apparently she was supposed to have been on that ride with him. She said that he and some friends were cycling along Hwy 9 near the foothills just a bit west of Los Gatos, CA. To those who don't know this route, it's a very twisty two-lane road where 30MPH is often too fast for conditions. Unfortunately there are many idiot motorists who don't heed the warning signs and attempt to take the turns at much higher speeds. She told me that her friend's group had pulled off to the side of the road and were simply standing around taking a rest break when a car came around a corner too fast and too wide. It struck her friend and threw him into the windshield. He went right through. The helmet saved his head but he was still pretty badly messed up because he got cut in the stomache by the glass. He almost bled out. He went that far through the windshield. The doctors said that if it were not for the helmet, her friend would certainly have died immediately from the head trauma.

Yes, I always wear a helmet..
I have a lot of hair, but thank goodness for ponytails, pigtails & braids. :) Once I get "into" the ride, I forget I even have one on.

*Jealous Giggle* Stochastix, did ya spend all your money on that Trek 5900 Project One, so ya can't afford a light, well ventilated helmet?

Just wear one silly, we enjoy your posts/presence!

Ride the way you want, but ride safely.

As for helmets vs comfort, selecting a helmet that fits an important factor. If you have one you don't like, try to be more specific about what you don't like. In my case, I know I can't stand a headband unless it's cooler than 15-20 C. So I have to stay away from the "one size fits all" helmets that use an adjustable plastic ring inside. On the other hand, the style that had a fixed size with pads on the sides let the air flow onto my forehead. Very comfortable, but harder and harder to find.

I know that the politically correct (and healthy) response is yes. But I just hate to wear one, especially on hot days. So I end up riding without. Do you wear one?

Yep. On *really* hot days (I'm talking 45 Degrees C + here), you're gonna be bloody hot regarless of wearing a helmet (or anything else for that matter!). The reality is that it makes little difference in that respect -- and it can help to offset things that will make a far greater difference in the future. Thus, I always wear one.

Yes, I always wear one. I have been lucky to have not hurt my head in 2 of the accidents I have encountered so far. That was when I did not have a helmet. Right now that I have one, why not just wear it? I never want to regret not wearing it. How much a difference is that few grams going to make?

Thank you all for the answers. It's always fun to write an e-mail thinking of all the controversy you're creating ;-). I guess the idea of wearing one of those head covers below the helmet is a nice one; I'll try that. And will be looking for a light and well vented helmet.

Anyways, it's -15 celcius this morning here and we got snow all weekend long. So I have time to find a suitable helmet!

Thank you all!

Yep. On *really* hot days (I'm talking 45 Degrees C + here), you're gonna be bloody hot regarless of wearing a helmet (or anything else for that matter!). The reality is that it makes little difference in that respect -- and it can help to offset things that will make a far greater difference in the future. Thus, I always wear one.

Anyone else see that study 10 years ago or so that found that a head with a helmet was actually cooler than one without? Something to do with the wind flowing through the helmet's vents being cooler than non vented air.

Anyone else see that study 10 years ago or so that found that a head with a helmet was actually cooler than one without? Something to do with the wind flowing through the helmet's vents being cooler than non vented air.

Yeah. I remember a bunch of helmet manufacturers citing it. I definately think my head is cooler with a helmet on... especially on really sunny days since it will block the direct sun as well.

Do I have to say it?? Anyone who doesn't wear a helmit is a fool!! I know a lof of europeans don't, but I think it is still foolish.

Here are the numbers as explained to me by a Shock Trauma doctor (we have the first ST here).

The average (5'8" I think) person will hit their head on the pavement with 12 lbs. or force (not even moving!!) and it takes 10 lbs of pressure to fracture your skull!! I think the nubers speek for themselves.

Most of us ride for recreation. We aren'g tetting paid a lot of money to shave a 1/10 of a second off our time in a race!!

Put your helmet back on and wear a "head Sweat" under it!!! Oh, and please make sure it is fitter propperly!! A helmet worn too far back will break your neck or simply will not protect your frontal lobe or both!!!

Bill

You obviously have a full head of hair or you would give another reason for not
wearing helmets: tiger strips on the scalp from sunburn through the vents. Steve

For the follically impaired, the do-wrap/headsweat is the best thing to come along in a long time.

Do-Wrap/Headsweat... please more information for this follically impaired and fashion disjointed rider.
As for the original post. Yes I wear a helmet while cycling, snowboarding and rockclimbing. Seen to many accidents and after effects of head injuries. A brain is a terrible thing to waste.

i dont understand why sometimes in the tour they dont wear one. yes they are going uphill and not going to fast and want to stay cool, but its just stupid.

the question of wearing a helmet seems absurd really
I used to ride that ride up 9 in the bay area often, used to feel rather tense about it too.
all too true that anyone can take you out anytime, nice to be somewhat prepared.
I was all too eager for a ride and headed out a few weeks ago accidently without my helmet (stange piece of equipment to space eh?). took me less than a mile to feel the difference and it rattled me to imagine I was there in traffic without it, felt totally naked and sketchy. much to my irritation with myself, I headed home, wasn't about to continue without it.

oh yeah, and I think it's true about it being cooler; it's really really hot out here, when I suffer it's not a hot head I'm feeling.

Yes I do

I know that the politically correct (and healthy) response is yes. But I just hate to wear one, especially on hot days. So I end up riding without. Do you wear one?

Always have and always will. The wife was hit by a car a little over a year ago and is still recovering in some ways. As the doctor said most people die when hit by a car, without the helmet it would have been the case with her.

From all the yes responses, I think you have the correct answer for yourself.

WEAR THE HELMET!!!!!!!! :p :p

Yes. And replace them regularly or when they get dinged. Split two in accidents with cars I walked away from. A good investment.

If I only had one when I was a kid while my older sister beat me up...

i dont understand why sometimes in the tour they dont wear one. yes they are going uphill and not going to fast and want to stay cool, but its just stupid.

They don't have to wear helmets when there is a mountaintop finish. And only on the final climb.

They're pros though. Ever wonder why pros get hurt less often when they fall than we do?

For the tour when they don't wear a helmet on, its b'cos most things are controlled no traffic over taking or coming the opposite direction so its pretty safe. I always have my helmet on but have never had major spill on road bike but on mountainbike I fell a couple of times. My riding partner coming out from his house went endo when his front wheel caught in the drain cover he landed on his head and broke his helmet if it wasn't for that plastic it would've been his head.

Thank god no major incident on bicycle but I've crashed 3 times on motorbike and 3 times I was saved by my crash helmet so I'm a stern believer it WILL save your life.

Tho no connection with this discussion but I just felt I should tell you guys since its been hurting me carrying this burden ... on friday evening 19/3, a close cycling buddy working in a construction site had a freak accident, they were boring holes for bore piles and he was inspecting the hole 20 meter deep and a steel pipe 5" diameter fell from above landed directly on his head he was wearing safety helmet and it smashed the helmet into pieces broke his spine #6 & #7. He's still in ICU paralyse chest down still recovering from spinal shock. I spoke to the doc and they're not sure if he'll ever recover.

Things like these make us realize how lucky we're when we're still able to ride... But it hurts like hell in the inside when it happen to a close buddy. Nothing much we can do cep pray for him.

Only when I ride.

never have, probably should.

Do-Wrap/Headsweat... please more information for this follically impaired and fashion disjointed rider.
As for the original post. Yes I wear a helmet while cycling, snowboarding and rockclimbing. Seen to many accidents and after effects of head injuries. A brain is a terrible thing to waste.

A "Dew-Rag" or as we called em in the ol day, an "Aunt Jemima Cap", is a bandana worn over ones noggin.

Old School:
http://www.alopeciaboy.net/Bandanas.html

http://gollan.pwaresearch.com/hp/bandana.html

The more modern versions are often referred to as skull caps
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=137&subcategory=1220&brand=&sku=1829&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

http://secure1.cascadewebdev.com/dew-rags/content/tek9.asp?pg=recreation&grp=34


Old school for me

I always wear one on singletrack and on roads. However, on really intense climbs or hill repeats where I'm suffering, I'll take it off until I reach summit then put it back on. I know it's not safe, but I try to be careful and well aware.

Yes and I insist my kids wear their's too. My daughter had a serious fall a couple of summers ago. She was not wearing her helmet and she almost hit her head on a fire hydrant. As it was, she dislocated her shoulder and was badly bruised over her torso. I'm very surprised she didn't hurt her head.

The pro take off their helmets to keep cool, its that simple. Trust Corporate America and helmet companies to tell you that a helmet keeps you cooler, LOL. I wear a helmet but on a grueling climb i wish to throw it, anone that says a helmet is cooler than none has never ridden long enough without a helmet to know.

If my track record is any indication, I am far less likely to crash while wearing a helmet than I am not wearing one. It seems that everytime I go out for a quick spin to test an adjustment and decide to leave the helmet behind, I end up on the ground with the rubber side up. Usually I never get much further than the end of my block before that occurs.