Southern California - open note to all helmet nazis...

especially the old man on the colnago in shady canyon this morning (i really hope that you are a BF member).

please, please do not interrupt my pleasant weekend ride by shouting at me and my friend to "wear a helmet" as you are passing by. not only is it incredibly rude, but the holier-than-thou attitude is liable to get you a massive knuckle sandwich next time, seriously. i grew up abiding by the old adage that if you got nothing good to say, then don't say anything at all. why you don't comprehend this is beyond me. i also grew up learning that this adage was especially important when dealing with complete strangers b/c who knows what sort of short tempered crazy nut bags are out there.

the great helmet debate has been discussed to death and basically comes down to individual preference, unless you're racing or on a club or organized ride. individual choice... what a great concept, kind of like what this country was founded on? my not wearing a helmet has no bearing on you or your ride or safety whatsoever. you have no idea why i am making the choices that i am making so just shut the eff up. i know what those helmet nazis are going to say, "hey i am just looking out for your saftey." thanks but i already got a mom for that... and besides, what's next, are you going to start shouting at people for not wearing sunglasses, gloves, cycling shoes, etc? are you going to lecture the guy with the creaky brakes and out of true wheel b/c that is also a safety concern?

get over yourself my friend and think twice before you open your big mouth b/c one day someone is going to close it for you, senior citizen or not, b/c no one is above a good old fashioned ass whupping.

That's right! You kick the snot out of that elderly man next time!

I hope the no helmet riders get extra special cool points in the afterlife for tossing aside safety for looking like a badass that D(idn't)GAF :roflmao2:

Typical lowlife-type attitude.
Ask your mommy if you can join the army!

I hope the no helmet riders get extra special cool points in the afterlife for tossing aside safety for looking like a badass that D(idn't)GAF :roflmao2:

i'd like to think that my treatment in the afterlife will have much more to do with how much i have given to my family, friends, and society as a whole, rather than my decision to wear a helmet. and if you even believe in things like the afterlife, then you must also strongly believe that the divine being in this afterlife more or less determines your time here on this earth, irrespective of your decision to wear a helmet. but of course, there is always a chance that this divine being is in fact a helmet nazi also, in which case i would be royally screwed.

After hitting a piece of junk on the freeway 25 years ago and falling off my motorcycle at 60 mph, and getting away with no more than a broken arm, I can't say how important a helmet is. My motorcycle helmet was totally trashed - fiberlgass cover crunched & scratched where it dragged along the asphalt, and the foam inside dented in a few areas where it absorbed the force of the impacts. The ER doctor was amazed I walked away with no brain injuries until he saw how much impact the helmet took.

Two things to consider: If you really are concerned about family, friends, etc, you'll wear a helmet for their sake. And if you're really concerned about society, and the cost of government and health care, you'll wear a helmet to reduce the risk of you becoming a vegetable in a long term care facility and draining your family's savings; while bike helmets are not as 'ballistic' as a motorcycle helmet, they can make a difference if you do like I did on the motorcycle and fall after hitting an object you can't avoid.

:bike2:

I don't give people grief on what they wear, but I've got to admit I find it stange when I see a cyclist dressed in full spandex/lycra/SPD kit with no helmet. I wonder about that person's priorities . . .

Getting grief about equipment: I get it all the time for not wearing clipless shoes & pedals. I don't get belligerant, I just put my foot next to theirs, then tell them I gave up looking for size 14 (US) shoes. 'nuf said.

And we're to be impressed with this articulate, thoughtful, considerate, respectful-of-others rant for what reason?

I hope your mother doesn't spend her dotage changing your diapers.

I always wear a helmet. I would feel naked without one. But when I did my cycle tour in the Pyrenees, not one person had a helmet on. You could always tell the Americans or Brits, cuz we were the only ones wearing helmets. Even in bike crazy cities like Copenhagen, no one wears a helmet. Kids don't wear them either.

I guess it's cultural or personal preference.;)

I personally don't care what you do or don't wear, I do get irritated with salmon and ninja riders, especially the ones being both at the same time.
Whether you wear a helmet or not, has no bearing on my personal safety. Riding on the wrong side of the road and/or without lights at night has the potential to impact my safety.

And we're to be impressed with this articulate, thoughtful, considerate, respectful-of-others rant for what reason?

I hope your mother doesn't spend her dotage changing your diapers.

and i'm supposed to be impressed with you taking a pot shot at my mother's state of mind?

surely anyone should be able to realize that my rant, if you want to call it that, was not about the helmet/ no helmet debate, but rather about people making random comments that imply some sort of social or moral superiority... shouting out "hey wear a helmet" without establishing any kind of social capital whatsoever, is rude and implies that i am somehow behaving recklessly or irresponsibly. i don't imagine that you go around and shout at people for things they are doing that you disagree with... or who knows, maybe you do. either way, i was not hoping to impress you or anyone else. i was just making a point and backing it up with some thoughts, which is more than i can say you have done.

I personally don't care what you do or don't wear, I do get irritated with salmon and ninja riders, especially the ones being both at the same time.
Whether you wear a helmet or not, has no bearing on my personal safety. Riding on the wrong side of the road and/or without lights at night has the potential to impact my safety.

:roflmao2: salmon and ninja riders that's funny. I see those around here all the time. Sometimes I have to point to the side of the road to indicate what side they should ride on so they don't run into me.

" i grew up abiding by the old adage that if you got nothing good to say, then don't say anything at all. "

Evidently, you didn't really comprehend the meaning of this.

" i grew up abiding by the old adage that if you got nothing good to say, then don't say anything at all. "

Evidently, you didn't really comprehend the meaning of this.

good point, you got me, but i can always go back and claim the 3rd grade defense... "he started it." hahaha

please, please do not interrupt my pleasant weekend ride by shouting at me and my friend to "wear a helmet" as you are passing by. not only is it incredibly rude, but the holier-than-thou attitude is liable to get you a massive knuckle sandwich next time, seriously.wow! so you want to punch someone because they told you to do something so obvious and that ruined your ride? quite the rebel you are

how many more years 'til puberty?

especially the old man on the colnago in shady canyon this morning (i really hope that you are a BF member).

please, please do not interrupt my pleasant weekend ride by shouting at me and my friend to "wear a helmet" as you are passing by. not only is it incredibly rude, but the holier-than-thou attitude is liable to get you a massive knuckle sandwich next time, seriously. i grew up abiding by the old adage that if you got nothing good to say, then don't say anything at all. why you don't comprehend this is beyond me. i also grew up learning that this adage was especially important when dealing with complete strangers b/c who knows what sort of short tempered crazy nut bags are out there.

the great helmet debate has been discussed to death and basically comes down to individual preference, unless you're racing or on a club or organized ride. individual choice... what a great concept, kind of like what this country was founded on? my not wearing a helmet has no bearing on you or your ride or safety whatsoever. you have no idea why i am making the choices that i am making so just shut the eff up. i know what those helmet nazis are going to say, "hey i am just looking out for your saftey." thanks but i already got a mom for that... and besides, what's next, are you going to start shouting at people for not wearing sunglasses, gloves, cycling shoes, etc? are you going to lecture the guy with the creaky brakes and out of true wheel b/c that is also a safety concern?

get over yourself my friend and think twice before you open your big mouth b/c one day someone is going to close it for you, senior citizen or not, b/c no one is above a good old fashioned ass whupping.
You're going to beat up an old man because he said "wear a helmet?" Damn, tough crowd.

You're going to beat up an old man because he said "wear a helmet?" Damn, tough crowd.

I'd beat up GP just for smiling.

You should just reply, "Thanks for the reminder, mom."

Sorry I hurt your feelings. Ignore what I said and pass on the helmet.

and i'm supposed to be impressed with you taking a pot shot at my mother's state of mind?

Surely anyone should be able to realize that my rant, if you want to call it that, was not about the helmet/ no helmet debate, but rather about people making random comments that imply some sort of social or moral superiority... Shouting out "hey wear a helmet" without establishing any kind of social capital whatsoever, is rude and implies that i am somehow behaving recklessly or irresponsibly. I don't imagine that you go around and shout at people for things they are doing that you disagree with... Or who knows, maybe you do. Either way, i was not hoping to impress you or anyone else. I was just making a point and backing it up with some thoughts, which is more than i can say you have done.

OMG quit WHINING already!

I'd beat up GP just for smiling.

I call BS. He smiles a lot. Oh, and yeah, um, something something helmets

I'd beat up GP just for smiling.That hurt.

wow! so you want to punch someone because they told you to do something so obvious and that ruined your ride? quite the rebel you are

how many more years 'til puberty?

read the post carefully, i never said that i would punch his lights out, i said that he is liable to have that happen if he keeps doing what he's doing and repeated the same sentiment in the last sentence. having spent a fair amount of time in chicago and new york, yes not minding your own business will certainly get you in to trouble... granted a MUT in irvine is not either of those cities, its still not a good idea IMHO.

certainly a pro helmet crowd here that buys into all the helmet saves lives rhetoric. that's cool... i got no problem with that. i know that these helmets are designed to protect an average person falling off their bike at low speeds at a height of approx 3 meters. if i'm going to worry about that, i may as well wear a helmet every time i go jogging or climb a ladder.

i know that these helmets are designed to protect an average person falling off their bike at low speeds at a height of approx 3 meters. if i'm going to worry about that, i may as well wear a helmet every time i go jogging or climb a ladder.
The helmets would never pass a test with a drop height of 3 meters. The CPSC government standard calls for the test to be done with a drop height of 2.0 meters onto a flat surface and a height of only 1.2 meters onto hemispherical and curb-shaped surfaces.

I'll never go without a helmet since it's saved my noggin a couple times. If you crash a helmet, play with it. Use a melon as your head and see how much impact it can absorb. It's a pretty good thing to have on.

I'll tell you, if you drop your head onto a curb from 1 meter - are you going to tell me a helmet will make no difference?
I can hit my helmeted head onto pavement from 3 inches with no ill effect. I would not even dare do that bare headed.
To effectively protect your head from a 2 meter drop is incredible insurance for the price of a helmet.
Besides, wearing a helmet sets a good example to kids and others that see you around.

About that helmet nazi- I think that's bad form. Two wrongs don't make a right, as they say. But you won't get any sympathy from me! :)
eh, don't let the little things bother you so much.

and i'm supposed to be impressed with you taking a pot shot at my mother's state of mind? You also need to learn the meaning of dotage. And get a new keyboard; your shift key seems to be defective.

You also need to learn the meaning of dotage. And get a new keyboard; your shift key seems to be defective.

whatever... grammar cop... hah. not surprising b/c you obviously have no argument to make.

Brother, you and your head can do whatever they like and yeah I agree that passing bikers throwing out instructions on biking safety is on the annoying side, but frankly I enjoy my head and therefore my helmet.

I replaced it earlier this year after my second crash in which I felt my helmet (with head installed) hit the pavement at 15-20 mph and skid along across railroad tracks. I thought about it a week later and looked at it carefully after reading through a silly thread such as this about helmets and saw the crack so decided I needed another as it saved my head twice.

Do want you like my friend for truly it is your body, but for myself I choose some degree of protection, it's served me well thus far. Above all enjoy your ride.

Hey lowlife, you are wasting your time man! These people are so brainwashed on the helmet issue, you've got more chance to see a Taliban walking around without a turban than I cyclist riding without a helmet. :D As you said - this is a free country. You get to ride without a helmet, they get to shout at you. Just give them their freedom of speech. I've been lectured and shouted at about the helmet millions of times but do you think I give a rat's arse? Yeap, you guessed it right - I don't. It will take a lot more than shouting obscenities to scare me. :D I wear a helmet on the club rides out of respect for the beliefs of my buddies (that the helmet is good for you). And some times I take my opportunities to remind them that I don't like the "hat". Hopefully one day they'll learn to respect my beliefs too. After all, I won't hurt anybody by riding without a helmet. And by the way, I don't lecture anybody what to wear when riding a bike.

Looks like you ride in the Irvine area. Maybe we can organize a BF ride where helmets will be strictly optional. :thumb:

if you're dumb enough to believe that helmets don't help, then a helmet can't help you and can't save what isn't there

I've never had a nanny-type shout I should wear a helmet. At the speeds I normally ride my MTB it's not warranted on a basically traffic-free bike ride on my local MUT. I did recently purchase a helmet though in anticipation of my new road bike. I can't stand nanny types though. I'm an adult, and I can make my own decisions.

I'm new here, what do these terms mean?

I didn't wear a helmet until today, did a club ride and while it wasn't as 'free feeling' as the wind blowing in my hair, I really did feel a bit more safe. I've seen kids falling off their bikes on the beach trails (living in OC by Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Huntington and Laguna) there's a TON of bike traffic and seeing one kid wreck and burst his head open was bad enough.

Plus, riding on the street you just don't have all the metal and steel around you like in a car.... just makes sense if you love your head - ya know?

Thx for the Ninja and Salmon explanation anyway!

Raven

Yeah, a car gives you a lot of protection. But even a car has seat belt requirements here in California.

Don't worry, you won't get a helmet comment from me. Just promise me you carry really good insurance or have an i.d. tag that says DNR, because we tax payers are sick of paying for people's negligence.

http://www.geocities.com/alicestrong@sbcglobal.net/Bearcartoon.jpg

Don't worry, you won't get a helmet comment from me. Just promise me you carry really good insurance or have an i.d. tag that says DNR, because we tax payers are sick of paying for people's negligence.

Personally I don't ever yell at anyone to wear a helmet (not saying you do), but I feel the same way. And lol at the dnr dog tag. :lol:

Personally I don't ever yell at anyone to wear a helmet (not saying you do), but I feel the same way. And lol at the dnr dog tag. :lol:
Thanks. I thought of it because of a conversation I had on yesterday's ride. I stated I was against seatbelt or helmet laws for adults, and the other person pointed out that quite often the tax payer gets his with the medical costs, or supporting the vegetable left over, and suggested an implied waiver of treatment if you don't use the safety devices. I liked the idea.

I was out on the trails this morning and some twit told me I was wearing stupid looking socks, so I went home and beat my dog. That'll teach him.

I was out on the trails this morning and some twit told me I was wearing stupid looking socks, so I went home and beat my dog. That'll teach him.


Pix or it didn't happen.



The socks, not the dog...;)

Thanks. I thought of it because of a conversation I had on yesterday's ride. I stated I was against seatbelt or helmet laws for adults, and the other person pointed out that quite often the tax payer gets his with the medical costs, or supporting the vegetable left over, and suggested an implied waiver of treatment if you don't use the safety devices. I liked the idea.

For this to make any sense, we'd have to be able to truly say that a particular "safety device" would really have made the difference.

There are lots of people here who say "my helmet saved my life," when they'd have probably been just fine without it (in my life I have seen many, many, many helmetless slams - biking and skateboarding - that the person walked away from with no permanent injury).

And on the other hand, there are plenty of accidents that people say "he should have been wearing a helmet," when the accident was so extreme it wouldn't have saved him anyway.

So before we go wishing denial of treatment to accident victims, we need to get much better at determining what might have happened had they been wearing a helmet or using other safety devices.

Pix or it didn't happen.



The socks, not the dog...;)

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-14683534438962_2063_32032910

The pink pair. They match my saddle and handlebar streamers.

http://www.geocities.com/alicestrong@sbcglobal.net/Bearcartoon.jpg
LOL

i grew up abiding by the old adage that if you got nothing good to say, then don't say anything at all....


Then STFU

especially the old man on the colnago in shady canyon this morning (i really hope that you are a BF member).

please, please do not interrupt my pleasant weekend ride by shouting at me and my friend to "wear a helmet" as you are passing by. not only is it incredibly rude, but the holier-than-thou attitude is liable to get you a massive knuckle sandwich next time, seriously. i grew up abiding by the old adage that if you got nothing good to say, then don't say anything at all. why you don't comprehend this is beyond me. i also grew up learning that this adage was especially important when dealing with complete strangers b/c who knows what sort of short tempered crazy nut bags are out there.

the great helmet debate has been discussed to death and basically comes down to individual preference, unless you're racing or on a club or organized ride. individual choice... what a great concept, kind of like what this country was founded on? my not wearing a helmet has no bearing on you or your ride or safety whatsoever. you have no idea why i am making the choices that i am making so just shut the eff up. i know what those helmet nazis are going to say, "hey i am just looking out for your saftey." thanks but i already got a mom for that... and besides, what's next, are you going to start shouting at people for not wearing sunglasses, gloves, cycling shoes, etc? are you going to lecture the guy with the creaky brakes and out of true wheel b/c that is also a safety concern?

get over yourself my friend and think twice before you open your big mouth b/c one day someone is going to close it for you, senior citizen or not, b/c no one is above a good old fashioned ass whupping.

I can understand why you wrote this and also why you write in this manner. Have you fallen on your head many times?

Fortunately, he didn't tell you the bridge up ahead was out. Murder???

What did all you helmet lovers do back in the day when there were no fancy $170+ carbon injected cranial caps? I grew up during the late 70's/early 80's BMX era. Nobody wore helmets except for the motorcycle style ones during the actual races. On the streets we spent all day long seeing how far and high we could jump. I remember a lot of scraped up hands, knees, busted balls and skin torn off backs, but not one shot to the head.

After all my years of road riding after my BMX days I still don't remember witnessing any major shots to the head on any club rides.

So what did you guys do back when there were only Cinelli leather hairnets and such? Even my first Brancale foam helmet was about as protective as taping empty egg cartons to your head. The first Giro's were a little better. So after 30+ years of riding in every condition imaginable, do I feel the need to wear my fancy sparkly Giro Atmos on a 8 foot wide smooth as a baby's butt MUT? heck no

And to the lady yesterday on the MUT that felt the need to tell me that her uncle or nephew or whatever hit a "small pebble" and died because he wasn't wearing a helmet... sorry but he falls into the category of rare incident in my book. "You should buy a helmet." Yeah...

i ride motorbikes sometimes with no helmet , always a helmet on my bicycles, we bikers, bicycles and harley riders, should stick together and SAY LET THOSE WHO RIDE DECIDE..........its a personal choice

Don't worry, you won't get a helmet comment from me. Just promise me you carry really good insurance or have an i.d. tag that says DNR, because we tax payers are sick of paying for people's negligence.

Better yet, please sign up as an organ donor. You could save a life (or more) even if it's not yours.

Stop The Insanity!!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p063wg78Yss)

What did all you helmet lovers do back in the day when there were no fancy $170+ carbon injected cranial caps? I grew up during the late 70's/early 80's BMX era. Nobody wore helmets except for the motorcycle style ones during the actual races. On the streets we spent all day long seeing how far and high we could jump. I remember a lot of scraped up hands, knees, busted balls and skin torn off backs, but not one shot to the head.

After all my years of road riding after my BMX days I still don't remember witnessing any major shots to the head on any club rides.

So what did you guys do back when there were only Cinelli leather hairnets and such? Even my first Brancale foam helmet was about as protective as taping empty egg cartons to your head. The first Giro's were a little better. So after 30+ years of riding in every condition imaginable, do I feel the need to wear my fancy sparkly Giro Atmos on a 8 foot wide smooth as a baby's butt MUT? heck no

And to the lady yesterday on the MUT that felt the need to tell me that her uncle or nephew or whatever hit a "small pebble" and died because he wasn't wearing a helmet... sorry but he falls into the category of rare incident in my book. "You should buy a helmet." Yeah...


People can make their own decision on using a helmet unless required by law.
Also, helmet prices range from $15 to $300. There is one for every budget.

Here are some facts about helmet use. http://www.bhsi.org/stats.htm

Two percent of motor vehicle-related deaths are bicyclists. The most serious injuries among a majority of those killed are to the head, highlighting the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet. Helmet use has been estimated to reduce head injury risk by 85 percent.

Ninety-five percent of bicyclists killed in 2006 reportedly weren't wearing helmets

Head injuries account for more than 60 percent of bicycle-related deaths, more than two-thirds of bicycle-related hospital admissions and about one-third of hospital emergency room visits for bicycling injuries.

A very high percentage of cyclists' brain injuries can be prevented by a helmet, estimated at anywhere from 45 to 88 per cent.

Direct costs of cyclists' injuries due to not using helmets are estimated at $81 million each year, rising with health care costs.

Indirect costs of cyclists' injuries due to not using helmets are estimated at $2.3 billion each year.

I like the "I've never hit my head before" arguments. They make me laugh.