Yesterday I was wearing street shoes (leather loafers) on rat-trap pedals, no toe clips. I think my foot slipped off the left pedal as I was accelerating hard, and down I went. It was like a giant hand grabbed me, I don't even remember the descent, that's how fast it was.
The left rear quadrant of my head struck the concrete pavement. The helmet was totally shattered, a very wicked concentric circular bulls-eye fracture in the styrofoam centered around the point of impact... like you see where a bullet hits metal and fractures but does not disintegrate it.
Did not lose consciousness. I had no surface wounds on my head; did feel rattled, disoriented for a few minutes after impact. Had a mild headache and dizziness, no other neurological symptoms. Took Tylenol, went to bed early. Am now at work, next day. Still feel dizzy, slight headache.
Undoubtedly, I would've have a concentric bulls-eye skull fracture, probably a depressed fracture at that, absolutely a neurosurgical intervention, very possibly a brain injury with temporary or permanent impairment, maybe death.
You naysayers do what you want, but I've been wearing helmets since 1977, and I ain't going to stop now. This one saved my bacon. Best $30 I ever spent.
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
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Get to the hospital - you should check out any head injury no matter how slight. I got thrown off my MTB due to a stick in my spokes and had to go to hospital with a sore head - they prefer you to go in than wait til the damage sets in, at least in the UK.
I've done the exact same thing though with my MTB when it runs on platforms and the feeling is horrible! Never knocked me completely off (fingers crossed, touch wood) but I've been way too close to trees and stuff for it to stick in my mind. I wear SPDSL on roads.
Later!
skydive69
Yesterday I was wearing street shoes (leather loafers) on rat-trap pedals, no toe clips. I think my foot slipped off the left pedal as I was accelerating hard, and down I went. It was like a giant hand grabbed me, I don't even remember the descent, that's how fast it was.
The left rear quadrant of my head struck the concrete pavement. The helmet was totally shattered, a very wicked concentric circular bulls-eye fracture in the styrofoam centered around the point of impact... like you see where a bullet hits metal and fractures but does not disintegrate it.
Did not lose consciousness. I had no surface wounds on my head; did feel rattled, disoriented for a few minutes after impact. Had a mild headache and dizziness, no other neurological symptoms. Took Tylenol, went to bed early. Am now at work, next day. Still feel dizzy, slight headache.
Undoubtedly, I would've have a concentric bulls-eye skull fracture, probably a depressed fracture at that, absolutely a neurosurgical intervention, very possibly a brain injury with temporary or permanent impairment, maybe death.
You naysayers do what you want, but I've been wearing helmets since 1977, and I ain't going to stop now. This one saved my bacon. Best $30 I ever spent.
Amazingly, there is a dip**** who rides with the fast training group in our club and goes sans helmet. He is a personal injury attorney, and probably would be the first one to sue if he bumped his dumb-ass head on something. A helmet has already saved my life once. It happened to be on a motorcycle, but that is immaterial.
kf5nd
If I had lost consciousness, yes, I'd go. But no, really, I'm fine.
Get to the hospital - you should check out any head injury no matter how slight. I got thrown off my MTB due to a stick in my spokes and had to go to hospital with a sore head - they prefer you to go in than wait til the damage sets in, at least in the UK.
LordOpie
If I had lost consciousness, yes, I'd go. But no, really, I'm fine.
Obviously, you know you have a concussion, right?
Glad you're not worse.
-----
You have the right to not wear a helmet. I have the right to think you're an idiot.
FLBandit
I always wear a helmet. Motorcycle or Bicycle. I've hit the ground to many times not to.
Ivan Hanz
My helmet saved me some serious damage Sunday night. I was playing hockey and did a flip over the goalie. I did about a 6' faceplant onto my temple. I knocked myself pretty loopy but no serious dain bramage. I've been playing hockey since 7, I'm better at skating than walking, let alone riding, but sometimes things happen beyond ones control. I think it's absolutely daffy to ride without a helmet.
kf5nd
Yeah, I figure I have a mild concussion - but the remedy is not brain surgery, the remedy is rest. Which I am taking. Work is less stressful than home !
Obviously, you know you have a concussion, right?
Glad you're not worse..
JohnBrooking
Amazingly, there is a dip**** who rides with the fast training group in our club and goes sans helmet. He is a personal injury attorney, and probably would be the first one to sue if he bumped his dumb-ass head on something.
You'd think he of all people would have seen enough head trauma cases to know better!
kf5nd
Also, my mother is a retired neuro-doctor, I gave her my symptoms, she just told me to rest. So, I've been "seen", telephonically, by a qualified physician already.
webist
I'm certainly happy it wasn't sorse for you. Keep wearing the helmet. Actually.....probably should get a new one :)
2manybikes
Hopefully this thread will convince someone to think twice before going without a helmet. Hope you feel better quickly. I have had a helmet save my life too.
Maybe the attorney wants to be disabled and rich? I don't get it.
kf5nd
the old one is toast
I'm certainly happy it wasn't sorse for you. Keep wearing the helmet. Actually.....probably should get a new one :)
KrisPistofferson
I've had my "bacon" saved at least twice by a helmet. The only thing about these guys who are too cool for a helmet is, if they did get severely injured, I bet our collective tax dollars would pay for their medical bills!
tulip
Glad you are okay. I had a big crash a couple of years ago. I did lose conciousness, but I got to ride in a really fast helicopter. Heads are really cool. It's nice to keep them in working order.
Yoshi
Pssh, don't you know statistically what happened to you is impossible? So why were you wearing a helmet? It's just the illusion of safety anyway, man!
In all seriousness, I'm glad you survived in one piece.
FLBandit
Pssh, don't you know statistically what happened to you is impossible? So why were you wearing a helmet? It's just the illusion of safety anyway, man!
In all seriousness, I'm glad you survived in one piece.
Yeah, it's the "Halo Effect"! Wearing the helmet caused you to ride in a manner much more reckless than if you weren't wearing one! :D The sad part is I've actually heard this argument in regard to motorcycle safety gear!
Litespeed
When I crashed on my mountain bike many years ago (I was riding on the street), if it weren't for my helmet and visor I probably would have had serious facial injuries. Luckily I walked away with a minor scrap on my chin, the rest of me (my knee, shoulder and hand didn't fare quite as well (I wasn't wearing gloves either-wish I had been). I will never ride without a helmet.
closetbiker
Also, my mother is a retired neuro-doctor, I gave her my symptoms, she just told me to rest. So, I've been "seen", telephonically, by a qualified physician already.
ask your mother the difference between focal and diffuse injury and which catagory a concussion falls under.
kf5nd
Slept 11 hours last night. Feeling much better than yesterday. Still a very slight headache. Neck muscles slightly sore. Everything seems much clearer than yesterday. Doing well.
closetbiker
Slept 11 hours last night... Everything seems much clearer than yesterday. Doing well.
Did you ask your mother?
tsiya
About 50 years ago, the front wheel dropped out of My old Schwinn, going flat out down a bridge. I was stuck with grand mal siezures for the next 20 years, and You'd best believe that can make a dent in Your lifestyle. Medication controlled things, but there are side effects to that. This connects with another thread, about messing with someones bike, I found plier marks on the axle nuts, and even as a Kid I knew better than that. I suppose someone thought loosening My wheel was a joke, wish I could catch them now!
kf5nd
Sorry, you don't get to micro-manage my familial communications.
She was Dean of the Medical School for an American medical school, for cripes sake.
Shut the hell up.
Did you ask your mother?
closetbiker
Sorry, you don't get to micro-manage my familial communications.She was Dean of the Medical School for an American medical school, for cripes sake
so she would know, but you don't want to know?
JohnBrooking
Okay, kids, stop bickering.
Raiyn
Just ignore closetbiker he trolls all the helmet threads.
alanbikehouston
Good news that you are okay. See a doctor if you are having headaches, get dizzy...sometimes a concussion or other problems can be hard to identify.
By the way, some helmet makers will mail you a free helmet if you mail them the damaged helmet, your receipt, and a note about the accident. The "old" helmets help them identify ways to improve helmet designs.
closetbiker
Who's bickering? I'm just asking someone who can get good info from an easily accessable and trustworthy source so he can understand what it is he's talking about.
He could ignore me, as Raiyn says, but wouldn't you say choosing an ignorant course of reason less valid than an informed course of reason?
Some prefer this, but it lowers validity of a claim.
Mars
Closetbiker may not agree with the pro helmet crowd, but I have never seen him troll, at least not how I understand the term. If people are not interested in a discussion regarding helmet use, why are they posting their threads here?
There have been a lot of testimonials from folks who say that their helmet saved their lives. With all due respect, no one knows if that is or isn't true. Here is a testimonial for you: I was riding my bike, 23mph when I hit a RR track wrong and wnet donw hard. Skidded a long way across the pavement. Thank GOD I wasn't wearing a helmet! If I had, as I skidded I would have sustained rotational injuries and been killed. Helmets kill! :)
slvoid
The illusion of safety.. I'm so sick of people saying that.
It does not make your trip safer. It makes the ACCIDENT easier to survive. That's all.
nklatt
closetbiker, you seem to have missed this post (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=851574&postcount=10).
webist
The illusion of safety.. I'm so sick of people saying that.
It does not make your trip safer. It makes the ACCIDENT easier to survive. That's all.
Are you saying that actions and measures to increase survivability and reduce the severity of injuries are not contributions to safety?
closetbiker
closetbiker, you seem to have missed this post (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=851574&postcount=10).
No I didn't.
I asked him, " ask your mother the difference between focal and diffuse injury and which catagory a concussion falls under."
and he didn't want to.
How could I have missed that post if I asked that?
slvoid
Are you saying that actions and measures to increase survivability and reduce the severity of injuries are not contributions to safety?
No, it makes the accident safer to survive.
Wearing a helmet does not make me more aware of my environment.
Wearing a helmet will not make me a better rider.
Wearing a helmet will not make me avoid cars better.
Wearing a helmet will not make cars avoid me better.
What it does is, ensure that if I do crash, I have a much better chance of surviving should I fall on my head.
A lot of people confuse the issue. It's like airbags and seatbelts. They do not make you a safer driver. They do not make the actual act of driving safer since driving = driving (not crashing). What they DO do is make crashing during driving safer.
kf5nd
I will say it again for the last time:
You, sir, are not privvy to discussions between my physicians and I, nor my mother and I.
I have no desire nor obligation to disclose to you anything about those communications nor my state of knowledge about brain injuries.
You need to get a life.
And I'm feeling very close to normal today, 98%, thank you very much.
No I didn't.
I asked him, " ask your mother the difference between focal and diffuse injury and which catagory a concussion falls under."
and he didn't want to.
How could I have missed that post if I asked that?
closetbiker
You, sir, are not privvy to discussions between my physicians and I, nor my mother and I.
I have no desire nor obligation to disclose to you anything about those communications nor my state of knowledge about brain injuries.
Didn't I ask you to ask a question and not ask you what you discussed?
After asking if you wanted to know, did I ask you anything else?
Wasn't I responding to nklatt, and not to you?
I think someone who chooses ignorance speaks loud enough to expose his mind without further discussion.
Daily Commute
The illusion of safety.. I'm so sick of people saying that.
It does not make your trip safer. It makes the ACCIDENT easier to survive. That's all.
I think you missed the sarcasm in the original illusion-of-safety post.
Bekologist
Glad you survived a bicycle accident, and that a helmet helped reduce the severity of injuries, K5.
Closetbiker, what do you think about his wearing a helmet? Should he have just been riding more safely? That this accident shouldn't have happened? Or that he should have been riding in a closet like yourself?
You're pretty pathetic and pedantic, chiming in with your pedagologic logic. The guy survived a bike injury, and his helmet had a positive factor in the accident. Yet you jibe him about his choice of medical treatment. I think trolling is EXACTLY what you're doing. Don't give the guy a headache, hasn't he been through enough already? (Oh that's right, you think this is so rare it never should have happened, becausing cycling is so safe.)
closetbiker
Closetbiker, what do you think about his wearing a helmet? Should he have just been riding more safely? That this accident shouldn't have happened?
Have I ever said accidents don't happen and that helmets don't have "some" measure of protection?
You're pretty pathetic and pedantic, chiming in with your pedagologic logic.
Wow. Aren't those are pretty big words for you?
The guy survived a bike injury, and his helmet had a positive factor in the accident. Yet you jibe him about his choice of medical treatment.
I just asked him, " ask your mother the difference between focal and diffuse injury and which catagory a concussion falls under."
Is that a jibe about his choice of medical treatment?
I think trolling is EXACTLY what you're doing
I find it interesting that if someone asks a question that you don't like, you call it trolling (as if that term means something compared to answering a question).
glowingrod
closetbiker is always trying to get people to look at the statistical data re:helmet use /slanted con but has admitted elsewhere that it is as useless as the data /slanted pro.
The only thing he'll give up is the personal experience argument. If you've ever hit your head hard enough to fracture a helmet you know damn well you wouldn't want to have had that impact without the helmet.
Screw the helmet debate, that is for the 5-6 blowhards on usenet (bet he's one of them)
Helmets are a good thing, sometimes common sense is just that.
This guy hates to see anything positive in regards to helmets, he's weird that way. Maybe he's afraid it contributes to mandatory helmet legislation. Man that'd be a crappy reason argue against a safety product. Don't use it for yourself or I might have to! He talks all cock of the walk in his weird belief that his data can't be refuted, except on a personal level such as the fellow that started this thread. He (threadstarter) knows damn well that helmet saved him or prevented him a more serious injury and wanted to share that, not even to convince others so much as to relate his own experience. And along come this whacko telling him he's wrong? Trying to use this fellows positive thread to convince people helmet use is wrong? Dude is whack, motivations and means are just plain weird, anti social to an extreme.
Who cares about your data, or the webpages of other whackos? Back to usenet with you!
closetbiker
It's always amazing what people develoup from what is written. We all have our own thoughts and read different things into what we read.
I always present information that can pose more questions so we can have a better understanding of which we post. For some, I guess, better understanding isn't important and is bad, so we better attack the one who thinks differently and asks questions.
On this thread I asked 1 simple question which no one can seem to answer or want to answer. Why would that be? The answer is easy enough to find.
glowingrod
No one cares buddy, the helmet helped him. You weren't there, he was. Back to usenet with you.
closetbiker
I only care about the validilty of the posts. If there is a question of the validity, I'll post.
Mars
I care.;)
The pattern that I have seen is: Someone makes an anecdotal claim of some kind. People chime in how this claim is evidence that anyone with any brains will do such and such. If the anecdotal evidence is around helmets, closetbiker contributes empirical data, if the issue is around vehicular cycling, Serge will.
I am very interested in these debates and use them to inform my own riding, safety equipment decisions. I have found both Serge and closetbiker to be polite (unless insulted by someone) and well informed. What could possibly be wrong with that?
On the other hand, people who are unable to refute their well supported and skilled arguments, do become frustrated when their dogma is challenged....
closetbiker
...they show their reasoning skills.
glowingrod
It's annoying when this guy shows up and starts arguing with people (or people start arguing with him, it hardl matters) in ANY THREAD WITH A MENTION OF HELMETS, especially if it's in a positive light. Why can't he leave well enough alone, let people give there well wishes to this guy and be done with it?
Someone sez "good thing you had your helmet, glad your ok!" to this fellow that is imparting his personal experience on the forum for no other reason than to do just that. Some people "chime in" with well wishes and Personal Experience that wearing a helmet was beneficial to them as well.
But this freak shows up and wants to talk to the guys mother? To invalidate the guys claim over his own condition? You want to know the validity of that, it validates the guy is off his whack, that's what it validates.
He's got the right idea in regards to riding in general, no sidewalks, vehicular yadda yadda, but mention helmets and he's a freakin nut. The guys mother! I mean really!
closetbiker
this freak shows up and wants to talk to the guys mother? To invalidate the guys claim over his own condition?
On the 20th post I asked him to ask his mother what the difference between focal and diffuse injury and which catagory a concussion falls under. I didn't ask to talk to his mother. If you're going to make a claim, get it right.
Her response could validate his claim. By asking this question are you saying I'm invalidating his claim? I haven't made any judgement on the accident because there isn't much information given.
By asking kf5nd if he wants to get more information, I've been told, shut the hell up, to stop bickering, I'm a troll, that I've missed posts, I need to get a life, I'm pretty pathetic and pedantic, chiming in with my pedagologic logic, I hate to see anything positive in regards to helmets, he's weird, Dude is whack and a freak show.
Wow! What does this say about how secure everybody feels in their postions to lash out when asked 1 question. If that's the best defense of the claim made by kf5nd I guess such posters are unable to refute their claims by reasoning.
glowingrod
the guys thread isn't about helmet advocacy moron, he's just talking about his experience. you only want to turn his thread to your own weird ends. Start your own thread for gods sake! Maybe he should have started itin the General Discussion are, maybe not. It hardly matters.
Go ahead weirdo, say one positive thing about helmets! Do it! Clearly positive as it relates to this fellows thread. Or....you could just wish him well, troll.
closetbiker
You can look it up . Many times I've said helmets have some benefit. I've even posted pictures of me wearing a helmet. I may have even been wearing a helmet as long or longer than you.
I've often posted that I push for helmets be tested to a higher standard.
I think problems arise when some are convinced that helmets can exceed their standards at which they're tested and that head injuries are more common than they actually occur.
So stop the slander, learn of which you post and stop putting your foot in your mouth (unless that's where you like it)