mtbkanata

Okay, so I always say you should wear a Helmet, and I always do. Here's another reason why.

So I am leaving World Exchange underground where I park my bike during the day. I was following the car infront of me when all of a sudden out of the corner of my eye, I see the gate dropping! Yikes, I'll pulling about 20 at that point, so no way I can stop or turn or anything... so I just ran right through it... BASH.. right off the front of my helmet (as I was ducking). Figuring I was going to go down, I already had one foot coming out of the clips.. but no.. instead the whole gate just broke off and smashed in to the ground.

... great now what ...

that's all I could think. So I gathered up the pieces and tried with no luck to assemble the gate back on the post. After talking to the parking attendant, I felt a lot better... he saw the whole thing on CCT, and told me not to worry about it.. someone would come by and fix it all up.

So, other than I am a dolt, the moral of the story is, you just never know what's going to happen... wear your helmet.

jeff-o

Heh, awesome. You broke a security gate with your head.

DCCommuter

One of my earliest childhood memories is breaking one of those gates and running away in terror. I was about five. I think they make them of the weakest stuff imaginable so they break away at the slightest provocation.

cryogenic

My helmet has protected my from various threats from above.. namely branches and such. I feel naked without my helmet, to be honest.

gear

My job is working with brain injury patients. Two years ago I crashed on my way to work. Even with my helmet on I saw a shower of sparks when my head hit the road. Without the helmet I would not be working with brain injury patients, I would be a brain injury patient.
Wear your helmet, if for no other reason, you will be a role model for kids.

RT

Helmets these days are like pants - you just don't leave home without them. Not once have I seen an adolescent, or anyone for that matter, mocking or making fun in any way of a cyclist wearing a helmet. I do not understand the 'cool factor' associated with exposing your melon to the potential dangers out there. My thinking is that there's more stuff out there that can split your cranium than vice versa.

Hell, even Vikings wore helmets

mtbkanata

Glad to here there are so many folks here who are pro-helmet!

I still see a lot of folks who don't wear one.. it's really sad... Oh, for those who don't wear a helmet, here is a clip of me riding (When not on the road... )

https://www.mtbkanata.ca/pp/showphoto...cat=all&page=1

Wear your helmet at all times!

NzAndy

Wearing a helmet is required in New Zealand, but some people still go without. They are a small minority.

I'm on my second helmet having smashed the first one in a mountain bike wreck. It saved my head but my right shoulder was dislocated. I would have to second the idea of not wanting to suffer 'dain bramage'.

The polystyrene material is broken in a half circle extending from just in front of my right ear around to the front of my right eyebrow and reaches about 2 inches from the top center. I keep the helmet around to pull out anytime anyone asks if helmets are really needed. I made the point with my son when I put it on the floor of the garage against the wall and told him to kick it as hard as he could. Being 6 he couldn't break it, then I said to now try doing that to his head instead. He got the point and now wears his without argument. Sometimes a more graphic demonstration helps set the message.

JohnBrooking

Ouch! For that tree trunk, I hope you were wearing a jock strap too!

A few weeks ago, I heard some seagulls cawing over my head, and it occurred to me that if they happened to aim for me (you know what I mean), that might be another good reason to be wearing a helmet! (I was imaging posting about that. Of course it would be titled "Saved by my helmet"! )

slagjumper

Thankfully this is a funny story because of your helmet.

mtbkanata

Trust me.. I never leave home without it! I feel naked on the bike without my helmet!

FLBandit

I always wear mine! I've been on a first name basis with the ground for years!!

dfw

I leave home without pants (I wear bike shorts instead), but I don't leave home without my helmet.