crucifixion12

Sometimes I throw on a cycling cap and ride without a helmet, only when I'm riding back roads where I know where I won't get into traffic. In more populated areas I go with a helmet. Anyone else out there that still goes helmetless sometimes?

Raiyn

Here's a can of worms that's been done to death. https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...threadid=12106 This just ONE of the rehashings. Do a search you'll see.

Chris L

My first and last post in this thread. I never ride without a helmet. It saved my skull from a very serious accident in October 2001, and as a consequence, it's a risk I'm not willing to take. No, I don't change my mind if I'm riding somewhere there's little or no traffic because the crash I mentioned earlier was in one of those places, caused by me simply falling off.

No, I don't assume that the helmet makes me totally impervious to all kinds of crashes or injuries, however I'm quite happy to accept the protection it offers regardless, and no, I don't think it makes me look silly. Nor would I care if it did.

bikerider

Hoo boy, let the knee-jerk invectives fly!

cyclezealot

Once when falling, my helmet took a direct hit adjacent my left temple. The helmet cracked all the way through and about 2 inches long. Bet that would have hurt. I would not go out the door w/o the helmet, no matter what kind of ride..

RiPHRaPH

i haven't worn a helmet lately.

i think it is silly while on my trainer.

DnvrFox

You should know that the word he***t is NEVER used in polite company, and that discussing such said verboten word only leads to heart burn, heart attacks and general stress and strain.

To avoid any injury to my bodily health and well-being, I will read NO MORE posts in this thread.

DnvrFox

Okay - anyone here ever fallen off of your trainer or rollers? I bet plenty have fallen off of their rollers.

chewa

What Chris said. Couldn't put it better

1oldRoadie

In other words....

You will never get the OK from this forum to ride without a helmet.

Poguemahone

About two years ago, I attended a funeral for a co-worker who was riding w/o a helmet and was hit by a car that turned into her. She died of massive head injuries. Yes, the accident could have been prevented if the driver had been paying attention. But a helmet may have saved her, and as we all know, many motorists are startlingly oblivious to bicycles and those riding them. We might as well avail ourselves of what defenses we have.
I have not ridden w/o a helmet since, except in a few instances where I've been making adjustments/repairs on a bike, and riden the bike up and down the street I live on to check said adjustments and repairs.
I'd also like to limit the number of funerals I attend, esp. those for twenty-one year olds. That said, it's your choice. But I've found a graphic reminder does serve to focus your attention. Short of cars dissapearing from the earth, I'll be wearing a helmet.

Cipher

Not so much fallen as flew off! It happened about 6 years ago, (Daughter was 3 at the time) and she was playing with an under inflated 6-8 inch rubber ball. Picture this, I'm on my rollers and clipped in, she is tossing the ball around, it ends up behind me and is grabbed and pulled in under the rear roller... I end up getting launched up and forward! That was the end of the balls in the basement!!!

MoonBear

Well back before dirt, 1970, I was doing my friend's paper route while he was on vacation. The street was wet, I was saddled with newspapers and the right turn didn't look too sharp. Down I went. Slapped my head on the pavement and took five stiches in my mouth. No helmet, but, back then there wasn't much choice in bicycle helmets.

Now I never ride without a helmet. Hard to enforce helmet rules with the children if Dad and Mom aren't wearing one.

Don

D*Alex

A friend of mine recently lost his only son, age 13, to a low-speed accident. He was riding without a helmet, his head hit the ground, and he died. The bike wasn't even damaged.

joeprim

I ride with and without a helmet depending on oh who knows.
Joe

SteveE

Speaking strictly for myself, no.

WorldIRC

I ride with a helmet. The bike association makes us wear helmets when we race. I won't ride with anyone who doesn't wear a helmet. If they want to kill themselves, they can do it on their own.

crucifixion12

Well, I never thought there was much risk in wiping out on these old country roads, but thanks to all of your replies, I'm sure all of you have been cycling for a longer time than I have, and therefore had the chance to see the ramifications of going helmetless. So becoming a vegetable would suck, so maybe I'll throw on that cap under the helmet from now on.

If you come into a sport, and don't listen to those more experienced than you, how do you expect to learn anything? I think this is an issue to take the advice and learn from others mistakes rather than to learn it the hard way, like the guy riding into the pole. So thanks to everyone for sharing your opinions, personal experiences, and the experiences of others.

1oldRoadie

A friend of mine on an old country road, just riding by himself, enjoying the day, front tire caught in a payment crack at about 30mph...instant over the forks, face in road. Split his head open like a melon...he lived...sorta.... I miss him.

Pete Clark

I was talking to a newbie today who pretty much picked up cycling because he saw what it did for me. He's added it to his
weight training at the gym.

My first battle was to convince him to stay away from discount store bicycles. I won, or shall I say, "we won" that battle and he
invested wisely in a decent Trek.

My current battle is over helmet use. I asked him again today,
"Got anything to protect your coconut, yet?" He replied, "No, they're so expensive." That was the same argument he gave in the battle over his bike purchase.

My current helmet is a Bell that cost me less than $20. Comfortable, too. The only thing was that the foam pads inside it
were not removable--they were glued on. So I carefully took them off and added my own velcro attachments that I picked up from the dollar store.

scubagirl

I also NEVER go on a ride witout one. I crashed on a bike path/sidewalk. No one's falt but my own. I landed on my right side. I do remember my head bouncing 2 or 3 times, then the shoulder pain kicked in. The first thing out of my mouth was "I'm glad I have my helmet on" Then I of course asked about my bike. For the next few days I my head was still sore on the side.

Then I got a new helmet.

Toothpick

As a kid, never wore a helmet. Now.....always wear one. If I were a kid now and will my child? YES, ALWAYS

a2psyklnut

I'm a strong advocate for helmet use. Besides the regular/normal falls while mountain biking. I've been hit 3x's all three not my fault, all three resulted in a new helmet, all three I was in my legal right and all three there was no way to avoid the collision.

Plus, my wife has taken at least 3 or 4 hard hits where her
helmet took the brunt of the impact!

Now for the emarrassing story:

I was selling a bike to a neighbor. I had just replaced the front shifter cable/housing. He test rides the bike and comes back and says, "The left shifter isn't working". No problem I think to myself. The cable has probably stretched a bit. I'll adjust it as I go for a test ride(no helmet!). I take off, left hand on the bar, right hand twisting out the barrel adjuster at the left shifter. I'm looking down at the front derailleur. I pull out of my driveway, onto the road (cul-de-sac, so no traffic), and WHAM!

I regain consciousness after an instant! I'm on the asphalt with the bike on top of me! I'm dazed, and my face is hurting, my jawbone is aching and my nose is bleeding! I stand up, and instantly buckle onto the ground again! I'm seeing stars big time! I haven't been hit like that since I played football. WHAT THE HECK HIT ME? I look up, still dazed and realize I slammed into the back of a van parked outside my neighbor's house! Totally didn't see it and was not expecting it to be there!

Broken nose, dislocated jaw, big scratches along my brow and cheek bone and a cut in my eyebrow! I was sore for about 4 days and more embarrassed than anything! The pain was relieved when the neighbor still bought my bike!

L8R

temp1

A fellow from Wisconsin was saved from seroius head trauma or death on a very turbulent flight, a carry on compartment popped open and heavy case struck him on the head. Luckily he was wearing his foam cheese head hat so no damage was done, true story.

The Toninator

been hit by cars 6 times helmet helped out on 2 of them. I have also broken 2 helmets in separate incidents, 1 racing and 1 playing.