WalksOn2Wheels

That's not the question I was asking in terms of something affecting me. I was talking about the posited subconscious effect, not a literal physical effect.

WalksOn2Wheels

Honestly, no I don't notice my seat belt while driving. That's a good way to reframe the question. I grew up while it was basically law, so seatbelts aren't even something I think about. For me, it's the first thing I do after starting the car, and it's so routine, it's something I've never ever forgotten. Probably the same with the helmet as I rode motorcycles for years before I really got into bicycles. It's just a precaution you put on, no questions asked.

wphamilton

After a few miles I'm not conscious of a helmet or of the lack of one. However, if I start to sweat I am aware of it, and if the pads are dirty and it's raining I want to yank the thing off.

The feeling-safer-taking-risk thing, I think, comes from that first couple of minutes where it feels wrong to not have a helmet on because you always wear one. Or you seldom wear one, put it on and suddenly feel protected. You might ride differently while that feeling persists, but it's very brief. For me, and from what most people say. That's my criticism of the one experiment I've seen that purportedly showed this effect: they only observed the first 30 seconds or so, coasting down a hill or something like that. They should have had the subjects ride around for a few miles and repeated it, and I'd bet that you'd see no difference of caution at all between helmeted and bare heads.

bobwysiwyg

+1

big john

Having ridden motorcycles while wearing the old, heavy and hot helmets of the 70s and early 80s, a modern bicycle helmet is close to nothing at all, as far as noticing it goes.

Shuffleman

There is some serious truth to this. I never notice mine or think about it until I have an itch that I can't get.

goenrdoug

I think that idiot is Grant Petersen... A buddy sent me this book: Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your Bike: Grant Petersen: 9780761155584: Amazon.com: Books for Xmas and it basically just made me angry page-after-page. I mostly just want to slap Grant Petersen after reading it. He comes off as a pompous jerk about 95% of the time.

tarwheel 

My view exactly. I've been wearing seatbelts and helmets for so long that I don't even notice them, but I always wear them.

Vicegrip

Don't give the helmet a second thought once on. I find it handy in some ways Keeps a cap in place, the sun off the thin parts and I use mine to hold all the small stuff like glasses and gloves when off the bike.

To to think that donning a helmet will make me less risk adverse would require me to ignore that the entire rest of me has what amounts to old lady's undergarments for protection.

WalksOn2Wheels

Man, I knew starting a thread related to helmets was risky, but now you've gone and mentioned Grant Petersen.

****

goenrdoug

Sorry.. My well-meaning friend's gift was my first exposure to this guy.

Here, I'll get back on track: No, I don't notice my helmet unless the straps work themselves loose (usually takes several rides.) I have also experienced the 'oops, forgot my helmet' thing two miles into a ride and had to turn around....

I have a huge scar on top of my head (under my hair) from a crash when I was about 8 years old. The sharp end of a dumptruck's bumper was happy to see that I wasn't wearing a helmet that day. Ouch.

WalksOn2Wheels

It's no big deal. Sometimes it's fun to watch threads go down in flames. I'll start.

Grant Petersen seems to me like the guy who really goes out of his way to let his ex (modern bicycles) know that he's happy with his new girlfriend (modern-vintage bicycles), while constantly giving slight digs to his ex in the process.

bakes1

Be careful . The accessory junkies will tell you that you have to spend $300 minimum on a helmet because fit is so amazingly crucial.
They certainly don't want to hear that 99% of the helmets made today (aero or not) are equally safe and fit so well that you forget you are wearing them.

Seattle Forrest

I don't notice when I'm wearing a chest strap HRM either. Put it on and forget it. Went for a run the other night and realized I didn't have it on.

CeeDotA

Only when my head itches and I can't find the corresponding vent.

YogaKat

Exactly my first thought.

Sy Reene

However, If I observe cyclists throughout New York City, I will note that on average the cyclists observed wearing helmets are going faster on better gear than the cyclists who aren't wearing helmets who are more often on flat bar commuter types of bikes. I will also say, that whether it would really help that much or not, I would never consider riding down a hill at 40+mph if for some reason I was caught out without a helmet (say if it got stolen during the group ride lunch break :-)

Also.. take eg. skateboarding (not for me mind you).. You will get better and at a faster rate at various tricks etc and maneuvers if you're less worried about falling on your head/wrist/elbow thru the usage of protective pads/helmet.

thin_concrete

Same here.

cydewaze

Yep, or the one time I picked up a wasp.

Dave Cutter

My wife forces me to wear the cycling helmet. So it wouldn't make much difference either way. But I honestly don't even think about it.... anymore than I think about my cycling gloves or jersey. It is all just part of the cycling outfit/kit/gear/costume... or whatever you want to call it.


After all... a ball cap would look silly with my kit. And a pith helmet would likely blow off in the wind.

ColaJacket

I feel the same way.

Cyclist that don't use sunblock on their head (or wear a cap under their helmet) often look like one of these two guys.



I'd look like the one without hair.

GH

kbarch

Like many others, I'm more likely to belatedly notice that I forgot my helmet than to notice I'm wearing it.

I think that to the extent that one DOES notice the protection one has, one may be less risk averse, but a mere helmet wouldn't do it for me. I can say, however, that I felt MUCH more comfortable riding in "spirited" fashion on a motorcycle when I was in full leathers than when in ordinary street clothes. But as long as I've got exposed skin and no more protection than lyrca over the rest of my torso and limbs, a mere helmet is no comfort.

If it's not basic, it's a scam, isn't it?

jon c. 

Except around here in the fall. We get some good sized nuts falling and they make a fairly loud noise when they hit the helmet. I don't usually notice the helmet, but at those times I'm glad I have it on.

the sci guy 

i can always feel it there, and the damn straps too.
i hate wearing a helmet. I never wore one as a kid, and did plenty of exciting riding.
but i wear one now because i commute on the road with cars for part of my ride to work.

a1penguin

I don't really notice the helmet. This one fits my head well and doesn't shift on it's own. I often stop at the Peets 6 miles from home and load up the empty bottle with an iced latte. While not intentional, I realized not only do I not take the helmet off, I don't even bother to open the chin strap. I think good fit is the key.