Bardleyrichard

I'm curious to see if the helmet wearers are the same people who feel that marijuana should be illegal, or if they are the same people who do not drink alcohol...
It seems as if they do not appreciate the joy of risk taking, when risk taking is what a lot of people live for.

marqueemoon

If I wear a helmet, how will everyone see the do rag I made that matches my kit?

Later, doods. My bus is here.

ezoons

classic

Demit

Ninjas don't need helmets. I think we can all agree on that.

lechat

i work in fla. 6 mo.s outta the yr. and i really strange not wearing my helmet on my motorcycle. even when i'm tight.

brianallan

Last week was pretty sweet. A car pulled in to our lane to turn in to a resteraunt parking lot while we were going about 20. My one friend locked up his breaks instantly, with no where to turn. He went over the back og the car putting his head through the guys rear window. He was wearing a helmet. We picked glass out of his hair from where it went through the helmet vents. He broke the carbon steerer on his fork and some cable housing, but the rest of the $9000 time trial bike was ok. My other friend just scraped his knee. I just skidded out my tire. I'm glad our friend who actually got hurt is on a really big professional team, because the drivers insurance was invalid and he would have had to pay out of pocket for a new fork.

I have a few similar stories, that seem to happen a few times a year, continuously reaffirming that plastic thing that sits on my head.

You know it's a personal decision you're entitled to make, like smoking, or not wearing a seat-belt (regardless of legality). What else can we say.

enjoi07

thats irony, not karma.

enjoi07

how cute, you are defending your man

halfspeed

We are not.

chipcom 

I figured Basso would be the first target!

roadrider63

If it offers me even a small % of protection that's good enough for me. I never wore a helmet with the limited riding I did when I was younger, but when I decided to start road cycling more miles much faster the helmet was on regardless of what it looks like or what other think.

Bottom line for me is I have two daughters, 2 and almost 6. I want to give myself every opportunity I can to protect myself should an accident occur so that I can enjoy time with them as they grow. Wouldn't be the same if I suffered severe injury. Plus, it sets a good example for them to follow I hope.

One more thought. No one ever said (that I know of) that the helmet would save your life in a severe collision...it may, it may not. Even with all of the advancements in auto safety (belts, air bags all over, stability control, etc. etc.) lots of people die every day in auto on auto collisions even if they are wearing seat belts.

Protective devices are there to increase your odds of surviving, not guarantee it.

wanders

I probably could have gone faster if I hadn't been wearing my spd sandals.

Jerseysbest

I go once in a while without it. Feels good with the wind blowing on my bald head, get a little color up there too.

maddyfish

I don't consider bicycling dangerous and I don't always wear a helmet.

chipcom 

No, nothing is faster than spd sandals. I see it all the time...I come up on a group, say good morning, they spot my sandals and POOF, they're gone up the road.

munkyv22

OK, so I read the entire thread (I was eating breakfast. I had nothing better to do). I have come to one conclusion.

Bike Forums has a lot of d*ckheads on it.

DataJunkie

road cycling <> to the whole of BF

Reynolds 

Big news.

wfrogge

Incorrect... were opinionated a**holes

DanMartin

When I began riding on the road in 1981, very few of us wore helmets. To this day I have never worn one. Sure, one would be better off wearing one, I have no problem admitting that.
I constantly get yelled at by other riders, sometimes with profanity, & threatening to beat me up. I ignore it, I don't need to argue with people about things that only affect myself.

wfrogge

I wear a helmet but dont understand why many "force" others to..... Just dosent make sense....

Sprocket Man

Other riders are so concerned about your safety that they threaten to beat you up if you don't wear a helmet? I like the irony.

DanMartin

Yeah, I have been tempted to ask to borrow their helmet first if they plan on punching me in the head. Like I said, I ignore it, arguing only fuels the fire.

Camilo

Please describe these "responsibilities" and make sure you include EVERYTHING that people do that might have a societal cost. I think you'll find you have no idea where to draw the line and the truth is that people have and should continue to have (at least in the US - I know you're in Aus.) the right to do dangerous things.

Catweazle

You won't suck me into a nonsensical debate of irrelevent pettiness, so don't waste your time trying I'd suggest. The topic is about cycling safety helmets, and only those considerations related to that need be considered.


Simple enough consideration here. In the event of circumstance leading to head trauma the helmet WILL have an impact on severity of injury. It's not a safety aid designed to guarantee your survival of head trauma, nor is it one to guarantee you protection against head trauma which leads to permanent incapacity. It is a safety aid designed to lessen the risk of permanent incapacity, and thus reduce its incidence.

Permanent incapacity, of course, has cost to you, to your family, and to others unrelated to you. To the people around you that cost is (or might be) both financial and personal. To the wider soiciety that cost has impact in all areas of health care provision, because it's all subsidised to some extent or other.


Of course we have the "right to do dangerous things". The helmet debate isn't about removing that right. Instead it's about insisting that people do them in an acceptably responsible fashion.