Hippiebrian

Actually, that's 6 HELMETED cyclists with concussions. Seems helmets don't prevent concussion, asn as far as asking someone if they think a helmet saved their life all you are going to get back is an uneducated guess. Really makes no sense to ask this. Are you trying to prove something based on opinion? Can't be done, espescially with uneducated opinion.

Hippiebrian

You don't know this. Good possibility you may not have hit your head at all, considering the increased size of your noggin with the styrofoam hat on. While your uneducated opinion may differ, you really don't know.

Six jours

Well, I'm not "against" helmets, I just don't feel them necessary for most of the riding I do. My descending speeds these days are limited to 30-35 MPH. It's hard for me to believe I was once comfortable descending at freeway speeds - and frankly, I think a few ounces of foam is a joke in those circumstances. A motorcyclist will wear 20 pounds of protective gear when riding at those speeds.

I'm also too damn old to enter a criterium under any circumstance - especially considering I'd have to ride the 4/5s to be remotely competitive. But if you forced me to ride one at gunpoint, I would certainly want a helmet. Such circumstances would increase my chances of crashing by a significant factor, and if nothing else, a bicycle helmet might prevent a nasty scalp wound. Never mind that "back in the day" I did all my crit riding (and crashing) in a leather hairnet, which never touched the ground.

Monster Pete

That may come into it for some people, but I think for the majority of bare-headed cyclists, it's the recognition that cycling safely on the road simply isn't dangerous enough to require a helmet. Some would counter that with something like 'you aren't losing anything by wearing one' but to that we argue that there are other day-to-day activities, with a similar or greater risk level to cycling, that no one even considers wearing a helmet for. Climbing a ladder is one example.

For something like downhill mountain biking or riding in snow, the situation is different. The loose and/or uneven terrain makes falling off more likely, and protruding rocks, tree branches etc also make direct head impacts more likely, compared to road cycling where you're more likely to fall on your side. I do wear a helmet when riding in snow.

Basically, it boils down to a combination of the low risk associated with non-competitive road cycling (other cycling activites are a different story) and the limited protective capabilities of cycle helmets. Like any activity, it's a case of weighing up level of risk vs level of protection. To bare-headed cyclists, the answer is that helmets are not usually necessary.

The point you made about helmets for children is a good one. Kids who are learning to ride are much more likely to fall off than adults, and their skulls may not be as fully formed (someone might correct me on this) so for them, helmets make a lot more sense. When riding with their parents, it's far simpler for the parents to lead by example than it is to explain why the kids need helmets and the adults do not.

closetbiker

Agree with your 2 points about non-use but I think it's always better to explain things to kids. They can understand if it's a simple explanation.

I think a parent wearing a helmet will display to the child that cycling is dangerous, and that example will stick with them their whole life.

rydabent

A word of warning to the anti helmet crowd. With winter comming on you have to quit peeing into the wind, its going to freeze and you might catch cold. Do you guys understand that all your troll postings are NOT going to convince the helmet users to quit wearing them. And the big question remains -----why the hell do you care if most of us wear a helmet**********

chipcom 

Race car drivers wear helmets when racing, but not when driving to-from the track, or church or dinner, etc. Same applies to many cyclists like me - I'll wear a helmet in a crit or road race, but not when riding to work or the store or doing the tourist thing.

But some feel the risk of "normal" recreational/utility riding warrants a helmet as well...great, I support their decision to do so, as long as they support my decision not to and don't start in with all this darwin organ donor BS.

I am not "against" helmets for cycling or anything else...I just don't feel the need to wear one myself in most situations.

chipcom 

we don't...that you think anyone does is your own personal delusion.

rydabent

closet

Your hundreds of posts say otherwise. As far as I am concerned I really dont care what you or the anti helmet trolls think. The fact is most people dont think anyway.

Riding my bent, the only two pieces of cycling gear that I use are a helmet, and cycling shoes. Since bents dont require cycling duds to mitigate problems caused by DF bikes, I wear T shirts mostly from club rides and rugby shorts. Again do I care what other people think--------not one whit. And that goes for helmets too.

chipcom 

closet? I think you're hearing the voices in your head again, because he didn't even respond to your troll. For someone who doesn't care, you sure do spend a lot of time trolling this thread.

rat fink

Good reply, (all of it, not just what I highlighted). I can see how some my feel that their riding situation doesn't warrant a helmet. For those who ride in such a way that they are unlikely to crash, like commuting, or limiting one's speed, it could certainly be argued that a helmet isn't as necessary as it might be otherwise. I figure that for experienced cyclists, it should be up to them how they want to prioritize it.


This is a good post also. I can why some cycling advocates might feel that not wearing a helmet sends the message that anyone can ride, etc. You make the point that the activity should be considered in deciding whether or not a helmet should worn, I agree with that as well. Children, riding in snow/ice, mountain biking, and some speed, or handling oriented cycling are certainly more relevant to helmet wearing as the type/frequency of crash, change in those circumstances.

rat fink

Your first point about explaining is true. However, kids have a keen awareness of double standards and hypocrisy. When parents say something and don't follow their own rules, children will sense the insincerity of their actions and it devalues their words.

As for the helmet example being a message that cycling is dangerous, I'm not so sure, but I will leave it at that.


Did he say that his six concussions were even from cycling? I got the impression that he was talking reference to his lifetime. I've had six concussions, but they were all from other activities.

rat fink

Sounds reasonable to me. On the flip side of things, I find that a helmet is almost always appropriate for my style of riding. Every time I get on a bike, I can expect to be faced with certain (high) level of risk. Though I ride within my abilities, I take corners fast, sprint often, bunny hop often, don't decrease my speed on rough surfaces, and generally ride as fast as I can everywhere I go. I observe most traffic laws and am aware of my surroundings as I ride. I could slow down and have a lot fewer incidents, but then I wouldn't enjoy riding as much. So yeah, I take more risks, but I am also a thrill junkie, so I prepare for a ride appropriately. Someone who does not do what I do on a bike, probably does not need to be as concerned with things like that.

sudo bike

For me, it's definitely a comfort issue. Fresno gets bloody hot in the summer, and a helmet leaves me arriving to work far more sweaty than if I leave it alone. Plus, feeling a cool breeze through your hair is a pretty darned good feeling. Also is the PITA of dealing with the helmet if I make stops. I tried locking it to the bike when I still wore one, and it got stolen (cut the straps). All of the above balanced with the seemingly small benefit of mitigating a minor injury (I don't believe they save lives or prevent brain damage) leaves me with forgoing the helmet.

closetbiker

there's no double standard if something is appropriate for one person/situation and not another. They need to know when something is appropriate and when it isn't

sudo bike

Myself, I don't have a problem with various organized events requiring them. While I don't think they are necessary for casual rides, anything above that carries a far greater risk of a solo or bike-on-bike crash along with cyclists pushing their limits, both not really applicable to most folks riding a bike. If there is some reason that your risk of a solo fall goes up, such as a race, pushing yourself, or inclement weather, wearing one might make a bit more sense. I wear one when we get the first rain of the season, or when we've had a freeze. Other than that, I leave it at home.

chipcom 

If I want thrills, there are lots better ways to get them than riding a bike...which is as natural to me as walking. If I want thrills I can jump out of a perfectly good airplane, off a perfectly good mountain, or just go back to some combat zone so people can shoot at me and try to blow me up.

I kinda like the relative non-thrill of riding a bike.

mconlonx

You don't know different. You actually have even less to go on than unionmade. There's just as good a possibility that he may have hit his head anyway, without a helmet. You really don't know and can't say.

Laserman

As chipcom pointed out, no such "anti-helmet crowd" exists, nor does anyone care whether or not you wear a helmet.
This has been stated over and over again in this thread. Failure to grasp this concept could possibly indicate a cognitive dysfunction condition.
You may want to consult a physician as early diagnosis is often the key to curing or minimizing the impact of such problems.

RazrSkutr

Like when I tell my 3.5 year old that she can't drive the car or use the shotgun or drink tequila until she's 18?

mconlonx

You should at least let her do two out of three...

hagen2456

"Troll postings"? You mean, like https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post13419102 ?

Next question: Are you able to understand the difference between sayin on the one side

"Don't wear a helmet!!"

and, on the other side

"A helmet is probably of very little use, so you don't really need it" plus
"Helmet campaigns do more harm than good, as they picture cycling as dangerous"?

Good. I thought so.

closetbiker

... or she can drive when she's at least 16 and passes the test, or can give up the floating device when she learns to swim ....

Six jours

The world would be a sadder place without the occasional shotgun-toting, tequila-drinking, Mustang-driving teenaged girl.

Six jours

I notice this guy isn't wearing a helmet. Doesn't he understand that it would save his life in the event of a 500 foot fall?