zydeco

Well I have never felt the need to wear a helmet while riding a bike. I feel the case can be made for adding all sorts of safety devices and even forcing people to use them with weak arguments because "safety" has become almost like a religion to some. I am more then willing to be convinced by reasonable arguments and that is why I have posted this here. I understand why you would use a blinky as the driver that does not see you will kill you. I understand why a brake is a reasonable device to consider mandatory. I have witnessed fatalities from no helmets on motorcycles but those were at higher speeds. Could somebody please convince me that these stupid looking devices are not just another sheeple herding device but actually save lives? I have been getting pestered by some guy in a truck swerving all over the rode while he tells me I need to be wearing a helmet.

Ferrous Bueller

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you're saying that helmets are good protection against people who would pester you for not wearing a helmet.

zydeco

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you're saying that helmets are good protection against people who would pester you for not wearing a helmet."
While a helmet most likely would protect me from a helmet pester-er I am actually wandering if I need a helmet to protect my head from injury.

MookieBlaylock

The way I look at it is: If you do ever fall and hit your head, you won't have a helmet on. I would never tell someone what to do and understand there is something nice about grabbing your bike and going for a ride, but life is pretty short and I think wearing a goofy helmet should be an easy decision.

Also, there is a sticky on the top of the advocacy page with nearly 200 pages on the subject. I am sure you could find more answers in there.

While I would assume helmets do not save as many lives as we think, it is an easy precaution to take.

manapua_man

Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it IMO.

Still don't really care if someone is wearing a helmet or not though. It's their choice, not mine.

OntheRun.

This post reminds me of this article for some reason.
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/su...anted=all&_r=0 as to which I thought was ridiculous.

Wear a helmet. I had a friend who got into an accident while racing, losing control at high speeds. He cracked his helmet. Other than having a HUGE bruise on his right thigh, and cuts and smaller bruises he was fine. Im sure his head wouldnt be if he didnt have a helmet on. I dont understand why you wouldnt want to protect one of your most vital organs.

ItsJustMe

You can wear one or not, but please defend your use of the word "stupid" - I'm anxious to hear in what way they're stupid.

"I don't want to wear one" or "I think they're ugly/uncomfortable" are both perfectly valid, but they do not equate to "stupid."

jyl

You can test it. Have a big man smash you in the head with a brick as hard as he can. If it doesn't hurt, then you're good to go :-)

Helmets are, I think, kind of like seatbelts. You won't need one for years, maybe decades, until you do. Then it won't guarantee your protection, but will improve your odds. There is some inconvenience in wearing one.

contango 

I think cycling without a helmet is silly.

I also think it is the right of every adult to make such decisions for themselves. So if you want to do something I think is silly, as long as it doesn't endanger me you get to go right on ahead.

mulveyr 

Yup, every adult should make their own decisions. Personally, I don't get the hate - I've never found helmets to be uncomfortable, and I cease to notice I'm wearing one about ten seconds after I put it on.

As for those who complain about the fashion aspects - hey, to each his own. For my own part, I think it looks patently silly when people ride around in bikes or kits festooned with the names of teams or riders that they have absolutely nothing to do with, but if it makes them feel faster, more power to them. :-)

genec

Helmets are stupid.

I tried talking to one the other day and nary said a word back.

Jonathon94

My mother is an EMT and she once told me a story of a Doctor she knew that chose not to wear a helmet. That doctor somehow fell off her bike and hit the curb at an angle that caused her to start bleeding in her brain. When my mom (the ambulance) got there they had to rush her to the hospital immediately. This was over two or three years ago and I hear she still is not completely the same as she was. I would much rather take the 10 seconds to put a helmet on then to worry about that. But then again I am also the one that is seen around my neighborhood wearing a yellow reflective jacket along with a firefighter nomex hood over my head so I guess I don't have room to talk about looking goofy.

kmv2

haha.

Myosmith

Some people have more reason to wear helmets than others.

Chris516

Yes. 'Ets' were at the 'helm'. I couldn't strike up a conversation with one......lol...ROTFLMHO

Chris516

Simply put. Short and to the point.

no1mad 

Helmets are inanimate objects, and as such, can not be 'stupid'. Their design, purpose, reasons of use or non-use of helmets are debatable- most of which has already been covered in the aforementioned sticky. In case you're using some small display device, here's the direct link- https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-helmet-thread

Thread closed.