I have a colleague who's a bit nutty but really into fitness. He bikes in sometimes and goes pretty hard. He always exaggerates his stories so take this with that in mine, but says he's been hit by cars 5 times. 5 times! Once he got his bell rung by someone backup up out of her driveway and went too far and knocked him down on the edge of the road and broke something on his bike. That's his story. Makes no sense and that's the way he is.

I didn't bring up any helmet thing but asked him if he rides with traffic and where he is on the road. I think these are the best questions to pose to your friend.

My colleague was riding on the very edge of the road, but I think he's moved over a foot or so, as he claims, for visibility.