I agree that helmet design takes into consideration factors such as weight, aerodynamics and ventilation as well as protection. Thus, I suppose, we end up with the "goofy" look. I prefer to think of it as a specific cyclist look rather than goofy.

My wife says I look like an ant. Actually, now that she too is a helmeted cyclist, she claims we look like a pair of ants.

I believe we have to have a limited expectation of protection from the typical helmet. The only way to achieve complete protection from injury due to cycling is to stay completely away from bicycles, our own and anyone elses. Thus protection is a compromise.

After an accident, I suppose one could look at a scraped elbow and conclude that elbow protection should have been in place. A scraped chin might call for chin protection. Broken ribs suggest some measure of chest protection. A good deal of the protection we enjoy from our equipment is dependent on the type of riding we do. Agressive sports enthusiasts, I opine, may be subjecting themselves to more serious injury than we more conservative riders.

Absent any protection at all, we are statistically more likely to sustain more serious injury. statistics however, do not apply to each specific incident.


Carl