Originally Posted by
Liddy
Even before reading that, I had decided that cycling away from traffic does not, for me, require use of a helmet. If and when (last week I'm afraid it was when) I fall from a bike, it will be a fall from more or less my own height sideways at a low speed.
Most of my falls have been at speeds of less than 5 mph. Painful!! I ALWAYS wear a helmet!!!
When you fall, even at low speeds, there is a VERY GOOD CHANCE your head is going to hit the ground, pavement, whatever.Thats why most cyclists I know ALWAYS wear a helmet.
If you ever ride off road (cyclocross or mtn biking) a helmet is still a good idea. About a year ago I was riding my CX bike on a flat section of a mtn bike trail. I hit a tree root that was hidden by leaves. It caught my front wheel and bam!!! I was on the ground in a heartbeat. Luckily I was wearing my helmet. Turns out there were a few small rocks right where I fell. My head was fine but my thigh and arm wear sore for the rest of the day. I'll take a sore arm or leg over a cracked skull anytime.