I don't know about higher IQs, but the "protecting the boys" thread finally convinced me to take my helmet off today. There's such a thing as too much of an obsession with safety. If it gets to the point where I have to wear body armor to ride my bike, I'd rather hang it up and walk, or drive, or take the bus. So, for the first time in about 20 years, I rode without a helmet - and did it in pretty heavy traffic. In case anyone was wondering, the world didn't end.