Originally Posted by cookiepuss
I find the rationale interesting that people say for shorter trips they don't wear a helmet but for longer ones they do???
Just seems to me that I can get doored etc. while riding a mile as easily as I can riding 10+ miles. Or for that matter I could get distracted by a good looking girl, ride right into a storm grate flip over my handlebars and crack my head on the curb during a block long commute. Game over.
Not trying to pick a fight with anyone. . .just find it odd is all. Or a few have said not on the road but when moutain biking. I'd rather fall off on dirt or in a bush than on cement/asphalt.
i was going to footnote that... yes, the chances are of getting hit by a car is even (actually, those short trip involve smaller, less traffic'ed streets)... but its a matter of time vs inconvenience ... i dont want to have to wear a helmet if the 'at risk exposure time' is less... i am damn vain and i like my hair!
however, i will fully stand by the mountain biking vs road bike thing. if mountain biking was simply riding on Dirt, i wouldnt need a separate MTB
i ride on the technical stuff, with drops and texas KT-limestone, babyhead sized with jaggies pointing upwards... sure is more difficult to navigate than evenly-paved asphalt. riding road, noone EXPECTS to fall. if i dont fall a quota of 3 times on the trail, i'd say i havent ridden long or hard enough.
lastly, ive taken a few spills on both road and mtb, but my head never made contact (knock on wood)... the times that ive made head-impact were from getting smacked by low-standing and hidden tree branches. trees really do move and they jump out at you--i swear!!!