Originally Posted by cthenn

OK, sorry for the "inappropriate" language, but to my point, a helmet protects the SKULL from blunt force trauma, yes. BUT it does NOT protect the brain from blunt force trauma. It's a distinction, and though I do wear a helmet, I don't look forward to the day I go headfirst into a wall or something. I've gotten a concussion skiing, even though I was wearing a helmet. The impact forces on the brain to the skull can do just as much damage as splitting your head open, and a helmet does nothing to prevent that. Many bike crashes are thankfully more or less parallel to the ground, resulting in bad road rash rather than going headfirst, directly into the pavement. So helmets do serve a useful purpose, but my point is "blunt force trauma" is not something a helmet will protect your brain from.