I would be dead, or at best a veg without my helmet. 1st day I ever wore one the quick release on my front wheel failed as I attempted to hop a dip in the road. Going about 25mph, helmet shattered, nothing left. Major concussion, 3 fractured vertebrae, messed up shoulder and wrist operation. This was about 2002. Wrist still hurts. Screw what your friends think, save your brain. (and totaled my bike)