The fact is, if you hit your head hard enough, you are going to die. Neither bicycle or motorcycle helmets can protect you. The ratings on bicycle helmets are pitiful compared to motorcycle helmets but the manufacturers have to make compromises or even less people would wear them than do now. Lets not forget the fact that bicycle helmets are a fairly recent invention (approx. 1975-78) and are primarily designed to sell and be replaced every five years, if you listen to the helmet advocates. Before recent history, people simply did not have the option and millions of cyclists for nearly 100 years have ridden safely enough without them. Many of us over the age of 40 or so, probably never knew about bicycle helmets as a child and the closest we got to a bike helmet was our older brothers motorcycle helmet or an old football helmet. Its quite humorous if you think about it.........a bunch of ninnies riding around with bulbous, snagging, sun sensitive and easily damaged pieces of colored packing material on our heads.