Originally Posted by
shundaroni
I wear a helmet. It became a habit for me when I first started riding motorcycles years ago.
Believe it or not, the same arguments for not wearing helmets exist amongst motorcyclists too. The old "I just avoid wrecking" has always been my favorite. I have to bow before those who use that line of reasoning, as they must be so mighty as to dictate not only their own actions, but those of everyone around them.
Don't be fooled by people talking about linear and rotational forces...they operate under the naive assumption that brain damage can't result from linear trauma. Of course, add in enough speed and a hard enough surface, and linear momentum is plenty to bust your head open like a cantaloupe.
The only reason not to wear a helmet is pure vanity. Some people are cool with that. Occasionally I get vain and refuse to wear mine. I do so, however, without attempting to justify it. I accept the risks and acknowledge them...I don't pretend that there is some logical justification for riding without one.
There is plenty of evidence that motorcycle helmets prevent serious injury in case of an accident. There is no credible evidence that bicycle helmets do. However, you are, of course free to believe the hype created by people interested in selling you a $100 piece styrofoam.
I used to wear a helmet (even when I lived in Europe as was the only person I ever saw wearing one). But I read the studies and eventually concluded that wearing a helmet was basically a superstition created by people interested in selling helmets. Vanity has nothing to do with it; I don't really look any better without a helmet than I do with one.