I can see your point to an extent but you seem to be assuming people who wear helmets riding on roads and places like that are less skilled than those who don't wear helmets, which simply isn't true. I've seen plenty of non-helmeted arseholes riding like idiots endangering themselves and other road users, then conversely, plenty of people wearing helmets who observe the rules of the road and respect other people using it. If I'm doing things I consider to be more dangerous off road I wear body armour as well as a helmet (full face helmet if I need to), but it doesn't mean that just because I wear a helmet on roads as well I'm automatically a reckless rider. This logic I cannot agree with!
Maybe we just have to agree to disagree on this!
Take off the helmet so this can sink in...I am not dissing people that wear helmets, I am simply saying that cycling is not dangerous, people are. The act riding a bicycle does not put you at any greater risk of head injury than most other daily pursuits people do...it is the actions and choices of the rider that increase the risk. If you want to race, you are making a voluntary decision to increase your risk and thus should wear a helmet. It's that simple.
Our disagreement is that you consider the simple act of riding (not racing, not running lights, etc) to be dangerous, while I do not. It saddens me to see so many people with this fear of such a simple and enjoyable pursuit. How on earth did we Americans survive all those years without helmets...indeed how do all the rest of the world's cyclists, who vastly outnumber Americans, manage to survive to this day without helmets?
I'm sorry you feel cycling is so dangerous and I am glad you wear a helmet to mitigate your risk. You gotta do what you gotta do for your own self...and should respect my right to do the same.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey