Someone once told me, in relation to riding motorcycles, if you ever find yourself getting too comfortable riding a motorcycle, that you feel like you don't need to wear protective gear you should strip down naked, run and to a Pete Rose dive on the pavement. And that won't be anything near to what would really happen if you ate it on a motorcycle.

I think the same analogy applies to cycling. The average person can sprint 9 miles an hour...sprint and dive headfirst on to pavement. Then wear a helmet.

But enough preaching...maybe you should ask why you don't like to wear a helmet. Is it because it's uncomfortable? You don't like the way it looks? In the grand scheme of things...you should spend whatever money it takes on a helment you like to wear. If it's a $125 helmet...trust me, it's worth it.