skydive69

It is a good thing that no one has ever fallen off a bike and struck their head with no cars about!

skydive69

Good plan - diapers can be expensive. If you don't do chamois or lycra, you probably ride so slowly that any mishap will not even cause road rash. Unfortunately, a light tap can bring you to the diaper/living will crossroads - again I have seen it. BTW, if you do look back and see me, plan on quickly looking forward quickly, because you will simply see a bike rapidly disappearing in front of you.

AnnaInVA

Not around the neighborhood, but on busy streets. Bought this cool-looking helmet, silver with pink flowers from Target for $19.99. It is an XFactor helmet.

AnnaInVA

pedex

please, I ride for a living, ive been in accidents, ive crashed, ive seen helmets not help, ive also seen them help, its personal choice, and in the US its largely culturally motivated all other arguments aside

last TT I did I avg'd 26.4 mph for an hour(that was about 3 weeks ago), I dont think riding slow is one my problems, get it good shape, ride lots, and lycra/chamois becomes a waste of $$

phinney

Nice TT time pedex!

I usually wear a helmet on the mtb. Oddly, I'll wear it on the road if I'm riding near the middle of the day and it's a hot muggy day. The helmet gives some shade (low hair count) while still allowing good air flow. If it's not baking hot, the sun is low, or I'm riding where there are a-lot of insects flying about (common around here), then I'm more apt to wear a cycling cap. I really like cycling caps - one of the simplest and most functional pieces of clothing ever developed.

I'll throw in my two cents on the Lycra/chamois thing. I think they are a little more comfortable than some other shorts though it is certainly possible to ride comfortably even in blue jeans. I find cycling gear decidedly uncomfortable when off the bike.

closetbiker

Please.

javna_golina

always wear a helmet, it's the law here. Once, my helmet got stolen, so naturally I rode without one, I got stopped 2kms from my house by a cop and told to walk home...

If I was in a country where a helmet was not compulsory, I would still wear it most of the time. It's not that much hassle, and potentially alot of help. But I've got no problem with people who don't...their business, not mine.

EuroJosh

I only wore mine for group rides untill I got a job at a bike shop. Now I ware it 95% of the time, I guess I feel the need to be a "good example". I also view helmets as cheap insurance.

JonnyBoy

I have never worn a helmet on a bike. I really don't feel compelled to wear a helmet when I commute or ride on any paved surface. Having said that, I plan to get a helmet for mountain biking. That is the only kind of riding that really puts the fear of injury in me. Trees and big rocks scare me. Traffic and high road speed I don't have a problem.

Peace,
Jon

randya

These days, usually. Never until I was almost 40, though. Never hit my head, either, with or without a helmet.

Sprocket Man

Almost all the time. It feels really strange to ride without one.

ehammarlund

Helmet. If I'm going to push myself on the MTB then i'm going to take an occasional ender or meet a tree--and helmets are damn handy when that happens

And ever since some %^$! left turned into me on a road as a teenager (no helmet, though happily no injuries) I'd never road ride without one. It's not me that I'm worried about, it's them.

If I were on a bike path, no cars, mellow ride... maybe I'd skip it. But never if my kids could see me (yet another reason to wear one from my end)

closetbiker

By my count, that's 18 yes, 12 no or sometimes.

I would have thought it was going to be a 70/30 split in favour of helmets

2manybikes

Do you spray WD-40 into all the bearings too?

zonatandem

Helmet.
Hope you are an organ donor!

closetbiker

We'll never get understanding if we can't stay on topic.

thechrisproject

I wear a helmet. I felt silly in it so I mounted a troll to the top of it. Now I definitely look silly as well as feeling silly. I get a lot of compliments on it.

barenakedbiker

I feel naked without a helmet.

Anthony King

I have never worn one. I'm ambivalent about them--I think they're a decent idea and can help in some crashes. I'll probaby get one at some point and try to get into the habit of wearing it. The only time I wrecked (I was doing something stupid) I lowsided and sideswiped my face against the pavement, broke my nose and cut my lip badly. A regular helmet wouldn't have helped me the way I hit, so I'm tempted to go full-face if I get one at all, which is probably what keeps me from buying one.

barenakedbiker

I've cracked at least four helmets. Helmets come and go....too bad I have only one skull.

clfjmpr44

The way I see it, there is an "either/or" choice that needs to be made. While it is an amazing feeling (very free) to have the wind blow through your hair at high speed, I choose to don a helmet on all rides for insurance.

womble

I don't wear a helmet for short rides that involve very quiet streets in a city that has cyclist-aware drivers (eg Vancouver). I wear a helmet in any circumstances that vary from this.

pseudobrit

Understanding of what? Who here doesn't wear a helmet?

The thread title doesn't set up a helmet/non-helmet poll, it attracts those who don't and encourages them to post.

I fail to see what asking those who don't wear a helmet to identify themselves will accomplish.

pseudobrit

What is the point of this thread if you don't want anyone to talk about helmets beyond whether or not they wear them?

It seems about as useful as a Campy v. Shimano/leg shaving/frame material/Lance doping/lyrca/chamois/underwear thread and no less likely to invite silliness, despite your pleas.

C Law

Mountain biking - always
Road riding - Always, except to grocery store, beach and around town. these rides are shorter and slower.

Generally, 90% of my rides are helmeted.