DPC

Hi All,

Just curious to know, what made you start wearing a helmet? Peer pressure often makes people not want to wear helmets but it was kind of the opposite in my case as I was actually forced to start wearing one by a friend. Most of the people I rode with around 12 years ago (when I was 16) wore helmets and a few of them said I really neded to start wearing one. I didn't though, thinking it would be uncomfortable. Eventually one of my friends brought his spare helmet along on a ride for me and said "You ARE going to wear that". I kinda protested but he stood in front of my bike and physically prevented me from riding any further until I put the helmet on (he was bigger and stronger than me so I didn't really have much of a choice). Then finding out that wearing a helmet really wasn't as uncomfortable as I thought it would be, I bought my own. A couple of years later I came off in some woods, smacked my head against a nice big rock and cracked my helmet, so had my friend not forced me wear a helmet originally I might have actually ended up in a pretty bad way. I owe him a thankyou!

How about you?

unterhausen

28 stitches on the back of my head and an overnight stay at the hospital. I used to wear a helmet only if I thought I was going to go fast. That would have worked in that case too, but on an easy ride, my riding partner challenged me to a sprint to a yellow sign. We both went down, but I landed on my head.

cyclezealot

It matches my club kit.. The real answer... crack your helmet on a curb, you'll never go without..

Kurt Erlenbach

When I started back riding about three years ago, I wore the helmet most of the time. On short rides, I sometimes wouldn't. I went for a ride on a MUP for the first time about two years ago, and I remember debating whether to wear the helmet. I did, and ended up in the worst crash I've had when an inattentive mother pushing her idiot child in a Big Wheel pushed it right in front of me. I didn't hit my head, but it was close enough. Now, I don't leave the driveway without it.

Pwnt

When I had kids. Hard to tell them they have to wear helmet and then I don't.

digger

It became law back in the mid to late 80s. It was kinda mushrom shaped; styrofoam with a lycra cover, blue and white in colour.

It was quite a new thing in my area and I never wore it for the longest time, but then I started to grow up a bit more and put it on, got use to it and now I never leave home without it.

ricebowl

Back when I started mountain biking crashes were pretty common so I wore a helmet. Now I ride on the road mainly I do it out of habit and fear of public scorn.

bmclaughlin807

You're assuming that we DO all wear helmets. I wear mine only rarely... organized rides and rides into the mountains where 50 mph descents are likely.

Pwnt

Because Bill is not SMRT!

DPC

I know that's how it comes across. I forgot to put if you do wear one in the thread title!

Mitchxout

I always wear a helmet when riding my motorcycle so it's only common sense when peddling.

StrangeWill

Adhesive tape for the mirror doesn't stick well on my skin.

To be honest almost always have since I was a wee lad, use to go around the neighborhood without one here and there, and considering some close calls, shouldn't have.

unterhausen

title is perfectly fine the way it is. If someone doesn't wear a helmet, there isn't any reason for them to tell us why not. Actually, that's probably a little too strong, but I'd say if someone wants to debate this again, I'd suggest they start a thread. This thread has a specific question as its basis.

I'm glad I started wearing helmets. I've hit my head on at least one thing that probably would have at least gotten close to fracturing my skull since I started. Glad I wasted a $20 helmet instead of finding out how bad head injuries can get.

Machka 

My father has been wearing one from some time in the mid-1970s, but it wasn't till a cycling friend of mine told me that all "serious" cyclists wore helmets that I went out and got one. I've been wearing a helmet since 1991.

H.A.W.G.

I was going down nice little hill one of the first days I got my bike. I was going faster than I would have felt comfortable going in my little sports car on the narrow road. It was my first time on a road bike, and I was like "damn these things are fast". I bought a helmet shortly after

the 4 concussions I had playing football in High School and College made the decision a little easier

PLyTheMan

When I started riding 20 miles a day. Just based on the probability of getting in a crash due to all the road time I figure it's best to wear one. I still don't on short trips out and about, but for my commute I do.

Mr Danw

Several years ago a local guy in the neighborhood went to take his kids for a bike ride around the neighborhood. He slid in some loose gravel at the bottom of his driveway and broke his skull. His son had to call 911 while his young teen daughter was trying to keep his brain inside his head.

StephenH

The City of Dallas has a helmet law.

uke

Ooh. What happened to him and his family?

NoahTheBoa

My dad is a neuropsychologist and works with people who have had pretty serious brain injuries. I've always worn a helmet, he wouldn't let me ride without one.

Mr Danw

He died on the spot. I think they moved some time shortly after. I'm sure the kids will need serious therapy.

kuan

I made my wife wear one. Then I had to wear one. Now I feel a bit naked without one.

buzzman

I'm hesitant to post my reasons on the internet. The helmet issue is contentious for some and the defensive stance some take when explaining why they don't wear a helmet is something I don't want to deal with around this issue.

I began wearing a helmet occasionally after a close friend was killed riding her bike while not wearing one.

I began wearing a helmet every time I rode after a second friend was killed riding his bike while not wearing one.

If I may preemptively say, yes, in all honesty I have no idea if either of these lives would have been saved by their wearing a helmet. On the other hand, had they both died wearing helmets at least I would know now that even a helmet wouldn't have saved them and, oddly enough, that would have been some consolation. As it is I'm left always with the thought, "what if they'd worn a helmet?"

This may make no sense to anyone unless they've been in this situation but it was certainly enough to make me wear a helmet after years of riding thousands of miles without one. If nothing else it's as much for anyone I might leave behind as it is for myself- it communicates that I did everything I could to survive.

genec

two weeks of headaches, after a car bike accident.

genec

Nah, makes lots of sense to me... I had a friend saved by a seat belt back in the early 70's... lots of details, but suffice it to say I always wore a seat belt after that, long before it was mandatory or common.