View Poll Results: Helmet wearing habits?
I've never worn a bike helmet
178
10.66%
I used to wear a helmet, but have stopped
94
5.63%
I've always worn a helmet
648
38.80%
I didn't wear a helmet, but now do
408
24.43%
I sometimes wear a helmet depending on the conditions
342
20.48%
Voters: 1670. You may not vote on this poll
The helmet thread
07-12-12, 07:28 AM
#2901
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I really wish that Bell would reintroduce the Tourlite helmet they made in the middle 80s. It had a lexan shell that was around 1/8th of an inch thick. It wasnt that heavy and was tough as nails.
07-12-12, 07:48 AM
#2902
Part-time epistemologist
Someone recently shared an interesting (IMO) overview of head/brain injuries and helmet.
Since I have a hard time keeping up with the thread, before posting this I checked to see whether it was shared earlier but neither the forum search tool nor Google displayed any posts with the link or some portion of the link and author's name. The forum search was not behaving well ... or I was using it badly ... so please forgive me if I missed an old post and this is old news. The paper is dated 2008. It's by Curnow who has written several other articles on bicycle helmets. However, the others I read were written years earlier.
https://www.cyclehelmets.org/papers/p787.pdf
Since I have a hard time keeping up with the thread, before posting this I checked to see whether it was shared earlier but neither the forum search tool nor Google displayed any posts with the link or some portion of the link and author's name. The forum search was not behaving well ... or I was using it badly ... so please forgive me if I missed an old post and this is old news. The paper is dated 2008. It's by Curnow who has written several other articles on bicycle helmets. However, the others I read were written years earlier.
https://www.cyclehelmets.org/papers/p787.pdf
__________________
A narrative on bicycle driving.
A narrative on bicycle driving.
07-12-12, 07:57 AM
#2903
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07-12-12, 09:44 AM
#2904
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Because for the majority of cyclists worldwide, cycling is a means of transportation, not a sport. The risks associated with general transportation riding in good conditions aren't high enough to warrant the limited protective ability of a bicycle helmet.
07-12-12, 09:48 AM
#2905
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If I remember correctly I think that helmet came out in the late 70's and was gone by the mid 80's. I know I had the helmet for at least 4 years until my head went through a cars side window in 84 which crushed the styrofoam but did nothing to the shell. And the styrofoam they used was white instead of the black stuff, and during those 4 some odd years I had it the styrofoam never started to deterate like the black does just after only 1 year of use.
07-12-12, 10:33 AM
#2906
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07-12-12, 03:18 PM
#2907
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My helmet didn't save my life...
because I wasn't wearing one.
Yesterday I was involved in a collision with a motor vehicle. I was negotiating a roundabout, I had the right of way, a car drove straight out in front of me, I had no opportunity to avoid it. I was catapulted over the car into the roadway. My shoulder and the side of my unhelmeted head struck the road. I have a separated shoulder joint and a lump on my head.
It occurred to me afterwards that had I been wearing a helmet, it would very probably have sustained some damage and that I might well have concluded that it had saved me from serious injury. But in fact what happened was that my skull struck the roadway with a single, glancing blow. I had a mild headache for about an hour and some residual tenderness of the scalp. My head did not rotate on impact, tests have shown no neurological deficit, I'm fine. (My shoulder is a bit of a mess, though).
This was the result of most such incidents before helmets became prevalent. For the most part, bumping one's head is unpleasant but not serious.
It also occurred to me that had I been wearing a helmet it is at least possible that the outcome might have been worse, given the reported tendency of helmets to increase the extent to which the head rotates. It's possible, if unlikely, that not wearing a helmet saved my life.
I value my noggin too highly to wear a helmet.
because I wasn't wearing one.
Yesterday I was involved in a collision with a motor vehicle. I was negotiating a roundabout, I had the right of way, a car drove straight out in front of me, I had no opportunity to avoid it. I was catapulted over the car into the roadway. My shoulder and the side of my unhelmeted head struck the road. I have a separated shoulder joint and a lump on my head.
It occurred to me afterwards that had I been wearing a helmet, it would very probably have sustained some damage and that I might well have concluded that it had saved me from serious injury. But in fact what happened was that my skull struck the roadway with a single, glancing blow. I had a mild headache for about an hour and some residual tenderness of the scalp. My head did not rotate on impact, tests have shown no neurological deficit, I'm fine. (My shoulder is a bit of a mess, though).
This was the result of most such incidents before helmets became prevalent. For the most part, bumping one's head is unpleasant but not serious.
It also occurred to me that had I been wearing a helmet it is at least possible that the outcome might have been worse, given the reported tendency of helmets to increase the extent to which the head rotates. It's possible, if unlikely, that not wearing a helmet saved my life.
I value my noggin too highly to wear a helmet.
07-12-12, 04:09 PM
#2908
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It's been educational for me to understand the negative effect that mandantory helmet laws have on ridership.
07-12-12, 06:52 PM
#2909
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My helmet didn't save my life...
because I wasn't wearing one.
Yesterday I was involved in a collision with a motor vehicle. I was negotiating a roundabout, I had the right of way, a car drove straight out in front of me, I had no opportunity to avoid it. I was catapulted over the car into the roadway. My shoulder and the side of my unhelmeted head struck the road. I have a separated shoulder joint and a lump on my head.
It occurred to me afterwards that had I been wearing a helmet, it would very probably have sustained some damage and that I might well have concluded that it had saved me from serious injury. But in fact what happened was that my skull struck the roadway with a single, glancing blow. I had a mild headache for about an hour and some residual tenderness of the scalp. My head did not rotate on impact, tests have shown no neurological deficit, I'm fine. (My shoulder is a bit of a mess, though).
This was the result of most such incidents before helmets became prevalent. For the most part, bumping one's head is unpleasant but not serious.
It also occurred to me that had I been wearing a helmet it is at least possible that the outcome might have been worse, given the reported tendency of helmets to increase the extent to which the head rotates. It's possible, if unlikely, that not wearing a helmet saved my life.
I value my noggin too highly to wear a helmet.
because I wasn't wearing one.
Yesterday I was involved in a collision with a motor vehicle. I was negotiating a roundabout, I had the right of way, a car drove straight out in front of me, I had no opportunity to avoid it. I was catapulted over the car into the roadway. My shoulder and the side of my unhelmeted head struck the road. I have a separated shoulder joint and a lump on my head.
It occurred to me afterwards that had I been wearing a helmet, it would very probably have sustained some damage and that I might well have concluded that it had saved me from serious injury. But in fact what happened was that my skull struck the roadway with a single, glancing blow. I had a mild headache for about an hour and some residual tenderness of the scalp. My head did not rotate on impact, tests have shown no neurological deficit, I'm fine. (My shoulder is a bit of a mess, though).
This was the result of most such incidents before helmets became prevalent. For the most part, bumping one's head is unpleasant but not serious.
It also occurred to me that had I been wearing a helmet it is at least possible that the outcome might have been worse, given the reported tendency of helmets to increase the extent to which the head rotates. It's possible, if unlikely, that not wearing a helmet saved my life.
I value my noggin too highly to wear a helmet.
07-12-12, 08:39 PM
#2910
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There are two probabilities to consider:
1. The probability that a helmet will perform some sort of protective function in a particular type of crash
2. The probability of experiencing that particular type of crash.
The article suggests that slower-moving, facilities-riding commuters have lower values for 2 and hence have less need for 1.
You should think a bit before you reject information that doesn't automatically confirm your predjudices.
07-12-12, 08:41 PM
#2911
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Here's to a speedy recovery
Glad you're as OK as one could be expected to be.
I hate to think what might have happened if you'd been wearing a helmet.
I hate to think what might have happened if you'd been wearing a helmet.
07-13-12, 03:00 AM
#2912
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My helmet didn't save my life...
because I wasn't wearing one.
Yesterday I was involved in a collision with a motor vehicle. I was negotiating a roundabout, I had the right of way, a car drove straight out in front of me, I had no opportunity to avoid it. I was catapulted over the car into the roadway. My shoulder and the side of my unhelmeted head struck the road. I have a separated shoulder joint and a lump on my head.
It occurred to me afterwards that had I been wearing a helmet, it would very probably have sustained some damage and that I might well have concluded that it had saved me from serious injury. But in fact what happened was that my skull struck the roadway with a single, glancing blow. I had a mild headache for about an hour and some residual tenderness of the scalp. My head did not rotate on impact, tests have shown no neurological deficit, I'm fine. (My shoulder is a bit of a mess, though).
This was the result of most such incidents before helmets became prevalent. For the most part, bumping one's head is unpleasant but not serious.
It also occurred to me that had I been wearing a helmet it is at least possible that the outcome might have been worse, given the reported tendency of helmets to increase the extent to which the head rotates. It's possible, if unlikely, that not wearing a helmet saved my life.
I value my noggin too highly to wear a helmet.
because I wasn't wearing one.
Yesterday I was involved in a collision with a motor vehicle. I was negotiating a roundabout, I had the right of way, a car drove straight out in front of me, I had no opportunity to avoid it. I was catapulted over the car into the roadway. My shoulder and the side of my unhelmeted head struck the road. I have a separated shoulder joint and a lump on my head.
It occurred to me afterwards that had I been wearing a helmet, it would very probably have sustained some damage and that I might well have concluded that it had saved me from serious injury. But in fact what happened was that my skull struck the roadway with a single, glancing blow. I had a mild headache for about an hour and some residual tenderness of the scalp. My head did not rotate on impact, tests have shown no neurological deficit, I'm fine. (My shoulder is a bit of a mess, though).
This was the result of most such incidents before helmets became prevalent. For the most part, bumping one's head is unpleasant but not serious.
It also occurred to me that had I been wearing a helmet it is at least possible that the outcome might have been worse, given the reported tendency of helmets to increase the extent to which the head rotates. It's possible, if unlikely, that not wearing a helmet saved my life.
I value my noggin too highly to wear a helmet.
Good to hear that you still living. Next time you should wear a helmet, to claim that it saved your life.
Last year I had a similar experience, came of my bike, nurt my arm, leg and head. No helmet and still living. The worst thing was that my front wheel was damaged, a nice Campagnolo Zonda.
07-13-12, 10:17 AM
#2914
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My helmet didn't save my life...
because I wasn't wearing one.
Yesterday I was involved in a collision with a motor vehicle. I was negotiating a roundabout, I had the right of way, a car drove straight out in front of me, I had no opportunity to avoid it. I was catapulted over the car into the roadway. My shoulder and the side of my unhelmeted head struck the road. I have a separated shoulder joint and a lump on my head.
It occurred to me afterwards that had I been wearing a helmet, it would very probably have sustained some damage and that I might well have concluded that it had saved me from serious injury. But in fact what happened was that my skull struck the roadway with a single, glancing blow. I had a mild headache for about an hour and some residual tenderness of the scalp. My head did not rotate on impact, tests have shown no neurological deficit, I'm fine. (My shoulder is a bit of a mess, though).
This was the result of most such incidents before helmets became prevalent. For the most part, bumping one's head is unpleasant but not serious.
It also occurred to me that had I been wearing a helmet it is at least possible that the outcome might have been worse, given the reported tendency of helmets to increase the extent to which the head rotates. It's possible, if unlikely, that not wearing a helmet saved my life.
I value my noggin too highly to wear a helmet.
because I wasn't wearing one.
Yesterday I was involved in a collision with a motor vehicle. I was negotiating a roundabout, I had the right of way, a car drove straight out in front of me, I had no opportunity to avoid it. I was catapulted over the car into the roadway. My shoulder and the side of my unhelmeted head struck the road. I have a separated shoulder joint and a lump on my head.
It occurred to me afterwards that had I been wearing a helmet, it would very probably have sustained some damage and that I might well have concluded that it had saved me from serious injury. But in fact what happened was that my skull struck the roadway with a single, glancing blow. I had a mild headache for about an hour and some residual tenderness of the scalp. My head did not rotate on impact, tests have shown no neurological deficit, I'm fine. (My shoulder is a bit of a mess, though).
This was the result of most such incidents before helmets became prevalent. For the most part, bumping one's head is unpleasant but not serious.
It also occurred to me that had I been wearing a helmet it is at least possible that the outcome might have been worse, given the reported tendency of helmets to increase the extent to which the head rotates. It's possible, if unlikely, that not wearing a helmet saved my life.
I value my noggin too highly to wear a helmet.
Moral of the story: People with strong convictions either way regarding the helmet issue are going to make assumptions of possible outcomes that will match their beliefs. No surprise there, now is there? Helmeteers do it, and Styrofoam skeptics do it too. Yay helmet thread!
Best wishes for a quick and full recovery for your shoulder.
07-13-12, 12:07 PM
#2916
Senior Member
It also occurred to me that had I been wearing a helmet it is at least possible that the outcome might have been worse, given the reported tendency of helmets to increase the extent to which the head rotates. It's possible, if unlikely, that not wearing a helmet saved my life.
I value my noggin too highly to wear a helmet.
I value my noggin too highly to wear a helmet.
The reported tendency of rotational injury due to helmet use is inconclusive at best. There's no real way you can say wearing a helmet would have made it worse, just as if you were wearing a helmet you might falsely claim that wearing a helmet helped in your situation. And then of course there's helmets available, like the POC MIPS selections, which are actually designed to mitigate rotational injury.
Also, because this was a less than serious head injury, there's really no data available to corroborate your claim that a helmet would not have helped -- most studies posted here deal only with reported serious injuries.
07-13-12, 12:08 PM
#2917
Senior Member
Huh. Seems to me there's more a negative correlation between those who post here and having a sense of humor, helmet use status regardless...
07-13-12, 12:11 PM
#2918
Senior Member
Someone recently shared an interesting (IMO) overview of head/brain injuries and helmet.
Since I have a hard time keeping up with the thread, before posting this I checked to see whether it was shared earlier but neither the forum search tool nor Google displayed any posts with the link or some portion of the link and author's name. The forum search was not behaving well ... or I was using it badly ... so please forgive me if I missed an old post and this is old news. The paper is dated 2008. It's by Curnow who has written several other articles on bicycle helmets. However, the others I read were written years earlier.
https://www.cyclehelmets.org/papers/p787.pdf
Since I have a hard time keeping up with the thread, before posting this I checked to see whether it was shared earlier but neither the forum search tool nor Google displayed any posts with the link or some portion of the link and author's name. The forum search was not behaving well ... or I was using it badly ... so please forgive me if I missed an old post and this is old news. The paper is dated 2008. It's by Curnow who has written several other articles on bicycle helmets. However, the others I read were written years earlier.
https://www.cyclehelmets.org/papers/p787.pdf
07-13-12, 02:15 PM
#2919
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07-13-12, 03:06 PM
#2920
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07-13-12, 03:18 PM
#2921
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07-13-12, 03:20 PM
#2922
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07-15-12, 06:53 AM
#2923
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Members of the anti helmet cult really are a humorless group. Just mention that the anti helmet crowd makes good organ donors, and just watch the laugh and giggle.
07-15-12, 09:45 AM
#2925
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I agree it is about the cost of "useless nanny state regulations" but about one specifically: requiring bicycle helmets in Australia. Cost to society exceeded the extra medical costs that would result from not requiring helmets. It kind of blows a hole in the argument that one person refusing to wear a helmet makes another person pay for it indirectly, and hence is the latter's business.
BTW, there is one more reason to wear a helmet that I don't think has been mentioned yet. For every news article about a bicycle accident the reporter seems somehow compelled to state whether or not the rider was wearing a helmet. As if it largely determines his culpability. Should I have an accident, heaven forbid, I'm loath to have them smearing my name in that fashion - I want them reporting that "the cyclist was wearing a helmet" - and had lights for that matter - so the average clueless reader will conclude that I was doing everything right instead of being negligent.
Last edited by wphamilton; 07-15-12 at 09:50 AM.