Originally Posted by DScience (Post 14699966)

Oh no guys, I better return my helmet. I though that it did more than just protect my skull, I thought that once a car was about to hit me the helmet grew wings and lifted me away, saving my life in any circumstance. :thumb:

I think this is so funny. People here are obviously scientific researchers studying the infinite ways a bike helmet can interact during an accident. "Make sure you know exactly what the helmet is for before you go buy one!" :crash:

Seriously, I don't think the helmet is an end all. What i'm saying is that Davis is the bike capital of the US and few people ride with one. I just wanted to thank the forum for encouraging me to get one. It's not just cars I am worried about. The people here can be crazier on bikes than vehicles, and a nice crash into a unsuspecting freshman could easily result in my head coming int contact with a hard surface. No one needs to convince me that having a helmet on is a good choice in ANY SORT OF HEAD TRAUMA! No, it's not going to protect you from everything! But it's just ignorant to say that a helmet is good for only some minor scratches. :roflmao2:

Originally Posted by rydabent (Post 14711505)

Kinda funny---------------------------here on the anti helmet thread Bell and othe helmet manuf are advertising. That means that the anti helmet cult have a place to vent provided by the very manuf they seem to hate for what really remains an unexplained reason.

Originally Posted by surgeonstone (Post 14708715)

Helmets may not save lives, but I can tell you what they will do- keep you out of the ER getting lacerations and abrasions cleaned up.

Originally Posted by mconlonx (Post 14712383)

If you paid for your membership, you wouldn't see them...

Originally Posted by rydabent (Post 14714534)

I dont mind the ads at all. Remember they keep these forums going.

Originally Posted by rekmeyata (Post 14714895)

But I do see dead people!

Originally Posted by mconlonx (Post 14716960)

aka: The formerly helmetless.

Originally Posted by Ninety5rpm (Post 14731857)

Interesting poll results.

38% have always worn a helmet, and 27% have quit going helmet-less. So 65% currently always wear a helmet.

Only 11% have never worn a helmet, and less than 6% have quit wearing a helmet... so 27% who currently never wear a helmet. A relatively low but significant percentage.

22% sometimes but not always wear a helmet.

In my case I always wear a helmet on long rides, but not on short utility trips in town.

Originally Posted by sudo bike (Post 14732237)

You've got to remember the audience, too. Most poor folks using a cheap-o Walmart or Target bike to get from A to B aren't going to be signing up with BikeForums and even less likely to have any strong stances or take a poll about helmet usage. Still, that sounds about right for BF... I'd actually expect if everyone on BF contributed to the poll, you'd have more helmet use, but that's just speculation.

Originally Posted by rydabent (Post 14740403)

The fact that the majority of bike riders in the world may have something to do with the fact that having food on the table is their biggest need.

Originally Posted by rydabent (Post 14740403)

The fact that the majority of bike riders in the world may have something to do with the fact that having food on the table is their biggest need.

Originally Posted by John C. Ratliff (Post 14740699)

I'm back...

http://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/inde..._river_default

John

Originally Posted by DScience (Post 14696149)

I've lived in Davis CA for a year now, and casual riders tend to stay away from helmets. I followed this lead, until now. I have this forum to thank for that too. After reading of the horrific accidents people report on here, I had some sense knocked into me (pun intended!). What did it most was a nice gentleman who posted about his wife being struck by a car from behind and how she didn't even realize her helmet was damaged. It made me think. I used to assume that if I was careful enough I could avoid careless drivers. But now I realize there are times where you just can't react or make any decisions in time.

Well, I tested it out and it's not as bad as I thought! I actually like it! It's very low profile: Specialized Echelon. It's cheap and I feel like it will be okay for my daily commutes. If anyone thinks that this inexpensive helmet isn't as safe, please let me know!

:D Protect the most amazing piece of matter on earth...the human brain!

Originally Posted by skye (Post 14742665)

Yeah, I just can't stop thinking of those helmetless, starving kids in Copenhagen...

Originally Posted by rekmeyata (Post 14742905)

That's right, find some obscure city with less then 1.5 million people and long standing and very effective bike infrastructure system that is a western world not even close to starving; why not Hanoi or some such place that represent thousands of cities in third world countries. That's right, because your point couldn't be made.

Originally Posted by skye (Post 14742987)

My point being that we have no idea whatsoever what the riding population or conditions are for those masses of people who are cycling helmetless in third world countries, and your assertion that they are only riding without helmets because they cant afford them because they must spend all their money on food is both asinine and laughable.

Originally Posted by skye (Post 14742665)

Yeah, I just can't stop thinking of those helmetless, starving kids in Copenhagen...

Originally Posted by bandit1990 (Post 14742870)

So how does that helmet protect against pepper-spray? Oops...touchy subject. Forget I asked. Answer: NOT VERY WELL!

Originally Posted by skye (Post 14742987)

I just tried to put the discussion back on the right track by pointing out that there are populations with enough similarity to our own that useful comparisons can be drawn.

Originally Posted by rekmeyata (Post 14714895)

You see ads? I never see any on this forum. But I do see dead people!

Originally Posted by mconlonx (Post 14716960)

Aka: the formerly helmetless.