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
10-02-12, 01:56 PM
#3576
genec
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Interesting points, Genec. I agree that this is not a "helmet" thread, but when you throw advocacy and safety into the mix, you are going to create confusion. I wholly support the idea that an individual has the right to decide whether to wear a helmet, or not. Really don't think mandatory laws will decrease ridership by much, but since I'm from Cali-wewilltellyouwhatisbest-fornia, not sure how to quantify it. Providing specific traffic circumstances (heavy road use or suburban areas) brings up valid points, but not enough to keep this from devolving into the helmet vs. non-helmet argument.
10-02-12, 04:54 PM
#3577
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Cycling in heavy traffic is NEVER promoted by anyone in the bicycling industry or by anyone else that I can think of.
10-02-12, 06:35 PM
#3578
Senior Member
I agree that MHLs are a bad idea, since studies show it drives down ridership where enacted, and with less cyclists on the road, less drivers competent sharing the road, it is ultimately detrimental to safety.
I'd rather what we have now -- helmets not mandatory, but encouraged -- or even just no mention of them at all from any "voice of authority" beyond, "Riding a bike is a perfectly safe endeavor and you are unlikely to crash during any given ride. However, on the off chance you do crash, a helmet may help in situations where you could otherwise have received a less than serious head injury. It's not a magic pill; it does not provide some kind of safety force-field bubble."
I'd rather what we have now -- helmets not mandatory, but encouraged -- or even just no mention of them at all from any "voice of authority" beyond, "Riding a bike is a perfectly safe endeavor and you are unlikely to crash during any given ride. However, on the off chance you do crash, a helmet may help in situations where you could otherwise have received a less than serious head injury. It's not a magic pill; it does not provide some kind of safety force-field bubble."
1. By far, the most important step a cyclist can take to insure their safety is to ride in a careful and alert manner.
2. Keep the bike well maintained.
3. Use of bike lights at night or in other low visibility conditions (dawn/dusk/rain/fog).
10-03-12, 08:20 PM
#3580
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Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't. The difference is not conditions but rather just whim unless some event or federal installation requires a lid.
10-03-12, 09:01 PM
#3581
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Wow, thanks for changing that from preventing a serious head injury to just preventing scraps. That's not what would have happened to the poster I was addressing. But thanks for putting your 2 cents in there, now keep the change.
10-03-12, 10:20 PM
#3582
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Road rash can be significantly worse than "scrapes".
10-04-12, 11:02 AM
#3583
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Not sure if the link will work, but interesting article in the New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/sunday-review/to-encourage-biking-cities-forget-about-helmets.html?pagewanted=1&_r=4&ref=general&src=me&
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/sunday-review/to-encourage-biking-cities-forget-about-helmets.html?pagewanted=1&_r=4&ref=general&src=me&
10-04-12, 11:34 AM
#3584
Senior Member
By "LBS marketeers," are you talking about bike shop owners and employees selling cycling gear to retail customers, or companies and distributors selling stuff to shops...?
10-04-12, 11:40 AM
#3585
Senior Member
I would agree to some extent, but before recommending any sort of helmet use, I would first emphasize other things that promote safe riding:
1. By far, the most important step a cyclist can take to insure their safety is to ride in a careful and alert manner.
2. Keep the bike well maintained.
3. Use of bike lights at night or in other low visibility conditions (dawn/dusk/rain/fog).
1. By far, the most important step a cyclist can take to insure their safety is to ride in a careful and alert manner.
2. Keep the bike well maintained.
3. Use of bike lights at night or in other low visibility conditions (dawn/dusk/rain/fog).
Sure. I'd even add another couple of points as more important to riding safe than helmet use:
- ride in a legal, predictable, controlled manner
- ride more, in varied environments -- the more experienced a cyclist, the safer that cyclist rides.
10-04-12, 12:14 PM
#3586
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10-04-12, 07:00 PM
#3587
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Who rides without a helmet? And why?
I started cycling this summer and have yet to purchase a helmet, who else doesn't wear one and why? Personally I don't feel like I need one yet but eventually I plan on getting one. I'm not keen on wearing one but I feel like I look ridiculous not wearing one around the lbs guys ect.
10-04-12, 07:32 PM
#3589
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I don't own a helmet. I ride without because I choose not to. The pros & cons are well known to me. I'm not anti-helmet at all.
10-04-12, 10:15 PM
#3591
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i don't wear a helmet, they fit my head funny... or maybe i should say they don't fit on my head right, no matter the amount of adjusting.
10-04-12, 10:44 PM
#3592
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10-05-12, 02:34 AM
#3594
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I didnt plan on wearing one until i came across one that looked cool 
53 fn bucks but i love my Uvex Urbanhelmet. Im not a fan of the traditional streamlined helmets
53 fn bucks but i love my Uvex Urbanhelmet. Im not a fan of the traditional streamlined helmets
10-05-12, 04:28 AM
#3595
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This is where the new model from Catlike has more "fine tuning" of adjustments that are already found in the high end helmets. I already approached Catlike about this. Their new model is not out yet but will replace the Whisper Plus as the new top end helmet. I had a chance to try it at the bike show in Las Vegas and I think it will work for me.
10-05-12, 04:49 AM
#3596
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I started cycling this summer and have yet to purchase a helmet, who else doesn't wear one and why? Personally I don't feel like I need one yet but eventually I plan on getting one. I'm not keen on wearing one but I feel like I look ridiculous not wearing one around the lbs guys ect.
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10-05-12, 05:55 AM
#3597
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Im way too paranoid about some idiot texting on their phone and run into the back of me.
Helmet can't prevent everything...but im happy i go over it and wear one now.
10-05-12, 07:22 AM
#3598
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The main reason I wear one is so at my funeral no one can say "If only he'd worn a helmet he'd still be with us". I don't want to give anyone the satisfaction. 
10-05-12, 07:44 AM
#3599
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F it I'm buying a helmet today. I'm too young to die..
sorry for making a helmet thread, didnt know it was a touchy subject that has been rehashed over and over. I suppose its pretty silly not to wear one especially with all the texting drivers I see on a daily biases.
sorry for making a helmet thread, didnt know it was a touchy subject that has been rehashed over and over. I suppose its pretty silly not to wear one especially with all the texting drivers I see on a daily biases.
10-05-12, 07:49 AM
#3600
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