Actually, it's directly to the point: I would no more wear a gun and think myself secure from attack than I would wear a helmet and think myself secure from head injury - yet that seems to be exactly what the more rabid of helmet proponents believe.

I have no issue with those who choose to carry a gun, but I do take issue with those who believe that personal security begins and ends with the gun; that once armed they no longer need to consider any other safety issues. The gun, rightfully, is but a small part of a complete personal security plan - just as the helmet should be considered but a small part of the cyclist's personal safety plan. And yet the average helmeteer appears to consider his magic hat the beginning and the end of such discussions, to the degree that he feels comfortable hurling all manner of insults at the skilled and experienced rider who chooses to go bare-headed, while heaping praise on the complete incompetent who has done nothing more to ensure his safety than strap on a few ounces of Styrofoam.

I agree with that.
The "if then" situation with knowing that you are going to fall is merely to rule out the probability argument in the discussion and concentrate on how a helmet can help when you fall. So it seemed you were missing the point when you responded that if you knew you were going to fall, you would stay home.

Under the same logic I assume you also conclude it is a good idea to wear a helmet when climbing a ladder?

I didn't know they made ladder-climbing helmets...

They're called "Hardhats". Construction workers in the U.S.A. wear them everyday.

What about shower helmets...?

http://www.gd-wholesale.com/userimg/...er-cap-591.jpg

Handicap grab bars and handrails provide a greater level of safety than a helmet in a shower. That might be why you see these in hospital bathrooms versus the nurses issuing hardhats. Also, I assume it's rather difficult to wash your hair with a helmet on.
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Safe bike handling skills trumps a helmet for safety any day. Safe bike handling skills come as a result of experience, so years of riding experience also trumps a helmet for safety.

However. Those new to riding who have neither safe bike handling skills nor experience might need a helmet more than those with the experience to choose differently. Sure, they'd arguably be better off spending money on a bike skills class than a helmet, but most bike safety classes require helmets anyway, so...

Snell-rated, OSHA-approved for shower mishaps...?

Surely you don't suggest that appearance of hair trumps the appearance of safety, do you?

Haven't umpteen helmet proselytizers scoffed at some allegedly vain people who supposedly shun helmet wear only because of concern about its negative effect on hair appearance and smell due to sweat/helmet stench?

No, my statement is just a retort to those that bring up the lame helmet in the shower argument, but surely you don't suggest that wearing a bicycle helmet only gives the appearance of safety, do you? Never mind, I think this tread has managed to properly beat that horse to death.

The shower/any-other-activity argument is about relative risk, nothing more. It's a common retort to "why not wear a helmet"; the answer being because it just isn't that dangerous for most folks, no more than showering, trekking up stairs, walking down a busy street, etc.

I like the cap too!

This is less about wearing or not wearing a helmet while cycling; more about why ladder-, shower-, and walking-oriented companies haven't tapped the goldmine of fear-driven activity-specific helmet sales...

Exactly, it is not a lame argument, but exactly to the point. As long as you understand the point.

No, it's lame when you compare the risk of falls in a shower to bike accident risks and suggest it's a good idea to wear a helmet when showering.

I've ridden a bike most of my life and have had quite a few falls, including one last week, but in my 55 years I've never fallen in the shower, yet as I age, the possibility surely increases. I'm not going to start wearing a helmet in the shower tho, but it might be time to install some good safety grab rails.

Helmets
 

Is there anyone here that does *not* wear a helmet while riding? I was having a discussion with a friend about this, and we disagreed on whether they're standard gear for most cyclists or not.

Saw this a few pages back...

I do wear one all the time however it is only my choice and I tend not to preach on the subject. It is whats right for me. I think of it like wearing a seat belt.

My opinion

When I started cycling 8 years ago I stuck entirely to bike paths, on a MTB, going about 12-13mph. I never wore a helmet.

When I moved out to the country and could only ride on roads, I got scared of the reckless traffic and bought one, and I haven't ridden without ever since. Ended up saving my life when I got hit by a car earlier this year.

Ah yes, the old "I crash a lot so you should put on a helmet" argument.

Most around the Portland, Or area seem to wear them. The ones that dont seem to be the younger, "hip" crowd (from what I see). I wear a helmet for a living and see what happens to people who dont - it doesnt take much.

Totally wrong, I choose to wear a helmet most of the time and totally understand the capabilities of a cycling helmet, but I could care less if you wear one or not. Again, my statements are only pointing out that (IMO) it's lame to say risk assessment suggests one should wear a helmet in the shower as there are more head injuries resulting from taking a shower than from riding a bike. It's just not a sound comparison. Again, if you want to mitigate head injuries from falls in the shower, grab rails would be much better solution than helmets. It's like someone saying for head protection, you should ride your bike with training wheels and a seat belt. A helmet would be a better solution, but if you want to ride with training wheels and a seat belt, be my guest!

During my years on this earth, I've worn many types of helmets during many activities, cycling, motorcycling, auto racing, flying, football, baseball, construction, combat and I don't recall a single time where a helmet saved my life. This does not stop me from wearing one, as it only takes one such event to make all the times I've worn a helmet worth while.