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
08-05-14, 06:43 AM
#8301
Senior Member
Probably worth writing a short email to the helmet manufacturer. Probably, you will hear nothing or get a boilerplate form email back; outside chance they'll send some kind of coupon or rebate form if you decide to buy another one of their brand; miniscule chance they'll ask you to send in your crashed helmet.
08-05-14, 09:19 AM
#8302
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Actually it's the helmet advocate crowd which tend to treat bicycle accidents as a virtual death sentence. That kind of hysterical nonsense is fairly uncommon among normal people, who generally consider a helmet as either optional or unnecessary, but typically not as (particularly) dangerous.
Last edited by CarinusMalmari; 08-05-14 at 09:23 AM.
08-05-14, 10:24 AM
#8303
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Actually it's the helmet advocate crowd which tend to treat bicycle accidents as a virtual death sentence. That kind of hysterical nonsense is fairly uncommon among normal people, who generally consider a helmet as either optional or unnecessary, but typically not as (particularly) dangerous.
08-05-14, 12:29 PM
#8305
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08-05-14, 04:11 PM
#8307
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While this is true, it's usually not the Helmeteer regulars making those claims. For the most part, it's newbs who happen upon the thread, rub one out and never return.
08-05-14, 04:27 PM
#8308
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Hello everyone. Today I went for a bike ride. I did not fall. I did not hit my head. I do not need a new helmet.
In other words, today was like every other day of my life to this point.
<edit>In a way, I feel bad for those of you who never experienced the sport back when it was safe; back before it became "extreme" and crashing was considered a normal and expected part of the experience. But in a much bigger way, I am pissed at all you idiots who turned the sport into a crash-filled free-for-all; an outdoor spin class where matching kit and $10,000 bicycles are more important than pack manners and common sense.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm really not interested in your stories about how you can't manage to stay on a bicycle but thank god you were wearing a helmet. I just wish you all would live or die or whatever, just as long as you do it somewhere else.
In other words, today was like every other day of my life to this point.
<edit>In a way, I feel bad for those of you who never experienced the sport back when it was safe; back before it became "extreme" and crashing was considered a normal and expected part of the experience. But in a much bigger way, I am pissed at all you idiots who turned the sport into a crash-filled free-for-all; an outdoor spin class where matching kit and $10,000 bicycles are more important than pack manners and common sense.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm really not interested in your stories about how you can't manage to stay on a bicycle but thank god you were wearing a helmet. I just wish you all would live or die or whatever, just as long as you do it somewhere else.
I love this thread.
08-05-14, 06:29 PM
#8309
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I've been lurking. For some reason I have had several months of lucidity during which posting to BF seemed like a complete waste of time. That episode seems to have passed.
Oh, and I went for another bike ride today. I did not land on my head. Weird, eh?
Oh, and I went for another bike ride today. I did not land on my head. Weird, eh?
08-05-14, 06:39 PM
#8310
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Just because some of us think it is wise to wear a helmet, it is not reason to believe that we think cycling is dangerous. I have been forced to buy cars with air bags for many years now. Mine have never gone off.
08-05-14, 07:47 PM
#8312
Senior Member
[QUOTE=mconlonx;17008953]No, most state clearly, rather than by implication, by the very nature of the post,: "If I wasn't wearing a helmet, I surely would have been killed!"[/QUOTE]
Yes, that IS a misconception most people have, thinking the helmet does more good than it actually does... But so is saying that a helmet is a waste of effort and it doesn't do anything much so don't wear one misconception... Thus this thread, as the real answer lies somewhere in between... Yes it can/does help, but it probably won't save your life or save you from a major head trauma...
JMO after being on here for awhile, thus this thread does have a justifiable reason to exist... I went from one of those "it saved my life" guys, to I still think it helped me when I needed it... 
Yes, that IS a misconception most people have, thinking the helmet does more good than it actually does... But so is saying that a helmet is a waste of effort and it doesn't do anything much so don't wear one misconception... Thus this thread, as the real answer lies somewhere in between... Yes it can/does help, but it probably won't save your life or save you from a major head trauma...
JMO after being on here for awhile, thus this thread does have a justifiable reason to exist... I went from one of those "it saved my life" guys, to I still think it helped me when I needed it...
08-05-14, 09:32 PM
#8313
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Yes, that IS a misconception most people have, thinking the helmet does more good than it actually does... But so is saying that a helmet is a waste of effort and it doesn't do anything much so don't wear one misconception... Thus this thread, as the real answer lies somewhere in between... Yes it can/does help, but it probably won't save your life or save you from a major head trauma...
JMO after being on here for awhile, thus this thread does have a justifiable reason to exist... I went from one of those "it saved my life" guys, to I still think it helped me when I needed it...
I doubt if I am speaking only for myself when I say that this sort of attitude is exactly what I hope this thread can produce.
Now, if only we can teach Canadians basic HTML skills, all will be right with the world.
08-06-14, 12:35 AM
#8314
Senior Member
So the question is if air bags were optional, would you buy them? If not, are you thinking that cycling is more dangerous than driving a car so that you wear a helmet while cycling but no helmet while driving, and the air bag issue is open.
08-06-14, 01:21 AM
#8315
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I just got a new helmet last week, for racing and offroad uses. Stoked that Giro had one that matches the 'goose.
08-06-14, 03:15 AM
#8316
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And in the intervening period, I too have managed to avoid falling off. Banged my head on a low beam while coming downstairs, though, I really ought to be more careful.
08-06-14, 06:55 AM
#8317
Senior Member
I fall into that category as well. Whenever anyone posts that this thread is a waste of time because it never changed anyone's mind, I always chime in. I still wear a helmet, but for the right reasons, not misconceptions.
08-06-14, 10:05 AM
#8318
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It's just another way they're clueless about cycling safety.
Last edited by CarinusMalmari; 08-06-14 at 10:10 AM.
08-07-14, 08:26 PM
#8319
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Well thank $DEITY that you have the "right reasons" and are here to educate the masses.
(Could it be that you wore a helmet for misconceptions, and now still wear a helmet (or not) for a different set of misconceptions? Nah.)
-mr. bill
(Could it be that you wore a helmet for misconceptions, and now still wear a helmet (or not) for a different set of misconceptions? Nah.)
-mr. bill
08-07-14, 09:22 PM
#8320
Senior Member
Medical "minor" injury can be still fairly traumatic from a personal POV... Do you doubt that helmets can prevent or mitigate less than serious head injuries? In the rare instance that one crashes their bike and even rarer instance that it involves a headstrike?
08-07-14, 09:28 PM
#8321
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-mr. bill
08-08-14, 09:36 PM
#8323
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Wearing a helmet is like wearing a watch--I just feel naked without it. On my commute home today, my helmet saved me from a concussion (or worse). I'll continue to wear my helmet. For those that don't, it doesn't bother me at all.
08-08-14, 10:32 PM
#8324
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...this is a common after effect of a period of lucidity . Don't worry, it will pass.
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08-08-14, 10:35 PM
#8325
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.... I went for a short bicycle ride today too, but I wore a helment. I hope I did not hurt myself in so doing.
.... I went for a short bicycle ride today too, but I wore a helment. I hope I did not hurt myself in so doing.
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