I always wear a helmet. If people don't want to, that, I suppose, is their business. There are many accidents possible that a helmet would not help with, it's true, but I'm quite convinced that there are injuries they can and do protect you from.
But what baffles me are these people I see from time to time, who have a helmet. Dangling from their handlebars.
I always want to stop them and ask them why, but I never do, so I'm asking here instead.

Some people use helmets to strap their bikes to railings when they stop for coffee. I'm guessing it avoids the dreaded frame crush of a kickstand...

Hi dkatz,
I always wear one also, especially with the road bike, as it is capable of high speed. I always wear gloves and goggles. I always wore a full coverage helmet on my motorbike. I see pretty young ladies and guys riding a motorbike with little shorts and a teeshirt and helmet and I can't help but wonder what she/he would look like if the bike got dumped....

However, a few times I have left the house got my helmet ready then got distracted by a low tire, pumped it up and then drove off. I get a block or two away and cannot understand why the wind is so strong in my hair....

Hi curbtender,
I learned long ago from a bike mechanic that you wrap an elastic band around the handlebar and brake lever and the bike will stay put leaned up against anything. It's amazing.

So you are saying they could just use a rubber band instead of carrying around a helmet?

It weighs less....

The way I see it, one could bang their head on a sidewalk from accidents at slow speeds....I ride, seomtimes, on MUPs, but avoid them when they're crowded. A cyclist can get knocked over by a jogger, a baby carriage jogger, a skate board, etc....Not like getting hit by a semi, but still: a small deal could cause your head to get bashed, and then: the helmet could really help (I say this, as some cyclists have said things like, "if I get run over, I'm dead anyway").

hi dkatz1,
What is an MUP?

And that's about what most bicycle helmets are designed for. Standards for bicycle helmets and what they are designed for are far lower than most bicyclists think.

I figure that a helmet even with low protection is better than with no protection.

Cheers

MUP = Multi Use Path.

Cheers

Or use a velcro strap from a mini-pump mount, or a cut-down toe-strap.

Cheers

I'll do that in three situations, maybe more that have slipped my mind.

1. I'm near the end of a commute, stopped at a light in the Summer morning sunshine, and don't want to walk in with a sweaty head.

2. I decided during a ride against the hard training I had planned, and don't need the helmet at the relaxed pace and deserted streets.

3. I went to a group or event which requires a helmet but I wanted a faster or longer ride afterwards and don't really need it.

None of those seem like very good reasons to me.
1. I of course don't know, but many of the people I see aren't anywhere near someplace they're likely to be going to work. And if you've been sweating, you're going to be sweaty. A few minutes without a helmet aren't going to change it. Good grief! A SWEATY HEAD!
2. You're just as likely to bash your head when NOT doing "hard training". It's never going to happen when you expect it. On the MUP I sometimes go on (I totally stay away from those places during the pandemic) a real danger is being caused problems by the various idiots you may come across: walking, running, running with a baby carriage, roller blades, skate boards and of course, other cyclists. And it doesn't take that much to wind up hitting your head on the pavement.
3. I didn't know that riding a helmet makes you slower, but I would suspect that if it does, it's not very much. I've been riding for 21 years, and I always wear a helmet. I have NEVER ONCE hit my head, but I know that I'm safer with a helmet, t even though there are things that a helmet can't protect me from. God, I hate to think of all the precious seconds of speed I've lost over 21 years of helmet wearing, and all of the humiliation I've been dealt by having a "sweaty head". My approach to the sweaty head for when I commute is the towel in my office that I wipe my head off with.

Story told to me 30 years ago: my friend Keith was at a bike race, watching the category 1 and 2 guys starting to line up for their event, when a cat 1 guy he knew came up to him.

Cat 1 guy: Keith, lend me your helmet.

Keith: where's yours?

Cat 1 guy: I rode 30 miles from home to here. Where was I supposed to put it?

OK. They're excellent reasons for other cyclists.

Do you commute in 90° with 80% humidity in the morning? Yes, as soon as you stop, you'll start to sweat and likely profusely. While you're moving, the breeze keeps it at bay.

Do you do any hard training? HIIT? Sounds like not ... you are far more likely to have an accident when you're pushing limits.

Even in Europe where hardly anyone wears a helmet, roadies while training typically do.

You misunderstood. You have to bring the helmet for the group ride, because they won't let you ride without it. It's the only reason you brought the helmet. But you want to ride more for various reasons, and your judgement is that it's unnecessary for the ride. ("you" as in the person carrying his helmet on the handlebars. I doubt that this applies to you personally)

Ok joking, but the question is, how often do you wear a helmet? So going from I wear one literally every time I ever put feet on a pedal, to I dont even know what a helmet is and I never owned one, to somewhere in between. And before this becomes a crucifixion, of course I know and agree that helmets are super important and safety should be the first concern for all riders.

And lastly, what is the current helmet you ride with on your road bike? Or the best helmet you ever had if you currently dont use it?

I wear a helmet on every ride that is beyond a quick "test on my street after making adjustments" .

POC Ventral Air SPIN

Sometimes I don't wear one on gravel, but that makes me a bad person and you don't want to follow in my clown shoes.

Oh boy.

Always, even on test rides. (Test rides are often for checking proper shifting, Chain jam a real possibility.)

POS Trabec. A year too old but POS dropped MIPS and will resume next year. Very, very comfortable and well made helmet,

Same here.

Giro Ionos for road




Fox Speedframe Pro for mountain biking. This is the best ventilated helmet I've ever tried, but there's no vents that hold sunglasses securely

I don't wear one on test rides at the shop. I should. I don't.

Im actually looking at that Fox for my MTB. Hows the sizing?

fits true to size.I'm a medium for both

It's a great helmet, and actually cooler than the Giro. The front vent works great when moving. Good Luck finding one in stock.

I don't straddle a bike without a helmet on.

I've seen more people fall getting on and off than when riding.