Probably.

It's not that you don't understand and speak the foreign language at hand here, it's that you don't seem to understand the concept of not speaking a foreign language. Foreign languages are different, words don't mean what you think or want them to mean.

At least 'road helmet' is the right name, it doesn't do much for the bicycle or cycling, it's made to hit the road.

Aren't all helmets made to hit the road? I'm sure they are all equally capable of doing that. How much significant risk injury mitigation any of the "types" provide is debatable as well as the degree of difference in risk reduction between different types of bicycle helmet models and types.

...this depends on how much money you're willing to spend on the helment. I'm not a big Specialized fan, but I recently replaced my old Smith with one of their road helmets because the ventilation was better, and the Smith was beat. Both were MIPS. But it's still a helment, so it's not as good on a hot day as no helment. Just a lot better, for a helment. It was not cheap, even on sale. But I ride here in very hot weather.

I don't know to what degree it's a specialized crash helmet. I just object to the term 'bicycle helmet' because it has no relation to cycling. I don't mind people putting on a road helmet when they go road cycling at all.

Road helmet is there to distinguish it from a MTB helmet which typically has a few extra features (visor, bulkier, more coverage) and a city styled helmet (yuck, but) and a TT helmet. They're all varieties of bicycle helmet, and of course, all useful in their respective contexts. Sure, cycling in the Netherlands, I haven't seen much of them, but having great cycling infrastructure and being pancake flat (meaning speeds are predictably moderate all the time) makes that relatively low risk.

Sounds to me like your gripe is that "English" in America has evolved to a use of words in a way that is not to your liking. We have automobile seat belts , football and hockey helmets that do nothing for the automobiles sporting them nor have football and hockey helmets saved any footballs from hard kicks or hockey goals from 100 mile per hour (160 KPH) slap shots.

And yes, those draping their helmets over their stems ARE using it as a bicycle helmet in your eyes. (For those who know their stems are worth more than that soft stuff between their ears.)

A biking, baseball, football, lacrosse, or hockey helmet is meant for use in those sports. Likewise, terms like a cycling, MTB, or BMX helmet helps the user get specialized features. It's not that complicated. But, for those uninformed the word before helmet is called an adjective, it's meant to describe the helmet. That is, how it is used, not what it's inteneded to hit - a silly thought.

Bicycle helmets ?
 

Never worn a bicycle helmet in my life. Thoughts and recommendations. ? Thanks !

I don't have the photo of the helmet my spouse crushed in a road crash. Nor the helicopter that took her to Harborview in Seattle. Without the helmet, she would be dead or at least brain damaged. A helmet post will set off a firestorm of opinions here. Sigh.... I didn't wear a helmet after years of not riding, but got one when I started up again. Giro makes nice helmets. Their MIPS design minimizes rotational impacts as well as direct blunt force.
Helmets also have a nice side effect of keeping your noggin cool on hot days, and warm if you put beanie under it. I crashed for the first time in decades this summer, and the posterior part of my helmet got knocked in. Not badly, but not my brain either. In the last ten years, everyone I know who got whacked were at low speeds, no traffic, etc. Failed mount up and hit head on large rock. Failed dismount, fell sideways onto head. Fast around a corner and tree branch to head. Loss of visibility in a tunnel. I think a lot of people have mishaps of inattention more than speed and cars. Nothing on earth will save you if you get hit by a car or run over by a big truck. But I find that my helmet, like seatbelts in a car, are now just part of the deal. Without a helmet or seatbelt, it just doesn't feel right anymore. YMMV

Might as well asked who has the best religion. I have notified the moderators and suggested moving this out of C&V to Advocacy & Safety forum. It's off topic here.

I have worn helmets since I got into bicycle racing in the late 80's. In the early 90's I was hit from behind by a pickup truck, and the helmet saved me from some major head injuries. That was a Giro helmet which i still buy to this day. I have used Bell helmets, and my newest one is a Specialized helmet, but I always come back to Giro. Go to the LBS and try some on. Fit really is the key. Well, that and breathability. The more vents the cooler your head will be. My Specialized is MIPS technology.

Ohh boy…this could get interesting.

I wear one and I’ll leave it at that.

Not if we're talking about why the OP shouldn't get a "vintage" helmet, ;)

Yes, wear a helmet is my advise. After seeing Bernard Hinault crash in the Tour de France I decided I'd rather be safe than lucky.

I meselfs have used Giro products for the last 10 years or so. My helmet is getting old I use Giro Air Attack with the magnetic shade visor.

Yeah, but then we'd be talking about that ol' time religion.

I've three times over my lifetime had crashes where may helmet was destroyed and probably saved me from serious head injuries. The last time was a year ago when I went down head first and hard on Cino and suffered a bad concussion even with my Giro helmet. Could have been much worse. I strongly suggest that you buy something near the top of the Virginia Tech helmet ratings https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicyc...t-ratings.html. They are the only independent helmet testing lab that I know of.

One of these crashes was on a highway with a lot of traffic and I was hit from behind. The other two were off road with serious downhills and big ruts/loose gravel/large rocks. If you ride those types of roads then a helmet is necessary IMHO. However, if you're just going to be gliding slowly around urban or suburban roads with only minor low speed traffic or bike paths at relatively low speeds (i.e. no 40 mph descents) then I don't think they are particularly necessary. For example, look at videos of riding in Amsterdam where nobody wears a helmet in the city but fast riders outside the city do.

Going without, that's the freedom highway.

My personal choice is to wear a helmet...

but observations:

neighbors dog runs in front of me and I go over the handle bars, hit helmet, no loss of consciousness, no concussion, could see deformation in helmet, bought an new one

Neighbor lost balance and fell, hit head on curb, major helmet damage, no loss of consciousness, no concussion same guy fell while running, no helmet and got major concussion

fellow C&V went down hard, helmet damage, no loss of consciousness, mild concussion, ER trashed helmet

IMHO, all of these would have been much more serious without the helmet.

What's not to my liking is that there is a lobby trying to associate any bicycle use with helmet wearing, as to blame cyclists for not being 'protected' and getting hurt. Many words aren't neutral, and if you just take the words others have made for you, you often end up copying their frame too.

See above, I don't believe it's just that in this case.

If the NRA would start calling bullet proof vests 'school vests' would you go along with that too. I just want people to think about what words like that do.

Helmets? What helmets? We don't need no steenking helmets!!!☠️🤕

Wearing a helmet is different these days as most cyclsts you see on the roads do so already.....
Even kids do not resist that much being told to do so.
Unlike BITD when they were not that common, many felt conscious of being seen wearing one and possibly looking dorky, especially as they weren't stayed as nice as they are now.......

Danger Will Robinson! You will be smitten on the head for bringing up the subject so you'd best go buy one (try a Giro).
If you lived in my province, it's the law for everyone which makes it easy. Please, no commentary on rights, freedom, nanny states etc. I'm sick of that nonsense.
This thread is doomed and will either be locked or moved to A&S if it continues.

I have two hanging on the wall that were retired after being broken from accidents.
Personal choice rules => Freedom. Just don't make me pay for your choice.
Specialized helmets have been my choice due to fit.

My two cents? Don't buy online -- try some on at a bike shop first. It's not just size variation, but also shape and adjustability. But yes, helmet all the way.