View Poll Results: What Are Your Helmet Wearing Habits?
I've never worn a bike helmet



52
10.40%
I used to wear a helmet, but have stopped



24
4.80%
I've always worn a helmet



208
41.60%
I didn't wear a helmet, but now do



126
25.20%
I sometimes wear a helmet depending on the conditions



90
18.00%
Voters: 500. You may not vote on this poll
The Helmet Thread 2
#401
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,839
Likes: 57
From: Canada, PG BC
Bikes: 27 speed ORYX with over 39,000Kms on it and another 14,000KMs with a BionX E-Assist on it
Yes, You have a point, BUT, "My helmet saved my life" can have many meanings...
1; It actually saved a life. (maybe)
2; It saved some major trauma. (maybe)
3; It saved some injury. (probably)
4; It saved some lumps. (almost certainly)
5; It saved some skin rash. (certainly)
People who have crashed do have a tendency to maybe put more into how the helmet helped, but... Just because a helmet isn't as good as most people think... Saying one doesn't need to wear one is just not right. One should always say (I am willing to take the chance) not that it just isn't worth it because nothing is going to happen and it won't save me from major trauma anyways. JMO
EDIT; Like I said, if (so I'm willing to take the chance) just like when walking, jogging, taking a shower was in every non-helmet wearers vocabulary, this thread would disappear... But that's not what I see, I see statements like, it's useless, can cause an increase in injuries.. JMO
1; It actually saved a life. (maybe)
2; It saved some major trauma. (maybe)
3; It saved some injury. (probably)
4; It saved some lumps. (almost certainly)
5; It saved some skin rash. (certainly)
People who have crashed do have a tendency to maybe put more into how the helmet helped, but... Just because a helmet isn't as good as most people think... Saying one doesn't need to wear one is just not right. One should always say (I am willing to take the chance) not that it just isn't worth it because nothing is going to happen and it won't save me from major trauma anyways. JMO
EDIT; Like I said, if (so I'm willing to take the chance) just like when walking, jogging, taking a shower was in every non-helmet wearers vocabulary, this thread would disappear... But that's not what I see, I see statements like, it's useless, can cause an increase in injuries.. JMO
Last edited by 350htrr; 12-18-14 at 10:44 PM.
#402
in other words, it's about as "adequate" in car-bike collisions as it is falling off the bike, but that doesn't mean that it adequately protects you from injury in either case.
Last edited by wphamilton; 12-18-14 at 10:20 PM.
#403
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,401
Likes: 19
That's splitting the hair very finely, especially in light of your claim that "The helmet is primarily for hitting the ground and that's generally going to happen regardless of how the accident occurs. Unless we're thrown up in the air we'll hit the ground with the same impact whether we're hit by a car, or riding 30 mph, or fall over at a light."
Last edited by Six jours; 12-18-14 at 11:08 PM.
#404
Yes, You have a point, BUT, "My helmet saved my life" can have many meanings...
1; It actually saved a life. (maybe)
2; It saved some major trauma. (maybe)
3; It saved some injury. (probably)
4; It saved some lumps. (almost certainly)
5; It saved some skin rash. (certainly)
1; It actually saved a life. (maybe)
2; It saved some major trauma. (maybe)
3; It saved some injury. (probably)
4; It saved some lumps. (almost certainly)
5; It saved some skin rash. (certainly)
#405
That's splitting the hair very finely, especially in light of your claim that "The helmet is primarily for hitting the ground and that's generally going to happen regardless of how the accident occurs. Unless we're thrown up in the air we'll hit the ground with the same impact whether we're hit by a car, or riding 30 mph, or fall over at a light."
Risk of injury is overall higher when a car hits you. The particular injuries resulting from the head hitting the ground are about the same however, and the helmet affords the same protection from that in either case.
#407
So, those times where I crashed, not wearing a helmet, and I AM still alive ... not wearing a helmet saved my life?
#408
Whereas THE ONLY HEAD INJURY I've sustained in recent times was a bike crash when I WAS wearing a helmet.
#409
#410
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,839
Likes: 57
From: Canada, PG BC
Bikes: 27 speed ORYX with over 39,000Kms on it and another 14,000KMs with a BionX E-Assist on it
Oopps, That's how I meant to say it and give those examples as to what really/probably happened...
#411
Senior Member


Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 15,336
Likes: 1,789
From: Far beyond the pale horizon.
Again, it's not that they can hurt, it's whether they help more or not than they hurt.
I didn't say that you did.
I don't see the helmet as less useful with bike-auto collisions. The helmet is primarily for hitting the ground and that's generally going to happen regardless of how the accident occurs. Unless we're thrown up in the air we'll hit the ground with the same impact whether we're hit by a car, or riding 30 mph, or fall over at a light. So it's not really true that the helmet is useless when high-speed autos are involved - at most we can say that it's sometimes superfluous, if the collision itself causes critical injury. But that doesn't always happen.
Again, the existance of better helmets doesn't contradict wphamilton's comment at all. If you read what he wrote, you didn't understand it. "High speed" is too vague anyway and with your "car racer" comment, it seems you are talking about a much higher (and irrelevant) "high speed".
Yet another strawman, based entirely on arguments that no one here has presented, except for you.
Last edited by njkayaker; 12-19-14 at 11:59 AM.
#412
#414
Senior Member


Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 15,336
Likes: 1,789
From: Far beyond the pale horizon.
He shouldn't be making such bad arguments then.
At least his arguments aren't as bad as "bicycle safty classes that people don't take even if they are free are better than helmets" one that I've seen somebody make.
At least his arguments aren't as bad as "bicycle safty classes that people don't take even if they are free are better than helmets" one that I've seen somebody make.
Last edited by njkayaker; 12-19-14 at 11:51 AM.
#415
The helmet is less useful in bike-auto collisions because fatal bike-auto collisions usually involve multiple massive injuries. That doesn't, of course, mean that no one has ever had his life saved by a helmet in a bike-auto collision. I just don't see significant objective evidence that it happens very much. If bicycle helmets really were effective in such scenarios, then why would motorcyclists and car racers wear such big heavy helmets?
No, it describes why what you said above is wrong.
Neither of those answers relate to the question of whether a bicycle helmet is effective at all in a bicycle crash involving a car.
#416
Senior Member


Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 15,336
Likes: 1,789
From: Far beyond the pale horizon.
Talking about "car racers" isn't rhetorical. Motorcyclists by themselves can reach high speeds. And collisions between motorcyclists and other vehicles has a fairly reasonable chance of having much higher combined speeds than collisions between cyclists and motor vehicles.
I said this. And it should have been obvious to other people. And the collisions race car drivers may be subject to are different.
Yes. I also said this. And it should be obvious too.
Yes. I also said this. And it should be obvious too.
Last edited by njkayaker; 12-19-14 at 03:26 PM.
#417
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,401
Likes: 19
Just for those keeping score at home:
In post #378 , JoeyBike asks "Is anyone here claiming that helmets don't mitigate injury?:
In post #386 , njkayaker replies "People do make such claims in these threads regularly."
In post #397 I wrote "I'm still looking for you to back up your claim that some people here have stated that helmets cannot prevent injury."
And then in #411 , nj replies with "I made no such claim!"
Mconlonx is right, again: trying to engage njkayaker in conversion is a complete waste of time.
In post #378 , JoeyBike asks "Is anyone here claiming that helmets don't mitigate injury?:
In post #386 , njkayaker replies "People do make such claims in these threads regularly."
In post #397 I wrote "I'm still looking for you to back up your claim that some people here have stated that helmets cannot prevent injury."
And then in #411 , nj replies with "I made no such claim!"
Mconlonx is right, again: trying to engage njkayaker in conversion is a complete waste of time.
#418
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,839
Likes: 57
From: Canada, PG BC
Bikes: 27 speed ORYX with over 39,000Kms on it and another 14,000KMs with a BionX E-Assist on it
I believe I made that claim in post 380 (that there were some who claimed that helmets don't help and could actually could cause injury) and njkayaker replied that yes there was some who made that claim. But I also said not in this
thread, not yet anyways... In the previous helmet thread there was a lot more claims like that, but not in this one... And no I'm not going back to find them to prove anything...
thread, not yet anyways... In the previous helmet thread there was a lot more claims like that, but not in this one... And no I'm not going back to find them to prove anything...
Last edited by 350htrr; 12-19-14 at 09:32 PM. Reason: spelling
#419
The space coyote lied.



Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 48,904
Likes: 11,094
From: dusk 'til dawn.
Bikes: everywhere
Just for those keeping score at home:
In post #378 , JoeyBike asks "Is anyone here claiming that helmets don't mitigate injury?:
In post #386 , njkayaker replies "People do make such claims in these threads regularly."
In post #397 I wrote "I'm still looking for you to back up your claim that some people here have stated that helmets cannot prevent injury."
And then in #411 , nj replies with "I made no such claim!"
Mconlonx is right, again: trying to engage njkayaker in conversion is a complete waste of time.
In post #378 , JoeyBike asks "Is anyone here claiming that helmets don't mitigate injury?:
In post #386 , njkayaker replies "People do make such claims in these threads regularly."
In post #397 I wrote "I'm still looking for you to back up your claim that some people here have stated that helmets cannot prevent injury."
And then in #411 , nj replies with "I made no such claim!"
Mconlonx is right, again: trying to engage njkayaker in conversion is a complete waste of time.
#420
Banned
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 1,066
From: Lincoln Ne
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
I hate to be the one to break the news to the world greatest cyclist that seem to post here, but the fickle finger of fate can and will reach out and goose you when you least expect it. A slick spot, a instant flat, loose gravel, or maybe a dog can put you on the ground. But then maybe these worlds greatest cyclist they NEVER go down have a bungee cord hooked to a cloud that will keep them from hitting the ground. The bungee cord idea is as believeable as thinking they will never crash.
Have you seen the helmet cam video that is on the internet in the last few days that show a rider going along at a good clip when UNEXPECED AND SUDDENLY a deer jumps in front of him and takes him down? Hmmmmm------better make sure your bungee cord is hooked up before you ride.
Have you seen the helmet cam video that is on the internet in the last few days that show a rider going along at a good clip when UNEXPECED AND SUDDENLY a deer jumps in front of him and takes him down? Hmmmmm------better make sure your bungee cord is hooked up before you ride.
#421
Getting put on the ground and banging your head are two different things Ryda, the latter not inevitable. I do want my helmet on if I hit the ground - even after a car-bike collision, Mr Jours - but if I happen to not have it, I'll deal with it and most likely without a head injury.
#423
As long as we're being general, at what level of risk should I be prepared? One in a hundred chance of hitting my head given an accident? In a thousand? Just a general ballpark from your perspective, and I won't ask you to justify the number.
#424
Senior Member


Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 15,336
Likes: 1,789
From: Far beyond the pale horizon.
Meanwhile did so repeatedly (with the "helmets cause rotational injuries).
There probably isn't one:
Cycle helmets are useless, says brain surgeon - Telegraph
Cycle helmets: an international resource
However, it doesn't matter: death or serious neurological injury from cycling accidents are incredibly rare.
If you're really concerned, then this is probably the best helmet available:
BiOS -!- anatomical protection helmets invented by a neurosurgeon
Cycle helmets are useless, says brain surgeon - Telegraph
Cycle helmets: an international resource
However, it doesn't matter: death or serious neurological injury from cycling accidents are incredibly rare.
If you're really concerned, then this is probably the best helmet available:
BiOS -!- anatomical protection helmets invented by a neurosurgeon
injuries" (which no one is concerned about) did did nothing else beyond that.
https://www.bikeforums.net/advocacy-s...l#post11470225
You either know that they did this (repeatedly) and are "forgetting" or you did't read any of the prior threads.
Keep in mind that no one is really talking about mitigating "trivial" injuries.
Last edited by njkayaker; 12-20-14 at 10:09 AM.
#425
What I said was people regularly say that helmets don't just "not work" but they cause injuries (suggessing that you are worse-off generally using one).
Meanwhile did so repeatedly (with the "helmets cause rotational injuries).
Closetbiker repeatedly said that helmets help with cuts or "minor
injuries" (which no one is concerned about) did did nothing else beyond that.
https://www.bikeforums.net/advocacy-s...l#post11470225
You either know that they did this (repeatedly) and are "forgetting" or you did't read any of the prior threads.
Keep in mind that no one is really talking about mitigating "trivial" injuries.
Meanwhile did so repeatedly (with the "helmets cause rotational injuries).
Closetbiker repeatedly said that helmets help with cuts or "minor
injuries" (which no one is concerned about) did did nothing else beyond that.
https://www.bikeforums.net/advocacy-s...l#post11470225
You either know that they did this (repeatedly) and are "forgetting" or you did't read any of the prior threads.
Keep in mind that no one is really talking about mitigating "trivial" injuries.



