Originally Posted by rydabent (Post 18056044)

IMO your continued rant agains helmets, and anyone that supports using helmets constitutes being anti helmet. Look in the mirror.

Originally Posted by mconlonx (Post 18061616)

If you'd like to take issue with anything specific I've posted, I'd be happy to entertain a discussion -- please cite my "rant[s] against helmets" and "anyone that supports using helmets."

I do have issues with those who misrepresent aspects of cycling safety where helmets are concerned, also those who very pointedly denigrate those who choose not to wear helmets.

I wear helmets most of the time I ride bicycles. I've suffered crashes, and in once instance, a crash where I believe a helmet helped mitigate some injury: I was doing a shoulder-check for traffic behind and did not see a pothole which caught my front tire as I was pedaling out of the saddle. That put me over the bars, on the road, and as a result, my helmeted head made forceful impact with the ground. Once I got over to the side of the road, I checked for damage on me and the bike, and continued along my commute.

When I arrived at work, I was suffering a headache, but not much else regarding the head impact; at most a very minor concussion. Examination of my helmet indicated that it had deformed as designed, absorbing impact energy as the EPS liner compressed, and it was cracked. Because of the nature of the crash -- speed, forces involved, damage to the helmet, and lack of other significant injury, I believe:

- I would not have died if I was not wearing a helmet How do you know that?
- I would not have been permanently disabled due to TBI were I not wearing a helmet How do you know that ?
- I could quite possibly have suffered a moderate concussion or head injury, but probably not a serious head injury. How do you know that?
- The helmet definitely saved me from road rash/abrasion/contusion/laceration -- quite possibly a trip ($$$) to the emergency room. That is probably the only think you do know for sure...
What did I not do as a result? Become a helmet proselytizer, claim that I'd be dead or permanently disabled if I had not been wearing one, or insult those who choose not to wear helmets.

Originally Posted by 350htrr (Post 18062212)

Seems to me the only thing you know for sure is you suffered a headache and maybe a very minor concussion, and no abrasions... ;) And maybe, just maybe, you would have died... :innocent: Nobody knows for sure and that is the whole point of wearing a helmet IMO to hopefully reduce the severity of injury ... :eek:

Originally Posted by mconlonx (Post 18061616)

I was suffering a headache, but not much else regarding the head impact; at most a very minor concussion. Examination of my helmet indicated that it had deformed as designed, absorbing impact energy as the EPS liner compressed, and it was cracked. Because of the nature of the crash -- speed, forces involved, damage to the helmet, and lack of other significant injury, I believe:

- I would not have died if I was not wearing a helmet How do you know that?
- I would not have been permanently disabled due to TBI were I not wearing a helmet How do you know that?
- I could quite possibly have suffered a moderate concussion or head injury, but probably not a serious head injury. How do you know that?

Originally Posted by 350htrr (Post 18062212)

Nobody knows for sure and that is the whole point of wearing a helmet IMO to hopefully reduce the severity of injury ... :eek:

Originally Posted by OldTryGuy (Post 18063079)

Could always have a redo without the helmet. :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by noisebeam (Post 18067475)

Just checking in. Wanted to see what the smart guys are talking about.

Originally Posted by noisebeam (Post 18067475)

Just checking in. Wanted to see what the smart guys are talking about.

Originally Posted by noisebeam (Post 18067475)

Just checking in. Wanted to see what the smart guys are talking about.

Originally Posted by 350htrr (Post 18067511)

We are talking about helmets, one side says helmets can save ones life and the other side says helmets are practically useless... I suspect the answer is somewhere in the middle. ;)

Originally Posted by rydabent (Post 18077232)

The reasonable middle ground is the fact that helmets can help prevent injury.

Originally Posted by mconlonx (Post 18079815)

Well goodness, most of those you label anti-helmet would agree with this statement... Go figure.

Originally Posted by rydabent (Post 18082192)

However---------------read the last sentence of my post. If you are not wearing a helmet, it cant help prevent injury.

Originally Posted by 2 Piece (Post 18083658)

Well.... How does a helmet prevent anything? Actually it doesn't and never has. What it (helmet) does, is provide some level of protection but does not prevent anything.

Originally Posted by rydabent (Post 18085258)

Wrong!! Once you are on the way down in a crash, a helmet will prevent everything from road rash on up to more serious injuries.

Originally Posted by mconlonx (Post 18085571)

Only if you hit your head...

Originally Posted by 2 Piece (Post 18087152)

Wow, did he say a helmet will prevent everything? Maybe, just maybe if you put a little "more" prevention in to not having a crash you would not need the "protection" of a helmet?? I stand by my claim a helmet will not prevent anything. Period. And I have yet to see ANY helmet manufacturer make any kind of statement that their helmet provides any type of prevention. That's because it does not.

Originally Posted by rydabent (Post 18089346)

Thats like saying that a seat belt doesnt prevent anything. It is well known that if you remain in your seat due to a seat belt, it prevents you from being thrown out of the car. Injuries are far greater if a person is thrown out of a car during a crash.

Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike (Post 18085666)

And then a helmet might, or might not, mitigate to some degree the consequences of hitting your head. Maybe...

Originally Posted by rydabent (Post 18089346)

Thats like saying that a seat belt doesnt prevent anything. It is well known that if you remain in your seat due to a seat belt, it prevents you from being thrown out of the car. Injuries are far greater if a person is thrown out of a car during a crash.

Originally Posted by 2 Piece (Post 18091397)

First off how did you go from bicycle helmets to seat belts? Where did I ever suggest a seat belt did not prevent anything? A seat belt is a restraint, it prevents (or is suppose to) you from you moving. But it Does Not prevent injury! WTF! Do you really think you put on a seat belt and prevent injury? You put on a seat belt to add a layer of protection and hopefully reduce injury.
A bicycle helmet does not prevent anything. Never has never will, or else the helmet manufacturers would have it written all over their product. Sorry you do not understand that, it is plain and simple. I have said and will continue to say that a helmet can add a layer of protection, but that is totally different than saying a helmet will prevent injury which it will not. Prevention is not something you wear, it is something you do.
If you want to "prevent" head injury on a bicycle, prevent the acts of carelessness that cause the crash. Then you will be preventing something.

Oh, 350htrr, prevention: "1. the act of preventing; effectual hindrance. 2. something that prevents; preventive.