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
#1526
Senior Member
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
- I would not have been permanently disabled due to TBI were I not wearing a helmet
- I could quite possibly have suffered a moderate concussion or head injury, but probably not a serious head injury.
- The helmet definitely saved me from road rash/abrasion/contusion/laceration -- quite possibly a trip ($$$) to the emergency room.
What did I not do as a result? Become a helmet proselytizer, claim that I'd be dead or permanently disabled if I had not been wearing one, or insult those who choose not to wear helmets.
#1527
Senior Member
If you'd like to take issue with anything specific I've posted, I'd be happy to entertain a discussion -- please cite my "rant[s] against helmets" and "anyone that supports using helmets."
I do have issues with those who misrepresent aspects of cycling safety where helmets are concerned, also those who very pointedly denigrate those who choose not to wear helmets.
I wear helmets most of the time I ride bicycles. I've suffered crashes, and in once instance, a crash where I believe a helmet helped mitigate some injury: I was doing a shoulder-check for traffic behind and did not see a pothole which caught my front tire as I was pedaling out of the saddle. That put me over the bars, on the road, and as a result, my helmeted head made forceful impact with the ground. Once I got over to the side of the road, I checked for damage on me and the bike, and continued along my commute.
When I arrived at work, I was suffering a headache, but not much else regarding the head impact; at most a very minor concussion. Examination of my helmet indicated that it had deformed as designed, absorbing impact energy as the EPS liner compressed, and it was cracked. Because of the nature of the crash -- speed, forces involved, damage to the helmet, and lack of other significant injury, I believe:
- I would not have died if I was not wearing a helmet How do you know that?
- I would not have been permanently disabled due to TBI were I not wearing a helmet How do you know that ?
- I could quite possibly have suffered a moderate concussion or head injury, but probably not a serious head injury. How do you know that?
- The helmet definitely saved me from road rash/abrasion/contusion/laceration -- quite possibly a trip ($$$) 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.
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.
#1528
Senior Member
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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... Nobody knows for sure and that is the whole point of wearing a helmet IMO to hopefully reduce the severity of injury ...
#1530
Senior Member
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?
- 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?
Hopefully... but you are missing the meta: this is not a point about wearing a helmet, this is a point about Helmet Thread.
#1531
Senior Member
#1532
Arizona Dessert
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Just checking in. Wanted to see what the smart guys are talking about.
#1533
Senior Member
#1534
Senior Member
#1536
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Your post is very reasonable. Every crash is different. Without a helmet you dont alway die, and with a helmet you dont always live. The reasonable middle ground is the fact that helmets can help prevent injury.
#1537
Senior Member
#1539
Senior Member
#1540
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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.
#1541
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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.
#1542
Senior Member
#1543
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#1544
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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.
#1545
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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.
#1546
Senior Member
Good one. But I'm sure his definition of "prevention" is different than yours...
#1547
Senior Member
Yes there is a maybe in there... But, there is no maybe it's better to hit ones head on the pavement without a helmet than with a helmet... Tho some people have said that in the other helmet thread...
#1548
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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.
Last edited by 2 Piece; 08-19-15 at 06:42 PM. Reason: spelling
#1549
Senior Member
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.
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.
EDIT; No, a helmet won't "prevent" an accident, but, it can "prevent" something's...
Last edited by 350htrr; 08-19-15 at 08:22 PM.
#1550
Senior Member
I prefer "mitigate," as in: a helmet can quite possibly mitigate some head injury, in specific instances, during some bicycle crashes. And as a subset of that: a helmet might actually prevent some minor injury, like scalp abrasion.