Sigh.

-mr. bill

I'm not offering you advice.

It's not clear at all that it would more effective at all.

Never wore one when I was a kid. Didn't wear a seatbelt sometimes, either. Now I do. None of my business if someone else does or doesn't, I see no reason for more laws. I'd rather see legislative effort and taxpayer dollars go into safer bike and pedestrian routes.

Interesting Helmet Law Article in the WSJ
 

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article about the efficacy of helmet laws (bicycles) today.

The Helmet-Law Backlash - iPR Newswire: business and markets news is a link that doesn't require a WSJ subscription or access via Google.

dave (I wear a helmet but don't have a strong opinion here)

You're probably hung up on the word "more" in "more effective". It is very clear to me, self-evident even.

But you're not alone - its probably why many people feel like a helmet is absolutely essential but dismiss the idea of training for specific skills. They just aren't aware of the effectiveness, or don't believe that it's possible.

In my state we don't even have mandatory motorcycle helmets. Any politician that tries to introduce a bill asking for bicycle helmets to be mandatory will be getting a strongly worded letter from me asking if they're going to require it for motorcyclists too!

Bicycle helmets are an interesting piece of kit. While they are definitely being shown to reduce skull fractures, there is really not much data to be had. Controlled studies that is. It appears though at the type of helmets we are all wearing are quite ineffective at preventing concussions and other TBI.

****

It shouldn't too hard to line up some drunk frat boys, hand them $100, and do some tests, hitting them on the head. 1/2 wearing helmets, and 1/2 without.

And I encountered a driver yesterday that I would like to make part of the control group :-)

dave

Yup, same is true for professional football helmets. Check out all the concussions in the NFL. Helmets are designed to decrease the occurance of skull fractures. They work. Wear your helmet, every ride.

That is generally true of any helmet. They are good for preventing skull fractures, but can't prevent the brain from bouncing around inside the skull. For example, brain autopsies have found Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in deceased professional, college, and even high school football players. The latest autopsy statistics on professional football players is 96% affected with CTE.

Not sure what you mean about controlled studies? Studies show helmets lead to better outcomes, if there is an incident. The debate seems to be whether other factors outweigh the benefits. Or did you mean, "how do we make helmets better at prevent non-fracture injuries?"

Yep, this is going to be straight merged into the helmet thread in A&S.

I do not believe that a helmet will prevent a concussion but it certainly will protect your skull and its contents. If a baseball traveling 100mph hits you in the helmet, there is a good chance that you will receive a concussion. The cracked skull and blood loss are usually spared though. The helmet may help to absorb the impact but it does not deflect it.
Every bad accident that I have seen on the road or mtb has resulted in a concussion. I am quite certain that those accidents would be far worse had their been no helmet.
Personally, I think that all bikers, including motorcycles should wear a helmet. You can read any article that you want and take any opinion that you want to hear. In the end, it is your head and your life. I do not expect my helmet to prevent a concussion but it does limit the damage that can be done.

Would you like a cracked skull with that concussion? I think you're getting a concussion either way. And maybe a cracked skull too.

Fun times. Don't crash.

Easiest way to find out is to do this with helmet, then without. Which one would you rather try?

https://vimeo.com/115792752

Did anyone even read what the article is about?

No. Who cares?

You can take your $100 back from the ones who aren't wearing helmets.

No one plans on crashing, it just happens. I have destroyed 3 helmets, once unconscious and rung my gong each time but I hate to think what might have happened without one. I have witnessed a cyclist down no helmet with his head in a pool of blood. We had a guy in town a couple of years ago who fell over in the driveway stopped and hit his bare head, dead. Don't wear one if you don't want to but you sure look stupid.

This thread is still here?

Let me summarize the rest of the helmet discussion from the perspective of both sides and the back and forth that usually ensues:

'You're dumb.'
'You're dumb.'
'You're dumb.'
'You're dumb.'
'You're dumb.'
'You're dumb.'
'You're dumb.'
'You're dumb.'
'You're dumb.'
'You're dumb.'
etc.

If it's is so self-evident, it should be self-evident to many more people. No one here (beyond myself) has participated in the discussion of training to fall.

I don't think that helmets are "absolutely essential". Anyway, I doubt there is much evidence for the effectiveness for training for bicycle falls.

I know bicycle racers sometimes practice wheel touching. What do they do about training for falling (beyond getting people not to put their hands out to break their fall)?

...