Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Advocacy & Safety
Reload this Page >

The Helmet Thread 2

Search
Notices
Advocacy & Safety Cyclists should expect and demand safe accommodation on every public road, just as do all other users. Discuss your bicycle advocacy and safety concerns here.
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

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-25-16, 05:57 PM
  #1901  
Senior Member
 
wphamilton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 15,280

Bikes: Nashbar Road

Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2934 Post(s)
Liked 341 Times in 228 Posts
Originally Posted by joejack951
This "YOU SHOULD NEVER: 1. Wear a helmet that’s been in an accident, even if no damage is visible" always cracks me up, though. How do you know that ANY helmet is damage free then? Pick it up right off the assembly line and never let it out of your sight?
I think it's funny because you can easily see if it has cracks or has lost cohesion, and whether the plastic cover is loose. They just want to sell more helmets.
wphamilton is offline  
Old 02-25-16, 06:24 PM
  #1902  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Far beyond the pale horizon.
Posts: 14,272
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4256 Post(s)
Liked 1,354 Times in 940 Posts
Originally Posted by wphamilton
I don't often agree with CarinusMalmari either, but he is correct in this case.
What is he correct about?

He wasn't correct about what I said.

You need to think about why you often don't often agree with them.

Originally Posted by wphamilton
The unsurprising conclusion is that helmets are not particularly effective in preventing traumatic brain injury, but are more effective with the relatively minor injuries. Whether or not you specifically list skull fractures among the injuries doesn't really impact that conclusion.
No, it doesn't impact that conclusion. I haven't said otherwise.

Even without "preventing traumatic brain injury", some people might consider reducing the incidence of skull fractures as worthwhile. They might even see that as more worthwhile than preventing "bumps and bruises".

If you fracture your skull, what would doctors recommend you do or not do? Is what they recommend the same thing as they would for "bumps and bruises"?

CarinusMalmari ignored the likely difference. Skye was hiding it. Heck, even you missed it.

One can argue that skull fractures are not the big deal many people might think but I doubt you can argue that they are the same as "bumps and bruises" (what CarinusMalmari basically did) or so inconsequential that you can ignore them and talk about "bumps and bruises" instead(what Skye did).

Originally Posted by wphamilton
A baseball cap doesn't really provide much protection against bumps and bruises, lacerations, or facial contusions in addition to doing little for skull fractures. If you have to attack someone's hyperbole, that would have been a logical point of attack.
I pretty-much did that. I pointed out that he made-up a supposed benefit and omitted the more serious one. He misrepresented what the article said. I told people to read the article because what he said about it was misleading.

The "hyperbole" is misleading.

Last edited by njkayaker; 02-25-16 at 06:48 PM.
njkayaker is offline  
Old 02-26-16, 03:45 AM
  #1903  
vol
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,797
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 18 Times in 12 Posts
" Foam cores were extracted from 63 used and unused bicycle helmets from 10 different models spanning an age range of 2 to 20 years."

It would be a good idea if researchers buy back used helmets from cyclists with information about the age of the helmets and any accident and type of injuries involved, to conduct their studies. They could pay just $1 for each, and the research result could be very valuable.
vol is offline  
Old 02-26-16, 05:37 AM
  #1904  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
how picture helmt this post man
apife is offline  
Old 02-26-16, 08:18 AM
  #1905  
Senior Member
 
joejack951's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Wilmington, DE
Posts: 12,100

Bikes: 2016 Hong Fu FM-079-F, 1984 Trek 660, 2005 Iron Horse Warrior Expert, 2009 Pedal Force CX1, 2016 Islabikes Beinn 20 (son's)

Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1242 Post(s)
Liked 94 Times in 65 Posts
Originally Posted by wphamilton
I think it's funny because you can easily see if it has cracks or has lost cohesion, and whether the plastic cover is loose. They just want to sell more helmets.
Well, yeah, of course. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that many helmet advocates see this advice as sound and that it makes everyone safer.
joejack951 is offline  
Old 02-26-16, 08:55 AM
  #1906  
Senior Member
 
wphamilton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 15,280

Bikes: Nashbar Road

Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2934 Post(s)
Liked 341 Times in 228 Posts
Originally Posted by joejack951
Well, yeah, of course. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that many helmet advocates see this advice as sound and that it makes everyone safer.
Confirmation bias When we see something that confirms an opinion we already have, we tend to give it more credence than is warranted, while being less critical analytically. If one strongly believes that cycling helmets are making him safer, then needing to replace them for safety's sake confirms that belief so he's not inclined to question it much.

It must be effective marketing to tap into that, and I think that certain politicians are masters at it.
wphamilton is offline  
Old 02-26-16, 09:15 AM
  #1907  
Senior Member
 
CarinusMalmari's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 223
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1662 Post(s)
Liked 226 Times in 131 Posts
Originally Posted by rydabent
See the thread that says Australia just passed a law that fines a cyclist $319 for riding without a helmet. Apparently Aussies think that wearing a helmet is a good thing.
Well, it's more like Australia is actively trying to marginalize cyclists out of existence and this draconian fine is just another example of that. Australia's biggest contribution to cycling was demonstrating that Mandatory Helmet Laws are a great way to kill your cycling culture.

Last edited by CarinusMalmari; 02-26-16 at 09:19 AM.
CarinusMalmari is offline  
Old 02-26-16, 12:42 PM
  #1908  
vol
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,797
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 18 Times in 12 Posts
Originally Posted by rydabent
See the thread that says Australia just passed a law that fines a cyclist $319 for riding without a helmet. Apparently Aussies think that wearing a helmet is a good thing.
They should fine a cyclist $304 for wearing a helmet incorrectly (too loose, wrong way, damaged helmet...); $1089 for riding without a light in the dark.
vol is offline  
Old 02-27-16, 02:17 AM
  #1909  
Senior Member
 
CarinusMalmari's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 223
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1662 Post(s)
Liked 226 Times in 131 Posts
Originally Posted by njkayaker
One can argue that skull fractures are not the big deal many people might think but I doubt you can argue that they are the same as "bumps and bruises" (what CarinusMalmari basically did)
It's called a strawman argument. Let's ignore it, and at look what I really said.

OTOH, just like lacerations, bumps and bruises, skull fractures are usually not clinically significant. The phrase "skull fracture" does sound serious, and while they can be serious and while they also can be indicative for more serious injuries, skull fractures themselves usually don't even require medical treatment.
CarinusMalmari is offline  
Old 02-28-16, 07:30 AM
  #1910  
Banned
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924

Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II

Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times in 635 Posts
Originally Posted by CarinusMalmari
Well, it's more like Australia is actively trying to marginalize cyclists out of existence and this draconian fine is just another example of that. Australia's biggest contribution to cycling was demonstrating that Mandatory Helmet Laws are a great way to kill your cycling culture.
What is so hard or terrible about wearing a helmet.

BTW as I have posted many times, I am against mandatory helmet laws. However people that dont wear helmets often end up improving the gene pool.
rydabent is offline  
Old 02-29-16, 09:58 AM
  #1911  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Far beyond the pale horizon.
Posts: 14,272
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4256 Post(s)
Liked 1,354 Times in 940 Posts
Originally Posted by CarinusMalmari
It's called a strawman argument. Let's ignore it, and at look what I really said.
No, Skyes's misrepresentation was indefensible and you defended it. It's possible that you didn't intend to defend it but that's what you did.

Originally Posted by CarinusMalmari
The point you were making is that a skull fracture is a serious injury.
This is strawman argument. This wasn't my point and if you weren't such an ideologue, you might have see it.

Last edited by njkayaker; 02-29-16 at 10:03 AM.
njkayaker is offline  
Old 02-29-16, 10:07 AM
  #1912  
Senior Member
 
joejack951's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Wilmington, DE
Posts: 12,100

Bikes: 2016 Hong Fu FM-079-F, 1984 Trek 660, 2005 Iron Horse Warrior Expert, 2009 Pedal Force CX1, 2016 Islabikes Beinn 20 (son's)

Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1242 Post(s)
Liked 94 Times in 65 Posts
Originally Posted by rydabent
What is so hard or terrible about wearing a helmet.
Do you take yours off after completing a ride? I just never put one on. Not too different, eh?
joejack951 is offline  
Old 03-01-16, 09:08 AM
  #1913  
Senior Member
 
mconlonx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,558
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7148 Post(s)
Liked 134 Times in 92 Posts
Originally Posted by rydabent
...people that dont wear helmets often end up improving the gene pool.
If you truly believe this, then in your worldview, people who do wear helmets are an environmental disaster and should self-select at earliest possible opportunity. You first.
mconlonx is offline  
Old 03-18-16, 06:19 AM
  #1914  
Senior Member
 
SB739's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 86

Bikes: Norco Indie 4 2015

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I've always been under the belief that wearing a helmet outta protect your head somehow.

I mean, worst case scenario is death, but lets say you do survive: brain damage has to be surely one of the worst ways to be affected in an accident?!

Even (God forbid for us all) if someone was to lose the ability to move their body, if they could think straight and possibly talk / and communicate still with their family and friends surely that's a much better existence?

I'd say a helmet must help when it comes to your head hitting the ground or a car, as it takes some of them impact even if it is fatal. Why wear none at all?

They're quite cheap where I live at £19.99 ($28), so why not?! And to be honest, if you guys let your kids cycle, do you make them wear helmets at least? :-/
SB739 is offline  
Old 03-18-16, 11:53 AM
  #1915  
Senior Member
 
joejack951's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Wilmington, DE
Posts: 12,100

Bikes: 2016 Hong Fu FM-079-F, 1984 Trek 660, 2005 Iron Horse Warrior Expert, 2009 Pedal Force CX1, 2016 Islabikes Beinn 20 (son's)

Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1242 Post(s)
Liked 94 Times in 65 Posts
Originally Posted by SB739
I've always been under the belief that wearing a helmet outta protect your head somehow.
wet
I mean, worst case scenario is death, but lets say you do survive: brain damage has to be surely one of the worst ways to be affected in an accident?!

Even (God forbid for us all) if someone was to lose the ability to move their body, if they could think straight and possibly talk / and communicate still with their family and friends surely that's a much better existence?

I'd say a helmet must help when it comes to your head hitting the ground or a car, as it takes some of them impact even if it is fatal. Why wear none at all?

They're quite cheap where I live at £19.99 ($28), so why not?! And to be honest, if you guys let your kids cycle, do you make them wear helmets at least? :-/
A few questions back at ya:

1. Why stop at a bike helmet? Why not a full face motorcycle helmet? Surely that offers more protection and more protection is better. They aren't that expensive compared to hospital bills you might incur if just wear a bike helmet.
2. Why only wear a helmet while riding a bike? There are so many other circumstances where you are at risk of falling and hitting your head (in the bathroom with wet fee, going up or down stairs, wet leaves/ice on the sidewalk etc.)
3. If a bike helmet offers just the right amount of protection for you and you feel not at risk otherwise, why can't you understand that my cycling cap offers enough protection for my head while on my bike because I don't feel at any more risk for a head injury on my bike than off?
joejack951 is offline  
Old 03-18-16, 04:25 PM
  #1916  
Senior Member
 
SB739's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 86

Bikes: Norco Indie 4 2015

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by joejack951

"1. Why stop at a bike helmet? Why not a full face motorcycle helmet? Surely that offers more protection and more protection is better. They aren't that expensive compared to hospital bills you might incur if just wear a bike helmet."

Yes, a motorcycle helmet would offer marginal improvement over a bike helmet, but the most important step up is the comparison between no helmet vs. a bike helmet - much more safe, and at a fairly low cost. One could take it further to a motorcycle helmet, but again the cost would probably be high(er).
"2. Why only wear a helmet while riding a bike? There are so many other circumstances where you are at risk of falling and hitting your head (in the bathroom with wet fee, going up or down stairs, wet leaves/ice on the sidewalk etc.)"

Also, one could wear a helmet during more of the time, but it is particularly important whilst riding a bike - unlike walking, where yes you can fall but you have your arms to avoid direct head impact in many cases - on a bike, you can suddenly be struck by another pedestrian or vehicle, and you're also moving at around 3 times or more the speed. This adds to the impact from a fall, plus you're mangled through a bike! The added force justify a helmet during the bike ride in my opinion, but of course we are all entitled to our own :-)


"3. If a bike helmet offers just the right amount of protection for you and you feel not at risk otherwise, why can't you understand that my cycling cap offers enough protection for my head while on my bike because I don't feel at any more risk for a head injury on my bike than off?"

It is important to understand that there is risk whether we feel it or not, and the same for walking as you mentioned before. It is a personal choice about how much you are personally willing to do for yourself (and whether you believe it'll help). I think people are fine saying "Oh you Should wear a helmet!" as they can surely suggest it, but you still aren't forced too, just like you can say "No, don't wear helmets!" and the receiver of both statements makes up their own mind



Hope that's enough!
SB739 is offline  
Old 03-20-16, 07:14 AM
  #1917  
Senior Member
 
wphamilton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 15,280

Bikes: Nashbar Road

Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2934 Post(s)
Liked 341 Times in 228 Posts
Originally Posted by SB739
[/I]

Hope that's enough!
That's his whole point! He thinks that it is enough, and objectively he's probably right in his situation. There is a dividing line, when riding bikes or doing anything else, where the level of risk does or does not warrant taking extra precautions. Depending on which side of that line you're on.

Some people pretend there is no such line, or acknowledge it but believe that it doesn't matter. They are simply wrong. Anyone who reasons that safety equipment is necessary in cycling just because something could happen, without consideration of how unlikely it is, has reasoned wrong. On the flip side, anyone who argues that it's no use at all, without regard to the different kinds of cycling, is just as wrong. It all depends on what the risks are.
wphamilton is offline  
Old 03-20-16, 07:21 AM
  #1918  
Senior Member
 
2 Piece's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 339

Bikes: Motobecane Century Pro Ti Disc

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 69 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by wphamilton
That's his whole point! He thinks that it is enough, and objectively he's probably right in his situation. There is a dividing line, when riding bikes or doing anything else, where the level of risk does or does not warrant taking extra precautions. Depending on which side of that line you're on.

Some people pretend there is no such line, or acknowledge it but believe that it doesn't matter. They are simply wrong. Anyone who reasons that safety equipment is necessary in cycling just because something could happen, without consideration of how unlikely it is, has reasoned wrong. On the flip side, anyone who argues that it's no use at all, without regard to the different kinds of cycling, is just as wrong. It all depends on what the risks are.
Since it's Sunday I'm going to give you a big Amen!
2 Piece is offline  
Old 03-23-16, 01:48 PM
  #1919  
Senior Member
 
ZmanKC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Overland Park, KS
Posts: 799

Bikes: 1999 Giant TCR 2T 2009 Giant Cypress DX 2015 Giant Anyroad 1

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts


Click to Enlarge.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
YehudaMoon.jpg (54.0 KB, 46 views)
ZmanKC is offline  
Old 03-23-16, 04:09 PM
  #1920  
Senior Member
 
2 Piece's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 339

Bikes: Motobecane Century Pro Ti Disc

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 69 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
me likes a lot that is so funny and so true at the same time.
2 Piece is offline  
Old 03-25-16, 06:23 AM
  #1921  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 23
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I recently just got a bike, however, I never needed a helmet when I was younger. Considering getting one now it's just that the ones I want costs at least £30 and I just don't have enough for it. Would I be okay for a while without one?
ciaraco is offline  
Old 04-01-16, 08:53 PM
  #1922  
Senior Member
 
wphamilton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 15,280

Bikes: Nashbar Road

Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2934 Post(s)
Liked 341 Times in 228 Posts
Originally Posted by ciaraco
I recently just got a bike, however, I never needed a helmet when I was younger. Considering getting one now it's just that the ones I want costs at least £30 and I just don't have enough for it. Would I be okay for a while without one?
Just checking are you still with us, after a week without a helmet?
wphamilton is offline  
Old 04-02-16, 05:44 PM
  #1923  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 23
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by wphamilton
Just checking are you still with us, after a week without a helmet?
haha yeah, until I get a helmet I've been wearing a hat, I know it's not the same protection but it has warmth for when it is cold and so far I've been careful
ciaraco is offline  
Old 04-02-16, 06:30 PM
  #1924  
Senior Member
 
joejack951's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Wilmington, DE
Posts: 12,100

Bikes: 2016 Hong Fu FM-079-F, 1984 Trek 660, 2005 Iron Horse Warrior Expert, 2009 Pedal Force CX1, 2016 Islabikes Beinn 20 (son's)

Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1242 Post(s)
Liked 94 Times in 65 Posts
Originally Posted by ciaraco
so far I've been careful
Do you expect to act differently once you get a helmet?
joejack951 is offline  
Old 04-02-16, 06:55 PM
  #1925  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 23
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by joejack951
Do you expect to act differently once you get a helmet?
Well obviously the helmet feels heavier on my head I guess I'll just feel more secure when it's on.
ciaraco is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.