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
#1901
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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.
#1902
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He wasn't correct about what I said.
You need to think about why you often don't often agree with them.
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.
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).
The "hyperbole" is misleading.
Last edited by njkayaker; 02-25-16 at 06:48 PM.
#1903
Senior Member
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.
#1905
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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.
#1906
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It must be effective marketing to tap into that, and I think that certain politicians are masters at it.
#1907
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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.
#1908
Senior Member
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.
#1909
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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.
#1910
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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.
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.
#1911
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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.
#1912
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#1913
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#1914
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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? :-/
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? :-/
#1915
Senior Member
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? :-/
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? :-/
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?
#1916
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"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!
#1917
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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.
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.
#1918
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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.
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.
#1921
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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?
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#1924
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#1925
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