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The Helmet Thread 2

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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

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Old 04-10-16 | 05:52 PM
  #1951  
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I wear a helmet whenever I'm bicycling and I think I might fall and hit my head. My reaction time has simply increased as I have grown older, and I no longer have time to put my helmet on once I start to fall. So yes, all the time. Heck, I crashed six weeks ago going slow when I accidentally ran onto the grass shoulder and I made too quick my return onto the pavement. No cars, no dogs, just operator error. Head injuries are not good. Helmets can reduce the severity of head injuries.
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Old 04-10-16 | 06:26 PM
  #1952  
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Yup i wear one.
Its not about if i like wearing one or not. Its irresponsible of me to not wear one, so i wear it.

It isnt inconvenient, its light and vents well.
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Old 04-10-16 | 06:57 PM
  #1953  
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In nursing school I spent a few days in the head trauma unit. Even a worse place to spend as a patient.
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Old 04-10-16 | 09:51 PM
  #1954  
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Depends. I have a mirror on my helmet (no other mounting place) so I use it on busier road stretches. On quieter roads I'll usually use a cycling cap or brimmed hat.
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Old 04-10-16 | 10:16 PM
  #1955  
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Always. I went down hard just a mile from home. Broke 5 ribs, collarbone, and my helmet. Totally my fault. Going fast and stuffed my front wheel down into an unsealed expansion joint. It grabbed my front wheel and I went over the handlebars. Without the helmet, I doubt I'd be typing this now.
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Old 04-11-16 | 05:16 AM
  #1956  
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In nursing school I spent a few afternoons in the ICU head trauma unit. Before you decide to NOT wear a helmet go visit an ICU.
You never know when the big one is gonna happen to you.
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Old 04-11-16 | 05:33 AM
  #1957  
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I do now out of habit.

The first time I ever wore a bike helmet was in the early 80s, on a ride from Ft Knox, Kentucky to Atlanta with a colleague and his then 10-year old son. He wanted his son to always wear a helmet, so I borrowed one (a "Skid Lid") to be a good example. When I had kids of my own, I continued the practice so that they would use helmets.
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Old 04-11-16 | 06:48 AM
  #1958  
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I wore a helmet for racing for years...then I started back up cycling later and dropped the helmet. I enjoyed riding helmet free for about ten years until October 14th, 2014 when I had a very bag bicycle accident. I was on a slightdownhill and travelling about 33 mph when I hit loose anti-skid on a turnoff from the main road. The high crown didn't allow me to see it ahead of time. I suffered broken bones, knocked out teeth, and a head injury that I was able to recover from. I wear a helmet now but I won't lie, it took a long time to even tolerate it again...still have my moments now. But I think I would rather deal with the helmet than relearn the alphabet.
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Old 04-11-16 | 07:50 AM
  #1959  
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I almost always wear a helmet anytime while riding, including touring. Not while touring but years ago I had a significant mountain biking accident and there's an excellent chance that the helmet prevented a major head injury.

And besides, as Saddlesores mentioned, my helmet with the spikes emanating from the top in Mohawk like fashion really is a chick magnet.
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Old 04-11-16 | 08:15 AM
  #1960  
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Way back when, I'd often ride with no helmet because they were hot and uncomfortable. Today helmets are so good that there's really no point in not wearing one.
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Old 04-11-16 | 08:18 AM
  #1961  
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Merged the thread from Touring into the official helmet thread. Carry on.
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Old 04-11-16 | 12:37 PM
  #1962  
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Originally Posted by PhotoJoe
Merged the thread from Touring into the official helmet thread. Carry on.
I think you accidentally migrated the Helmet thread into the Touring forum.
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Old 04-11-16 | 12:53 PM
  #1963  
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Originally Posted by MMACH 5
I think you accidentally migrated the Helmet thread into the Touring forum.
Yup. That's exactly what I did. Thanks for the heads up. Needed one more cup of coffee this morning....while wearing a helmet, of course!
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Old 04-12-16 | 06:50 PM
  #1964  
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Couldn't you have just left it there? If it has to be somewhere, it would only be fair to move it around.
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Old 04-13-16 | 02:06 PM
  #1965  
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I still don't wear a helmet. Never have.

I like feeling the wind in my hair... except I never get that because I always wear a broad-brimmed hat to protect myself from the sun. So why not wear a helmet? I agree that I probably should, zipping around at the speeds I do on my old beater.

I'm looking for a good helmet to protect my head from the sun.

So far what I've been able to find is this full hat brim that attaches to a helmet:

Da Brim :: Products :: Cycling :: Classic

And something that looks like a plexiglass visor.

They're a bit pricey.
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Old 04-14-16 | 07:01 PM
  #1966  
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Originally Posted by rydabent
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.
Another helmet-thumping wacko jeering someones death because they didn't wear a helmet. You know who also publicly shames the dead? The Westboro Baptist Church. You'd fit right in.

According to your logic, any cyclist that dies is improving the gene pool, including you. I mean what kind of moron gets on the same road as distracted-angry-late 2 ton motor vehicles going twice their speed with nothing but 2 wheels and the clothes on their body. To top it off, they think they're safe because they have a styrofoam hat on. Congratulations. Your death is now tragic. But that prick without his helmet.. he definitely deserved to die. The world is a better place without him, right? It almost sounds like you go to ku-lux-helmet meetings and you're fresh out of your last rally. Pretty creepy.

Hypocrisy comes to mind. I mean have you people watched in the passenger seat lately? I have. Half of these people are looking down at their phones. And to make matters worse, they are late and you are in their way. We truly are all morons - with or without our styrofoam hats.

Last edited by exime; 04-14-16 at 09:34 PM.
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Old 04-20-16 | 03:10 PM
  #1967  
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Last edited by noisebeam; 04-20-16 at 03:14 PM.
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Old 04-20-16 | 08:34 PM
  #1968  
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Sma
Originally Posted by noisebeam

Smacks of reefer madness.
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Old 04-21-16 | 05:27 AM
  #1969  
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Originally Posted by noisebeam
Thank you for demonstrating the irrational mindset of the True Believers of the Cult of the Magical Foam Hat™. I don't know what's more idiot: that people actually believe that an exploded skull is the typical outcome of a bicycle crash, or that a Styrofoam helmet is going to stop your skull from bursting open. The idea that wearing a bicycle helmet is the number one safety measure, merely demonstrate an utter lack of meaningful insight in cycling safety.
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Old 04-21-16 | 06:11 AM
  #1970  
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My helmet saved my life.
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Old 04-21-16 | 06:25 AM
  #1971  
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I still find it amazing that some people try to argue people out of wearing helmets. Wearing a helmet is no big chore, and you never know what may happen. As I have said many times before, if it only prevents some road rash, it is a good thing.

Of all cyclist, I would probably have the biggest excuse for not wearing one. I ride a recumbent bike and a trike. I have far less distance to fall, and it is nearly impossible for me to fly over the handle bars. Yet I still wear a helmet. Better safe than sorry.
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Old 04-21-16 | 07:42 AM
  #1972  
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Originally Posted by rydabent
I still find it amazing that some people try to argue people out of wearing helmets.
Many of us find it amazing that you still manage to not understand, or continuously choose to intentionally misrepresent, the arguments of those who choose not to wear helmets for some or all of their cycling.
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Old 04-21-16 | 08:36 AM
  #1973  
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Originally Posted by joejack951
Many of us find it amazing that you still manage to not understand, or continuously choose to intentionally misrepresent, the arguments of those who choose not to wear helmets for some or all of their cycling.
It's simple projection. Many helmeteers want to bully, coerce or even force people to wear a helmet, and they often if not usually assume it'll work the other way around too.
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Old 04-21-16 | 08:42 AM
  #1974  
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Originally Posted by joejack951
Many of us find it amazing that you still manage to not understand, or continuously choose to intentionally misrepresent, the arguments of those who choose not to wear helmets for some or all of their cycling.
It's simple projection. Many helmeteers want to bully, coerce or even force people to wear a helmet, and they often if not usually assume it'll work the other way around too.
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Old 04-21-16 | 10:02 AM
  #1975  
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I've recently written this article - To Helmet or Not To, some of you will probably find it controversial, I'm interested in hearing your thoughts
Do you need a bicycle helmet? Um, not really. ? Bikes&Humans
Pedal on!
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