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
#1951
Not quite dead.

Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,386
Likes: 473
From: Carolina
Bikes: ICE Sprint X Tour FS 26 trike
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.
#1952
Sunshine
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 18,756
Likes: 10,316
From: Des Moines, IA
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
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.
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.
#1954
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,925
Likes: 530
From: Turku, Finland, Europe
Bikes: 2011 Specialized crux comp, 2013 Specialized Rockhopper Pro
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.
#1955
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.
#1957
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 549
Likes: 44
From: Houston area
Bikes: Catrike 700; Bike Friday Llama single; Bike Friday Tandem Tuesday; Easy Racers Ti-Rush recumbent; Catrike Expedition; Rans Seavo tandem
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.
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.
#1958
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 508
Likes: 21
From: Pennsylvania
Bikes: 2014 VeloOrange Campeur. late 90s Bianchi Cyclocross cro-mo frameset modified to touring, 1993 Bianchi Project 5, 80s Holdsworth Gemini Tandem
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.
#1959
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.
And besides, as Saddlesores mentioned, my helmet with the spikes emanating from the top in Mohawk like fashion really is a chick magnet.
#1960
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 6,280
Likes: 612
From: Los Angeles
Bikes: 78 Masi Criterium, 68 PX10, 2016 Mercian King of Mercia, Rivendell Clem Smith Jr
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.
#1962
Cycle Dallas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,776
Likes: 11
From: Land of Gar, TX
Bikes: Dulcinea--2017 Kona Rove & a few others
#1963
Just Plain Slow
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 6,026
Likes: 5
From: Santa Clarita, CA
Bikes: Lynskey R230
#1965
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 181
Likes: 1
From: North Central Florida
Bikes: 1972 Royce Union 5-Speed
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.
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.
#1966
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
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.
#1969
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.
#1971
Banned
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 1,066
From: Lincoln Ne
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
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.
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.
#1972
Senior Member

Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,103
Likes: 96
From: Wilmington, DE
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)
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.
#1973
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.
#1974
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.
#1975
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
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!
Do you need a bicycle helmet? Um, not really. ? Bikes&Humans
Pedal on!



