I don't wear a helmet 8-15-18
#101
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Looking at the stats, wearing a bicycle helmet is extremely dangerous.
Or is it the other way around, and would good infrastructure make all the difference in safety?
Or is it the other way around, and would good infrastructure make all the difference in safety?
#102
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I don't wear a helmet, tried them, and still don't wear one.
I got doored on 9 Jun, My Birthday, and ended up with 8 staples in my noggin.
still only wear a baseball cap.
I got doored on 9 Jun, My Birthday, and ended up with 8 staples in my noggin.
still only wear a baseball cap.
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#103
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Kinda interesting, your Avatar, which looks to be you on a bike, is wearing riding gloves? I too did the same, but now I look back and see the absurdity in protecting my hands in fall but leaving the noggin unprotected.
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I wear them to mitigate vibration numbness from degenerated discs in my neck.
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#106
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Looking at the stats, wearing a bicycle helmet is extremely dangerous.
Or is it the other way around, and would good infrastructure make all the difference in safety?
Or is it the other way around, and would good infrastructure make all the difference in safety?
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#107
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50 spf to stop pate looking like a Lichtentstein.
Last edited by clubman; 08-20-18 at 08:10 PM.
#108
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That's funny, I normally wear tin foil hat. Today I wore a helmet for the first time in my life. Used the spf 70 on my face, arms and legs on the top of my head. It took quite the scrubbing to get the greasy feeling out of what's left of my hair. Guess that's better than dealing with skin cancer again.
Last edited by brian3069; 08-20-18 at 07:37 PM.
#109
Fillet-Brazed Member
I always wear a helmet.
Most of my riding is commuting on streets, 50% with bike lanes, in a crowded city with reckless drivers, who routinely park in bike lanes, rarely use turn signals and often go through red lights, etc., and who sometimes have antipathy for cyclists.
If I get hit by a car (or fall off my bike), I don't want to smash my skull on pavement without some protection. It's that simple.
A week or so ago, near Central Park, an Australian tourist on a bike was hit by a garbage truck, not an uncommon occurrence here that is frequently fatal.
The driver was DUI. The young woman (not wearing a helmet) was DOA.
Apparently if involved in a collision with an automobile, you are 50% more likely to survive while wearing a helmet.
- https://www.reuters.com/article/us-h...-idUSKCN10U1LY
- https://helmets.org/stats.htm
- Locations | ghost bikes
I don't completely understand not taking this seemingly simple precaution that could reduce injury seriousness, save your life and spare your loved ones.
Most of my riding is commuting on streets, 50% with bike lanes, in a crowded city with reckless drivers, who routinely park in bike lanes, rarely use turn signals and often go through red lights, etc., and who sometimes have antipathy for cyclists.
If I get hit by a car (or fall off my bike), I don't want to smash my skull on pavement without some protection. It's that simple.
A week or so ago, near Central Park, an Australian tourist on a bike was hit by a garbage truck, not an uncommon occurrence here that is frequently fatal.
The driver was DUI. The young woman (not wearing a helmet) was DOA.
Apparently if involved in a collision with an automobile, you are 50% more likely to survive while wearing a helmet.
- https://www.reuters.com/article/us-h...-idUSKCN10U1LY
- https://helmets.org/stats.htm
- Locations | ghost bikes
I don't completely understand not taking this seemingly simple precaution that could reduce injury seriousness, save your life and spare your loved ones.
Last edited by specialmonkey; 08-29-18 at 03:18 PM. Reason: to sound less arsey :)
#111
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I have to apologize for the two comments I made in this thread. When someone tells me I don't know how to fall it gets my back up a bit. In 1974 I moved to a small community in rural BC that had one paved road in and back out, but lots of gravel and dirt logging roads. I took the tubulars off my 1971 Crescent 319 and put on 27x1 1/4 clinchers, a 51x36 chainwheel, Suntour VGT derailleur and rode the hell out of it. This was before mountain bikes and before helmets. Did I fall, you bet I did, lots. I also took up back-country skiing, on wooden skis with the old 3pin bindings, did I fall, yes, lots. Broke a few skis too.
When Mountain Bikes came out in the early 80's I got one, no suspension but way better traction. I got a Bell helmet when they first came out too. Did I still fall, yes, lots.
I've gone over the handlebars 4 times that I remember. Gone over a taxi once, landed 25 feet away on my hands, did a full roll and ended up sitting in the middle of a 4 way intersection staring at dropped jawed drivers in all 4 directions. So much for riding in city traffic. Killed my old Crescent in that one but I came out with a sprained wrist and road rash. I pulled myself out of a roadside ditch, handed a race aid my broken glasses, wiped the blood off my face, undid the rear brake so it wouldn't rub my bent rear wheel, rode another 90km, ran 42km, finished the race, went to the first aid tent and then threw away my helmet. I've retired 4 helmets, RIP, and bloodied a lot of riding clothes. I'm 70 years old now, I still ride backroads and trails, I've never broken a bone. Go ahead, tell me I don't know how to fall.
So maybe you've got a smooth paved course with no snow, no ice and no traffic where you feel safe, but if there's one car out there you're fooling yourself.
I'll tell you one thing, my kids and grand-kids have never seen me ride without a helmet and they never will. I've also never seen them ride without one.
So there it is, had to get that off my chest.
Cheers, J
When Mountain Bikes came out in the early 80's I got one, no suspension but way better traction. I got a Bell helmet when they first came out too. Did I still fall, yes, lots.
I've gone over the handlebars 4 times that I remember. Gone over a taxi once, landed 25 feet away on my hands, did a full roll and ended up sitting in the middle of a 4 way intersection staring at dropped jawed drivers in all 4 directions. So much for riding in city traffic. Killed my old Crescent in that one but I came out with a sprained wrist and road rash. I pulled myself out of a roadside ditch, handed a race aid my broken glasses, wiped the blood off my face, undid the rear brake so it wouldn't rub my bent rear wheel, rode another 90km, ran 42km, finished the race, went to the first aid tent and then threw away my helmet. I've retired 4 helmets, RIP, and bloodied a lot of riding clothes. I'm 70 years old now, I still ride backroads and trails, I've never broken a bone. Go ahead, tell me I don't know how to fall.
So maybe you've got a smooth paved course with no snow, no ice and no traffic where you feel safe, but if there's one car out there you're fooling yourself.
I'll tell you one thing, my kids and grand-kids have never seen me ride without a helmet and they never will. I've also never seen them ride without one.
So there it is, had to get that off my chest.
Cheers, J
Last edited by jrbz; 08-20-18 at 08:11 PM.
#112
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#113
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#114
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@non-fixie, yes I think the cyclist accident rate is much higher here than there. That could explain our different attitudes.
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If you don't like it, don't respond. There's no reason to be unkind.
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#116
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This is puzzles me. What happened, exactly? Without details, there is no understanding, no learning.
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I think that's the OP's point. With no time to react, there are no details to report. Esp. with a head injury, and likely loss of memory. And from that, there IS something to learn. Namely, some crashes happen with no time to prepare, and some can be severe. Rather than trying to second-guess how to "learn" to be ready for a crash, the simpler, more prudent option is to wear a helmet, for those times when there is no preparation.
#119
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If it's cold outside, I wear the cap and an ear-covering band. Where I live, that pretty well gets the job done from a warmth perspective. The next step up is to add a helmet condom or just use a wool cap, although the wool cap can be a bit bulky. Purpose-made ear-covering skull caps are available, but I have never used one because I haven't needed one often enough to make it worth my while.
If it's hot outside, the cap absorbs sweat and keeps it out of my eyes. If you need more cooling than that, a wet cap at 15+ mph can do wonders.
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#121
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I would like to make a few observations; and I am sure to be called out for them.
Until around 1970ish, almost no one wore a helmet.
Thousands of kids rode to school and all over town and did not wear a helmet.
Paperboys delivered the news early in the AM and did not wear helmets.
People were easy going and kind in general.
Vehicular traffic was lighter.
Now about 50% of folks wear a helmet.
You can't find a bike rack or bike at any K-12 school that I see.
Paperboys - what the hell are they?
People are wound so tight they can snap in an instant.
You all know about the vehicular traffic.
Until around 1970ish, almost no one wore a helmet.
Thousands of kids rode to school and all over town and did not wear a helmet.
Paperboys delivered the news early in the AM and did not wear helmets.
People were easy going and kind in general.
Vehicular traffic was lighter.
Now about 50% of folks wear a helmet.
You can't find a bike rack or bike at any K-12 school that I see.
Paperboys - what the hell are they?
People are wound so tight they can snap in an instant.
You all know about the vehicular traffic.
#122
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I am not under any illusions that a helmet will keep me magically safe or help me survive an encounter with an auto, HOWVER, my personal experience is that while going less than 5mph I crossed a rail road track bisecting the bike path I was on at a bad angle, that coupled with a recent rain caused my front wheel to slip out from under me so fast I was levered into the pavement and my head bounced, I was wearing a helmet. Despite that I saw stars and remember thinking I thought you only saw stars in the cartoons. I cut my ride short, got a new helmet, and continue to wear them because despite all the stuff they can't do, the do protect your noggin. I like my noggin. YMMV
#123
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ryansu, thanks for the post. A week after the incident, I began to think; "maybe I over reacted" but your disruption "levered into the pavement and my head bounce" is exactly the same experience. I'm sure it has happened to others too. I like my noggin too
#124
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Sparkling the errant driver.
I commute 25 miles every day all year round.. Usually on the road at 0500 hours and back 12 hours later. So most of my commute is in darkness or twilight (which is more hazardous btw).
Traffic passes me mostly between 50 and 70 mph.
Over the last 15 years 20 drivers have just missed killing me and perhaps 5 would have killed me if I hadn't thrown myself and my bike into a ditch.
I always wear a helmet but for reasons not often mentioned here.
I have 800 dollars worth of lights on my helmet . If I didn't have those lights I would be dead. Clear and simple. With good lights on a helmet you paint the errant drivers face, you can see if he is asleep, on his fone or looking the wrong way. If there is no hood dip on his vehicle after you sparkle them this informs you he or she is not decelerating their vehicle and if you maintain your heading they will certainly kill you.
Obviously my helmet has spared my head the odd cut, bruise abrasion over the years. But the primary reason I wear a helmet is it gives me the chance to ascertain that a drunk, stoned, sleeping, psychotic *******, who has no respect for an innocent person's people life, is about to drive straight over the top of me at 50 mph.
Frame mounted lights pointing forward are waste of time and in my experience give too many folks a false sense of security.
I never blind other law abiding road /path users because my articulated light rig is always dipped down to the road where it is needed.
I only raise the beams when I become aware of a errant driver who poses a clear and present danger.
Traffic passes me mostly between 50 and 70 mph.
Over the last 15 years 20 drivers have just missed killing me and perhaps 5 would have killed me if I hadn't thrown myself and my bike into a ditch.
I always wear a helmet but for reasons not often mentioned here.
I have 800 dollars worth of lights on my helmet . If I didn't have those lights I would be dead. Clear and simple. With good lights on a helmet you paint the errant drivers face, you can see if he is asleep, on his fone or looking the wrong way. If there is no hood dip on his vehicle after you sparkle them this informs you he or she is not decelerating their vehicle and if you maintain your heading they will certainly kill you.
Obviously my helmet has spared my head the odd cut, bruise abrasion over the years. But the primary reason I wear a helmet is it gives me the chance to ascertain that a drunk, stoned, sleeping, psychotic *******, who has no respect for an innocent person's people life, is about to drive straight over the top of me at 50 mph.
Frame mounted lights pointing forward are waste of time and in my experience give too many folks a false sense of security.
I never blind other law abiding road /path users because my articulated light rig is always dipped down to the road where it is needed.
I only raise the beams when I become aware of a errant driver who poses a clear and present danger.
#125
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Since our personal experience seems to be enlightening everyone about how to be safe.....
When I was in high school a good friends father fell and hit his head on the sidewalk curb in front of his house while walking. He was an invalid for the rest of his life due to the brain injury he suffered in that accident. Moral of the story is that we should wear helmets 24/7.
When I was in high school a good friends father fell and hit his head on the sidewalk curb in front of his house while walking. He was an invalid for the rest of his life due to the brain injury he suffered in that accident. Moral of the story is that we should wear helmets 24/7.