No Helmet -- Nice!
#176
Thread Starter
Keepin it Wheel




Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,964
Likes: 5,232
From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
Amazing pic! Glad you're 'ok' despite what was surely a long, difficult recovery
I see the smoke on the right front wheel so he realized at some point and tried to stop. Was the collision him hitting you or you hitting him (his fault completely either way of course)?
I see the smoke on the right front wheel so he realized at some point and tried to stop. Was the collision him hitting you or you hitting him (his fault completely either way of course)?
#177
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 151
Likes: 9
From: Los Angeles
Bikes: 2018 Electra Townie Commute GO! 8i, 2019 Electra Townie GO! 7d, 2023 Cannondale Adventure Neo Allroad Speed
It was her, not him. She hit my rear tire, that's why collision did not kill me. The car was going way too fast to survive hitting the wind shield. There was a long thread with detailed QAs a while back, I posted this back when it happened.
#179
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
I ride without a helmet, but I'm considering getting one. I'm not sure why because I don't believe it will save my life in a serious accident, but it may in something light. I also ride a motorcycle - been doing so for about 45 years. The helmet I wear when I ride it isn't really an approved helmet, just an outlaw type (plastic) to keep the law from messing with me. I tried the DOT helmets - too heavy for my comfort. So far, so good. I also find when I have a DOT helmet on, I find myself being a bit more relaxed with my thoughts of safety, taking chances I wouldn't normally do. I know there are those who won't agree with my reasoning, and that's their right. We will all make it to the end.
#183
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 69
Likes: 8
I'd be dead if it weren't for a helmet. I have no recollection of what happened on that day. Very little damage to the bike, and no one witnessed the incident (that's willing to talk about it, anyway). I lost about 16hrs of my life....from about 3hrs before I left on the ride until I was in the neuro unit of the hospital. There was a serious dent/crack on the L temple area of the helmet and I received 6 stitches there. I was awake, I talked to people, the squad came, they performed diagnostic tests and stitched my head up, and I can't remember any of it. I'm fairly cautious and I don't take stupid chances..... whatever happened to me could probably happen to anyone. Feeling the cool air running over your head isn't worth risking death.
#184
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
I'd be dead if it weren't for a helmet. I have no recollection of what happened on that day. Very little damage to the bike, and no one witnessed the incident (that's willing to talk about it, anyway). I lost about 16hrs of my life....from about 3hrs before I left on the ride until I was in the neuro unit of the hospital. There was a serious dent/crack on the L temple area of the helmet and I received 6 stitches there. I was awake, I talked to people, the squad came, they performed diagnostic tests and stitched my head up, and I can't remember any of it. I'm fairly cautious and I don't take stupid chances..... whatever happened to me could probably happen to anyone. Feeling the cool air running over your head isn't worth risking death.
#187
ambulatory senior

Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 6,451
Likes: 4,515
From: Peoria Il
Bikes: Austro Daimler modified by Gugie! Raleigh Professional and lots of other bikes.
#191
Senior Member



Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 1,261
From: Groningen
Bikes: Gazelle rod brakes, Batavus compact, Peugeot hybrid
#192
A little over a year and 4,000 miles into commuting, I'm still not wearing a helmet. My hope is that if I die while riding my bike, I can provide some good narrative fodder for other internet cyclists, whether pro-helmet or otherwise, i.e. "helmet wouldn't have saved him" or "if only he had been wearing a helmet". It's my way of contributing to the internet cycling community. Like an organ donor, only instead of my liver you can have "there was this one guy ...".
Other kids wanted to be firemen and marine biologists but I said "I want to be a statistic when I grow up".
Other kids wanted to be firemen and marine biologists but I said "I want to be a statistic when I grow up".
Last edited by Phamilton; 11-07-18 at 03:38 PM.
#193
#194
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 560
Likes: 265
From: Southern California
Bikes: Historical: Schwinn Speedster; Schwinn Collegiate; 1981 Ross Gran Tour; 1981 Dawes Atlantis; 1991 Specialized Rockhopper. Current: 1987 Centurion Ironman Dave Scott Master; 1992 Specialized Stumpjumper FS; 2026 Salsa Confluence.
#195
ambulatory senior

Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 6,451
Likes: 4,515
From: Peoria Il
Bikes: Austro Daimler modified by Gugie! Raleigh Professional and lots of other bikes.
A little over a year and 4,000 miles into commuting, I'm still not wearing a helmet. My hope is that if I die while riding my bike, I can provide some good narrative fodder for other internet cyclists, whether pro-helmet or otherwise, i.e. "helmet wouldn't have saved him" or "if only he had been wearing a helmet". It's my way of contributing to the internet cycling community. Like an organ donor, only instead of my liver you can have "there was this one guy ...".
Other kids wanted to be firemen and marine biologists but I said "I want to be a statistic when I grow up".
Other kids wanted to be firemen and marine biologists but I said "I want to be a statistic when I grow up".
#196
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 4,869
Likes: 1,108
From: Tallahassee, FL
Commentary: Why I stopped wearing a bike helmet
....Before I go any further, let me state emphatically that I am not out to dissuade anyone from wearing a bike helmet.
Except the author really goes on to attempt to do just that.
#197
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,193
Likes: 6,428
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
I left my helmet at work on Friday, consciously. I've decided I don't want to plan any helmetless rides any more. I usually wear a helmet, but if I'm without one, I'll still ride. But if a helmet is within reach, from now on, I will take it. If anything, I should be the one to advocate for helmets, since mine so clearly saved my life many years ago, and that was before anyone else was wearing a helmet.
Some of the anti-helmet arguments have merit, and I oppose laws that require helmets, but a helmet is still a good idea for me.
Some of the anti-helmet arguments have merit, and I oppose laws that require helmets, but a helmet is still a good idea for me.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.



