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Originally Posted by keiththesnake
(Post 5492035)
"Only dumbass, irresponsibe people fail to take a simple safety measure.
http://www.cyclinghalloffame.com/rid...mstrong_L5.jpg |
Originally Posted by Six jours
(Post 5492786)
Funny how these helmet debates go. Usually along the lines of "Yeah, wear a helmet if you want, or don't, you're an adult; make your own decisions", followed shortly by an influx of smug, ignorant, self-satisfied morons writing about how superior they are because they're not going to "get their brains scrambled" or "have to learn how to read all over again".
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Why is it that no one is allowed to post an opinion on guns or helmets without being labeled an idiot?
Why can't we occasionally agree to disagree? Some wear helmets, some do not. Here, it is only against the law if you are 12 or under. Most of the people I know wear helmets, most of the people I see riding do not. I know idiots in both categories. Does anyone here really think someone is going to read your post, have an epiphany, and post back, "OMG! I never looked at it that way! I see the light! I am a ginormous prick! Thank you for pointing it out! I will immediately start/stop wearing a helmet!" That is all. Carry on. |
Originally Posted by Percist
(Post 5496581)
Why is it that no one is allowed to post an opinion on guns or helmets without being labeled an idiot?
Why can't we occasionally agree to disagree?... |
Originally Posted by threephi
(Post 5495390)
Way to totally exaggerate my position beyond any semblance of similarity to what I actually posted.
Life involves risk. You'll be safer staying in bed all day every day than doing anything else. If that's your choice, go for it. I don't think anyone here needs to explain why they choose to live in the world, or ride a bike. Reasonable people know that some things they do involve a higher level of risk, or a more specific risk (such as increased chance of heart disease, or head injury, or whatever), than other things they might do. Reasonable people know, too, that they can take certain preventive actions to mitigate (not eliminate) that risk, such as eating more healthfully or wearing a helmet when they ride a bike. Other equally reasonable people, knowing both the risks and the benefits, might choose one way or the other whether to take such preventive action. What is unreasonable is to claim that either the risks or the benefits don't exist, or to paint the people who choose differently than you do as idiots or zealots. Riding a bike involves risks. Wearing a helmet can mitigate that risk. Maybe staying in bed is riskier than you think. Maybe riding a bike is less risky than you think. Wouldn't a reasonable person try to learn and understand the likelyhood of something happening before making pronouncements about it? Who says that in riding a bike a person is taking a larger risk of a head injury than someone walking or driving? Who says my personal risk is greater or lesser than the accuser? In, The Book of Risks, by Larry Laudan, he writes, Virtually everything is risky so to try avoid risk, should we be reduced to total inactivity? Ponder this; hundreds of thousands of Americans are injured each year on their beds and another hundred thousand or so are injured by the clothing seriously enough to require emergency medical treatment. Anxiety about risks of life is a bit like hypochondria. In both, the fear or anxiety feeds on partial information. Risks are almost always a matter of probabilities rather than certainties. Nothing is without risk. Some actions are riskier than others. We need to measure the magnitude of the risks in question. Risk management requires 2 things; a modicum of common sense and information about character and magnitude of the risks we may be running. The media has a habit of picking 2 or 3 risks every season to publicize while downplaying others. It is not so much that they dishonestly state the dangers associated with the “in” risk as that they fail to set that risk into context. Unless someone can tell you what level of risk is associated with a given activity, then they have no business telling you it is risky to begin with. How much risk should I be willing to run? This is a an individual choice based on your own beliefs. There is generally a huge discrepancy between the true magnitude of a risk and a lay persons perception of it. We chronically tend to minimize or under estimate the size of common risks. There is a reverse tendency to exaggerate the size of rare or unusual ones. By doing this we end up protecting ourselves against unlikely perils while failing to take precautions against those most likely to do us in. |
When I'm riding I generally treat it as a faster version of walking. The hardest hit on my head in fact came while walking. Slipped on some ice and was actually airpborne for a split second. If I was a racer or rode like one I'd probably wear a helmet. I do wear one while mtbing. Even in those situations I have no confidence that a helmet would save my life. That hunk of styrofoam is only going to help prevent concussions. Any hit to the head that could cause major trauma without a helmet is going to break the helmet and cause major trauma anyway. There is a small small chance it would make a difference but it would be about the same as wearing a helmet while walking.If your truly worried about head trauma, I'd say use a DOT specified motorcyle helmet. Make sure it's specified as such as some non DOT motorcycle helmets aren't much better than bicycle helmets.
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But, but, a DOT motorcycle helmet, would be hot, and heavy, and wouldn't make me look like a racer and make me feel like I was one of the cool, smart kids!
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Does it have the integrated VTAS optics? The ability to lock on to cars with a turn of your head and blast them with sidewinders or sparrows would be kewl. :D
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'Y know what I saw more of than I ever have before, while I was in London? Pollution masks on cyclists.
http://images.jupiterimages.com/comm...7/22687750.jpg I'd never wear one, but I'd never tell those who do (or don't) that they're crazy to wear one (or not). After all, what's the greater threat? Just how effective are the devices used to protect against the threat? Who am I to pass judgement on others? |
Originally Posted by Deamer
(Post 5500158)
I wish.
Edit: It'd be great for headbutting irate motorists though My climbing helmet works pretty good for that, too. Someone upthread made the comment that if they were truly effective, motorcycle riders could wear bike helmets. That's true in part, just remember that a motorcycle crash at 45 mph has 4x the energy of a bicycle crash at 22.5 mph, and 16x the energy of a bike crash at 11 mph. Speed kills. (not that that fact stops me from doing 40+ on a downhill - but I won't claim that's safe) Bike helmets really aren't that great against impacts, however - you can't wear them while rock climbing with the Mazamas, or other outdoor groups. Climbing helmets have a much higher safety rating against blunt force impact. Of course, they also don't dissipate heat well. |
A couple months ago I was zipping down the street on my way to the FedEx store, and a car cut me off on the way into the parking lot. I hollered at them to watch where they were going, and the woman in the passenger seat yelled "Get a helmet!" I asked her how a helmet would help if they broadside me with their car. She was quiet for about 5 seconds before again squawking "Get a helmet!"
Realizing I may as well have been talking to a brick wall, I rode away and ran my errands. |
So, okay. I reread the stuff I wrote and the responses to it. I should've used better manners. Even though I feel strongly about using a helmet and lights for my commute for reasons of my own, there's no need for me to offend or make others feel trammeled on by my views. I should've been more respecful of others' decisions and their reasoning. I shouldn't have been so loose with my language. Nobody needs my permission to ride the way they want to. I hope everybody who was put off by my posts will accept this statement in the conciliatory spirit in which it is intended.
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I was drunk at the time, if it matters. :beer:
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Originally Posted by keiththesnake
(Post 5501356)
So, okay. I reread the stuff I wrote and the responses to it. I should've used better manners. Even though I feel strongly about using a helmet and lights for my commute for reasons of my own, there's no need for me to offend or make others feel trammeled on by my views. I should've been more respecful of others' decisions and their reasoning. I shouldn't have been so loose with my language. Nobody needs my permission to ride the way they want to. I hope everybody who was put off by my posts will accept this statement in the conciliatory spirit in which it is intended.
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Originally Posted by threephi
(Post 5495390)
Riding a bike involves risks. Wearing a helmet can mitigate that risk.
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Originally Posted by chipcom
(Post 5500027)
But, but, a DOT motorcycle helmet, would be hot, and heavy, and wouldn't make me look like a racer and make me feel like I was one of the cool, smart kids!
About 11PM East Coast time, on Saturday you ain't going to be feeling too smart, too cool, or too happy! The moons of Jupiter have lined up with the rings of Saturn for the showdown in the Happy Valley. Better change your allegences and bets accordingly.:p Thread content: The fellows in Happy Valley will be wearing helmets for this activity. |
Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
(Post 5501938)
OT Warning for everyone but Chipcom the Buckeye:
About 11PM East Coast time, on Saturday you ain't going to be feeling too smart, too cool, or too happy! The moons of Jupiter have lined up with the rings of Saturn for the showdown in the Happy Valley. Better change your allegences and bets accordingly.:p Thread content: The fellows in Happy Valley will be wearing helmets for this activity. http://www.onetimearoundagain.com/ha...cial_ed_a3.jpg |
Originally Posted by chipcom
(Post 5501995)
The fellows in Happy Valley even wear helmets off the field. :lol:
http://www.onetimearoundagain.com/ha...cial_ed_a3.jpg |
Originally Posted by sfcrossrider
(Post 5502224)
I choose not to end up @ Happy Valley, so I strap a lid on whenever I ride. I could give two *****s what anyone else does with their heads.
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Originally Posted by chipcom
(Post 5502305)
Happy Valley is State College, PA, home of the Penn State Nittany Lions, who are fixin to get their collective butts handed to them, again, by the number one (yeah like that'll last) Ohio State Buckeyes. You keep wearing that lid, son, and someday you might have enough brain cells left to properly decipher what us helmetless old farts are talkin about. ;)
2. I know where/what Happy Valley is. 3. The red lines mean you aren't spelling the words correctly. I guess my brain cells are good for something. ;) 4. Like is said... I give a ***** what you put on (on in your case in) your head. |
The red lines mean you aren't spelling the words correctly. on in your case in |
Originally Posted by sfcrossrider
(Post 5502395)
1. I doubt you're more than 5 minutes older than me pops.
2. I know where/what Happy Valley is. 3. The red lines mean you aren't spelling the words correctly. I guess my brain cells are good for something. ;) 4. Like is said... I give a ***** what you put on (on in your case in) your head. |
Originally Posted by zeytoun
(Post 5502432)
Instant karma strikes again!
You're doing much better chipcom! No little red lines in that last post. Keep this up and you might get the T.V. back. I said MIGHT! |
This is turning out to be a fun thread , lets not stop. Karma for everyone. whiskey and cigarettes too.
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People are griping about each other's spelling in a thread titled 'Get A Helemt!'...
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Originally Posted by trombone
(Post 5504328)
People are griping about each other's spelling in a thread titled 'Get A Helemt!'...
Let's stick to the Real Topic, or at least one not beaten to dearh a zillion times by the BF Safety Nanny Patrol. What place will OSU fall to after they are mauled this Saturday night? There is still hope for them. LSU is still sniffing around the top even with one loss. What say you Comrade Chipcom? |
Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
(Post 5504772)
Yeah and also what Sfcrossrider said... "I give a ***** about" Whatz dat mean?
Let's stick to the Real Topic, or at least one not beaten to dearh a zillion times by the BF Safety Nanny Patrol. What place will OSU fall to after they are mauled this Saturday night? There is still hope for them. LSU is still sniffing around the top even with one loss. What say you Comrade Chipcom? |
Originally Posted by bikertrash
(Post 5492408)
Oh get over your bad self. Look at the stats, better to be helmetless than fat.
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Bit of a false dichotomy there, isn't it? You can be helmetless and fat. |
Originally Posted by ban guzzi
(Post 5486323)
a rant...
It was a lovely day. It will continue to be so. I have a date with a beautiful women tonight who I've been persuing for four years. It was a short day at work, yet I got over time. My Chicago Schwinn commuter is doing well and better than my brand new bike and keeps me smiling. The MUP was pretty much glass free and smooth rolling. Breezy...not windy. My health is getting better daily and I love commuting and just generaly going for a roll whenever/wherever... So! When you and I crossed paths on the bridge over the river and your only statement was "Get a Helmet!" I about choked and ,yes, I yelled an obcenity after you. Untill you yelled at me, I was watching my line, gazing ahead before I got to the bridge for traffic, what was on the path, outside pedal down so I don't ground out, and just genrally enjoying myself. Heck, I was going to nod in a friendly way as we passed but instead, before right before you spoke, YOU weaved a bit and I had to look you in the eyes to make sure YOU were paying attention and to try to ascertain what your intentions were, if they could be read. You were the potential hazard for that moment. You were more concerned about telling me that I needed a helmet than maintaining your line and concentration. I appreciate, in a very small way, your concern for me and my lack of helmet. I chose not to today. I have also raced motorcycles, been there for friends who needed limbs removed/attached because of said MC's and I've spent 100k miles commuting by motorcyce and about 5k by car in the last 6 years...I know very well the risk I am taking. I don't mistake the severity of a fall or accident (and probably more than 50% rider error) no matter the speed. I get it. I also chose and will choose again at some point to go sans helmet. In the future, please keep your indignation and self-righteous proclamations in your head. It just really rubbed me wrong even though I will give you the benefit of the doubt and hope your day and weekend go as well as mine is shaping up to be... Enjoy... /rant Helmet or no helmet, it's up to the rider. If you feel your feet are worth $100 and your head nothing you own the valuation. I wear a helmet for two reasons. The first was my wife nagging and my kids noticing that I made them wear one while I didn't. The second reason appeared when I was hit from behind by a yahoo in a pickup who tried to squeeze between me and the oncoming traffic. Wrecked my helmet and bike and made me a very nervous rider for a while but I was very happy that I listened to my family. They're called accidents because they're not planned. |
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