The other thing to keep in mind when wearing a helmet -- wear it properly -- with the front of the helmet covering your forehead. I see tons of people with the helmet shoved way back on their head, exposing the forehead for full dork effect.

I absolutely will not get on a bike unless I'm wearing a helmet. I've cracked a helmet before falling off and I don't really want to think what might have happened had I not been wearing it, so my helmet goes on before I get on the bike and it stays tightly strapped on my head until I'm back off the bike. I only have one head, so I want to protect it.

So yeah... I wear a helmet... ALWAYS!

If helmets worked effectively in collisions with cars I'd wear one religiously. Unfortunately they don't. The following is from an interview with two pro-helmet doctors whose work was recently published in the BMJ:

This isn't exactly secret, just one of those things most people ignore. Its usually explained on the piece of paper that comes with your helmet, and which you throw away without reading.

Exactly the same thing that did happen to you: if the liner cracked, the foam didn't compress to provide cushioning and you didn't get any benefit from wearing the helmet. It's extremely common, I'm afraid.

i dont ever wear a helmet for numerous reason... one is fitment... none of them do. i do wear one when it is required at certain skateparks on my bmx. and then i where a skateboard helmet... i know i could get hurt but w/e i honestly dont care all that much...

i know i know i'll regret it when i get knocked out.. thats' happened already... and def not during riding on the roads... normally i ride aropund philly on my bmx bike (brakeless) with no paddign of any sort... if you're a good enough rider u can get out of most situations

I just picked one up today.
The Specialized Air Force 3.
I figured why not, it makes my girlfriend happy and I need one to race anyways so f it.

Absolutely I do. I only have one head, so I might as well protect it. :) Cycle commuting in Shanghai has a lot of obstacles, so I think it's pretty smart to have the extra protection of a helmet.

Yes: Bell Sweep R

I wear one, for safety reasons mostly but its also the law in New Zealand. The great thing about helmets though is that I have my main light attached to it, (helmet mounted lights are far better than bar mounted, I have both), also it has one of my many rear lights attached as well.

The visor is handy in dealing with driving rain. Also my mirror is also mounted on the visor.

Drawbacks: I am king of the Freds with a crown like that

I think carrying all this has increased my collar size somewhat :lol:

well i bought one and makes me feel a bit safer and gives my head a cool breeze. i think people are not seeing that a wearing a helmet has helped. i havent heard of many cases helmets doing more damage. if it gives me atleast 1% protection well than its better than none.

I wear one whenever I ride my bike off of my street. It does not hinder or impair me at all, is not uncomfortable, and provides incremental safety. I wouldn't rail out against any adult not wearing one, but get a bit pissed when I see kids on the road w/o one.

Overall, I really don't have a reason NOT to wear one, so I do.

I'm in this boat

I wear one.

Not much to think about IMO.

At the very very least, it will keep you from getting road rash on your scalp which is good enough reason for me to wear one.

I wear one. Never really used to (before I started commuting), but a couple years ago my wife was diagnosed with a blood clotting disorder that requires her to take blood thinning medicine, which means she needs a helmet -- the medication makes any head injury potentially much more dangerous. If I was going to try to make sure she remembered to wear one (she NEVER used to), I figured I should, too, so she wouldn't be the only dork in a helmet if we were riding somewhere together.

By the time I started commuting I was already used to it.

I wear one as well. Don't care about the idiotic excuses people make for and against them. I think it helps me and that is all that matters. Wear or don't wear one, I do not care.

What I do know is that my last crash ended up with me ramming my head into the concrete. I ended up with a small concussion and a broken helmet. So, a helmet is needed for this klutz.

Having just fallen recently while not wearing a helmet, I will always wear one now.

Read on for what happened to me:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=437389

How long has it been, and how are you with riding in the spot where you had the accident? My fall was not *very* serious (worse thing was a minor concussion) but it's been about a month and I still find myself creeping around the corner where I slid and fell. I'm starting to wonder if I will ever get my confidence back :( In myself, in the bike, I don't know... I tell myself I've been around that corner plenty of time going much faster, but now, every time I'm there I find myself bracing for a fall. Sucks.

How old are you?

Let's see if I get this right.

A helmet in proper position should be visible when you look up. Not the visor, but the Styrofoam.

The helmet should be tight, it shouldn't easily move around. Don't give yourself a headache, but don't let your helmet twist either.

The strap should be comfortably tight. A little loose, but you shouldn't be able to pull the helmet far with the strap clasped.

when riding, where are you going to put your mirror w/out a helmet?

1979 hit with/out helmet, emergency room-stitches, dad bought Bell-Biker hard shell helmet
1979 - 1999 various helmets, minor events and helmets were consistantly constantly worn
1999/12 buick vs austria-damlier, Bell Image Pro helmet saved grey matter/life (?)

what does it hurt not to where?

i'm domed on Every ride!! i usually leave to mirror back when mtb though.

One of my employees has a traumatic brain injury from a seemingly (at the time) mild accident. It changed her entire life. She went from being a college professor to not even being able to read. Had to relearn the most basic things. She is now a file clerk and on some days even that is challenging. Had she not been an excellent saver and investor before her accident she'd now be living off SSI and other welfare programs paid for by every single one of us.

My coworker once had unprotected sex with a prostitute and got AIDS from it. Don't repeat his mistake! Come to Jesus! Jesus will save you.

WTF?!?

The BENEFIT you got from wearing the helmet that got cracked was that it was the helmet that cracke and not your skull!!!

Where does this fecal fallout come from?...