bike helmets
 

i'm curious to know how many use helmets? i havent worn one in a long time and thinking about getting one soon and if should invest into one.

Response from helmet wearer: good idea.

Response from non-helmet wearer: doog iedaea.

I do. I have very little confidence that it makes me safer but it makes the wife happy and it doesn't hurt me.

I only wear a helmet when I mountain bike, not on my street bike.

Saved me last year when I was hit from behind. Wish I could have gotten a photo of the windsheild my head went through, my head was fine, the rest of me not so much.

I do. I got a minor concussion on Friday the 13th after a spill, even with a helmet. I hit my head twice, on the temple, and on the back. I hate to think about my head without that helmet.

That's what I thought -- until my tire caught the edge of the MUP one morning and my forehead smacked the pavement after going over the handlebars. It only takes a split second and nobody thinks it'll happen to them -- until it does.

Edit: I was wearing a helmet at the time, thank God.

hrm looks like ill make a trip to lbs today..

So what was the damage when you repeated the experiment without your helmet?

lol

I always wear a helmet if I am going to be on the street. And MOST of the time when I am not. Unless it is a stupidly short ride, I wear one.

I've never fallen, never taken an injury from falling off, or being hit. I think it's worth it. No one will pretend to tell you it will keep you 100% safe. But I the odds are MORE in your favor with a helmet then not.

Think of it like wearing a condom, sure, she MIGHT not get pregnant or have a disease, but why take the chance?

I don't think he had one that time. It does say his FOREHEAD hit.

Yeah. Im not making much sense today =/
:crash::twitchy:

check your link.

http://www.yehudamoon.com/images/strips/2008-07-09.gif

I wear a helmet because: 1) It covers my big bald round head and makes me look younger, 2) It keeps most of the sun off... except for the helmet-vent tan marks that I get on that aforementioned big round bald head (they look tribal!) 3) It gives me a place to mount my tres-dorky rearview mirror, 4) likewise, a place to mount an extra blinky taillight, and 5) I think it gives motorists just an inkling that I might know what I'm doing out there among them.

On the way to work one morning in 2006, I had a jogger step out right in my path... I was going maybe 15mph and never had the chance to brake. We collided, head to head... really hard. The impact split my helmet... It fell apart when I stood back up. Meanwhile, the jogger didn't regain consciousness at the crash site. I thought I'd killed him. (He's okay now, but he was in hospital for quite some time.) Me, I went on to work that same day, mild concussion and all.

I'm sold on helmets. I have three, all Bell, all with rearview mirrors and rear mounted blinkies. I feel naked without one.

safety nanny bait... come and get it.

So the moral is that all joggers should wear helmets now too?

LOL

I usually wear one but I've somehow forgotten to put it on 3-4 times in recent weeks (including today). I don't know why I keep doing that. I don't have a lot of confidence in a modern helmet's ability to prevent serious injury. I think in some cases they can help prevent minor injuries though.

I've only had one crash where my head impacted the pavement while wearing a helmet ($!*&$^#$ diagonal railroad tracks). I was moving quite fast and slid/bounced along the pavement aways before coming to a stop. My helmet and glasses were pretty scratched up. I imagine some of those scrapes would have been on my forehead/face instead.

Even with the helmet my bell was rung. I had a headache for the rest of the day. I don't think the helmet did much to lessen/distribute the impact. At least I was primarily picking gravel out of my arms and legs afterwards instead of my forehead though.

mmmmmmm, I love the smell of Safety Nanny bait in the morning....

I don't wear a helmet now, but starting out commuting I did for about a year. I also ride in flip flops.

i do. i wear a full face one for commuting. yes it is probably a bit over the top, but it makes me feel safe.

I don't . . . . . yet. I have dreads so finding a helmet that fits is an issue. I ordered a 2xl helmet off ebay that should be hear anyday now.

Was wearing my helmet at the time. Put a big dent in it.

I've been riding for 2+ years (daily commuting, group road rides). It's the only time I've smacked the pavement -- always thought it would happen on a group road ride. Goes to show you never know, good reason to wear the helmet.

i ride w/ a helmet.

and the irony? i ride a fixed gear!

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