invisiblehand

What case? You have not shown that Dahon is different. You then asked why doesn't the rest of the world wear helmets. That question belongs in A&S.

mconlonx 

If you bother to stroll through Dahon's website, you'll find plenty of people in their Newsletters, Gallery and News sections shown wearing helmets. The overwhelming majority of those pictured as "serious" people riding Dahons in what might be considered performance environments seem to be wearing helmets.

What's your point here? What's your goal? What case are you trying to make? Because if this is simply some kind of helmet troll like it appears to be, well then you suck.

folder fanatic

The US riders tend to be somewhat paranoid as a whole. They even teach their children that riding on sidewalks is safer than streets! Back in the Dark Ages (late 1960s, 1970s, and even into the 1980s) people did not wear helmets except on motorcycles. My father did not wear a helmet on his motorcycle circa mid 1950s.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/world-of-folding-bicycles/289494502/in/set-72157594325178229/

I never heard him say to wear a helmet on either my pedal bikes or motor bikes. I never felt a need to even today. In other countries, the only people I seen wear helmets in photos were tourists. Dahon is probably reflecting this since it is a global company.

v6v6v6

Interesting, I've never really thought of Dahon's lineup as being mostly performance bikes. Only the Speed Pro/TT really comes to mind.

gdh81

Well the motorcycle helmet thing I understand. Just like the seat belt thing. People get hurt, don't have insurance and cost the rest of us money (chiefly a US problem due to the ridiculous health care system- thank you Nixon).


I'm with Thor on this one, I'd like to see helmets in ads. People, kids especially, learn from repetition and consistency. More images of helmets, lights, and proper equipment will help to embolden a "safe riding ideal". Even if it doesn't magically solve the bike vs car problems we have, it helps foster more conscientious riders who may be greater in tune with their bikes and surroundings.

mconlonx 

The argument you put forward, which many legislators and lobbyists have also used in support of mandatory helmet laws in the US, is bogus. The majority of brain injuries involve auto accidents--using this logic for mandatory helmet use laws regarding motorcycles or bicycles is the biggest argument for mandatory use of helmets in cars. And yet that will never happen...

Speedo

If you really want information on this topic go to the Helmets Cramp my Style thread in A&S.

The helmet issue has been argued to death there.

Speedo

snafu21

Cyclists should wear condoms on every conceivable occasion.

somnatash

Me, being the style queen here, I cant wear a helmet - I tried, but they cramp my style:



For all you others out there a condom is a minimum, better still full safety gear:

CaptainSpalding

The bicycle is such a benign and elegant piece of technology. After more than 40 years of cycling, I'm still surprised at what type of people are drawn to it.

Why is it that so many cyclists feel the need to get so frenetically judgmental about the minutiae of cycling and jump up and down ranting in support their agenda?

I am not generally a social cyclist, and it's because of BS like this. There are so many factions. Helmet/no helmet. Sidewalk/no sidewalk. Commuters vs. spandos. Single speeders and fixies with chips on their shoulders. It's as though cyclists are looking for any excuse to be bitter about something.

Veggie, your life must be pretty friggin' perfect if you can spare a moment's thought to whether Dahon is doing enough to promote helmets. Let's all get a little perspective, people.

gdh81

Well of course that's true. But if requiring people to wear helmets saves us (me) any money at all, I say hook it up.


Moreover, I would be all for an "opt-in" system where individuals could be exempt from such laws if they were over 18 and signed releases accepting financial responsibility for their actions.

The bottom line is that corporations that make millions of dollars off us *should* feel a sense of responsibility to encourage safe use of their products. If the iPhone-toting, skinny jeans-wearing hipster dufuses are so turned off by helmets in advertising, they can ride the bus.


Rant over.

invisiblehand

Bridgestoned

I don't think Dahon is anti helmet as the OP puts it. They're just 'not promoting' other companies helmets in their ads. Not until Dahon starts manufacturing helmets.

You're more likely to see a Trek helmet in a Trek catalogue, or a Giro helmet as it's a co-sponsor in the TDF. Back to the helmet/condom debate, you could say that some heads are worth protecting more than others. Sorry, ladies.

alhedges

Nice rant. There would be more of a point if bicycle helmets provided any meaningful protection in a crash. They don't, and there is no meaningful evidence that they do. As it is, helmets are just a means to placate the paranoid, while making millions for helmet manufacturers. Don't believe the hype.

gdh81

True. But you can't deny that if you flew over the handlebars and hit your head on a light post, a helmet would be nice. Of course, the same could be said for knee pads, elbow pads, and everything else. I'd want a helmet in some situations, but not in others. If its a common (mis)conception that helmets provide protection, then ads showing helmeted cyclists might use that conception for good. Most people (for better or worse) associate helmets with "safe" riding, and seeing "safe" riders having fun in advertising can only have a positive effect.

mulleady

Safety gear isn't enough, attack gear is also required. After somone shouted out when passing by on my Brompton, 'that's a ***'s bike' the other day, it would be very useful to have front and rear guns to deal with such jerks lol. Maybe

Helmets in ads sets a good example. I used to avoid wearing one on short trips but don mine all the time now. That head protection is very crucial. Besides the design of helmets has improved so much with more lightweight materials and airlflow, mine doesn't bother me at all.

datako

I'm not for compulsion but I did appreciate my helmet the other day when my bike hit me on the back of the head...

Tovar

Well that's makes sense using a helmet when riding a bike, you can live with a broken leg, elbow or arm, but hitting your head can leave all your body useless, even if everything part of your body is in place!

For me I use normal clothes but always: helmet, gloves and shoes.

Regards

mikesdca

Your last paragraph? Come on. It`s not exactly like these terrible bike companies are fleecing you, innocent consumer. You`re part of a market and they`re providing good/services to that market. You don`t like it? Take your money somewhere else.

CaptainSpalding

I associate helmets with unsafe activities. Showing cyclists with helmets presents the image that cycling is inherently unsafe. If I were producing advertising trying to lure new people into cycling, I might omit the helmet too.

gdh81

I'm not saying that we're being fleeced by Dahon. I don't think that paragraph was unreasonable.