Helmets, Didn't realize there was a debate
01-08-18, 10:43 AM
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Helmets, Didn't realize there was a debate
Well I must say the first thing I bought after my bike was a helmet. In another thread it became apparent that there is a contingency of people who are anti-helmet and I am curious as to why? I have a old classmate who was hit by a car w/o a helmet and is "damaged" for life so it was a no brainer for me to buy one. If this is an on-going debate in another thread, please post a link. Thanks
01-08-18, 10:49 AM
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The best thing to do would be to check out the A&S forum.
In the meantime, I'll lay out the "anti" case: there is no scientific study to demonstrate that helmets prevent serious injury which has been replicated successfully.
In the meantime, I'll lay out the "anti" case: there is no scientific study to demonstrate that helmets prevent serious injury which has been replicated successfully.
01-08-18, 10:50 AM
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And it always comes down to it's not a debate. It's a case of wear a helmet if it makes you feel safer, don't wear one if you don't want to.
01-08-18, 10:53 AM
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Enjoy: The Helmet Thread 2
It's mostly a recap of Helmet Thread 1, quarantined since the debate is endless.
It's mostly a recap of Helmet Thread 1, quarantined since the debate is endless.
01-08-18, 10:55 AM
#5
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You think him being hit by a car had more to do with it than not wearing a helmet?
More people die every year from head injuries in cars than they do on bikes. Do you wear a helmet in a car?
More people die every year from head injuries in cars than they do on bikes. Do you wear a helmet in a car?
01-08-18, 10:56 AM
#6
LET'S ROLL
This is an international site. Some cities; riders feel comfortable not wearing a helmet.
In my home base of New York City; I feel cyclists should wear a helmet.
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01-08-18, 11:10 AM
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I was recently hit by a car and cracked my helmet. I'd prefer to crack the helmet than crack my head, so I'll be wearing a helmet.
Having stipulated that, I have three main issues with helmets:
1. Requiring helmets enhances and reinforces the public perception and cultural understanding in the US that cycling is an inherently dangerous hobby. It's a short leap from "everyone needs to wear a helmet" to "cycling on the road is too dangerous" or "trail access needs to be restricted for MTBs because it's too dangerous for other trail users". It's all part of the same anti-cycling vibe in this country. To deliberately overstate to make a point: the helmet becomes a "scarlet letter" that marks out the user as a crazy person doing crazy things.
2. Helmets detract from the "normalization" of cycling as a valid way to get around and do practical things. No one wears a helmet in countries where commuting by bike / riding as part of work / taking care of errands on a bike is a normal thing to do for adults. The use of helmets in the US reinforces the perception that cycling is a "leisure activity" for exercise or fun not simply part of a reasonable person's working day.
3. As others have pointed out, there's little evidence that modern flimsy helmets actually statistically work.
Having stipulated that, I have three main issues with helmets:
1. Requiring helmets enhances and reinforces the public perception and cultural understanding in the US that cycling is an inherently dangerous hobby. It's a short leap from "everyone needs to wear a helmet" to "cycling on the road is too dangerous" or "trail access needs to be restricted for MTBs because it's too dangerous for other trail users". It's all part of the same anti-cycling vibe in this country. To deliberately overstate to make a point: the helmet becomes a "scarlet letter" that marks out the user as a crazy person doing crazy things.
2. Helmets detract from the "normalization" of cycling as a valid way to get around and do practical things. No one wears a helmet in countries where commuting by bike / riding as part of work / taking care of errands on a bike is a normal thing to do for adults. The use of helmets in the US reinforces the perception that cycling is a "leisure activity" for exercise or fun not simply part of a reasonable person's working day.
3. As others have pointed out, there's little evidence that modern flimsy helmets actually statistically work.
Last edited by Hiro11; 01-08-18 at 11:21 AM.
01-08-18, 11:14 AM
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Actually helmets do/can/will make you safer in the event you crash. The only debate is how big to guarantee a safe outcome. This size should end the debate.
01-08-18, 11:16 AM
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You didn't realize there was a debate?
01-08-18, 11:34 AM
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Helmets are great at preventing some injury, to argue otherwise is simply silly.
The problem becomes thinking that they are useless because someone who got clobbered by a bus wasn't saved. Everytime I've crashed without a helmet, my only thoughts have been "don't hit your head". Doing that twice taught me in most cases, I prefer a chunk of styrofoam between my head and pavement, even if there are still many other injuries than can occur.
The problem becomes thinking that they are useless because someone who got clobbered by a bus wasn't saved. Everytime I've crashed without a helmet, my only thoughts have been "don't hit your head". Doing that twice taught me in most cases, I prefer a chunk of styrofoam between my head and pavement, even if there are still many other injuries than can occur.
01-08-18, 11:58 AM
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Ibtm/l
01-08-18, 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by brianmcg123
You think him being hit by a car had more to do with it than not wearing a helmet?
More people die every year from head injuries in cars than they do on bikes. Do you wear a helmet in a car?
More people die every year from head injuries in cars than they do on bikes. Do you wear a helmet in a car?
01-08-18, 12:05 PM
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Last edited by Homebrew01; 01-08-18 at 12:44 PM.
