Chris Boardman
05-26-07, 11:26 AM
#1
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Chris Boardman
Was surfing today and saw this at
https://www.procycling.com/latestissue.aspx
Last I remembered he was a staunch pro-helmet advocate.
from
https://www.headwayessex.org.uk/givin...ity/chris.html
Anyone have a copy of the Pro-Cycling article so it can be scanned and read here?
https://www.procycling.com/latestissue.aspx
JUNE '07, ISSUE 99
you've asked for it, now Chris Boardman delivers – his view on the
great helmet debate.
Using your head?
The debate was set to run and run… Our bike tester, Chris Boardman,
has come in for some harsh criticism from readers over the years
whenever he's decided to ride without a lid. Now, the *-time Tour de
France prologue winner puts forward his own argument for affording
people the right to choose whether they wear a helmet. And you might
just be surprised and find yourself agreeing with him…
you've asked for it, now Chris Boardman delivers – his view on the
great helmet debate.
Using your head?
The debate was set to run and run… Our bike tester, Chris Boardman,
has come in for some harsh criticism from readers over the years
whenever he's decided to ride without a lid. Now, the *-time Tour de
France prologue winner puts forward his own argument for affording
people the right to choose whether they wear a helmet. And you might
just be surprised and find yourself agreeing with him…
from
https://www.headwayessex.org.uk/givin...ity/chris.html
"I have supported Headway and its work for a number of years, ever since I first became aware of its existence. I have become more convinced of the need of Headway within the community, and particularly the importance of its work in preventing the number and severity of head injuries."
"My accident in the early stages of the 1998 Tour de France demonstrates the value of wearing a cycle helmet. Even with one on, I was unconscious for a short period. What might the consequences have been if I had not been wearing one? I shudder to think how this could have affected the rest of my life and those of my family. I will continue to wear a helmet when I am cycling. It was a real lesson for me."
"I send my very best wishes to all the volunteers, supporters and staff of Headway, whose joint efforts help all those affected by the trauma of head injury, and their work to prevent many others from sharing the same experience."
"My accident in the early stages of the 1998 Tour de France demonstrates the value of wearing a cycle helmet. Even with one on, I was unconscious for a short period. What might the consequences have been if I had not been wearing one? I shudder to think how this could have affected the rest of my life and those of my family. I will continue to wear a helmet when I am cycling. It was a real lesson for me."
"I send my very best wishes to all the volunteers, supporters and staff of Headway, whose joint efforts help all those affected by the trauma of head injury, and their work to prevent many others from sharing the same experience."
05-26-07, 11:27 AM
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Yeah, that would be nice. Considering the May issue of Procycling barely hit the newstands here in the US...
05-26-07, 06:36 PM
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last month, the may issue didn't show up until (if I remember right) 10 days into May.
Maybe, I have to wait a couple more weeks to see the article
Maybe, I have to wait a couple more weeks to see the article
05-26-07, 11:22 PM
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Originally Posted by closetbiker
last month, the may issue didn't show up until (if I remember right) 10 days into May.
Maybe, I have to wait a couple more weeks to see the article
Maybe, I have to wait a couple more weeks to see the article
05-26-07, 11:32 PM
#5
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i've had that issue for at least a week. no scanner though.
I read the article and basically he said it should be ones own choice to wear a helmet or not. He also argues the case that helmet laws often turn people off of cycling all together.
also says that in races or during moments of high risk during a regular ride (for instance, descending), you should ALWAYS wear a helmet.
beyond that he gives a lot of stats that were probably spun in ways to make his arguments seem more valid (I'm not saying they are or aren't)(he got the stats from other studies also, so take everything with a grain of salt).
right, he also says it may be SAFER without a helmet because one would be LESS CAREFUL while wearing one, whereas they will be more careful if unprotected by a helmet.
raw gist of it is: its his choice if he wears one or not, and it should be any individuals choice to wear one or not.
I read the article and basically he said it should be ones own choice to wear a helmet or not. He also argues the case that helmet laws often turn people off of cycling all together.
also says that in races or during moments of high risk during a regular ride (for instance, descending), you should ALWAYS wear a helmet.
beyond that he gives a lot of stats that were probably spun in ways to make his arguments seem more valid (I'm not saying they are or aren't)(he got the stats from other studies also, so take everything with a grain of salt).
right, he also says it may be SAFER without a helmet because one would be LESS CAREFUL while wearing one, whereas they will be more careful if unprotected by a helmet.
raw gist of it is: its his choice if he wears one or not, and it should be any individuals choice to wear one or not.
05-26-07, 11:40 PM
#6
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wasn't his team on a training ride in Spain and they were forced to walk back by the police because they weren't wearing helmets?
05-26-07, 11:46 PM
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I remember seeing photos of that guy riding a BMC he was testing out and thinking it was quite odd that he wasn't wearing a helmet. Personally don't agree with his reasoning, but I do think it is true that it is ultimately the rider's decision. Nonetheless I would think that the editors would want their reviewer wearing a helmet in any photo featured in the magazine.
Anyway, does Cyclintom still post here? If so, he's going to have a field day with this article.
Anyway, does Cyclintom still post here? If so, he's going to have a field day with this article.
05-27-07, 12:02 AM
#8
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Of course they want to have every rider in a photo with a helmet on. They have advertisers to please. 
05-27-07, 12:08 AM
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Originally Posted by goldfish
i've had that issue for at least a week. no scanner though.
I read the article and basically he said it should be ones own choice to wear a helmet or not. He also argues the case that helmet laws often turn people off of cycling all together.
also says that in races or during moments of high risk during a regular ride (for instance, descending), you should ALWAYS wear a helmet.
beyond that he gives a lot of stats that were probably spun in ways to make his arguments seem more valid (I'm not saying they are or aren't)(he got the stats from other studies also, so take everything with a grain of salt).
right, he also says it may be SAFER without a helmet because one would be LESS CAREFUL while wearing one, whereas they will be more careful if unprotected by a helmet.
raw gist of it is: its his choice if he wears one or not, and it should be any individuals choice to wear one or not.
I read the article and basically he said it should be ones own choice to wear a helmet or not. He also argues the case that helmet laws often turn people off of cycling all together.
also says that in races or during moments of high risk during a regular ride (for instance, descending), you should ALWAYS wear a helmet.
beyond that he gives a lot of stats that were probably spun in ways to make his arguments seem more valid (I'm not saying they are or aren't)(he got the stats from other studies also, so take everything with a grain of salt).
right, he also says it may be SAFER without a helmet because one would be LESS CAREFUL while wearing one, whereas they will be more careful if unprotected by a helmet.
raw gist of it is: its his choice if he wears one or not, and it should be any individuals choice to wear one or not.
05-27-07, 04:44 AM
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Originally Posted by botto
correct, and i for one have no problem with that.
05-27-07, 05:11 AM
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Has it been this long since there was a good helmet thread? Wow. It's fun to reminisce.
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05-27-07, 08:45 AM
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I'm thinking it's not (or maybe shouldn't be) a helmet debate thread but a thread about a prominent advocate seemingly changing his position.
from what I understood he was quite vocal in his support to people in wearing helmets (almost to the point of mandatory compulsion?), now he seems to be pro-choice.
I'd like to read the article and try to get a little more back-ground info to see if he was as ardent about people wearing helmets as the impression I had of him. If he wasn't, maybe the compulsion people just framed it that way. If he was, there must have been a changing of his mind, and I'd be curious as to what changed it.
from what I understood he was quite vocal in his support to people in wearing helmets (almost to the point of mandatory compulsion?), now he seems to be pro-choice.
I'd like to read the article and try to get a little more back-ground info to see if he was as ardent about people wearing helmets as the impression I had of him. If he wasn't, maybe the compulsion people just framed it that way. If he was, there must have been a changing of his mind, and I'd be curious as to what changed it.
05-27-07, 10:09 AM
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Again, perhaps he read one too many Cyclintom posts
05-27-07, 01:06 PM
#15
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Originally Posted by closetbiker
wasn't his team on a training ride in Spain and they were forced to walk back by the police because they weren't wearing helmets?
It's the law in Spain to wear helmets (and if I remember right) and Chris and his teamates had to walk back from a training ride on the orders from police.
05-27-07, 06:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Trouduc
Yeah, that would be nice. Considering the May issue of Procycling barely hit the newstands here in the US...
05-27-07, 06:28 PM
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Originally Posted by goldfish
raw gist of it is: its his choice if he wears one or not, and it should be any individuals choice to wear one or not.
Whether it's cigarettes in bars, helmet laws on bikes and motorcycles or trans fats in foods, the State has it's hooks in us.
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05-27-07, 06:30 PM
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Originally Posted by flatlander_48
Barnes & Noble or Borders; they always have it...
05-27-07, 06:49 PM
#19
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Originally Posted by SpongeDad
That would be fine if the State didn't have to pick up the cost of becoming an invalid. I would prefer it if it didn't, but it does and once that happened, the State is going to regulate it.
Whether it's cigarettes in bars, helmet laws on bikes and motorcycles or trans fats in foods, the State has it's hooks in us.
Whether it's cigarettes in bars, helmet laws on bikes and motorcycles or trans fats in foods, the State has it's hooks in us.
05-28-07, 12:29 PM
#20
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Originally Posted by goldfish
i've had that issue for at least a week. no scanner though.
I read the article and basically he said it should be ones own choice to wear a helmet or not. He also argues the case that helmet laws often turn people off of cycling all together.
also says that in races or during moments of high risk during a regular ride (for instance, descending), you should ALWAYS wear a helmet.
beyond that he gives a lot of stats that were probably spun in ways to make his arguments seem more valid (I'm not saying they are or aren't)(he got the stats from other studies also, so take everything with a grain of salt).
right, he also says it may be SAFER without a helmet because one would be LESS CAREFUL while wearing one, whereas they will be more careful if unprotected by a helmet.
raw gist of it is: its his choice if he wears one or not, and it should be any individuals choice to wear one or not.
I read the article and basically he said it should be ones own choice to wear a helmet or not. He also argues the case that helmet laws often turn people off of cycling all together.
also says that in races or during moments of high risk during a regular ride (for instance, descending), you should ALWAYS wear a helmet.
beyond that he gives a lot of stats that were probably spun in ways to make his arguments seem more valid (I'm not saying they are or aren't)(he got the stats from other studies also, so take everything with a grain of salt).
right, he also says it may be SAFER without a helmet because one would be LESS CAREFUL while wearing one, whereas they will be more careful if unprotected by a helmet.
raw gist of it is: its his choice if he wears one or not, and it should be any individuals choice to wear one or not.
05-28-07, 02:11 PM
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Originally Posted by closetbiker
is it possible to get that issue in a scanner? It would be good to read some of the specifics
05-28-07, 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by cslone
Same here. It's not my body. If a rider doesn't want to wear a helmet, they shouldn't have to. We are all adults and know the potential risk. Same goes for motorcycle helmets and seatbelts IMO.
Boardman used wrong info in that article, and quotes "no difference in death stats" for countries that have helmet laws, which is true, but then says "no difference in injuries" using the same numbers, which is definitely not true. Many riders who fall and don't have a head injury because of their helmets never get recorded in stats. I have had two taxi-induced head knocks, but the helmet prevented any reason to go a hospital. I'm sure many BF members have similar stories.
All one needs to do is fall from a height of 6ft to the ground to die of a head injury, so arguing that speed matters in head injuries makes no sense.
Paulo Savoldelli was a big anti-helmet advocate, but had to retire from the TDF last year when he ripped his head open crashing while riding helmet less after a stage back to the hotel.
Some riders are great to watch racing, but aren't very bright. Boardman was famous for crossing finish lines in gestures of victory not even realizing he got beat. His bike reviews are quite mundane.
05-28-07, 02:44 PM
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Originally Posted by DocRay
The problem with this attitude is that we all end up paying for someone else's decision. A person disabled from a head injury will cost hundreds of thousands to millions to treat over the rest of their lives, and this burden usually ends up in the hands of taxpayers.
Boardman used wrong info in that article, and quotes "no difference in death stats" for countries that have helmet laws, which is true, but then says "no difference in injuries" using the same numbers, which is definitely not true. Many riders who fall and don't have a head injury because of their helmets never get recorded in stats. I have had two taxi-induced head knocks, but the helmet prevented any reason to go a hospital. I'm sure many BF members have similar stories.
All one needs to do is fall from a height of 6ft to the ground to die of a head injury, so arguing that speed matters in head injuries makes no sense.
Paulo Savoldelli was a big anti-helmet advocate, but had to retire from the TDF last year when he ripped his head open crashing while riding helmet less after a stage back to the hotel.
Some riders are great to watch racing, but aren't very bright. Boardman was famous for crossing finish lines in gestures of victory not even realizing he got beat. His bike reviews are quite mundane.
Boardman used wrong info in that article, and quotes "no difference in death stats" for countries that have helmet laws, which is true, but then says "no difference in injuries" using the same numbers, which is definitely not true. Many riders who fall and don't have a head injury because of their helmets never get recorded in stats. I have had two taxi-induced head knocks, but the helmet prevented any reason to go a hospital. I'm sure many BF members have similar stories.
All one needs to do is fall from a height of 6ft to the ground to die of a head injury, so arguing that speed matters in head injuries makes no sense.
Paulo Savoldelli was a big anti-helmet advocate, but had to retire from the TDF last year when he ripped his head open crashing while riding helmet less after a stage back to the hotel.
Some riders are great to watch racing, but aren't very bright. Boardman was famous for crossing finish lines in gestures of victory not even realizing he got beat. His bike reviews are quite mundane.
sure you're not thinking of boonen?
05-28-07, 02:53 PM
#24
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Originally Posted by DocRay
The problem with this attitude is that we all end up paying for someone else's decision...
Originally Posted by DocRay
Boardman used wrong info in that article, and quotes "no difference in death stats" for countries that have helmet laws, which is true, but then says "no difference in injuries" using the same numbers, which is definitely not true...
05-28-07, 03:00 PM
#25
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Originally Posted by DocRay
The problem with this attitude is that we all end up paying for someone else's decision. A person disabled from a head injury will cost hundreds of thousands to millions to treat over the rest of their lives, and this burden usually ends up in the hands of taxpayers.
Boardman used wrong info in that article, and quotes "no difference in death stats" for countries that have helmet laws, which is true, but then says "no difference in injuries" using the same numbers, which is definitely not true. Many riders who fall and don't have a head injury because of their helmets never get recorded in stats. I have had two taxi-induced head knocks, but the helmet prevented any reason to go a hospital. I'm sure many BF members have similar stories.
All one needs to do is fall from a height of 6ft to the ground to die of a head injury, so arguing that speed matters in head injuries makes no sense.
Paulo Savoldelli was a big anti-helmet advocate, but had to retire from the TDF last year when he ripped his head open crashing while riding helmet less after a stage back to the hotel.
Some riders are great to watch racing, but aren't very bright. Boardman was famous for crossing finish lines in gestures of victory not even realizing he got beat. His bike reviews are quite mundane.
Boardman used wrong info in that article, and quotes "no difference in death stats" for countries that have helmet laws, which is true, but then says "no difference in injuries" using the same numbers, which is definitely not true. Many riders who fall and don't have a head injury because of their helmets never get recorded in stats. I have had two taxi-induced head knocks, but the helmet prevented any reason to go a hospital. I'm sure many BF members have similar stories.
All one needs to do is fall from a height of 6ft to the ground to die of a head injury, so arguing that speed matters in head injuries makes no sense.
Paulo Savoldelli was a big anti-helmet advocate, but had to retire from the TDF last year when he ripped his head open crashing while riding helmet less after a stage back to the hotel.
Some riders are great to watch racing, but aren't very bright. Boardman was famous for crossing finish lines in gestures of victory not even realizing he got beat. His bike reviews are quite mundane.
