ebow3d

Just a question that's been on my mind lately: " Has anyone here ever had an experience where the helmet actually prevented, or at least minimised injury?"

Personally, I don't like having to wear too much gear, just to go for a joy ride on my bike. Furthermore, looking at those fancy, yet flimsy designed helmets available, I don't quite see how effective it could be in a crash.

botto 

sogood

Absolutely! Only just 4 weeks ago, a fellow club rider crashed right beside me from around 40-50kph. Dented his helmet, face planted, cut and haematom just above left orbit, unconscious, convulsion, clouded consciousness, ambulance, hospital, recovery and discharge after 2-3 days. If he didn't have his helmet, he would be looking at skull fracture and beyond.

Have no doubt about it!

ebow3d

Thanks. That's the kind of facts I'd like to know about. One of the reason's I doubt their effectiveness is simply becuase they are so flimsy compared to motrobike helmets - which I happily wear.

I don't quite feel like wearing a helmet on a bicycle, but if it really helps, then maybe.

Btw, Botto, I'm not actually trolling - just trying to get some feedback.

ElJamoquio

Maybe we're all a little more intelligent and mature than we've been in the past, Botto.













































HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHa...<gasping for breath>

gear

I went over the handlebars three years ago and landed flat on my back slamming my head on the pavement. For a split second all I saw was blackness and a shower of white sparks. My helmet was munched up in the back but I got up and rode away, doubt I'd have been able to do that without the helmet.

babydee

My helmet probably saved me from a concussion last crash.

Also, I know someone at my work who got a concussion wearing a helmet - it was destroyed on impact. He swears he would have been seriously injured without wearing one, and just going on the helmet damage I believe him.

Namenda

Since even a minor hit to the head has the potential for long term disabling effects, I see no reason not to wear a helmet when riding. The brain is a fickle thing, and we only get one each.

mleess

My libertarian streak says there should be no law requiring helmets (or seatbelts). But as a safety matter, I wouldn't ride without one. I just don't see the point of risking it. And for what? The joy of feeling the wind in your hair? Stand in front of a big fan if you want that feeling.

Of all the road riders I see around me, there is only one guy who never wears a helmet. He's an older guy too so I guess it's worked for him.

babydee

...a fact that many families of brain damaged patients at my hospital can attest to...

Namenda

I take care of TBI patients also, though in a rehab setting. I know what you mean.

nobrainer440

I crashed about 6 years ago, went over the bars, landed on my head, crushed my helmet. I couldn't see straight for the rest of the day, but the next morning I was fine. I can't imagine how bad it would have been without it. Since that day, I've always worn one.

sogood

Natural selection smiled on him!

labrat_62

It will definetly save your skull from damage. My jury is still out on weather or not it protects the brain (i wear one by the way). The way i see it, with and without a helmet your head is still accelerated when it hits the ground, causing the brain to be bent, twisted, stretched, etc inside teh brain case. This then leads to concussion, the "bright light", loss of conciosness which people describe. That said, does wearing one lessen the extent of head injury, absolutely. however, I think that brain injury is still a risk with or without one.

uciflylow

I think the OP may misunderstand the different purpose of a "Motor Bike" helmet vs. one designed for cycling. The bike helmet is desinged to crush on impact, working to decelerate the head, at cyclist speeds. Many of the cycling helments have internal reinforcements in the foam matrix.
A motor bike helment is designed to not only help with the deceleration, but is mostly made to resist puncture of the helmet. A fella I work with "a motor bike rider" says that a bike helmet has proven to be more effective in low speed crashes, than motor bike helmets.

Most of the bike shops around here have a display of helmets that have been involved in crashes. Get a good one and you won't even know it's up there, unless you hit the tarmac!

mleess

Where's Dr. Pete??? Good point about concussions. Football players still get them even with helmets.

ridethecliche

Actually, the momentum of the impact gets absorbed and distributed by the helmet. The energy is dissipated because the the helmet cracks and shatters while still being held together because of the way it's built, thus your skull takes less of a hit. The energy is also distributed around the rest of your skull because the helmet is all around it.

Your brain is also more damaged when your skull breaks and pierces it and puts a lot of pressure on it, instead of it just moving around, which there is some room for. In an impact, the movement does hurt you but it isn't near as bad when you're wearing a helmet.

If you want to ride without a helmet, go for it, just don't do it near me because I don't want to deal with your being cocky enough to go that far. I'm just going to wear my helmet while road riding.

For the record, I don't wear my helmet while riding around campus, but I also ride at 10 mph with platform pedals...

labrat_62

^ correct, on the skull fracture, but i would argue that the increase in impact time with a helmet is not that significant. so you would get a slight improvement on brain injury, but not something to warrent a "isn't near as bad". also take hockey players as an example. blunt trauma to the head due to sticks, pucks, etc is somewhat diffused by the helmet, but when they get checked, and their head slams into the ice, more often then not they still end up concussed.

Jared88

Yes they are useful , and no they are not flimsy. Wearing one is always better than not wearing one.

bdcheung

I bent my wookie!

Sir Real

Does a $200 helmet offer you more protection than a $60 helmet, or is the difference a bling factor?

ElJamoquio

Probably the other way around, in general.

derath

My brother in law went over the handlebars once. Broke his collarbone. When he took off his helmet there was a nice rock embedded in it.

As far as I'm concerned if my helmet does nothing more than save my scalp from some scrapes or stitsches its worth it.

-D

ridethecliche

You have to remember that the helmets are made differently. Hockey helmets aren't made to break upon impact. I agree that the time isn't that long, but it's long enough for a different.

If hockey helmets broke upon impact, the sticks would go right through.

rbart4506

Same thing happened to my wife...

She still doesn't remember the accident. Her helmet was cracked in 3 place at her temple. I shudder to think what would have happened if she didn't have on. She's a major helmet advocate and won't let me on a bike without one, even test rides around the parking lot after a tune-up...