rumrunn6

only time in the last 20 years I agreed w Wifey for us both to not wear helmets, she crashed twice & fell the 2nd time breaking her wrist. 1st thing the ER doc asked her when inspecting the wrist: "were you wearing a helmet"

she broke her wrist but she was lucky (that she didn't hit her head)

we'll never do that again

oh, and I just watched the surveillance video of actor George Clooney hinting a Mercedes head on, where his helmeted head broke the car's windshield ... that guy is lucky to be alive, walking & talking

RubeRad

Yeah, I've never tried the take-a-look on glasses. I don't wear eyeglasses, and I only (half the time) remember to wear sunglasses for long trail rides. Besides, my mirror was always falling off the helmet visor, so I strapped it on with tape, so it's pretty permanent.

RubeRad

I know, right?

RubeRad

All right, I'm glad I've got that to look forward to!

Yes, that's a good description.

alan s 

RubeRad

Wow, is your wife not an experienced cyclist, or was it just a freak coincidence?

Clooney was on a motorcycle, for whatever difference that makes. I don't think I'll ever ride a motorcycle. I considered it for a while as an alternative to sitting in SoCal traffic every day, but I didn't have the energy to first take a comprehensive motorcycling safety course so I could do it right (similar to why I've never gotten a gun). So instead I got into cycling, and bought a house close enough to work to ride every day!

79pmooney

They've got their priorities straight. Their stem is more worthy of protection than what is between their ears.

Ben

RubeRad

Not really related, but once I was in a MTB race (more like a large event with numbers and timing), and I passed this guy up a hill (doesn't happen often!) who was wearing a backpack with a floor pump strapped to it! I told him as I (slowly) passed him, I hope he gets a flat, so carrying that thing is worth it!

GailT

I'll share my stupidity. I'm pretty sure a helmet saved my life in a motorcycle wipeout 30 years ago, so I always wear a helmet when biking, except for one time - was going to walk a mile to the gym to workout, but it was about to rain, so I hopped on my mountain bike to save 5 minutes and get there ahead of the rain. Just one mile so I didn't really need the helmet. A few drops started to fall, but the road was still dry, except this was the first rain in 6 months and those few drops combined with 6 months of accumulated oil slick on the road surface. Making a right onto the main street there was a nice open gap in traffic so I sped through the corner to take advantage of it. Next thing I remember there were several people standing around me, helping me up and asking if I was ok. I must have been unconscious for several minutes. Probably 99.9% of the time you can leave the helmet behind and be fine, but it's not possible to predict which ride you really need the helmet.

RubeRad

Well it is possible though to be aware that you're not wearing a helmet, and not do things like "speed through the corner"

I am 100% helmet on mtb trail rides though. My fall rate there is high enough that anything else would be stupid. When mountain biking, I don't just wear a helmet, I very often USE a helmet. Just a few weeks ago I slid out sideways and in the fall whacked my helmet pretty good. Gave it a dent, and it was like 4 years old and getting really gross anyways, so I bought a new helmet and tossed it. My new helmet (that I didn't wear on Monday) still feels fresh and clean every time I put it on.

Eds0123

Some riders (including I) take the helmet off when coming up on a long hard climb on a hot day, I'll put it back on on the downhill side, Tour de France rules allow no helmet at such occasions , no need for a helmet wehen working hard, getting hot and going slow,

GailT

To clarify, I slowed at the corner, and then started to accelerate when I saw the open gap in traffic. Was not going very fast, but trying to accelerate on an apparently dry but actually very slick surface, I went down very fast and hard, the point being that there can be unknown or unpredictable situations that get you in trouble.

alan s 

noglider 

I have no problem with people who don't wear helmets. It's up to them. I see some people carrying helmets on the bike path, and that makes sense to me, because the risks are lower without motor vehicles. I tell myself I could do that, but I can't bring myself to do it. On the other hand, I often take Citi Bike without a helmet, and I even ride in traffic. Sometimes it's deliberate, such as the times when I know I won't be riding back in the other direction and don't want to carry a helmet. And sometimes it's because I get on Citi Bike unexpectedly. But I generally wear a helmet whenever I ride. I don't take my helmet off on my regular commute because, well, you never know what might happen. I was in a very bad collision long ago, and my helmet saved my life, so I continue to bet that I'll have another, even though it's not likely. It definitely is nice to go helmetless on hot days, I will agree.

RubeRad

Bottom line, wearing a helmet is less pleasant than not wearing a helmet (otherwise everybody would wear them all the time and everywhere).

Even alan s's avatar understands that

RubeRad

And I can't believe it took this long for somebody to mention that basically nobody in Amsterdam wears a helmet. Sure it's a completely different context, but that's the point. Different situations have different degrees of usefulness for helmets.

alan s 

alan s 

RubeRad

Touche! Although 2 helmetless people on one stationary bike vs a helmetless cartoon on a speeding bike, I'd call it a toss-up

RubeRad

A couple of them mention specifically that Holland is an exception, and that Germans wear helmets.

DiabloScott

I agree. Although I don't like riding with them.

I've had two semi-recent emergency room visits because of bike crashes (no head injury though). Both times the doctors asked "Did your helmet take an impact?" I wondered if there was a reason they didn't ask "Were you wearing a helmet?". In one case my helmet did take a pretty big hit (it cracked) and they did a good head inspection. I didn't get the feeling that they were out to shame or give inferior care to me if I had said I didn't have a helmet on. ER doctors see the results of people doing lots stupider things than riding without a helmet... they need to be non-judgmental to do their job well.

RubeRad

?!?! Do you attach it to your bike, or just hold it in your hand?

Eds0123

Yes, there are lots of texting and drunk drivers on tour de France stages and on all bike trails.

alan s 

RubeRad

This is also very interesting, but 5 years old:


I love it how at about 1:05 he's saying "it looks like these people are in a race", talking about people in jeans and button-down shirts riding what I think of as very casual (the way I ride)