Helmet
 

I was curious to see the breakdown of riders who wear helmets on this forum.

i votes always. but when ever i'm go accross the street to practice tricks i don't wear a helmet..
but always gloves

always on the mtb but rarely on the street

I would have voted for rarely-sometimes. I do wear a helmet to/from work, but that's only because 2 weeks ago I got t-boned HARD by a ford explorer without a helmet, and thrown onto the street. I wasn't seriously injured, but I was lucky I guess.

But on most other rides, no. Like on the boston ride last night, no helmet.

I always wear a helmet, but if you don't want to that should be your business.

Pretty much always, but if I'm just running a few blocks up the street, I'll go softy.

I don't have one...so, never. Never seriously crashed or been in an accident either. I'm probably due, eh?

I haven't found one that fits yet that was less than $100, Once I start averaging above 13 mph I'll look seriously into them.

I have crashed a few times, had plenty of close calls. Road, mountain, to the store, down the street, screwing around on my bike, I always wear a helmet.

i just started getting serious about wearing mine, although i occasionally will go down to the store without one, but i'm trying to get to where it's just automatic to put it on.

Same here, I used to leave it for fun rides, but last time I got hit I hit my head (with helmet) pretty hard on the road and there was an extremely loup pop and a second or two where my brain kind-of "reset". That pretty much convinced me that I should wear it from now on...

Do I need to display my brain poster?

Always except tonight because the heat...should have worn it anyway.

That's why you started wearing a helmet, no?

i never do, but i've been thinking about it a lot the last couple of days.

Oh yes, you betcha.

Naz, post it.

I WILL NOT ride without a helmet. Period.

As requested:

http://dcc.absenter.org/foto/misc/na...poster-web.jpg

Every since Keith died a few weeks ago. I will not get on my bike unless I have my helmet on. Before that. I didnt wear one.

Always for me, but then I am old enough to be the father of many of you, so coolness does not count anymore.

I upgrade the family car from a VW to a Volvo a few months after meeting my wife based on the way she drives.

Wear a helmet.

Wow, seriously, like a month ago I was on a night ride, helmetless, and my tire hit something, next thing I know, I wake up on the side of the road. My face and head looked exactly like yours absntr. I had a fractured skull, road rash all down my right side, hemorrhaging, and a severe concussion. I concluded since I was strapped in, and because the bike had just a minor scratch on the seat, that I went over the bars and the bike followed and came down on my head. I was bed ridden for a week, and had to do physical therapy afterwards.
It sucked, of coarse, and I got a helmet afterwards. I tried wearing it once, and I just can't stand it. As horrible as the crash was, I just loath wearing it, and I feel guilty every time I ride. I hate the feel of it on my head, and I hate the weight of it. I really advocate wearing one to everyone, and as hypocritical as it gets, I refuse to wear it.
Yeah, I'm a little more nervous now when I ride, and a little more precautious. I think this is a good thing. If I fall again and get hurt again, it's totally my fault, and I'm prepared to face the consequences again. I don't know what my problem is, one of these days I'll grow up and wear it (probably the same day I put a freewheel and brakes on). Oh well. Wear a helmet, I agree. I wish I had an awesome picture like absntr.

The brain poster is gnarrly enough. I wear my helmut 95% of the time, because i was in a serious crash, also busted my face a bit and the teeth too. Its a good idea to wear one and ive just gotten used to the cons of it cause its worth it.

I always look down at those metal grates and picture people doing just what (above) he did. I am slow and paranoid crossing them.

As for helmets I wear one all the time. I learned it from seeing my dad survive 3 motorcycle accidents because of helmets. He always wore a Bell helmet. So I do too. Plus new school helmets are designed to be better ventilated and look cooler so people have no excuse when it come to those two common ones.

If you've got nothing to protect, that is cool too. Your call.

i do 2 rides:
-2km to school/coffee shop/bank/post office/walgreens... no helmet
-15km-60km leisure/recreational rides.... helmet

mountain bike: 100% helmet

I find the rationale interesting that people say for shorter trips they don't wear a helmet but for longer ones they do???

Just seems to me that I can get doored etc. while riding a mile as easily as I can riding 10+ miles. Or for that matter I could get distracted by a good looking girl, ride right into a storm grate flip over my handlebars and crack my head on the curb during a block long commute. Game over.

Not trying to pick a fight with anyone. . .just find it odd is all. Or a few have said not on the road but when moutain biking. I'd rather fall off on dirt or in a bush than on cement/asphalt. ;)

To true I ended up on the back window of a saab hatchback one day when a woman crosing the street had a skirt that blew up. I of course looked then smack I was ok (helmet) This happend in front of my house.
The worst part was my gf saw it happen (she was riding right behind me), so I was on the couch that night.I guess she had a headache

My 15 minute ride on my old BMX cruiser, to and from school, or to the store, doesn't get a helmet.

Riding my mt. bike, where ever I ride it, I wear a helmet.

When my fixie is done, I'm not sure if I'll wear a helmet or not. I would imagine sometimes I will, and other times I won't.

I want to buy a lighter helmet though. The one I have is too heavy. Maybe if I get a new one, I'll wear it all the time.

35+ mph rds...helmet!
in town, or on campus...not always
but you all want to talk about brain damage, i'm the neuroscientist. brains can bounce around, and it's not all that good for brains.
i have a helmet, and if i left it at home and got a brain injury because i wasn't wearing it, i'd feel like a complete dumbas$

I love these helmet debates. On some other forums, people are zealously trying to push their views on others, from both sides. Here it's pretty tame. At least I don't feel the need to tell people "keep thy religion to thyself!". Me, if I feel like it, I wear it, if not, then no. For the most part, it's no.

i was going to footnote that... yes, the chances are of getting hit by a car is even (actually, those short trip involve smaller, less traffic'ed streets)... but its a matter of time vs inconvenience ... i dont want to have to wear a helmet if the 'at risk exposure time' is less... i am damn vain and i like my hair! :o


however, i will fully stand by the mountain biking vs road bike thing. if mountain biking was simply riding on Dirt, i wouldnt need a separate MTB ;) i ride on the technical stuff, with drops and texas KT-limestone, babyhead sized with jaggies pointing upwards... sure is more difficult to navigate than evenly-paved asphalt. riding road, noone EXPECTS to fall. if i dont fall a quota of 3 times on the trail, i'd say i havent ridden long or hard enough.

lastly, ive taken a few spills on both road and mtb, but my head never made contact (knock on wood)... the times that ive made head-impact were from getting smacked by low-standing and hidden tree branches. trees really do move and they jump out at you--i swear!!!