What happened to make you finally wear a helmet?
01-10-13, 09:24 AM
#101
pan y agua
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That's a rational way to look at it. By acknowledging that when you have a serious accident, then you'll wear a helmet, you're implicity accepting that the helmet may be of some benefit, yet you're not using it now.
The risk that you'll have a serious accident leading to a permanent brain injury is the same, before and after your first accident.
So essentially you're saying it's going to take getting hit upside the head before you'll wear a helmet.
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
01-10-13, 09:28 AM
#102
Still can't climb
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Genius
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coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
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coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
01-10-13, 09:29 AM
#103
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Realizing that this is the post that will start the path to A&S,
That's a rational way to look at it. By acknowledging that when you have a serious accident, then you'll wear a helmet, you're implicity accepting that the helmet may be of some benefit, yet you're not using it now.
The risk that you'll have a serious accident leading to a permanent brain injury is the same, before and after your first accident.
So essentially you're saying it's going to take getting hit upside the head before you'll wear a helmet.
That's a rational way to look at it. By acknowledging that when you have a serious accident, then you'll wear a helmet, you're implicity accepting that the helmet may be of some benefit, yet you're not using it now.
The risk that you'll have a serious accident leading to a permanent brain injury is the same, before and after your first accident.
So essentially you're saying it's going to take getting hit upside the head before you'll wear a helmet.
Hello, A&S.
01-10-13, 09:57 AM
#104
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Well, I considered buying a helmet (and wearing it for longer rides (>15miles) but I spent my discretionary income on upgrading my bike.
01-10-13, 10:25 AM
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My wife bought me one for Christmas. I had that "DUH" moment when I realized I should wear it for her, not just me.
01-10-13, 10:28 AM
#106
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I was 4 miles from the house when my accident occurred. Distance means nothing to gravity and head trauma. Please re-think your needs or we will all be paying for your medical care when your accident happens.
01-10-13, 10:48 AM
#107
pan y agua
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You can get a perfectly serviceable helmet at Wall Mart for $16. Splurge and spend $40 and you'll get something lighter, and cooler. Lack of funds is not a reason to not wear a helmet.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
01-10-13, 11:15 AM
#108
Senior Member
My Schwinn Thrasher came from wal-mart, for the said $16. It replaced my SERIOUSLY OUTDATED helmet from 1992, when I originally bought my bicycle. When I started riding again recently. I used that helmet because it was all I had at the time, and I'd spent my money buying new tires, which cost twice as much as I thought, to replace my equally old Specialized Nimbus tires with flat spots from sitting idle for years.
01-10-13, 11:21 AM
#109
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I crashed, and when I say I crashed, I crashed monumentally!!! I was riding on a local bike path just to stretch my legs. The day before I rode from Philly to the Buena Vista campground in Jersey. It was a Fund raiser for ACS. I rode the Century. Slept good that night! Next day My legs were buzzing so I suited up and hit the Norristown bike path. No helmet! Never wore one if I didn't have to! Only in events that it was required. I was doing around 28 mph just cleared the Norristown Transportation Center, Heading to the 202 Bridge, there is a nice downhill then a flat area that leads to an abrupt uphill that leads to the bridge. I increased my pedal because I like that feeling of G force when you first hit that uphill section, I didn't mention that it is also a uphill curve. I must have been doing 30 MPH when it happened! Just went into the turn, bike leaning, G force feeling , tire squeeling, Black walnut balls on the ground! Can you picture it? Front wheel hit the walnut, heard a loud pop! Front wheel stopped turning all at once, I went down as if I was body slammed! It was just Pow and Boom! No chance of getting the arms in front of me! My chest and shoulder hit first, did not slide, so it felt like my nipple was beeing ripped off! Then my shoulder caught on the road and I flipped and rolled to a stop! I felt like I was sliding forever before the flip and roll! I sat up and looked for my bike! Got up and made my way to it, did a quick look over it, straightened out the front wheel, half of the latex tube was out of the tire and wrapped around the fork, it was split in half, the tire was flipped inside out and wedged between the brake and rim. Its amazing what adrenaline will do, I didn't even look myself over ! The bike was totally inspected and doled over. Then I went to take a step to get myself and bike off of the path , and fell over in pain, arm stopped working, my knee was showing white stuff, no skin to be seen, Chest (nipple) was screaming! I laid there for a minute, then summoned up my strenght and got us off of the path. Called the wife, laid right there until she came and got me. when I got home I looked over the bike again, took some asprin and called off from work. That night I decided from now on "I WILL WEAR A HELMET)!!!!
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01-10-13, 11:29 AM
#110
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Finally broke down and got a helmet because USCF races and USTS triathlons required them.
Since then, I've snapped, crushed or otherwise dented 4 helmets and woken up in the hospital once with double-vision that last for 11 nervous day, so thanks to the USCF & USTS!
Since then, I've snapped, crushed or otherwise dented 4 helmets and woken up in the hospital once with double-vision that last for 11 nervous day, so thanks to the USCF & USTS!
01-10-13, 12:36 PM
#111
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Finally broke down and got a helmet because USCF races and USTS triathlons required them.
Since then, I've snapped, crushed or otherwise dented 4 helmets and woken up in the hospital once with double-vision that last for 11 nervous day, so thanks to the USCF & USTS!
Since then, I've snapped, crushed or otherwise dented 4 helmets and woken up in the hospital once with double-vision that last for 11 nervous day, so thanks to the USCF & USTS!
You make helmets look cool.
.... Back to the thread.
I was an on/off helmet user, until one day while in a hurry I threw my backpack on, poured my coffee into my spillproof coffee mug, and grabbed the Miyata and jetted off. I rounded the first two corners and promptly got out of the saddle and that is when it happened. While leaning over my drops in a full sprint the chain stopped spinning but my legs were still pushing and the rear wheel began to lift.
The next thing I remember is being upside down, the bike tires landing sideways in a thump-thump and peering into the next lane watching my spillproof coffee mug (still in the cage) bounces like a football.
Happened so fast, I had no chance to protect my head. A few conversations with my wife which skirt the edges of HIPAA, that put the final nails in the "helmet/no helmet" coffin.
Oh, and I just got hit by a truck yesterday and my helmet made impact into the side of the truck bed. I am alive. Gotta be a plus!
01-10-13, 12:52 PM
#112
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I wore a helmet periodically when almost 3 months ago, 3 miles from my house, a car hit me from behind at full speed cracking 4 ribs, fracturing one vertebrae and shattering another vertebrae. If it wasnt for my helmet, I would be dead plain and simple. My head hit the roof of the car first (major dent in the back of the helmet) then I flew forward and hit the road (cracked the helmet on the side and another major dent in the front). Im not back on the bike yet, but when I do, I wont be caught without a helmet and it will be the same model Giro that saved my life.
01-10-13, 12:54 PM
#113
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I wore a helmet periodically when almost 3 months ago, 3 miles from my house, a car hit me from behind at full speed cracking 4 ribs, fracturing one vertebrae and shattering another vertebrae. If it wasnt for my helmet, I would be dead plain and simple. My head hit the roof of the car first (major dent in the back of the helmet) then I flew forward and hit the road (cracked the helmet on the side and another major dent in the front). Im not back on the bike yet, but when I do, I wont be caught without a helmet and it will be the same model Giro that saved my life.
01-10-13, 02:53 PM
#116
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<<< That brain bucket in my profile picture is a $30 Bell Solar. Just a bit more than the cost of new bar tape. It's the second one I've owned. The first one did what it was designed to do, crack instead of my noggin. I like it better than my $100 Spesh Propero.
01-10-13, 04:13 PM
#117
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01-10-13, 05:23 PM
#118
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When my daughters started riding, I insisted that they wore helmets, and it seemed hypocritical not to wear one myself. It's probably saved my life 3-4 times in the 20 years since.
01-10-13, 05:27 PM
#119
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01-11-13, 05:31 AM
#120
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As an adult in riding in NJ I always wore a helmet riding. The very best story I have to share that made my choice clearly to correct one was when a buddy of mine & I were riding mt bikes and he wacked his head on a low branch in the trail.....wack...helmet spit into half almost knocked it out. He was ok.
01-11-13, 09:43 AM
#121
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01-11-13, 12:57 PM
#122
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Back in the early 90's Oregon passed a law that said anyone under 16 had to wear a helmet. My parents got me a helmet. Good thing too because I crashed pretty awesomely on the BMX track a few times and cracked my helmet (instead of my head).
Always worn one since and it probably saved my noggin' the last time I got hit by an SUV and went down.
Always worn one since and it probably saved my noggin' the last time I got hit by an SUV and went down.
01-11-13, 02:17 PM
#123
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I haven't looked at most of the replies to this thread yet so I apologize if it's been said a few times already.
I got on a bike. I have had more skin cancer than I can shake a stick at som covering my head is very important to me, and while I'm covering my bean I might as well add something that may help protect me in a fall or collision.
I got on a bike. I have had more skin cancer than I can shake a stick at som covering my head is very important to me, and while I'm covering my bean I might as well add something that may help protect me in a fall or collision.
01-11-13, 03:40 PM
#124
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It's like cardiovascular health, most Americans don't care about what their diet until they suffer a stroke or become diagnosed with diabetes (or someone who actually matters to them does). You don't know what you had until you lose it.
Last edited by buffalowings; 01-11-13 at 03:44 PM.
01-11-13, 05:51 PM
#125
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I have had it from the minute i started riding. My kids wear them even on their little push scooters. I was riding with a buddy who had much more experience on his bike than me and he went down in front of me. After missing him and then getting back to be sure he was ok we both noticed his helmet. cracked in the back. without that im not sure he would be with us today. Look you can replace bikes and all the components but the last time i checked you cant replace your life.