Roughstuff

HAven't studies shown that many helmets are more aerodynamic than a plain noggin', and also cooler because they keep the sun directly off my bald head...or mop of hair if ya got one?

I leave helmet decisions to each user, and respect them both....but I always felt a helmet can prevent a silly accident from turning into a serious one.

I-Like-To-Bike

Probably no credible studies have indicated any such advantage to bicyclists, but I'm sure a BF Googling trivia maven will seeek some sort of cryptic reference to a so-called "study" that might hint at such a result.

zen_

I always wear mine, but what others do is their business.

bobwysiwyg

+1, This,

subgrade

I have never worn a helmet. Have never had a crash in which it would had mattered... until recently.
Well, I guess, a helmet wouldn't have helped me to go completely unscathed this time (other than a full-face helmet), but probably the consequences would have been less severe. I went over the bars at around 18 mph and landed face first on concrete, resulting in several facial fractures (LeFort type II fracture, involving nasal bone, maxilla, cheekbones) and a light concussion. A helmet most probably wouldn't have prevented all the injuries, as it doesn't cover the face, but it protrudes on forehead and so would have altered the geometry of impact, possibly minimizing the injury.

I guess I'll be shopping for a helmet now.

KraneXL

As long as its an adult of sound mind, I'd get in line to help defend their right to make that choice as long as I'm not paying for it.

mr_bill

wipekitty

Yep, that's about the only time I don't wear a helmet. That, and going distances of maybe .2 miles between buildings at the university where I work when I'm too lazy to walk.

Back over 10 years ago, I wore a helmet only about 1 of 20 times I went out on my bike. One day, when I had decided to actually wear my helmet, I got left hooked by a minivan. That was enough for me.

Rollfast

No, but I always wear clothes. Trust me, it's appreciated.

bogydave

Maelochs

or it might have twisted your head back that all-important inch and snapped your neck.or it might have lifted your forehead, thereby levering your face harder into the pavement. Or it might have increased the impact on your nose and jaws.

No way to know.

Wear a helmet if you like.

Cuyuna

I wear a helmet while mountain biking and often wear one while road biking, but not always.

jon c. 

I would certainly think they're more aero. But I think you'd have to tailor the conditions of the study to demonstrate that they keep you cooler. Under most conditions, there's no way that could be true based on personal experience.

Wilmingtech

I did some work on a bike for an older friend. She came over to pick up her bike and wanted to take a quick test ride before leaving. She did not bring her helmet with her when she came to pick up the bike. I offered her one of ours but we had already walked out to the road at that point. And she was just going a 1/4 mile down around the corner and back.

About 10-15 minutes later wondering if she took it for a longer ride, I sent my son and his friend down the street to find her (they were riding their bikes up and down the driveway). They found her lying on the side of the road, right where she would have turned the bike around to come back. There were no cars on the road and she wouldnt have been going more than 8mph in a straight line.

She had a concussion, didnt recognize anyone or know what was going on. We ran her to the hospital and she turned out to be okay.

Moral of the story is, it doesnt take much to knock your noggin. I would love riding without a helmet but it only takes one time, a pebble, pinecone, wet leaves or a "Tombe" and you can knock yourself a good one.

Maelochs

WRONG. "Morl" is the wrong word to start with ... this isn't a fabl;e, meant to edify, to teach a moral lesson. The "Lesson:" You took from this is that riding without a helmet is dangerous.

That is the Wrong lesson.

The lessons actually borne out by this event are that A.) Cycling is Always a risk (no one knows if wearing a helmet would have helped, anyway.)

B.) Life is fatal, invariably. And before it kills you it can hurt you at any time.

C.) People can be hurt in a lot of ways ... at any time. False feelings of safety are false.

D.) People who cannot manage riding bikes without crashing for no reason should not be riding bikes.

E.) Learn to fall, so that a sub-8-mph fall (which really shouldn't happen anyway) isn't catastrophic.

F.) The Big One----ALWAYS pay attention when cycling. At 8 mph a person has plenty of time to see whatever road hazards might be upcoming, and should be in complete control of the bike. If the rider was careless, got distracted, whatever .... it could have happened when she was going two or three times as fast ... and there isn't any helmet that is going to take the edge off That crash.

Basically, this lady did the equivalent of getting into her car in the driveway, putting the car in "Drive" instead" of "Reverse", floored it, and drove into her own home. Safety equipment isn't the answer ... care, caution, and attention are.

Rather than look at the outcome ... look for the causes. Better Not to crash for avoidable causes than to crash and be only slightly injured, eh?

While driving a car I was hit from behind at high speed while stopped in stop-and-go traffic. I was hit so hard the seat broke, and I hit the wheel with my chest and the windshield with my head.

Is the "moral" that I should always wear a helmet while driving? Or is it that driving is dangerous? Or is it more that, "Stuff happens." ?

It is funny that the people who think that wearing a helmet while riding is a huge safety advantage, never wear helmets while driving.

================

I am not saying "Don't wear a helmet." I am just asking people not to justify wearing helmets with silly reasons.

By the way, personal experience has taught me that helmets do Not prevent concussions.

KraneXL

We do know that wearing a helmet is more likely to be beneficial than it is to do harm. When it comes to your safety, that should be enough.

Wilmingtech

i spent a few minutes trying to understand your reply.

Then I read this -And this -
And then it all made sense.

Sorry that you hit your head.

Maelochs

I very much appreciate your response.