ocz800

I think everyone should wear a helmet , always. But people here at work think its fine to go without a helmet if your doing leisurely riding on a quiet path. What do you think?

pwyll99

On a quiet multiuse path sure, but otherwise I always wear my helmet. You can't predict when an accident will happen.
Case in point, A few years back, bicycling magazine has a letter from a guy who was riding without a helmet on a powerline trail with his kids (who had helmets), His tire hit something, bike wobbled, handlebar caught tower support, bike and his head hit tower support. He stated that he felt he was lucky he didn't die from the head injury, and now always wears a helmet.

kidonabike

I am probably one of the most accident prone people on earth so yes I always wear a helmet.

And most drivers in So Cal (and I'm sure everywhere else) drive fast and have the attention span/reaction time of a braindead monkey so i never know when I'm going to get sideswiped.

ed 

I post this link out of respect for Rev.M...may we remember him fondly and learn from his passing.


(BTW...it was this story that makes me wear a helmet so often, and I owe my noggin to him on more than one occasion)

pinkrobe

I'm more likely to bail off-road, but the impact is usually not quite as bad. On the road, the falls are few and far between, but the impact is very... impactful. This means that I wear a helmet all the time.

mcoine

Leisurely riding on a quiet path? ..no helmet.

Do you wear a helmet while driving or showering, or cutting the grass? Those are dangerous activities you know.

ed 

It could happen anywhere, I guess. I don't really wear a helmet when I ride on the sidewalk to work. I should, and my wife would prefer me to do so. Every time I hit the woods where I know I'll be pushing it a little bit...I bring one.

DickyJ

Nope, only off-road. It's my choice so don't argue with me goddammit

dminor 

I wear a helmet ALWAYS. It is a long-ingrained habit from my motorcycling youth and has served me well.

ocz800 - - Don't make a big deal of it with co-workers though, especially ones above you; there could be some advancement opportunities.

C Law

I think if you are riding with kids, you should always wear a helmet, to set a good example

otherwise, whatever floats your boat man

andymac

"Do you wear a helmet while driving or showering, or cutting the grass?"

Actually yes, once in awhile I jump in the shower with my helmet on to stop it from getting a funky smell, it also protects me from smacking my noggin into the shower head.

mtnbiker66

If I'm tooling around camping with the TGMBG then no but riding any distance on any terrain means helmet time.

Luke52

If I'm just going for a short ride up to the shops, no I wont wear one.

But if I'm going anywhere else, always.

I once came off my bike because some ****head kids threw a football at me, landed right in front and my wheel jerked to the side. The way I landed meant I hit my head on the corner of a concrete slab covering a storm water drain..

Had it not been for my helmet, who knows what could have happened...

rb07

Pretty much always. Every once and a while I will not wear it on the .6mi round trip to the store but I usually even wear it in on that ride as well.

SunFlower

i always wear my helmet.

macro

I was raised without riding a helmet. I never cared. Since 2000 I completly stopped riding bikes. After I got my last bike, April 2008, I asked the store to include helmets. For some reason I feel only comfortable with it when I ride. The other day I got on my bike while my helmet was still in my back pack. I pedalled about 20 meters and felt like something was really wrong.

Zan

the only time i don't wear a helmet is when i'm testing out my bike after repairs down the road (system check ). otherwise, i always wear a helmet. i'm a "roadie" and a "mountain biker," so it doesn't really matter where i ride, i have a helmet.

Too Rass Goat

Riding rail trails or multi-use trails? No. Lots of urban/road? Yes. Actual MTB'ing? Always.

Hot Rod Lincoln

Yes, doesn't matter where I am riding

forest4thetrees

Many uniformed/paranoid people think that a Styrofoam hat is some kind of a panacea.

Sometimes I wear a helmet (tree slaps suck) many times I don't, especially riding multi-use paths with the spawn.

kenhill3

Always. And always eye protection.

DeadSailor

for paved riding??? nah.

for trail riding i do helmet, glasses, gloves so its not because im too cool for. but its unnecessary i think in certain situations

kenhill3

Famous last words, prior to an accident. ANYTHING can happen, even a 2 block ride to the store, freaky stuff happens.

Do ya feel lucky..................?

Smallguy

I always put mine one even if I'm just going down the drive way and a cross the yard checking my shifting adjustments

only takes a second of not paying attention to pitch over the bars

as strange as it sounds one of the worst crashes I've seen is on a crusher dust path.... 2 guys going opposite directions taking the inside line on a blind corner

lmxloco

I used to be one of those people who only wore my helmet when on singletrack or riding with traffic, but never if I was just out cruising on a MUP or Greenway.

Then I wrecked.

It was a familiar path, familiar turn, one I'd ridden countless times before. Pavement was damp, not that wet, from a storm the day before but the bike still got out from underneath me. I managed to control my fall this time...but what about the next freak wipeout? Now I always...always wear my helmet. Better safe than sorry...