Tyagi

Totally agree with you because one of my friend died because of this

Miele Man

The problem with helmet standards is that they are so low and that testing of helmets is done with a decapitated head form dropped onto an object. Impacts to the side of the helmet are not considered. Nor is the fact that in a fall the bicycle and the human body act as a fulcrum thereby greatly increasing the force the helmet is subjected to when it hits a solid surface like a road. that's why so many helmets crack upon impact. Btw, a cracked helmet means that the impact EXCEEDED the helmet's design perimeters. The helmet absorbs some of the force but failed. It should not crack let alone break.

Somewhere I have a link to helmet standards and it's a real eye opener to see just how low they are. I'll see if I can find it again.

I didn't find that link but here's an interesting read.

https://www.cyclehelmets.org/1139.html

I wear a helmet most of the time but not on those hot/humid 100+F days.

Cheers

79pmooney

My Bell Biker did not crack and I am quite sure I would have fared better with the new helmets that would have been destroyed. (My CAT scan showed a blood clot on my hypothalamus and bruising on my spinal column at the back of my head (which caused seizure in my right side and a loss of motor skills. I am sure the bruising was from brain rebound that would have been lesser a lot by both the shell breaking and more crushing of foam. It was 1977 and I didn't get to be choosy.)

blue192

Where I live kids are legally required a helmet but adults are exempt. Hence I also wear one.

Pop N Wood

Thank you for that. Learned a few things.

rydabent

I have always wondered but never asked, what do all the rabid anti helmet types do when they go on a club ride that has rules that helmets are needed?

Miele Man

They either wear a helmet or forgo the ride.

Cheers

Pop N Wood

Yep, forgo the ride. That include charity rides. Their choice.

Had the same problem when my son was in Scouts. Never really thought about helmets before they told me I couldn't join in the ride. Made me wonder what am I not understanding, so decided to educate myself.

That was a good thing. Studying the statistics helped me better understand the threats facing bicyclists. Think I'm a safer rider now because of it.

Also came to the conclusion that the majority of the "always wear a helmet" crowd have never given it more thought than that. I honestly think the best lesson we can give our kids is to always ask questions and decide for yourself. But some people don't take kindly to such free thinking.

But more interesting to me than helmet safety stats is the way non-riders react to the whole bike helmet issue. I've had non-riders whom I have never met start lecturing me about helmets. Don't understand why such an issue makes people forget basic social graces.

Miele Man

A few years ago I was on an organized ride where the waiver I signed had a line where I'd promised to wear a helmet. During that ride it got really hot and extremely humid. Sweat was running into my eyes and burning badly. So I took off my helmet, fed an Arno strap through it and slung it over my shoulder. At the next rest stop I was told I had to wear my helmet. I pulled out my copy of the waiver and told them that the waiver ONLY stated that I had to wear a helmet NOT where I had to wear it. VBEG LOL. I rode the rest of that ride with the helmet slung over my shoulder and resting on my back. It sure was a lot cooler and safer than warring it on my head and not being able to see due to sweat burning my eyes.

If non-riders get after me for not wearing a helmet I ask them if they drive a vehicle. If they say yes I then ask them if they wear a helmet when driving. If they say no, I then inform them that statistically drivers suffer FAR MORE head injuries than do bicyclists.

I usually wear a helmet but not if due to heat and humidity it compromises my safety through sweating or heat retention.

Cheers

christianogden2

When i had a bike in thailand. If cops see us without helments they stoped us and gave us a check

rydabent

When it comes to helmets, the fact remains that once I put my helmet on, I totally forget that I have it on till the end of the ride when I take it off. So really what is so hard or the offence of wearing a helmet? Even in the event of a fall over if it prevents even a scratch it was worth it.

Leisesturm

I think you meant "gave us a 'ticket'"(a bad thing). In English, getting a 'check' is usually a good thing. If you really meant 'check', I am on the next plane to Thailand. BTW how much are these 'check's usually made out for?

Leisesturm

American bike helmet standards are the highest in the developed world. American helmet adoption is the highest in the developed world. American cyclist health and longevity statistics are the worst in the developed world.

holytrousers

American bike helmet standards are the highest in the underdeveloped world. American helmet adoption is the highest in the underdeveloped world. American cyclist health and longevity statistics are the highest in the underdeveloped world.

Miele Man

When it's hot AND humid I find it difficult to get a helmet that doesn't cause excessive sweating and over heating. At that point the helmet has become a liability.

I do like a helmet for it's even minimal impact protection but don't wear one on really hot and humid days.

I'd really like to see helmets tested as if they were actually on a head attached to a human body rather than a decapitated headform dropped onto something. I wonder if the reason for not doing that is because so few current helmets would be able to pass such a test?

Cheers

Notso_fastLane

No. It has to do with several things, the first and foremost being repeatability of testing. The next most important (in terms of how/why the testing is the way it is) is historical. Helmet testing was originally for motorcycle safety helmets. A lot of the processes were carried over to bicycle helmets, although the requirements were lower. They have diverged a little over time, but there's a lot of similarity.

I've seen enough motorcycle accidents (I work at a racetrack on occasion) to know that there'd be a lot more dead people if they didn't have helmets and other safety gear. I've no reason not to wear a helmet, and will always wear one, even when in my velomobile.

However, I am against making them mandatory. Everyone should have the freedom to ride without a helmet (motorized bikes or otherwise, IMO).

Miele Man

The problem is that tests with decapitated headforms do NOT mimic real world crashes.

Helmets help in a lot of cases but I think they could be far better designed and tested. As an example, most bicycle helmets are NOT tested for impacts to the side of the helmet.

Cheers

Notso_fastLane

I don't disagree, but there's only so much that can be done. I think if they made bicycle helmets wrap low enough (over the ears, essentially) to be more effective against side impacts, even fewer people would wear them. I think modern bicycle helmets are a (often terrible) compromise between safety, and what people will realistically wear. Sadly, that last factor can't really be tested for.

Miele Man

What I meant is that the side of most existing helmets are not tested for impacts. I had a helmet that fell off my handlebar when the bike was parked. These was big chunk broken off the side of that helmet when the helmet struck the sidewalk. Now I can't help but wonder, if a simple fall from a handlebar of a stopped bicycle can cause a large chunk to break off the side of a helmet then just how marginal are the standards that helmet has to meet in order to pass? Don't forget that these tests are done by the helmet makers.

I think in a lot of cases a helmet is better than no helmet but I also believe that the amount of protection offered by a helmet is a LOT less than what most people think it is.

Cheers

Leisesturm

You want it all ways don't you. Amazingly light, breathable and comfortable, supremely protective from impacts from all angles ... a car can do all that and more besides. That's what most people ride with when they need good looks, comfort, all angle protection. There is this though, 818 cyclists died in collisions last year, most of them wearing helmets. 40,000 non-cyclists died last year in collisions, all of them wearing cars.

dr_max

When I started cycling 16 years ago,
I crashed once a year
then once every 2 years
then once every 4 years
Now I have not crashed for 8 years
*knocking on wood*
Next crash, I will be safe to ride without a helmet for 16 years

REDMASTA

i wear a helmet while putting on a helmet.

Camilo

Come on man, you must have a reason for this radical statement.

Camilo

So, "rabid anti helmet types". Does that mean that everyone who believes that a person can make their own decision about the actual, real live value of a helmet for their particular bicycle riding is "rabid anti helmet"? Or does it mean that they are just in favor of rational personal choice and really don't care what others do?

Rabid and anti are two words that I wouldn't use. Sounds like a statement that a rabid anti rational personal decision would make. But I wouldn't assume that of you.

79pmooney

I do have one issue with this statement. A serious issue. "Bike tools are essential too to avoid any hassle" I've run intro more than one or two hassles in my lifetime bike tools wouldn't fix. I wish your statement was true.

But re: helmets - I keep at least one retired helmet - always. I might have to ride (and my current helmet is where?)

Ben