View Poll Results: What Are Your Helmet Wearing Habits?
I've never worn a bike helmet
52
10.40%
I used to wear a helmet, but have stopped
24
4.80%
I've always worn a helmet
208
41.60%
I didn't wear a helmet, but now do
126
25.20%
I sometimes wear a helmet depending on the conditions
90
18.00%
Voters: 500. You may not vote on this poll
The Helmet Thread 2
#26
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#28
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By using the word "if" to indicate it was a hypothetical argument. It seems implausible that zero people who die from hitting their head in a car crash would not die if they had a helmet. It is also implausible that 100% of people who due from hitting their head in a car crash would live if they wore a helmet. So 20% seems like a reasonable enough figure to use for argument's sake. Maybe you don't think so. But it ain't 0%, and even in single digits, it's more than total number of cyclists who die each year.
The point is that it seems strange to me that many people take helmet wearing as Obviously The Right Thing To Do on a bike but patently absurd for being in a car, when there's a pool of 13,000 people out there who might actually not die if they did have one (not to mention the tens of thousands of serious head injuries). That fact that I often wear a helmet when biking makes me wonder why I don't do it when I'm in a car, other than People Just Don't Do That Of Course.
I'm not arguing pro helmet or pro bare head. But the more I consider the issue, the more irrational all the arguments for or against it seem.
The point is that it seems strange to me that many people take helmet wearing as Obviously The Right Thing To Do on a bike but patently absurd for being in a car, when there's a pool of 13,000 people out there who might actually not die if they did have one (not to mention the tens of thousands of serious head injuries). That fact that I often wear a helmet when biking makes me wonder why I don't do it when I'm in a car, other than People Just Don't Do That Of Course.
I'm not arguing pro helmet or pro bare head. But the more I consider the issue, the more irrational all the arguments for or against it seem.
#30
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Ok, first my views then a question:
I wear a helmet when I ride my bike. I do so because I think it may help if I crash. I don't think that head involvement is frequent in most bike incidents but I wear my helmet just in case. I know that bike helmet design does, in reality, not provide as much protection as most riders expect, but nevertheless, it has to help a bit, right. A secondary reason for using a helmet is that it seems to be expected, i.e. a part of the uniform. I plan on continuing with my practice; however (here's the question):
I just bought a recumbent tadpole trike. I really doubt that the risk of head injury is anywhere near that of riding a bicycle. Thus I am tempted to go lidless and let the wind blow through my hair. Anyone have an objective, well supported opinion that would make or change my mind? I have to say that this topic is just as contentious on the various bent forums as it is here.
I wear a helmet when I ride my bike. I do so because I think it may help if I crash. I don't think that head involvement is frequent in most bike incidents but I wear my helmet just in case. I know that bike helmet design does, in reality, not provide as much protection as most riders expect, but nevertheless, it has to help a bit, right. A secondary reason for using a helmet is that it seems to be expected, i.e. a part of the uniform. I plan on continuing with my practice; however (here's the question):
I just bought a recumbent tadpole trike. I really doubt that the risk of head injury is anywhere near that of riding a bicycle. Thus I am tempted to go lidless and let the wind blow through my hair. Anyone have an objective, well supported opinion that would make or change my mind? I have to say that this topic is just as contentious on the various bent forums as it is here.
#31
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matariki
I ride a trike about half the time. And yes the need for a helmet on a trike is far less IMO. There will be less falling, and a shorter distance to fall. Then------------if hit by a car doing 75, a helmet wont do much to save you.
I ride a trike about half the time. And yes the need for a helmet on a trike is far less IMO. There will be less falling, and a shorter distance to fall. Then------------if hit by a car doing 75, a helmet wont do much to save you.
#32
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I hear you. It will be a while before I have courage enough to mix with traffic so I'll be sticking to MUPs for now. Even there, a head on with an impatient cyclist passing peds is a good possibility so I'll stick with the lid.
#33
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matariki
Following my last post, yes when I ride my trike I still wear my helmet. BTW if you havent followed the old helmet thread, one reason that I wear my helmet all the time is for legal reasons. If someone hits me and I become road kill, the offender and his lawyer will NOT be able to say that I was partly at fault since I wasnt wearing a helmet. Note that in almost any accident where a cyclist is killed the news media almost always mention wether the cyclist was wearing a helmet or not.
Following my last post, yes when I ride my trike I still wear my helmet. BTW if you havent followed the old helmet thread, one reason that I wear my helmet all the time is for legal reasons. If someone hits me and I become road kill, the offender and his lawyer will NOT be able to say that I was partly at fault since I wasnt wearing a helmet. Note that in almost any accident where a cyclist is killed the news media almost always mention wether the cyclist was wearing a helmet or not.
#34
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Helmets are cool.
Thread over.
Seriously though... if a squirrel were to run out from the bushes and get crammed in your spokes, thus throwing you over the handlebears and into the rear-end of a police horse your chances of suffocation are drastically reduced.
Thread over.
Seriously though... if a squirrel were to run out from the bushes and get crammed in your spokes, thus throwing you over the handlebears and into the rear-end of a police horse your chances of suffocation are drastically reduced.
#36
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Awww...
But just to summarize:
Safety belts are awesome and if you weren't wearing one when you crashed you would probably have died.
Safety belts suck and are a BigCorp marketing gimmick, and if you do crash, a safety belt probably won't help.
I mean, all that can be said is safety belts MAY help in the event of a crash. Or they may exacerbate it (getting stuck and trapping you in the car).
Does that mean we should all not wear it?
But just to summarize:
Safety belts are awesome and if you weren't wearing one when you crashed you would probably have died.
Safety belts suck and are a BigCorp marketing gimmick, and if you do crash, a safety belt probably won't help.
I mean, all that can be said is safety belts MAY help in the event of a crash. Or they may exacerbate it (getting stuck and trapping you in the car).
Does that mean we should all not wear it?
#37
Senior Member
Awww...
But just to summarize:
Safety belts are awesome and if you weren't wearing one when you crashed you would probably have died.
Safety belts suck and are a BigCorp marketing gimmick, and if you do crash, a safety belt probably won't help.
I mean, all that can be said is safety belts MAY help in the event of a crash. Or they may exacerbate it (getting stuck and trapping you in the car).
Does that mean we should all not wear it?
But just to summarize:
Safety belts are awesome and if you weren't wearing one when you crashed you would probably have died.
Safety belts suck and are a BigCorp marketing gimmick, and if you do crash, a safety belt probably won't help.
I mean, all that can be said is safety belts MAY help in the event of a crash. Or they may exacerbate it (getting stuck and trapping you in the car).
Does that mean we should all not wear it?
ok. seatbelts have been shown to be very effective in all types of crashing.
Bicycle helmets have been shown to be somewhat effective in one type of crash with a bicycle. See a difference?
Yeah, didn't think so....
#38
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My point is that there are people who will disagree that safety belts are necessary, just as there are people who will disagree that helmets are necessary, so there will never be a 100% consensus on either.
Nonetheless, it makes little sense to dissuade others from using them if they choose to.
#39
Senior Member
Really? Just one single type of crash? Ok lol. I guess you have no idea what you're talking about.
My point is that there are people who will disagree that safety belts are necessary, just as there are people who will disagree that helmets are necessary, so there will never be a 100% consensus on either.
Nonetheless, it makes little sense to dissuade others from using them if they choose to.
My point is that there are people who will disagree that safety belts are necessary, just as there are people who will disagree that helmets are necessary, so there will never be a 100% consensus on either.
Nonetheless, it makes little sense to dissuade others from using them if they choose to.
So yeah. Situations where a _bicycle_ helmet helps (actually helps with staying alive and serious injury free) are quite rare.
And just to make sure, we're now talking about actual crashes and not just riding along. Riding around with a bicycle is so safe with regards to statistics that any kind of safety gear is really quite unnecessary (this of course depends on one's riding, some cycling types are more dangerous than others, hence protect yourself accordingly)
But if we take driving a car for example, in accident situations a seatbelt is almost always useful. Speed is irrelevant really because if you are driving faster than 10mph and crash, a seatbelt is going to be useful in preventing serious injury. It also makes it possible for further safety devices inside the automobile to function correctly. A airbag is going to be useless if you don't hit it. A protective chassis is going to be useful if you get thrown outside of it or bang around inside like a ping pong ball.
Let's take a rear ending where one has already braked enough to drop the speed to 20mph before the crash. What would happen with a seatbelt? probably nothing. Maybe a bit minor of brusing, if that. Without a seatbelt? Ever tried to swallow a steering wheel?
People who disagree with seatbelts and even mandatory seatbelt use are quite different from people who disagree with mandatory bicycle helmet use.
And by the way, who here is dissuading others from using a helmet if they choose to? I have yet to see one post in this new thread. Do quote one if you can find it. But I must say such kooks are quite rare even in this thread. What you will find if you use a bit of time are people who wish to maintain their autonomy on the subject of helmet use and also realize the potential benefits/drawbacks of helmets.
#40
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I'll have to add to this one. I'm fixing to turn 56. I road bikes many, many miles during my younger years and have just taken it up again. I did some crazy things on a bike when a dumb kid, but survived. I don't do stupid stuff on a bike now, but I also don't heal as quickly now as I did then. If I'm in a social bike ride where a helmet is required or you aren't allowed to ride, I'll wear one, otherwise, I'll take my chances on the road/trails where I ride. Like on a motorcycle, you can't pull your butt up into that helmet if you crash. You're at the mercy of the impact. If you don't feel safe without a helmet, wear it and I'll never call you a wuss! It's your choice. But don't rip me for my choice not to wear one, either. I think people have gotten so used to listening to the government and other big money agencies about "safety", that I'm surprised many are too afraid to even walk down the street without protective gear, including a helmet.
Last edited by spoiledrotten; 10-24-14 at 08:32 AM.
#42
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Oh dear....
That's good for three or four pages of blah, blah, blah here.
Last edited by JoeyBike; 10-24-14 at 10:53 AM.
#43
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Shoes are more of a comfort thing. I do remember jumping on my old 10 speed one time with no shoes as a young fellow, and it took me just about as long to get off of it as it did to get on. It just wasn't comfortable with those jagged metal edges cutting through my toes and feet.
#46
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#48
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Children 0-4, Teenagers (15-19), and the Elderly (65+) are the most likely to sustain a TBI.
All of those people should wear helmets all the time. Many hit their head even when they aren't on a bike.
#49
Senior Member
In europe apparently 50% of brain injury is caused by motor vehicle crashes.
That's pretty sound evidence for extra secure roll cages, motorsport helmets, five point belts, cup seats, neck bracing collars, nomex suits and lowering driving speeds all around.
Is this ever going to happen? Absolutely not. Why not? Because it would inconvenience the car driver. But you are allowed to inconvenience the cyclist, since that's for their own good, and think of the children and of course they aren't really people. They are cyclists.
That's pretty sound evidence for extra secure roll cages, motorsport helmets, five point belts, cup seats, neck bracing collars, nomex suits and lowering driving speeds all around.
Is this ever going to happen? Absolutely not. Why not? Because it would inconvenience the car driver. But you are allowed to inconvenience the cyclist, since that's for their own good, and think of the children and of course they aren't really people. They are cyclists.
#50
Here comes the CDC
Children 0-4, Teenagers (15-19), and the Elderly (65+) are the most likely to sustain a TBI.
All of those people should wear helmets all the time. Many hit their head even when they aren't on a bike.
Children 0-4, Teenagers (15-19), and the Elderly (65+) are the most likely to sustain a TBI.
All of those people should wear helmets all the time. Many hit their head even when they aren't on a bike.