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
#3376
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The energy of a crash goes up with the square of speed. It's highly not surprising that road cyclists going much faster who habitually wear helmets get hospitalized more often than commuters in the Netherlands who don't.
That says nothing about their efficacy because it is not an apples to apples comparison. On a road ride at 32 km/hr versus a commute at 20 km/hr, the kinetic energy absorbed by your body in an impact is
2.56 times greater.
To derive the conclusion that helmets are cosmetic from a study which compares apples to oranges is wrong.
That says nothing about their efficacy because it is not an apples to apples comparison. On a road ride at 32 km/hr versus a commute at 20 km/hr, the kinetic energy absorbed by your body in an impact is
2.56 times greater.
To derive the conclusion that helmets are cosmetic from a study which compares apples to oranges is wrong.
Last edited by Branko D; 12-18-21 at 08:45 AM.
#3377
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I have to say thank you to my fellow BF members for the outright belly laughs you give me There are people here who could make a living writing comedy. The laughs I get from here always brighten my day.
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Seattle Bike Helmet Rule Is Dropped Amid Racial Justice Concerns
“The question before us yesterday wasn’t the efficacy of helmets,” said Girmay Zahilay, a board member who is also a member of the King County Council. “The question before us was whether a helmet law that’s enforced by police on balance produces results that outweigh the harm that that law creates.”
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#3380
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While I always wear my helmet, even when riding my trike, I despise all the little controlling laws like helmet laws.
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Yup, micromanaging laws like this go against the idea of freedom which this country is supposed to be about. Where I think helmet use is a great idea, particularly in certain situations, there is little reason to force it on anyone willing to take the risk going without one.
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Seems like a missed opportunity to give out free helmets to those that can't afford them.
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The helmet law in Vancouver, WA was used by police to target primarily homeless bicycle riders. Pretty easy to spot a bicycle rider without a helmet, and that makes an easy pretense for the police to harass the rider.
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I wear a helmet except on some backcountry gravel rides. I think it should be a choice, not a mandate.
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#3386
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I don't believe in Mandatory Helmets but I would never, anymore, ride without one.
"The King County Board of Health voted to repeal the helmet mandate because of accusations that the law was disproportionately enforced against people of color and homeless people."
Ok... I'll put in... Maybe this is the Right Execution but for The Wrong Idea. Did I get that right?
Whats odd here is the Health Board is concerned about a law being enforced. So they got rid of the law. Did I get that right?
Just everybody knows that in Seattle it is Unhealthy for people of color and the homeless to ride without a helmet. Naw... I did not get that right...
Am I confused?
"The King County Board of Health voted to repeal the helmet mandate because of accusations that the law was disproportionately enforced against people of color and homeless people."
Ok... I'll put in... Maybe this is the Right Execution but for The Wrong Idea. Did I get that right?
Whats odd here is the Health Board is concerned about a law being enforced. So they got rid of the law. Did I get that right?
Just everybody knows that in Seattle it is Unhealthy for people of color and the homeless to ride without a helmet. Naw... I did not get that right...
Am I confused?
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#3387
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I don't believe in Mandatory Helmets but I would never, anymore, ride without one.
"The King County Board of Health voted to repeal the helmet mandate because of accusations that the law was disproportionately enforced against people of color and homeless people."
Ok... I'll put in... Maybe this is the Right Execution but for The Wrong Idea. Did I get that right?
Whats odd here is the Health Board is concerned about a law being enforced. So they got rid of the law. Did I get that right?
Just everybody knows that in Seattle it is Unhealthy for people of color and the homeless to ride without a helmet. Naw... I did not get that right...
Am I confused?
"The King County Board of Health voted to repeal the helmet mandate because of accusations that the law was disproportionately enforced against people of color and homeless people."
Ok... I'll put in... Maybe this is the Right Execution but for The Wrong Idea. Did I get that right?
Whats odd here is the Health Board is concerned about a law being enforced. So they got rid of the law. Did I get that right?
Just everybody knows that in Seattle it is Unhealthy for people of color and the homeless to ride without a helmet. Naw... I did not get that right...
Am I confused?
Yes, you are. If the law is being selectively enforced against homeless people and members of certain racial groups, it's obvious that it's primarily serving as a pretext to harass people, and its enforcement has nothing to do with "health". It's also quite reasonable for the Board of Health to conclude that the likelihood of someone getting seriously hurt during a police stop is greater than the likelihood that wearing a helmet will prevent a serious injury, or that mandatory helmet laws don't actually significantly increase helmet use. Since they created the law in the first place, it's definitely their call to determine whether it should be repealed.
Last edited by livedarklions; 02-20-22 at 01:26 PM.
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#3388
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OK, so it's a bit weird that the Board of Health could make helmets mandatory in the first place, but I think that if you read this release, they've obviously come to the conclusion that making helmets more widely available is a better and less risky way of encouraging helmet use:
Seattle and King County update
There's really not a good argument to be made for the proposition that enforcing helmet use should be a police matter.
Seattle and King County update
There's really not a good argument to be made for the proposition that enforcing helmet use should be a police matter.
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#3389
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Latest helmet thread merged into The Helmet Thread 2
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#3390
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#3391
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It is where all helmet discussion belongs.
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#3392
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...without this endlessly entertaining helment thread, the valuable expert discussions that have transpired on teh Biekforooms, with regard to the wisdom or foolishness of helment use in cycling, over many years, might be lost to future historians. I think we can all agree on the magnitude of that tragedy.
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#3393
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...speaking of tragedy and helments, I have one that I have very much enjoyed using (as much as you can enjoy wearing a helment where the ambient air temps sometime hit 120* Fahrenheit). It was branded and sold by Smith, although I'm certain it probably came out of some Chinese factory somewhere in Asia. IME, it had excellent ventilation and airflow, which is important to a hot place road rider like me. But now, after a few years in service, the suspension liner is cracked in a couple of places, and I've heard that after a few years you really ought to replace them anyway, as the plastic and cushioning foam ages.
Wish me luck. I hate shopping for stuff like this.
...speaking of tragedy and helments, I have one that I have very much enjoyed using (as much as you can enjoy wearing a helment where the ambient air temps sometime hit 120* Fahrenheit). It was branded and sold by Smith, although I'm certain it probably came out of some Chinese factory somewhere in Asia. IME, it had excellent ventilation and airflow, which is important to a hot place road rider like me. But now, after a few years in service, the suspension liner is cracked in a couple of places, and I've heard that after a few years you really ought to replace them anyway, as the plastic and cushioning foam ages.
Wish me luck. I hate shopping for stuff like this.
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#3394
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The only downside is that I sweat like a pig and always wear out the foam cushion strips before the helmet needs to be replaced - often hard to find the replacement pads 5 years after a model was discontinued, or you find them and they are crazy expensive. So, I try to buy an extra set when I buy the helmet - and put them somewhere I will be able to find them years later...
I honestly don't get why the people who make helments have not figured out that the pads are consumables ?
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#3395
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Helmets are a personal choice
Wear one of you want, but don't pester those of us who don't.
#3396
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I wear one about 90% of the time I ride. Sometimes it's nice to go helmetless depending on the conditions and the risk I feel I'm carrying without one. Railroad trails I usually roll without a helmet.
#3398
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Interesting in that it ends with summary of other testing (other than the Va Tech) that shows no difference between MIPS and Non-MIPS. Perhaps related, I've always thought that there should at least be testing with dummy heads that have hair, or as many of us wear, skull caps of some sort -- both of which can move independently of your cranium.
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You are never going to get a definitive answer on the benefits of MIPS (too many lawyers involved) and every real-world accident is unique in its load case. Personally I would choose a helmet with MIPS or similar tech. The cost difference is insignficant. Worse case scenario is that you are $20 worse off. Best case is that it does give some meaningful benefit in an accident.
#3400
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You are never going to get a definitive answer on the benefits of MIPS (too many lawyers involved) and every real-world accident is unique in its load case. Personally I would choose a helmet with MIPS or similar tech. The cost difference is insignficant. Worse case scenario is that you are $20 worse off. Best case is that it does give some meaningful benefit in an accident.