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
#3451
Bike Butcher of Portland
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Might as well asked who has the best religion. I have notified the moderators and suggested moving this out of C&V to Advocacy & Safety forum. It's off topic here.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
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#3452
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I have worn helmets since I got into bicycle racing in the late 80's. In the early 90's I was hit from behind by a pickup truck, and the helmet saved me from some major head injuries. That was a Giro helmet which i still buy to this day. I have used Bell helmets, and my newest one is a Specialized helmet, but I always come back to Giro. Go to the LBS and try some on. Fit really is the key. Well, that and breathability. The more vents the cooler your head will be. My Specialized is MIPS technology.
Last edited by kermie; 08-22-22 at 09:56 AM.
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#3454
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#3455
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Yes, wear a helmet is my advise. After seeing Bernard Hinault crash in the Tour de France I decided I'd rather be safe than lucky.
I meselfs have used Giro products for the last 10 years or so. My helmet is getting old I use Giro Air Attack with the magnetic shade visor.
I meselfs have used Giro products for the last 10 years or so. My helmet is getting old I use Giro Air Attack with the magnetic shade visor.
#3456
Bike Butcher of Portland
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#3457
Senior Member
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I've three times over my lifetime had crashes where may helmet was destroyed and probably saved me from serious head injuries. The last time was a year ago when I went down head first and hard on Cino and suffered a bad concussion even with my Giro helmet. Could have been much worse. I strongly suggest that you buy something near the top of the Virginia Tech helmet ratings https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicyc...t-ratings.html. They are the only independent helmet testing lab that I know of.
One of these crashes was on a highway with a lot of traffic and I was hit from behind. The other two were off road with serious downhills and big ruts/loose gravel/large rocks. If you ride those types of roads then a helmet is necessary IMHO. However, if you're just going to be gliding slowly around urban or suburban roads with only minor low speed traffic or bike paths at relatively low speeds (i.e. no 40 mph descents) then I don't think they are particularly necessary. For example, look at videos of riding in Amsterdam where nobody wears a helmet in the city but fast riders outside the city do.
One of these crashes was on a highway with a lot of traffic and I was hit from behind. The other two were off road with serious downhills and big ruts/loose gravel/large rocks. If you ride those types of roads then a helmet is necessary IMHO. However, if you're just going to be gliding slowly around urban or suburban roads with only minor low speed traffic or bike paths at relatively low speeds (i.e. no 40 mph descents) then I don't think they are particularly necessary. For example, look at videos of riding in Amsterdam where nobody wears a helmet in the city but fast riders outside the city do.
Last edited by davester; 08-22-22 at 10:19 AM.
#3458
señor miembro
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#3459
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My personal choice is to wear a helmet...
but observations:
neighbors dog runs in front of me and I go over the handle bars, hit helmet, no loss of consciousness, no concussion, could see deformation in helmet, bought an new one
Neighbor lost balance and fell, hit head on curb, major helmet damage, no loss of consciousness, no concussion same guy fell while running, no helmet and got major concussion
fellow C&V went down hard, helmet damage, no loss of consciousness, mild concussion, ER trashed helmet
IMHO, all of these would have been much more serious without the helmet.
but observations:
neighbors dog runs in front of me and I go over the handle bars, hit helmet, no loss of consciousness, no concussion, could see deformation in helmet, bought an new one
Neighbor lost balance and fell, hit head on curb, major helmet damage, no loss of consciousness, no concussion same guy fell while running, no helmet and got major concussion
fellow C&V went down hard, helmet damage, no loss of consciousness, mild concussion, ER trashed helmet
IMHO, all of these would have been much more serious without the helmet.
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Last edited by squirtdad; 08-22-22 at 12:44 PM.
#3460
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Sounds to me like your gripe is that "English" in America has evolved to a use of words in a way that is not to your liking. We have automobile seat belts , football and hockey helmets that do nothing for the automobiles sporting them nor have football and hockey helmets saved any footballs from hard kicks or hockey goals from 100 mile per hour (160 KPH) slap shots.
And yes, those draping their helmets over their stems ARE using it as a bicycle helmet in your eyes. (For those who know their stems are worth more than that soft stuff between their ears.)
And yes, those draping their helmets over their stems ARE using it as a bicycle helmet in your eyes. (For those who know their stems are worth more than that soft stuff between their ears.)
A biking, baseball, football, lacrosse, or hockey helmet is meant for use in those sports. Likewise, terms like a cycling, MTB, or BMX helmet helps the user get specialized features. It's not that complicated. But, for those uninformed the word before helmet is called an adjective, it's meant to describe the helmet. That is, how it is used, not what it's inteneded to hit - a silly thought.
If the NRA would start calling bullet proof vests 'school vests' would you go along with that too. I just want people to think about what words like that do.
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#3462
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Wearing a helmet is different these days as most cyclsts you see on the roads do so already.....
Even kids do not resist that much being told to do so.
Unlike BITD when they were not that common, many felt conscious of being seen wearing one and possibly looking dorky, especially as they weren't stayed as nice as they are now.......
Even kids do not resist that much being told to do so.
Unlike BITD when they were not that common, many felt conscious of being seen wearing one and possibly looking dorky, especially as they weren't stayed as nice as they are now.......
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72 Line Seeker
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72 Line Seeker
83 Davidson Signature
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Peugeot PY10FC
84 Gitane Tour de France.
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7
86 ALAN Record Carbonio
86 Medici Aerodynamic (Project)
88 Pinarello Montello
89 Bottecchia Professional Chorus SL
95 Trek 5500 OCLV (Project)
#3463
Phyllo-buster
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If you lived in my province, it's the law for everyone which makes it easy. Please, no commentary on rights, freedom, nanny states etc. I'm sick of that nonsense.
This thread is doomed and will either be locked or moved to A&S if it continues.
#3464
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I have two hanging on the wall that were retired after being broken from accidents.
Personal choice rules => Freedom. Just don't make me pay for your choice.
Specialized helmets have been my choice due to fit.
Personal choice rules => Freedom. Just don't make me pay for your choice.
Specialized helmets have been my choice due to fit.
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Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
#3465
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My two cents? Don't buy online -- try some on at a bike shop first. It's not just size variation, but also shape and adjustability. But yes, helmet all the way.
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#3466
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I was wearing one BITD (Bell Biker - qualifies easily for this forum). Had "the crash". Wish I had been wearing a modern helmet as I suffered real injury from the rebound of my skull inside the helmet from both the shell and foam being too hard. But I lived and am not a vegetable. I did go to a neurosurgical IC, spent 5 days there in a coma and years rebuilding my life. And have memories of wandering around my post-IC unit, looking into rooms of patients in far worse condition. No helmet - if I was lucky, I could have been one of them.
The modern helmets are far better, even the cheap ones. The new slip technologies, MIPS being the most prominent, reduce injury from the head being twisted around by the helmet while sliding on the road. I haven't planted a helmet since I got my first MIPS so I haven'[t tested the technology but I will stick with it or equivalent.
As a first user, go to a store that carries several brands. Try them on and study the fit. Like shoes, different manufacturers tend to cater towards different head shapes. Most can be adjusted either with foam pads and velcro or an adjustable band but a good basic match to your head goes a long ways for comfort. Bring any cap or hat you are likely to wear under the helmet. I buy mine large enough to fit a slim wool winter hat under.
The modern helmets are far better, even the cheap ones. The new slip technologies, MIPS being the most prominent, reduce injury from the head being twisted around by the helmet while sliding on the road. I haven't planted a helmet since I got my first MIPS so I haven'[t tested the technology but I will stick with it or equivalent.
As a first user, go to a store that carries several brands. Try them on and study the fit. Like shoes, different manufacturers tend to cater towards different head shapes. Most can be adjusted either with foam pads and velcro or an adjustable band but a good basic match to your head goes a long ways for comfort. Bring any cap or hat you are likely to wear under the helmet. I buy mine large enough to fit a slim wool winter hat under.
#3467
señor miembro
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#3468
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There are knowledgeable cyclists in 2022 who don’t wear helmets?
Go figure…
Go figure…
#3469
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Phew!! I snuck in while the thread was still C & V! Just barely. With my post about a helmet that truly was C & V.
#3470
señor miembro
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#3471
Newbie
#3472
Senior Member
My preferred brain bucket
#3473
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I guess if my head was at bumper height I wouldn't waste money on a helmet either.
#3474
Senior Member
#3475
señor miembro
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