Biker395 

This thread is soooo less interesting than the title.

DanWho

If you are going to put a cab on your bike, why not go all out and put a rollcage on it too, maybe even airbags. Then you would have a good argument going for not wearing a helmet while around the crazy 4 wheelers.

Popeyecahn

Women are allowed to ride topless, men must wear wool jerseys, full leggings and a balaclava.

stapfam

Occasionally do local trips without the helmet and it raises my awareness of how vulnerable I could be.

Zinger

Topless cyclist.

Sorry no driver side photo.

I live on the state line. Washington state has a helmet law. If I go west I go dressed. If I go Idaho my head is naked but for a little thin sweatband. I get strange looks from helmeted cyclists sometimes and wonder if they're gawking.

Gerryattrick

I would go topless, but I'd need some support for the man boobs. Not a good look.

OldTryGuy

Very rarely will I hop on a bike without a helmet on. We had a young customer fall while riding his 20" BMX bike without a helmet. Days in a coma and sadly not the same when he came out of it. I can not-not think about him if I get on a bike without a helmet.

Phil_gretz

Lenny,
You're a great guy. I have no issue with your riding without a helmet whenever you choose. Don't feel guilty.

But for me, I can't bring myself to do it except under the rarest of conditions. Maybe, maybe when test riding a repair or build bike up and down my cul-de-sac street. For maybe 200 yards or so.


But on the street? In traffic or on a multi-use trail situation? Around parking lots where drivers are inattentive and pedestrians are fumbling with their car keys or cell phones? Or on my mountain bike? No thanks. I am certain that my next fall is right around the corner, literally.

ursle

I remember my thoughts when I first put on a helmet
First, my head snapped to center, the vent's just made my head ride a certain way, I realized it was an aerodynamic attribute, second, my vision was better, small bumps didn't smear my vision, third, my head was much cooler, no more sun on the gourd, vent's blowing air to specific spots was better then sun heating and wind cooling,jmho,ymmv

Then I put on a helmet while down hill skiing, same thing, much better vision at speed, no fins to center the head, just warmth, actually had to hunt up a ski helmet that had no ears and lot's of adjustable vent's, to hot.

Passed a cyclist the other day, hot and sunny, guy had no helmet, he was smile mocking me and I was smile mocking him
At the end of the day I didn't have a heat stroke headache...

jerseyJim

It's so much more comfortable to me riding without a helmet. I accept the slight risk of increased injury in the event I strike my head while riding.

I understand those who don't. To each his/her own.

10 Wheels

My head hit the sharp edge of this car stop.
It was a Slow speed crash.

Wear your helmet.

Rwc5830

Just my experience, went down twice last July, cracked helmets in the back both times, one helmet was two weeks old. Those cracks would have been my head. No concussions. Would never get on a bike without a helmet.

Retro Grouch 

More than once I've returned from a ride to realize that I'd forgotten to put on my helmet. It's light enough and comfortable enough that I don't notice it unless I try to scratch my head. I'll also admit to not wearing a helmet sometimes when I bike up to the C-store or hardware store but only if Mrs. Grouch isn't watching.

I've got to say, however, that the most serious concussion I've suffered was a result of a zero mph fall, with helmet, from our Screamer recumbent tandem. I think that's an interesting data point: wearing a helmet, zero mph, recumbent bike so closer to the ground. YMMV.

rumrunn6

zinger - thank you!

saw a 50+ dude last night on my way home from work, riding a bike, not a commuter, just out for a leisurely ride, wearing a cap (not baseball style) and full on headphones (not ear buds). surprised he wasn't smoking a cigar too.

BlazingPedals

The risk is the same, but since we've used up more of our lives already, an injury would have less overall effect.

Bikey Mikey

Thank Goodness!!!!

I was really afraid I'd open this post and see this:

unterhausen

I merged a helmet thread from 50+ into here, so there may be some discontinuity. Sorry for the inconvenience

I-Like-To-Bike

I don't smoke, but cold beverages sure taste good while riding and listening to Audiobooks or music with headphones.

Cyclists 50± should try it if they dare take a hand off the handlebars without endangering their life and mama won't scold them.

Biker395 

Yikes. Thanks for that!

It's pure speculation as to whether I would have survived my crash of 2008 without a helmet. What is not is that I'd have lost a few square inches of skin just above my right eyebrow ... that would have been my most visible road rash scar, and believe me, I have plenty of 'em.

FBinNY 

And your point?

3alarmer 

Discontinuity in the helment thread........ Unthinkable.

Zinger

I descend slower and ride more cautious without the hat. And headphones seem much more dangerous to me, than going w/o the helmet, after riding alongside people with music blaring in their ears mindless of everything around them.

Iow,
Since I don't wear the helmet where the law doesn't require it, I try to stay away from people, every chance I get, who can't hear where I am or what I say when I try to warn them that I'm passing or whatever.

cranky old dude

Nice Bike!!

I-Like-To-Bike

What bike??

I-Like-To-Bike

I try to stay away from cyclists who have to issue warnings to me that these noisy cyclists don't know how to pass safely without issuing warnings of their presence. I don't care if the noisy ones have helmets or not.