Wear your helmet...??

[highlandsflyer]

highlandsflyer - it's about a personal choice, and I would like to keep it that way. I pay my tax, I'm not a car owner, I ride my bike sensibly and judge risk for myself and others around me according to conditions.

If I was 12, then the guiding hand of making proper judgements by responsible parents should suffice to ensure my own safety. If I was on a +120 mph capable machine in dense traffic I should have the right training take appropriate safety measures.

No one likes to pay tax for morons - including me. And yes, there are other causes of higher value.

But I will not allow a freaking bureaucrat backed up by the Police force to arrest me (or my 70+ parents) for riding a retro steed on a quiet country tow path with the wind blowing in my hair. That sort of freedom is worth fighting for, if not let's sit in a padded cell covered in bubble wrap and say "Game Over".

If you are riding off road then it is fair enough in my view, to wear or not.

On the road you cannot account for someone skewering you.

I was perhaps remiss in not pointing out clearly I was talking about road riding.

For those who might find my position patronising, I would point out I have indicated I have thought differently in the past. My current views are the distillation of many years of experience. Even now I don't always wear a helmet.

I always wear a seatbelt.

Give it a few years.

 

[Rumble]

I always wear a helmet, it's saved my life before and that's good enough for me.

I get that some people choose not to and that's fine. What I don't understand is why. I mean, helmets are so light and unobtrusive I really don't see a down side. I can't think of a single occasion when i've been riding my bike and thought I wish I didn't have a helmet on now, I barely even notice it's there.

The cost is so small compared to the potential benefits and that makes it such a simple choice for me.

 

[sylus]

I never have worn one and I will be honest and say it's vanity...I already look a bit of a twat in normal life without having a childs lid on my head

However, I ride motorcycles too and have done for 30 years and the general standard of driving by cage drivers is now so bad that it's making me think even more so that a skid lid for the bike may now be necessary

Just for me..off road I still won't touch the thing..but soon I will be doing more and more road work..dressing like an 80's rave monster with more flourescent than a building site..then one little bit extra in the shape of a noggin protector seems a small price to pay

I know I will always look a nob..but if some idiot textin whilst driving gets me..i have a greater chance of getting up and being able to punch them if i wear the lid

 

[dyna-ti]

I have whip[lash from a bad spill ,,about 4 years ago now :? Worse the hospital had seen
From the surgeons own lips-If you'd had a helmet on the chances are the helmet edge that sticks out would have pushed your spine over far enough to snap[didnt say snap exactly ]
So if i had been wearing a lid i could very well be in a wheelchair
Or a coffin

How does your -must wear a lid mob explain this one. :?


On the roads -Cycling deaths are usually caused by blunt force trauma,spinal,head[yes head but not as many as you might wish to believe]

so when you're crushed underneath that Taxi/Bus/Artic be thankful your lid is allowing you to see and feel the whole experience

 

[technodup]

Woo, another helmet thread.

Don't wear one and never will, unless I change my mind for some reason. And that reason will not be continual badgering on a forum. Questionable safety claims, expensive and look shit. The major cycling countries of Europe and Asia seem to manage OK without them. Seems the UK is more susceptible to clever marketing by manufacturers.

I have waved drivers over because they have kids without restraints in their car.

There is a way of approaching people about their irresponsible behaviour, I have rarely had a negative reaction.

If you did that to me you'd definitely be thankful for your helmet. And body armour. It is not for you to 'educate' any other adult about helmets, seatbelts or anything else. The state's obsession with tedious health and safety is bad enough.

 

[dyna-ti]

DP

 

[Ernie]

This is a great thread for discussion and some good points on damage that could have occoured if a helmet had been worn...

to the people who dont wear a helmet would you let your son or daughter who have just cracked the "with out stablizers moment"go out with out wearing a safety helmet, or at what point would say..dont worry about a helmet you will be ok

Another point..this goes out to skateboarding, roller blades, scooters.

This could go for further discussion by what you wear on a motor bike in summer..we have all seen riders shorts t shirt flip flop, trainers..i am not on about fast roards..just 30mph urban..gravel/tarmavc meets bone.. and yes i have seen the damage, again this was not the riders fault, it was the driver pulled out of a side junction..just because they can and it is not compulsary to wear kevlar etc.

Discussion i love it, some great points of view

Ernie

 

[technodup]

to the people who dont wear a helmet would you let your son or daughter who have just cracked the "with out stablizers moment"go out with out wearing a safety helmet,

I learned to ride without a helmet, as did everyone else in this thread I'd guess. Low speed, probably on grass, why would they need a helmet? All that does is tell them cyclings dangerous when really it isn't.

Parents who go for that sort of over the top crap do more harm than good imo.

 

[Ernie]

to the people who dont wear a helmet would you let your son or daughter who have just cracked the "with out stablizers moment"go out with out wearing a safety helmet,

I learned to ride without a helmet, as did everyone else in this thread I'd guess. Low speed, probably on grass, why would they need a helmet? All that does is tell them cyclings dangerous when really it isn't.

Parents who go for that sort of over the top crap do more harm than good imo.

Another good point ..all said and done..this is a dicussion..thats what forums are for..

Ernie

 

[Woz]

Sure is a good discussion - it's my first internet one on helmets. I should really be riding the damn bike today, or at the very least modding it. Anyhow, to comment on some several good points:
- why don't we see an education lesson of a helmut being struck with a lump hammer; isn't that more real world compelling than a egg inside one and being dropped on the floor at about 9.8 m/s? I'm rather convinced a formed skull is harder than an egg shell - but I may be deluded.
- crash test dummies do not account for the natural body protection mechanisms. At least to my knowledge but I will stand corrected.
- letting a child ride on a grass home lawn without a helmet after the stabilisers were taken off IMHO is fine. That's how I was taught, along with lines like "you are not a cyclist untill you have fallen off".
- using a helmet would be highly encouraged / mandatory for a mid teen if they had to ride on fairly busy roads. I would not allow any riding on a busy A road for example, the external influences are too great. BMX riding / racing would be with a helmet.
- they would need to decide for themselves at a mature point; an age can not be given but it would probably co-inside with voting / drinking age.
- a good point raised was that helmet quality is (or perceived) to have improved which is a good thing. I'm old enough to have ridden with sausage string helmets, and a piece of useless polestyrene junk (which had a warning note saying throw in the bin if dropped or subject to a crash). Admittidly I've not checked up on more recent developments.
- If I felt the need due to changes of riding environment / conditions I would consider a helmet. I try to find the least traffic laden roads; even in the capital Stockholm. Most of the riding I do is on fire roads or trails where it's only me with a better control of risks.
- I was close to buying an helmet for riding on snow and ice; instead spending £110 on proper studded tyres was a much better investment - I've saved money on hip / collar bone replacements for sure, never mind potential head injuries.

Right, off now to re-grease a dodgey STX-RC front hub!