Helmet?

STEFANOS4784

Evenin' all, i didn't have my helmet with me today and it felt good 8)

However i know it wont feel good if i clunk my noggin so thought i'd post for some assurance that helmets are necessary

I currently have a 'Met Crackerjack' from Halfords so maybe this has something to do with it but without my helmet i felt so free :roll:

Anyhoo any tales of how a helmet has saved you/hindered you would be received with thanks. Then i can make my own mind up.......



P.s how nice is this weather :?:

Chaz.Harding

OH NO!!!

Just use the search button to find a million helmet / no helmet heated debates!!!

Essentially, they all boil down to (before the threads get locked!) personal preference, and stupidity. I am FOR wearing helmets. Some folks aren't, so be it. Their own choice. But I quite like the idea of some extra protection incase of a fall. It also can help in court to say that you had taken nessecery and reasonable precautions to guard against injury, should it ever escalate that far!

They probably won't do alot if you get smashed into be a car / truck / bus / high-speed flying-dinosaur, but they more than likely do a good job if you have a slow speed fall or some kind of blunt strike (branch for instance).

Plus I like mine, as I FEEL safer with it on. Whether or not I am, I don't know. But if I'm more relaxed, I can ride better and enjoy my ride more not having to worry about crashing!

Mettan

If you're only dawdling with the wife on a country path then no, perhaps not - if you're zipping about on a club-ride or solo-training then personally I'd wear one (I do). Helmet's are pretty much a definate at the speeds (and roads) we ride on - imho.

CHRISNOIR

*Sits back - waits for fireworks...*

redddraggon

meh

mmitchell88

Helmets are cool.

bompington

I have 2 split helmets in my garage (really not sure why I've kept them) and 1 intact skull in my head. To me that's a good ratio.

teagar

bompington wrote:

I have 2 split helmets in my garage (really not sure why I've kept them) and 1 intact skull in my head. To me that's a good ratio.

If you keep falling on your head when you crash you might be in the wrong sport!

Jez mon

It's your choice, since I started riding at uni, I don't ever use one for cycling to lectures. Now I no longer automatically reach for one when I go on fitness rides either. If my mum or dad found this out, I think I'd get some pretty stern words and whilst I'm all for being an independent student, I still live with them for something like 20 weeks of the year!

Plus if some plonker knocked me off whilst not wearing a helmet I would turn in my grave if it was claimed that my non helmet wearing, counted as contributory negligence.

However, riding does feel much better sans helmet!!!

Chaz.Harding

CHRISNOIR



But why MJ?

bompington

teagar wrote:

bompington wrote:

I have 2 split helmets in my garage (really not sure why I've kept them) and 1 intact skull in my head. To me that's a good ratio.

If you keep falling on your head when you crash you might be in the wrong sport!

Well, I have to confess that 50% of those helmets were done in without any help from passing motorists, a statistic that I have worked hard to improve in recent years: the relevant advice is "Don't try going at 30mph downhill in pouring rain & darkness on streets that have sudden unmarked constrictions on them". At least that was when I commuted by mtb, it could have been 40 on a road bike.

Anyway, it's true that you will indeed find a lot of heated debates about helmet wearing out there, it's difficult to judge the evidence objectively because all the research that's been done gets fought over quite by quite staggeringly fanatical lobbies.
The claims of some that helmets can increase the force, and hence risk of injury, in an impact, seem unlikely to me, and I've never seen any evidence at all to back it up. The other main argument in this direction, the "risk compensation" one ("helmet wearers feel safer so they take more risks") is at least plausible, but again, there's no clear evidence for it.

There do seem to be some quite clear stats showing that compulsory helmet legislation is counterproductive, since it just puts people off cycling.

I've spent a lot of time wearing helmets, or not, in various adventure sports - rock & ice climbing, white water kayaking, horse riding even - and it seems to me that it's largely a matter of culture; for instance rock climbers, on the whole, don't lid up, but ice climbers do, despite the risks of head injury being quite similar really. It's even been recommended that hillwalkers should wear them on steep ground, based on injury statistics.

I reckon the Danny Macaskill vids will do more to persuade the kids to wear them than any amount of argument and legislation; the implication being "I wear a helmet 'cos I'm extreme".
Personally I wear a helmet out of habit, I'm convinced enough that it's the best move, and as it's a habit, I don't ever need to stop and think whether I want to or not.

STEFANOS4784

Hmmm yes i've seen various other threads but has anyone ever come off without a helmet on? If so how did it end?

Anyone know of anyone who has been seriously injured as a result of no helmet?

alfablue

I don't really see the point of collecting individual anecdotes, there will be people who came off with and without helmets who died, got seriously injured, got minor injury and got no injury. If you had many more responses from one side or the other would you take this as definitive evidence for your decision? I think it would be folly to do so. The research evidence is confusing and inconclusive, and subject to great controversy, we are not at the point where we can say that there is a consensus regarding what is "best evidence". You really need to apply your own judgement. You do not need to justify your judgement to anyone but yourself.

alfablue

Having said that - I came off (unaided by any 3rd party!) at 20mph, went over the bars, bounced on the path on my left side. Broke pelvis and shoulder, skinned knee and elbow, crushed and split helmet. No head injury. 7 weeks in hospital bed, not allowed to sit up more than 30 degrees, absolute agony, then mind blowing boredom. 3 months to walk again unaided.

Obviously all of my left side hit the road hard, I believe I would have had some sort of head injury without the helmet, given the considerable forces involved, but who knows? One thing is for sure, no matter how people may assert that they protect their heads in a fall, I was a complete passenger in this one.

tarquin_foxglove

STEFANOS4784 wrote:

Hmmm yes i've seen various other threads but has anyone ever come off without a helmet on? If so how did it end?

I've never owned a helmet, so every time I've come off I've been bareheaded.

Mentioned on here previously, a car side swiped me near Tottenham Court Road and I had cuts & bruises but nothing serious. Someone called an ambulance and I was taken to casualty to be checked over. I was going to be released and I asked the triage nurse for directions to the toilets, as we were talking I walked into a wall and knocked myself out. :oops:

If I'd had a helmet on I would have been fine, perhaps everyone should have to wear one at all times.

Jez mon wrote:

I don't ever use one for cycling to lectures. Now I no longer automatically reach for one when I go on fitness rides either

Now that I don't understand. Helmets are designed for speeds up to 15 mph, just the sort of speed of leisure riding. Why would you not wear one when it could be of maximum benefit?

Jez mon

tarquin_foxglove wrote:

Jez mon wrote:

I don't ever use one for cycling to lectures. Now I no longer automatically reach for one when I go on fitness rides either

Now that I don't understand. Helmets are designed for speeds up to 15 mph, just the sort of speed of leisure riding. Why would you not wear one when it could be of maximum benefit?

Annoying to carry it around tbf, and no one else does!

nasahapley

bigchazrocks wrote:

Plus I like mine, as I FEEL safer with it on. Whether or not I am, I don't know. But if I'm more relaxed, I can ride better and enjoy my ride more not having to worry about crashing!

I've always thought that feeling safe is one of the most dangerous things you can do when out on the road, sure it can make you relax, but couldn't it also make you complacent?

I know full well that a lid may help me in the event of a crash, but I often don't wear one as I'm much more comfortable without it, and I don't want to live my life worrying about unlikely worst-case scenarios all the time.

El Gordo

tarquin_foxglove wrote:

Now that I don't understand. Helmets are designed for speeds up to 15 mph, just the sort of speed of leisure riding. Why would you not wear one when it could be of maximum benefit?

That's a very misleading figure. It may be true that helmets are designed for an impact speed of 15mph (although I think I heard 12mph) but that doesn't relate to the speed of the bike. You can come off doing 50mph and your head may only glance the road at 5mph.

pedylan

nasahapley wrote:

bigchazrocks wrote:

Plus I like mine, as I FEEL safer with it on. Whether or not I am, I don't know. But if I'm more relaxed, I can ride better and enjoy my ride more not having to worry about crashing!

I've always thought that feeling safe is one of the most dangerous things you can do when out on the road, sure it can make you relax, but couldn't it also make you complacent?

I know full well that a lid may help me in the event of a crash, but I often don't wear one as I'm much more comfortable without it, and I don't want to live my life worrying about unlikely worst-case scenarios all the time.

There are studies which have shown that drivers, when passing cyclists, leave more space when the cyclist is not wearing a helmet. They also give women more space. The reasoning set out by the researchers was that motorists judge risk by taking account of all sorts of input variables. When they saw a helmeted rider they thought "experienced cyclist, won't wobble or be traumatised by my presence so I'll pass closer". Same sort of process when they saw a woman - ie female so obviously less competent - better givce her a wide berth.

Research done in urban Oxford IIRC.

So wearing a helmet might make you feel safer but it could increase your chance of being hit if teh motorist factors in less margin for error.

So wear a long wig and a pair of fishnets instead of helmet or lycra.

pedylan

El Gordo wrote:

That's a very misleading figure. It may be true that helmets are designed for an impact speed of 15mph (although I think I heard 12mph) but that doesn't relate to the speed of the bike. You can come off doing 50mph and your head may only glance the road at 5mph.

Is that possible? If you're travelling at 50mph isn't the only way you can have a 5mph impact if you hit something travelling along an identical course at 45mph. So if you rear end a car that's doing 45mph while you're doing 50mph, you have a 5mph impact with car and then a bloody fast one with the road!

alfablue

A glancing blow

CHRISNOIR

bigchazrocks wrote:

CHRISNOIR



But why MJ?

To be honest it's the only gif I've ever found of a bloke eating popcorn... It's good though, innit? It's kinda my standard response on helmet vs no helmet / campag vs shimano type discussions (entertaining as they are) - it's been posted a few times along with my contribution to any Bib-Shortsdiscussions...

Stewie Griffin

STEFANOS4784 wrote:

Hmmm yes i've seen various other threads but has anyone ever come off without a helmet on? If so how did it end?

Anyone know of anyone who has been seriously injured as a result of no helmet?

I imagine there are a few people who have come off their bikes with no lids. They wont answer you though as they rely on others to wipe dribble from their chins now let alone type responses on Forums for them.

pedylan, fishnets with hairy legs looks worse than lycra and hairy legs .

STEFANOS4784

Hmmmmmm, helmet it is then.....once i get it back!
Think i'll save up and get an Atmos or Ionos or something better though

Smokin Joe

Stewie Griffin wrote:

STEFANOS4784 wrote:

Hmmm yes i've seen various other threads but has anyone ever come off without a helmet on? If so how did it end?

Anyone know of anyone who has been seriously injured as a result of no helmet?

I imagine there are a few people who have come off their bikes with no lids. They wont answer you though as they rely on others to wipe dribble from their chins now let alone type responses on Forums for them.

.

I came off on a sportive las month, low speed tumble downhill when I got my front wheel on a patch of mud, exactly the sort of fall where a helmet is supposed to be of mos benefit. Cut knee, huge raspberry on my hip, grazed elbow but not a mark on my head as it didn't touch the ground. I dare say if I had been wearing a lid, the extra couple of inches would have caused it to hit the floor and the thing would have disintegrated as it is designed to do.

I might now be joining the "Helmet saved my life" brigade with a long whinging post on here.

Face it fellas, they are just a fashion statement.

softlad

Stewie Griffin wrote:

I imagine there are a few people who have come off their bikes with no lids. They wont answer you though as they rely on others to wipe dribble from their chins now let alone type responses on Forums for them.

a little over-dramatic, perhaps....

The UCI only made helmets compulsory for pro races in 2003. Somehow, most riders before that time managed to escape serious head injury.

Sure, there were a few tragedies, like Kivilev or Casartelli along the way - but compared to the actual amount of crashes in pro racing (ie lots), serious injuries were relatively few....

Smokin Joe

And as Casartelli hit his head on a concrete block at 90kph I don't think a lid would have made much difference.

Stewie Griffin

softlad wrote:

Stewie Griffin wrote:

I imagine there are a few people who have come off their bikes with no lids. They wont answer you though as they rely on others to wipe dribble from their chins now let alone type responses on Forums for them.

a little over-dramatic, perhaps....

The UCI only made helmets compulsory for pro races in 2003. Somehow, most riders before that time managed to escape serious head injury.

Sure, there were a few tragedies, like Kivilev or Casartelli along the way - but compared to the actual amount of crashes in pro racing (ie lots), serious injuries were relatively few....

I am indeed :oops:

Mettan

El Gordo wrote:

That's a very misleading figure. It may be true that helmets are designed for an impact speed of 15mph (although I think I heard 12mph) but that doesn't relate to the speed of the bike. You can come off doing 50mph and your head may only glance the road at 5mph.

Although I can see the angle you're coming from Gordo, I don't find that convincing at all - sorry.

Mettan

Although Helmets are rated at 12 mph, it's pretty clear anecdotaly that they work well enough in ~ 20 mph offs - if I had to (which I won't) I could probably find 1000-2000 anecdotal reports from cyclists on cycling forums over the last 7 or 8 years that said words to the effect of " came off at ~ 17-23mph, bit cut-up, helmet cracked the ground very hard - head's ok though - glad I was wearing my helmet "

There are even many reports of cyclists coming off at ~ 25 mph with their head's absolutely smashing into the ground (self-described) - they then typically say " helmet cracked in a few places/totalled, slight headache, but the head's ok - glad I was wearing my helmet "

Oh, and I don't find it convincing at all that people's heads are mysteriously decelerating to below 12 mph in the majority of these cases.

Smokin Joe

Mettan wrote:

Although Helmets are rated at 12 mph, it's pretty clear anecdotaly that they work well enough in ~ 20 mph offs - if I had to (which I won't) I could probably find 1000-2000 anecdotal reports from cyclists on cycling forums over the last 5-7 years that said words to the effect of " came off at ~ 17-23mph, bit cut-up, helmet cracked the ground very hard - head's ok though - glad I was wearing my helmet "

There are even many reports of cyclists coming off at ~ 25 mph with their head's absolutely smashing into the ground - they then typically say " helmet cracked in a few places, slight headache, but the head's ok - glad I was wearing my helmet "

Oh, and I don't find it convincing at all that people's heads are mysteriously decelerating to below 12 mph in the majority of these cases.

Cor, the death rate among cyclists pre helmet days must have been catastrophic. Having started my club career in the late sixties, I guess i was just lucky that the hundreds of people I got to know in the sport never had a head injury between them.