Only for the non helmet wearers!

neilo23
neilo23 Posts: 783
edited June 2014 in Road general
Hopefully the title will stop this turning into yet another helmet debate....

Just out of interest I was wondering if those of you who don't wear helmets are older? I'm early 40s and have never worn one. Love mucking about on the bike as a kid and back then nobody wore a helmet. I fell in love with cycling watching the TdF highlights on TV and the pros didn't wear helmets either. For me it seems as strange wearing one as it must for many nowadays not to wear one. Just curious to know if the other helmetless riders are similar or are there younger riders who also don't bother?
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Comments

  • charlie_potatoes
    charlie_potatoes Posts: 1,921
    neilo23 wrote:
    Hopefully the title will stop this turning into yet another helmet debate....

    I admire your optimism :D
    "You really think you can burn off sugar with exercise?" downhill paul
  • neilo23
    neilo23 Posts: 783
    Charlie Potatoes wrote:
    neilo23 wrote:
    Hopefully the title will stop this turning into yet another helmet debate....

    I admire your optimism :D

    I know, I know...... :cry:
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    Older and wear one.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • neilo23
    neilo23 Posts: 783
    nicklouse wrote:
    Older and wear one.


    Off topic, Nick, but I'm a Southern Softy currently in Germany :-)
  • navrig2
    navrig2 Posts: 1,851
    Older (I'm 51) but also grew up in the environment where kids and pros didn't wear one.

    Now I wear a helmet for everything except the odd trip to the High Street or Asda.

    First couple of times I wore one it felt strange. Once you have it on for half a day or longer then you barely notice it.

    Exactly the same with skiing - skiid regularly until I was about 30 then kids arrived. Ski helemts barely existed then. Returned to skiing two years ago and now wear a helmet. Same thing, it felt strange to start but eventually it feels normal AND I found that ski helmets are the best way of keeping the head warm (I am bald) especially at -25 degrees and windy.
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Little older than you neilo. I stopped riding bikes when I was younger before helmets were that popular (early 90s) but felt at the time that they were a pretty terrible thing that would put me off riding if it became compulsory.

    By the time I got back into it, about 6 years ago, helmets were looking rather better and it just seemed a good idea to me - in the end it seemed odd to be wearing it for about five minutes. Occasionally, I go out without one but mostly I don't notice I'm wearing a lid anyway so I think it can't do any harm to. I have had a helmet stop my head hitting the ground so maybe it has done me good. Saved me a cricked neck and some scrape marks on my head if nothing else!
    Faster than a tent.......
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Older than you and have always worn one on a road bike (apart from as a kid).
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    neilo23 wrote:
    nicklouse wrote:
    Older and wear one.


    Off topic, Nick, but I'm a Southern Softy currently in Germany :-)


    Which part?
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • neilo23
    neilo23 Posts: 783
    It does seem like I'm an exception, even amongst the "oldies". I do sometimes wear one if it's raining and there are descents involved. I'm not anti-helmet. I just thought it might be a generational thing: those having come out of a time when they were a rarity being the ones who still don't wear them but it seems I'm wrong.
    I thought it would be a bit like smoking: kids today are well aware of the dangers and see smokers shivering outside the office in winter and are less tempted to take it up themselves whereas even 20 odd years ago you could still smoke upstairs in the bus.
  • neilo23
    neilo23 Posts: 783
    nicklouse wrote:
    neilo23 wrote:
    nicklouse wrote:
    Older and wear one.


    Off topic, Nick, but I'm a Southern Softy currently in Germany :-)


    Which part?

    In NRW. Cologne's the next city. Was in Bavaria before.
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    neilo23 wrote:
    nicklouse wrote:
    neilo23 wrote:
    nicklouse wrote:
    Older and wear one.


    Off topic, Nick, but I'm a Southern Softy currently in Germany :-)


    Which part?

    In NRW. Cologne's the next city. Was in Bavaria before.
    Mainz for me.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • mm1
    mm1 Posts: 1,063
    Mid 50's always wear one for proper rides (I.e. not riding to the shops), my children are still young so I view the helmet as essential lawyer proofing in case something unfortunate happens.
  • neilo23
    neilo23 Posts: 783
    nicklouse wrote:
    neilo23 wrote:
    nicklouse wrote:
    neilo23 wrote:
    nicklouse wrote:
    Older and wear one.


    Off topic, Nick, but I'm a Southern Softy currently in Germany :-)


    Which part?

    In NRW. Cologne's the next city. Was in Bavaria before.
    Mainz for me.

    It's nice there isn't it? Never been, mind
  • neilo23
    neilo23 Posts: 783
    The title didn't do a very good job of attracting the non-helmet-wearers :-) Maybe they're a dying breed ;-)
  • gethinceri
    gethinceri Posts: 1,665
    I used to wear a helmet when I lived in Germany. It was a Kevlar one.
  • Mikey23
    Mikey23 Posts: 5,306
    I've always soaked my head in vinegar
  • charlie_potatoes
    charlie_potatoes Posts: 1,921
    Mikey23 wrote:
    I've always soaked my head in vinegar

    That is cheating. As is baking your head or using last years head :D
    "You really think you can burn off sugar with exercise?" downhill paul
  • Joeblack
    Joeblack Posts: 829
    Haha me too, not Paderborn by any chance was it?!

    Regards ages and wearing helmets iv noticed that the only guys on the club runs not wearing helmets are much older 50/60+ I'd say. Must be a generational thing.

    I wear one but I'm much younger and braver on the hills :oops:
    One plays football, tennis or golf, one does not play at cycling
  • sigorman85
    sigorman85 Posts: 2,536
    I never wore one when I was younger but then I was never on the road not that it makes a difference I was in woods making Jumps and tracks

    But now I'm on the roads and think about things more and seen that wearing a helmet can save your life not just on a bike then yes I wear one

    Now 28 years young and loving cycling
    When i die I just hope the wife doesn't sell my stuff for what I told her I paid for it other wise someone will be getting a mega deal!!!


    De rosa superking 888 di2
  • Sawilson
    Sawilson Posts: 171
    Just curious neilo23, nobody wore seat belts when I was a kid, do you wear one, if you do, is it for safety reasons or because you have to ?
    About your question to younger riders ?
    Do you have children or have you been in charge of other peoples children on bikes and would you make them wear a helmet.
    Just Kidding !

    Specailized Roubaix Comp 2014
    Lapierre Zesty 2011
    Garmin 510
  • JackPozzi
    JackPozzi Posts: 1,191
    36 and prefer to not wear a helmet, but do so occasionally when the rules demand it.
  • lesfirth
    lesfirth Posts: 1,382
    I am one of the much older but I do wear a helmet now.

    I thought you had to have a Carradice saddle bag to be allowed not to wear a helmet.
  • Ouija
    Ouija Posts: 1,386
    47, average around 32 hours a week on the bike and don't wear one. Mainly because i find them impractical for what i need.
  • Brakeless
    Brakeless Posts: 865
    Ouija wrote:
    47, average around 32 hours a week on the bike and don't wear one. Mainly because i find them impractical for what i need.

    Why is a helmet impractical ?
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Brakeless wrote:
    Ouija wrote:
    47, average around 32 hours a week on the bike and don't wear one. Mainly because i find them impractical for what i need.

    Why is a helmet impractical ?

    Sounds like he's too busy to bring his head with him!
    Faster than a tent.......
  • andy9964
    andy9964 Posts: 930
    I know an "old" guy who never wears one, just a cap. He does 25-30 miles a day, every day, unless the weather's really bad then he's on the turbo (I assume he doesn't wear one on that )
    He must be nearly eighty, as he told me a couple of years ago, that he got rid of his MTB when he turned 75
    I'm 49 and wear one probably 95% of the time, doing 15-20 miles a day commuting. Obviously, I'll live longer than him ;)
  • Bozman
    Bozman Posts: 2,518
    45. Generally don't wear one but I do wear a cotton cap so I'm safe, I will wear one in the wet and winter due to family pressure.
    I do feel that it's generally an age thing because the only folk that I see without one are.....older.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Not sure what age has to do with it?
    Seems more like a question of how likely are you to hit your head hard and how much do you care if/when you do.

    I know/know of too many people that have hit their heads hard (or had an accident where they could easily have done so) to not think its a distinct possibility.

    Even if I did not know anyone I would still think it much better to wear one solely based on what I am doing.
    Do not see any downsides or any reason not to wear one.

    Do not see much point in saying you do 1000 miles a week and have never worn a helmet.
    The helmets not for the 1000 miles a week/52,000 miles a year, its for the much smaller distance you travel along the road before smashing your head into something hard.

    Cannot help but think non helmet wearers would change their mind if they had a near miss.
  • BrandonA
    BrandonA Posts: 553
    I always wear one on my road bike as I like to ride as fast as I can. When going downhill at > 35 mph you need as much protection as possible.

    If I'm having a casual cycle down the cycle path or canal on my MTB I might not bother. The chances of having a crash that would require helmet protection on these rides is minimal.

    I think the seatbelt comparison is irrelevant. People used to also legally drink drive. It is against the law to not wear a belt or drive drunk, this is a huge reason people do not do it - they don't want to break the law.
  • simon_masterson
    simon_masterson Posts: 2,740
    Nearly 25. Used to be a non-wearer. I generally still don't bother with one when heading to the shops, and I do like riding without a helmet (and the choice of peak up/down, backwards, off), but good helmets are comfortable, light and well ventilated, so that's not a problem for me.
    Retro(ish) TT 2017-
    Fixed TT 2015-2016

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