Only for the non helmet wearers!

crispybug2

Used to not bother, but with the advancement of time I find myself wearing one more often than not. It helps that the wife bought me a fantastic looking Catlike Whisper helmet, but also that my son who lives in France and rides seriously and is required to wear a helmet at all times is on at me every time we ride together to wear one. Also my six year old daughter has started riding her bike a lot, so wants me to wear a helmet the same as she does we go out for a little pootle together down Southend seafront.

MattC59

I know an older guy who didn't wear a helmet, he nearly smashed his head in an accident, and I'm sure that wearing a helmet saved his life.

d_o_g

JackPozzi wrote:

36 and prefer to not wear a helmet, but do so occasionally when the rules demand it.

34, almost the same. I do wear one for chaingangs, but otherwise never.

Lived in Australia for a year and had to wear one all the time, binned that off as soon as I returned, it's just much nicer without.

DesB3rd

33 - helmet all the time. Love the feeling of riding without (taking one off after 30 hot miles and riding without is an epiphany...) but no way the Mrs would allow such hedonism.

Of the guys I ride with only one goes helmetless - and oddly enough at 50 he's the oldest.

d_o_g

DesB3rd wrote:

no way the Mrs would allow such hedonism.

Do you dictate what she should and should not do also?

downhill paul

I'm 27, I have always wore a helmet on both road and mountain bikes and I always will.
it makes me cringe every time I see someone riding without one.
modern helmets are so light and comfortable you can hardly tell you are wearing one, it might just save your life too.

rolf_f

Carbonator wrote:

Not sure what age has to do with it?

It's already been alluded to at least twice!

Older people were brought up riding bikes when there was effectively no such thing available as cycle helmets. The only helmets I was ever aware of when I was little were skateboarding helmets.

sheffsimon

Rode for 30 years without, apart from racing, but after a crash last year I now do. I occasionally take it off for long climbs on quiet roads though and it's so much nicer. Rode up french alpine climbs not wearing it and put it back on to descend...I'm 44 btw.

downhill paul

If it's a legal requirement to wear one during a race, it makes you wonder why it isn't the law to wear one at all times.
what makes people think you are more likely to need a helmet during a race, but not while training for said race?

andrew_s

downhill paul wrote:

If it's a legal requirement to wear one during a race

It isn't a legal requirement.
It may be a requirement for racing, but that's just British Cycling rules (they have insurance to think about), and the only sanction for not wearing one is disqualification from the race.
It's also a requirement for Lewis Hamilton to wear a helmet when he races, but that doesn't mean you have to put a helmet on every time you go round to Sainsburys.

Older, doesn't wear a helmet.
Not comfortable (straps rather than the helmet as such), it's an inconvenient thing to lug around when I'm in the cafe or wherever, and if I leave it outside on the bike the pads are a bit yuck when I put it back on.

neilo23

Charlie Potatoes wrote:

neilo23 wrote:

Hopefully the title will stop this turning into yet another helmet debate....

I admire your optimism

Not been too bad so far. I'm pleasantly surprised

downhill paul

andrew_s wrote:

downhill paul wrote:

If it's a legal requirement to wear one during a race

It isn't a legal requirement.
It may be a requirement for racing, but that's just British Cycling rules (they have insurance to think about), and the only sanction for not wearing one is disqualification from the race.
It's also a requirement for Lewis Hamilton to wear a helmet when he races, but that doesn't mean you have to put a helmet on every time you go round to Sainsburys.

Older, doesn't wear a helmet.
Not comfortable (straps rather than the helmet as such), it's an inconvenient thing to lug around when I'm in the cafe or wherever, and if I leave it outside on the bike the pads are a bit yuck when I put it back on.

I thought it might have something to do with insurance.
my girlfriend entered a race at the weekend. while reading through the race rules, I read one that said your helmet must not be taken off or unfastened until your bike was racked. is that in case you fall over and hit your head in the transition area?

charlie_potatoes

neilo23 wrote:

Charlie Potatoes wrote:

neilo23 wrote:

Hopefully the title will stop this turning into yet another helmet debate....

I admire your optimism

Not been too bad so far. I'm pleasantly surprised

Early days yet, it's only page 3

tootsie323

I used to be with the no-helmet brigade (the same with seatbelts when driving before the law tightened that up) but having kids changed that. I was apparently happy to take the risk myself but not for the kids, so (i) had to lead by example and (ii) putting lids on the kids did have me rethinking my own position.
Now I am used to wearing one I do wonder how I got away with not doing so before (much the same with seatbelts as well).

StillGoing

Approaching mid 50s and wear one every time.

morstar

I believe the original assumption to be generally correct. I.e. That 'most' sans helmet riders are older. Converse is not true.

43, got a helmet when they were just coming out in late 80's and never got on with it so didn't use a helmet again until about 5 years ago. Not even 100% sure what motivated me to buy one a few years back (probably MTB) but I have gradually evolved from using it sporadically to almost always using it. If I forget it, I'll just carry on without but it does feel a little odd. I suspect if I were from a younger generation having always used one, it would be more compelling to turn back and get it.

Kids are only made to wear them if we're going for a ride. Don't make them wear them when just taking the bikes on the park. Radical huh?

chris_bass

downhill paul wrote:

If it's a legal requirement to wear one during a race, it makes you wonder why it isn't the law to wear one at all times.
what makes people think you are more likely to need a helmet during a race, but not while training for said race?

As someone else has pointed out it is probably more to do with covering themselves if someone has an accident, in this day and age people will sue for anything. Also, when i got hit by a car one of the first questions on the claim form was "Were you wearing a helmet?".

I am 30, grew up riding bikes mainly to get about before I got a car, never wore a helmet, then stopped for a few years from 17 (cars were much more efficient/attractive to girls!) to about 25 and have always worn one since then. In that time I have been hit by cars 3 times and came off all by myself once, none of which were too serious but hit my head on the tarmac and the helmet stopped at best a pretty nasty headache and at worst a split head and concussion.

rolf_f

Charlie Potatoes wrote:

neilo23 wrote:

Charlie Potatoes wrote:

neilo23 wrote:

Hopefully the title will stop this turning into yet another helmet debate....

I admire your optimism

Not been too bad so far. I'm pleasantly surprised

Early days yet, it's only page 3

Amazingly, by the standards of any long thread, people are still reading and understanding the specific point of the original post! It can't last of course.........

neilo23

Rolf F wrote:

Charlie Potatoes wrote:

neilo23 wrote:

Charlie Potatoes wrote:

neilo23 wrote:

Hopefully the title will stop this turning into yet another helmet debate....

I admire your optimism

Not been too bad so far. I'm pleasantly surprised

Early days yet, it's only page 3

Amazingly, by the standards of any long thread, people are still reading and understanding the specific point of the original post! It can't last of course.........

Been using the forum long enough to know for sure that it can't possibly last...or can it? It's making me nervous

CiB

Interesting...

Observations (from one who now fits into the age-groupings towards the higher end on forms & website questionnaires, past the 18-24, 30-35 and onwards past 45-50 )

The analogy with seat belts & DD is weak to say the least - people were being killed & maimed in droves before those two were clamped down on. Sorry to rehash helmet arguments but the same isn't true and never has been of cyclists who don't wear helmets.

I grew up before helmets were the norm, about 25 years ago when I used to ride to work on a city ring-road it seemed a good idea so I wore one. I never did like it but stuck with it till a few years on when for whatever reason I stopped using it and never bothered since, with the exception of events where it's a requirement.

Sportiv organisers might announce that it's compulsory but the last time I did one (a while ago now) I queried it and was told that they can't enforce it, 'would prefer all riders to wear one' but if a rider wishes he / she can sign a waiver and ride without a helmet.

I've fallen off enough times in 40+ years of riding bikes and never suffered any damage that a helmet would have mitigated. My teenage son came off his a couple of months ago and bumped his head - his school recommended he visit the hospital for a check but they treated it for what it was - a minor bump to the head; give him some painkillers and keep an eye on him. The assumption from too many people these days is that any blow to the head is terminal one way or another and must always be avoided. My observation is the opposite so I'm quite relaxed about not wearing one these days.

rolf_f

neilo23 wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

Charlie Potatoes wrote:

neilo23 wrote:

Charlie Potatoes wrote:

neilo23 wrote:

Hopefully the title will stop this turning into yet another helmet debate....

I admire your optimism

Not been too bad so far. I'm pleasantly surprised

Early days yet, it's only page 3

Amazingly, by the standards of any long thread, people are still reading and understanding the specific point of the original post! It can't last of course.........

Been using the forum long enough to know for sure that it can't possibly last...or can it? It's making me nervous

Oh now look what you've done. You jinxed it! Or maybe I jinxed it......

drlodge

46 and nearly always wear a helmet now, never used to. When I was young, cycling helmets didn't exist except for those leather things that the racers wore. Things changed when I had kids and the Mrs insisted I wear a helmet (due to my fatherly responsibilities), and of course as the children grew up and start riding bikes/skates etc we insist they wear a helmet too.

Now I wouldn't be without a helmet on the road, different if I'm cycling along a cycle path where there are no vehicles (reduced risk).

davep1

49, been wearing a helmet since the 90's when some scrote on the Northolt Rd deliberately drove me so close to the kerb I had to crash up the full size bit of the kerb and came off. It was his response to me telling him in no uncertain terms what I thought of his previous close pass; the boys in blue paid him a visit which gave me enormous satisfaction.

I have forgotten to wear it a couple of times on my rural commute recently; been busy getting ready in the garage and got distracted at the usual helmet-donning moment. Both times I realised after I had put the bike in the rack and am walking in to the office, feels odd.

I understand the arguments against not wearing them but don't feel strongly enough to not wear one myself, and hope I won't ever need to use the line "if I hadn't been wearing my helmet I wouldn't be here now..."

neilo23

CiB wrote:

Interesting...

Observations (from one who now fits into the age-groupings towards the higher end on forms & website questionnaires, past the 18-24, 30-35 and onwards past 45-50 )

The analogy with seat belts & DD is weak to say the least - people were being killed & maimed in droves before those two were clamped down on. Sorry to rehash helmet arguments but the same isn't true and never has been of cyclists who don't wear helmets.

I grew up before helmets were the norm, about 25 years ago when I used to ride to work on a city ring-road it seemed a good idea so I wore one. I never did like it but stuck with it till a few years on when for whatever reason I stopped using it and never bothered since, with the exception of events where it's a requirement.

Sportiv organisers might announce that it's compulsory but the last time I did one (a while ago now) I queried it and was told that they can't enforce it, 'would prefer all riders to wear one' but if a rider wishes he / she can sign a waiver and ride without a helmet.

I've fallen off enough times in 40+ years of riding bikes and never suffered any damage that a helmet would have mitigated. My teenage son came off his a couple of months ago and bumped his head - his school recommended he visit the hospital for a check but they treated it for what it was - a minor bump to the head; give him some painkillers and keep an eye on him. The assumption from too many people these days is that any blow to the head is terminal one way or another and must always be avoided. My observation is the opposite so I'm quite relaxed about not wearing one these days.

That's just it. When I was a lad everybody rode around without a helmet but nobody ever said not to do it as you were going to smash your head to bits. You just did it and enjoyed yourself. Still have a scar on my chin from flying over the handlebars riding down the grass bank in front of our house and landing on the tarmac. Even after that my parents were pleased to see me having fun out and about (resulting a few years later in getting my first racer for my 15th birthday).

I think it's simply been drummed into the younger generation that something bad will happen if you don't wear one and this paranoia is creeping into the older riders, too. Until most people started wearing one (and writing on forums like this) I never really felt at risk and enjoyed my cycling more. I think the younger generation has been brought up to think that they're constantly in danger: I can't remember the last time I saw kids climbing trees, for example. Paedophiles are stalking the streets, every lowly criminal is carrying a gun ready to shoot you etc.

And thanks everyone for not turning this into yet another boring helmet debate

navrig2

Ofcourse there is always a likelihood that riders, as they get older, recognise their own mortality and start to wear a helmet.

If that's the case I don't necessarily think that growing up with helmets has as much inlfuence as we think.

I suspect one of the main influencers is the design of helmets. In the late 80s cycle helmets were generally more bulky, heavier and the straps and buckles a pain to make comfortable. That would put people off. Now they are better fitting, easier to tighten and much lighter. Once you get used to them you barely notice you are wearing one.

proto

Much older (61), and I now consider a helmet part of my cycle clothing. Essential. Didn't always think this way, but it seems to me that likelihood of falling off has increased over the years - increased traffic and poor roads being a big factor. Will never go out on a 'proper' ride, or a club run, without one.

FWIW I'm not in favour of making them compulsory.

Giraffoto

drlodge wrote:

46 and nearly always wear a helmet now, never used to. When I was young, cycling helmets didn't exist except for those leather things that the racers wore. Things changed when I had kids and the Mrs insisted I wear a helmet (due to my fatherly responsibilities), and of course as the children grew up and start riding bikes/skates etc we insist they wear a helmet too.

Now I wouldn't be without a helmet on the road, different if I'm cycling along a cycle path where there are no vehicles (reduced risk).

This is pretty much me, except I'm 45. I want my boys to wear one, and I can hardly insist on that when I don't. But if you're not related to me, it's your head and your choice.

Ouija

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 ?

Besides the fact it doesn't keep the rain off my head (they have bloody big holes in them, you know).

Or the fact they don't keep the rain off my glasses or prevent you from being dazzled by oncoming car lights (tiny peaks, that are clipped on so rain just runs down the back of the peak and drips off the front edge of the helmet)

Don't do much to keep the glare of the sun out of my eyes in the summer either.

Or the fact that it doesn't keep my head warm (holes again... why they think helmets need ventilation beats me).

Own two helmets but don't wear them. Just a long peaked German style military hat as helmets just take the joy out of riding for me and would prevent me from riding as much as i do (specially in the cooler months).

And before anyone says "but they do protect your head in a accident", i've been run over twice and suffered head injuries both times and still wouldn't wear one. On the other hand, i used to wear a hard hat at work for years even though it wasn't mandatory and no one else did. Why? Because i banged my head more times a day than i could remember on scaffolding and other industrial piping and plumbing. So i did a risk assesment and decided to wear one. Banging my head twice over a eight year period while cycling just doesn't qualify as often enough to warrant it. I've done more damage to my head just walkiing or moving about the house in the same time frame. Maybe i should wear one there as well by most peoples logic?

You can't protect yourself from getting injured unless you wear full on body armour 24 hours a day. And even then it's not 100% guaranteed that would protect you. As always you weigh up the risks and come to a decision based on what you find. A lot of the "you must wear a helmet or you'll die" brigade come across as panic mungers. It's by no means certain. Many helmeted wearers get killed and many that don't wear a helmet walk away without a scratch on them. It's the laws of chance.

It's not that i have any moral objections to wearing a helmet. If someone designed a helmet that did the things i wanted i'd be more than happy to wear it. But they don't. Closest thing i can find are industrial bump caps (fabric hard hats designed to look like baseball caps but with hard plastic under the material).

Anonymous

Rolf F wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

Not sure what age has to do with it?

It's already been alluded to at least twice!

Older people were brought up riding bikes when there was effectively no such thing available as cycle helmets. The only helmets I was ever aware of when I was little were skateboarding helmets.

I am older than the OP so my comment is valid (tongue out smiley).

I think the bent not to wear a helmet is bugger all to do with childhood reminiscence.

rolf_f

Carbonator wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

Not sure what age has to do with it?

It's already been alluded to at least twice!

Older people were brought up riding bikes when there was effectively no such thing available as cycle helmets. The only helmets I was ever aware of when I was little were skateboarding helmets.

I am older than the OP so my comment is valid (tongue out smiley).

I think the bent not to wear a helmet is bugger all to do with childhood reminiscence.

It's not about reminiscences - just that older riders are more likely to have grown up not wearing lids and therefore see it as perfectly normal not to whereas most younger riders have grown up wearing them. It's just a broad generalisation born out by comments on this thread.

I'm in the same position as you age wise. Before I tried wearing a helmet I did think it would in some way spoil the experience - it didn't. If shoes had only become popular in the last 20 years you'd see the same thing - plenty of older folk refusing to wear shoes but almost all younger people shoe'd up! What the object is and why is largely irrelevant.....