There may be more options and if valid I will add...
Comments
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MonkeyMonster wrote:topcat - that smells like an option 3
LiT - what do you with your flowing locks when wake boarding? Surely it'd be like wearing a dememted blonde octopus on your head after the first dunking
Nah, it's not too bad!
As long as you ensure you pull your head out of the water face-first it generally behaves.0 -
I voted 3, but there's no logic to helmet-wearing for me.
It never occurred to me to use a helmet for any cycling until i started commuting 3 miles on a dual carriageway, with lorries travelling at 70mph.
I use a helmet for trad climbing, but not indoor climbing where i fall off a lot more.
Never use one for skiing where i bang my head quite a lot.
Always used to wear a hard hat on horses too.0 -
lost_in_thought wrote:I don't know any parachutists who wear helmets!
I don't know any parachutists, but these guys do http://www.blincoe.org/images/cover1.jpgFCN 120 -
garrynolan wrote:CiB... unless your head is blue it appears you are wearing a helmet in your photo - say it ain't so! :shock:
That photo looks like it was taken from an organized ride or race so I'd assume that the organizers require all riders to wear helmets so no matter how anti-helmet you are if you want to take part you need to wear one :-)
I could quite easily use the "wife makes me wear one" option but I think in all honesty it's no.3 for me. I'd much rather have it there just in case but I'm under no illusion that it could save my life if things went seriously wrong, after all it's only a small bit of polystyrene and once you talk about impacts >15-20mph or a crushing situation then it isn't going to be very useful.
The worst accident I've had on the bike resulted in me smacking my head on a metal pole, with my helmet absorbing a nice bit of the bump! Also as some others have said I have a few mini-BJUK's so I have to set an example as well :-)0 -
if im honest a helmet will not prevent me breaking my arm or leg falling off bike and at any decent speed dont think will do much help, im going to get hurt
However I wear one in case i do have an accident cos the first thing someone will say (insurance company or person who hit me) is "they didnt have a helmet on" and try and reduce the claim etc
so i wear one to stop people moaning, would actually prefer not to but not worth the hassle without0 -
Bassjunkieuk wrote:garrynolan wrote:CiB... unless your head is blue it appears you are wearing a helmet in your photo - say it ain't so! :shock:
That photo looks like it was taken from an organized ride or race so I'd assume that the organizers require all riders to wear helmets so no matter how anti-helmet you are if you want to take part you need to wear one :-)
Two things are relevant here. One is that is was an organised ride, as they're the only times I wear the hat, when some poxy event organiser insists that I have to.
Secondly, like BasssJunkieUK, ShouldBeInBed, MonkeyMonster and probably LiT for all I know, that's not me in that picture. Sorry for the deception there. [I was actually out of shot 200 yards ahead in that particular event...]
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CiB wrote:Secondly, like BasssJunkieUK, ShouldBeInBed, MonkeyMonster and probably LiT for all I know, that's not me in that picture. Sorry for the deception there. [I was actually out of shot 200 yards ahead in that particular event...]
He has a lovely pink and purple polka dot number for such occasions Le Cannon [98 Cannondale M400] [FCN: 8]
The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]0 -
I think the missing option is that people perceive it to be safer.
A lot of people simply stick a helmet on their head and are immediately reassured that they're protecting themselves in the event of an accident. Unfortunately there's a sizeable minority whose concern for their well being doesn't actually extend to making sure they're wearing it properly (badly positioned, stupidly loose chin-strap etc), in which case it's likely to be very little use at all.0 -
These are the people I'm on about...
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How about because they're ultra hip, cool, and fashionable?0
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UndercoverElephant wrote:New option: My wife won't let me cycle without one.
+1 Maniliness currently stored in cupboard under the stairs.0 -
gtvlusso wrote:UndercoverElephant wrote:New option: My wife won't let me cycle without one.
+1 Maniliness currently stored in cupboard under the stairs.
Have you tried using reason? You may be surprised to learn that many women are intelligent and quite capable of understanding a well contructed argument.
Explain the misconception that cycling is dangerous, point out the limitations of existing helmets and highlight your concern that you may be increasing the risk of a serious brain or neck injury by wearing one.
Emphasise that they are probably appropriate for children and that you feel you ought to set an example when riding with them.
Don't forget to point out that this is a recent and counter-intuitive discovery that you have made whilst trying to prove that they are worthwhile to someone on this board. If necessary, back up with summary conclusions from Oz, NZ etc.
Then dig your heels in.
Cheers,
W.0 -
I'm going 3.
I wear a p!$$pot about 80% of the time.
BUT - the question is worded "why are helmets worn" implying to my mind "by people in general". I have no idea why other people wear a lid.
(Anecdote alert)
At the w/end I was briefly discussing BorisBikes with my nephew and some other loved ones viz:
1. Nephew (21yo, considering becoming a London commuter) was genuinely surprised when told that helmets are not mandatory/obligatory. (Also, had not worked out that a TfL-issue shared helmet probably would not be a sizzling public health experience, but that's another matter).
2. Dear friend, occupational therapist, amazingly saw it black and white. The choice as far as she was concerned was wear one or become vegetable soup in the event of any collision. She regularly sees quadraplegics who have been involved in road accidents of every imaginable sort, not just two-wheelers.
3. Brother, expressed the view that he would not wear one riding in Brighton where he lives, but would if riding in London.
I could not summon the will to continue the conversation, use the pedestrian casualty argument, or that famous Australian case study, sorry I failed as a standard bearer for reason. On the basis of that exchange, the reason why helmets are worn, is not strictly A REASON at all; it's mostly based on adult ignorance and prejudice. And furthermore, I can't really give a genuine reason for my helmet wearing either since I am fully acquainted with all the stats and arguments and just wear one when I feel like it.
I'm not a campaigner but I hope in future that I'll be more a voice of reason, especially putting the biggest argument which is, to my mind, that anything or anyone that gives an impression that cycling is in the slightest bit exclusive is thoroughly shitty to the depths of its soul. Helmets-this and helmets-that are examples.
EDIT - the idea that a helmet might exacerbate an injury can't be one that's widely known can it? I don't think option2 would register with most people if you polled outside a specialist audience. Just a wild idea - maybe the population at large is better informed than I give credit for.
Ta-ta
D"Consider the grebe..."0 -
Underscore wrote:How about "Helmets have been shown to be effective for children under the age of 12 so, since I have four that fall (occasionally literally) into that category, I wear a helmet to lead by example"
Pah to leading by example. My parents' generation never led by example and they were much better parents than us IMO.
To lead by example you'd have to give up smoking and drinking, go to school instead of having a job, stop driving, eat more greens, write thankyou letters to your Granny and go to bed at 8pm.
Nonsense!! Hello! I've been here over a month now.0 -
electric_blue wrote:Underscore wrote:How about "Helmets have been shown to be effective for children under the age of 12 so, since I have four that fall (occasionally literally) into that category, I wear a helmet to lead by example"
Pah to leading by example. My parents' generation never led by example and they were much better parents than us IMO.
To lead by example you'd have to give up smoking and drinking, go to school instead of having a job, stop driving, eat more greens, write thankyou letters to your Granny and go to bed at 8pm.
Nonsense!!
OK, I'll bite!
TBH, my parents did lead by example in most of those areas with my sister and me: They didn't smoke and had a responsible approach to drinking; while they did not go to school (at the same time that we did), they exhibited a willingness to learn themselves; and they ate balanced meals.
Also, I can see the effect of my commuting by bike on my children: My eldest son has just started school and much prefers cycling there to going in the car.
I'm not saying that one should lead by example in every aspect but, where one is doing the opposite to them, I feel that there should be a good reason. I've not seen evidence that helmet use significantly increases risk to the wearer so, given kid's propensity to emulate their parents, my wearing one means that their wearing on is a given rather than something of which they have to be convinced.
YMMV,
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