[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Bicycle helmets? (Page 1 of 4)
Posted: 2/22/2009 6:12:22 AM EDT
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It seems most everyone I see out on the local riding paths or trails has a helmet on. What gives?
I can see if you're riding out in the street on a super duper European racing bike going 30 MPH, but seriously. These aren't simply families with children in tow, but grown adults. I spent much of my youth falling off a bike doing jumps from a homemade ramp and was never seriously injured. Why such precautions now? Are people just too weak today? Give me a logical argument why I should feel naked without a bicycle helmet. Konger |
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I dont wear one either, but I could understand why they wear them.
They dont protect much, but it could be all it takes. Hit by a car, your head smacking their hood or their windshield. I dont think its stupid to wear one, but like you, I would rather just take the risk. |
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Helmet technology has come a long way. Today's helmets are so light you don't even notice you are wearing them.
It's not like 30+ years ago when I was racing BMX and had to wear a heavy motorcross helmet that made me look like Jack-In-The-Box. Today, I do not hit the road or trail without my Giro helmet on. |
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Helmet technology has come a long way. Today's helmets are so light you don't even notice you are wearing them. It's not like 30+ years ago when I was racing BMX and had to wear a heavy motorcross helmet that made me look like Jack-In-The-Box. Today, I do not hit the road or trail without my Giro helmet on. What was your ride back then?? |
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It seems most everyone I see out on the local riding paths or trails has a helmet on. What gives? I can see if you're riding out in the street on a super duper European racing bike going 30 MPH, but seriously. These aren't simply families with children in tow, but grown adults. I spent much of my youth falling off a bike doing jumps from a homemade ramp and was never seriously injured. Why such precautions now? Are people just too weak today? Give me a logical argument why I should feel naked without a bicycle helmet. Konger I won't offer an argument but I'll state my experience based on 25 years of racing mountain bikes and 13 years of racing road bikes. The majority of serious head injuries I've see have taken place when someone was just screwing around. They never meant to do anything more than just "cruise" around and ended up in the hospital with a concussion. I've almost lost friends during races where they would certainly be dead if not for their helmet but I've visited far more because they weren't wearing a helmet and didn't think they needed to. This includes riding on the boardwalk or on the local bike paths. Which I feel are the most dangerous places to ride because you have people of all skill levels you never know what that person in front of you or coming at you is going to do. Some of the worse accidents I've seen were on a city or park bike path because someone turned into another cyclist or stopped or tried to do a u-turn. It's totally up to you man. It's your nugget. |
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Just another step in the pussification of America. We have become a nation of hand-wringing, fearful people. Everything is dangerous or bad for you. I blame the mainstream media and the people who believe everything they see on the TV news. We have 24/7 fear mongering news on CNN. |
Personally I wont ride without mine, and my diligence paid off with a decent wipeout last year due to pedestrians on a trail. 
Helmet? Yessir! Riding gloves? zomg yes! In a crash your melon is just one more possible point of contact with the ground... think about it. All it took was for small children to dart in front of my mtn bike at 18 mph to lose it. 
Dram out |
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Just another step in the pussification of America. We have become a nation of hand-wringing, fearful people. Everything is dangerous or bad for you. I blame the mainstream media and the people who believe everything they see on the TV news. We have 24/7 fear mongering news on CNN. Exactly, that's why I cut out the seat belts and disconnect the air bags in every new vehicle I buy. |
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I can see if you're riding out in the street on a super duper European racing bike going 30 MPH, but seriously. These aren't simply families with children in tow, but grown adults. I spent much of my youth falling off a bike doing jumps from a homemade ramp and was never seriously injured. Why such precautions now? Funny you should say that. I've never fallen at 30MPH, and I spend a good amount of time at 30+ when I ride. Every single time I have fallen down has been when I've been traveling at <5MPH, or when I've been screwing around on a cheap little mountain bike I have for rolling around on the property around the house. That's just been my experience, though. If you don't want to wear a helmet, don't. I will continue to wear mine, as I value my life and my mental/cognitive function very highly. |
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Just another step in the pussification of America. We have become a nation of hand-wringing, fearful people. Everything is dangerous or bad for you. I blame the mainstream media and the people who believe everything they see on the TV news. We have 24/7 fear mongering news on CNN. Exactly, that's why I cut out the seat belts and disconnect the air bags in every new vehicle I buy. 
Everyone should or else they'll be labelled pussies! We should all chain smoke and drink vodka for breakfast too. Like I said MM, I've visited a lot of friends in the hospital because they thought they would just hop on and cruise and never intended on getting a concussion. If wearing a helmet now makes them a pussy then they should probably hang out with you and toughen up a bit. |
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Just another step in the pussification of America. We have become a nation of hand-wringing, fearful people. Everything is dangerous or bad for you. Yep, here's another example of the media playing this stuff up to drum up sales of bike helmets: http://www.cycleto.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=718:hatch-crash&catid=7:womens-pro-racing&Itemid=2 I've talked to enough people that have been through some bad crashes to not need any media, scientific studies, etc to give me a reason to wear a helmet when I ride. To each their own though - it's not the law here to wear a helmet when you ride, and if you don't want to wear one, that's cool, more power to you. |
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Endo'ed and landed directly on my head. I got a grade III concussion and didn't remember 5 hours. I had no medical insurance. I paid $1500 for the ER trip and was out of action for month in contact sports.
If I hadn't had that helmet on, I'd owe $100,000+ in debt for ambulance, ER, helicopter, level 1, surgery, and ICU, out of action for months, and probable permanent brain damage. Or dead... A helmet is CHEAP insurance. Only a moron would turn it down. |
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It seems most everyone I see out on the local riding paths or trails has a helmet on. What gives? I can see if you're riding out in the street on a super duper European racing bike going 30 MPH, but seriously. These aren't simply families with children in tow, but grown adults. I spent much of my youth falling off a bike doing jumps from a homemade ramp and was never seriously injured. Why such precautions now? Are people just too weak today? Give me a logical argument why I should feel naked without a bicycle helmet concealed carry firearm. Konger Same reason you concealed carry. My helmets have saved my life twice. One time I was riding along a road and a guy ran a stop sign. Other time an 18 wheeler had a blowout in front of me. Resulting blowout and my swerving put me in the creek bed head first. A perfect dent of a t-stake in the helmet. I generally wear one for the things I can't control; Same reason I concealed carry, wear a seatbelt, and have a fire extinguisher. Head injuries can be devastating to the injured and their families. I survived my childhood without one too, but they do save lives, and since they are not mandatory, who cares? If you want to wear one, or have your kids wear one, then do... If not, then don't? </thread> I make my daughter wear one; Plus, weigh the cost of one head injury, home health care, and someone changing your bedpan for the rest of your life vs a helmet. When we were kids, helmets were heavy and expensive. Now they are light, and don't really cost much at all. I skied 20 years without a helmet; The only time I wore a helmet skiing was racing. Now-a-days, many many people ski with helmets. Biggest reason? Someone comes over the rise or from above them on the hill, and cleans their clock. Homeowners insurance has been paying out the wazoo bigtime for the past few years on these cases in Colorado. |
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Just another step in the pussification of America. We have become a nation of hand-wringing, fearful people. Everything is dangerous or bad for you. Yep, here's another example of the media playing this stuff up to drum up sales of bike helmets: http://www.cycleto.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=718:hatch-crash&catid=7:womens-pro-racing&Itemid=2 I've talked to enough people that have been through some bad crashes to not need any media, scientific studies, etc to give me a reason to wear a helmet when I ride. To each their own though - it's not the law here to wear a helmet when you ride, and if you don't want to wear one, that's cool, more power to you. That was Liz Hatch and she was hauling ass when she crashed. She'll admit that the helmet saved her life. Not only is she fast as hell she's hotter than the surface of the sun. She's tougher (and far better looking) than any of us. |
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As a kid I (waaay back in the sixties) I never wore one, got hit by a car once
and knocked out; I woke up ok. ....Jan 2, 2002 (as a "mature" adult) I went ass over tea kettle, broke 3 ribs and busted my helmet, glad I was wearing it cause I'd prolly be sitting here drooling instead of typing this reply your head - your choice |
| When I am out for a street ride around town on the local paved bike paths I don't tend to wear a helmet. When I am out on the local single tracks I always have a helmet on, way too many tree branches and obstacles to do you in. You have to weight in the risks when you are out riding and keep yourself paranoid to force yourself to pay attention. |
| I should wear mine. People around here drive like assholes, and I've already been hit once (crossing at a lightless crosswalk at the tail end of a crowd, some dumb bitch went forward, contacted my rear wheel, and knocked it out of alignment), but it's just kind of a hassle to carry it around when I'm not on my bike. I generally leave it behind unless I'm on a long ride, even though I know that's pretty stupid. |
| Down at the oceanfront there is 3+ miles of bike path which I've dubbed the most dangerous 3 miles of trails I've ever ridden on. I've ridden in BC, Utah, Colorado, PA, VT, Maine, NC, France and here in Virginia and I've seen more people hurt and the nastiest crashes on that 3 miles of paved path than I have any where else. Guess what, none of them had a helmet on. |
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There are plenty of hazards out there. I have wiped out doing 25+MPH and didn't even get a scratch. Yet I have also crashed at 12 MPH and and needed every bit of my helmet. On road.
Now I have also used the helmet off road and stunt riding. Split the thing right down the center. |
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It seems most everyone I see out on the local riding paths or trails has a helmet on. What gives? I can see if you're riding out in the street on a super duper European racing bike going 30 MPH, but seriously. These aren't simply families with children in tow, but grown adults. I spent much of my youth falling off a bike doing jumps from a homemade ramp and was never seriously injured. Why such precautions now? Are people just too weak today? Give me a logical argument why I should feel naked without a bicycle helmet. Konger Let's look at it from a slightly different point of view. "It seems most everyone I see shooting keeps their finger off the trigger until the sights are on the target. I can see if you're shooting a super duper IPSC racegun,but seriously. These aren't simply families with children in tow, but grown adults. I spent much of my youth with my finger on the trigger and was never seriously injured. Why such precautions now? Are people just too weak today? Give me a logical argument why I should keep my finger off the trigger until the sights are on the target." See how that works? I used to ride my mountain bike without a helmet, just like I used to keep my finger on the trigger of my old Daisy BB gun. Then, after I got some experience and began riding hard and fast 8 miles back in the woods and understood that it was my responsibilty to not injure myself and cause others to come haul my brain damaged ass out, I started wearing a helmet. Just like as I started shooting more, I understood what the 4 safety rules were all about and I now follow them 24/7. So even when I'm riding 5mph on the street or when I'm shooting a 200fps airsoft gun, I take reasonable safety precautions. Reasonable safety precautions are not weakness and ignoring safety issues is not strength, it's false bravado. Gringop |
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Wear the helmet!
I've had two occasions where the ER docs said it was a good thing I was wearing a helmet - because If I hadn't I would probably be dead. The first time, I was just riding around the neighborhood when a local high school girl driving her VW home from school misjudged my speed, hit me and knocked me into the next street. Woke up when the police tried to disentangle me from the bike and spent a year getting up to speed so I could walk normally again. The second time I tried to ride my bike through a stream, fell over and hit my head on a rock - still ended up with dain bramage and would probably have been knocked out cold and drowned had I not been wearing a good helmet. Not wearing a helmet is a good way to compete for a Darwin award. |
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Quoted: I tend to go along with this. This country has been turned into a whimpering wuss pussy place. I have no idea how some of us older guys survived life without all of the Granny State Shit, forced or browbeaten on people nowadays.Just another step in the pussification of America. We have become a nation of hand-wringing, fearful people. Everything is dangerous or bad for you. I blame the mainstream media and the people who believe everything they see on the TV news. We have 24/7 fear mongering news on CNN. I don't wear a helmet on my Harley. I sure as fuck wouldn't wear one of those pointy faggot looking things on a bicycle!! |
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I stopped wearing a bicycle helmet a few years back when I switched to recumbent bikes, which I heavily suspect are safer than regular bicycles. Most will not flip over forward from braking too hard or in frontal collisions. I gave up the helmet over time, because no helmet feels as good as riding with [no helmet].
In terms of bicycle riding safety, I feel that a good rear-view mirror is much more important than a helmet. IF I had someplace to ride a MTB off-road, then I might have a MTB, and for that I might wear a helmet. But for on-road riding, I don't anymore. ––––- Bicycle helmets aren't really made to protect you from much; the technical standards are something like only a 4-foot drop. How tall are you? In the Netherlands (where something like 30% of the population rides bicycles to work) helmet use is very rare except among young toddlers. Riders in sanctioned races are required to wear them, but nobody else does. Government studies there showed that helmet use had very little relation to decreasing riding injuries. http://www.ski-epic.com/amsterdam_bicycles/ ( safety precaution––rear racks on US bicycles are not strong enough to sit on. The rear racks on European bicycles are often welded integral with the frames, and are far stronger than the junk sold in the USA ) ~ |
| Helmets look stupid but I still wear one every time I hop on my bike. Falling off at 7MPH and getting brained by a curb or getting hit by a car going 25 is going to wreck your brain without a helmet. It is indisputable that they save lives and prevent serious brain injury. |
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Bicycle helmets aren't really made to protect you from much; the technical standards are something like only a 4-foot drop. How tall are you? You have no clue what you are talking about. Yes, the are TESTED for a 2m vertical drop on to flat and curved anvils, but that's because they are full of 12 pounds of weights and accelerometers. That is because the standard says "must not exceed 300g of acceleration." (ie, ~15mph). Does that mean they are useless at speeds above 15mph? No! Do you always stop yourself entirely with your head? No. Are blows always direct? No. Even if it is, the helmet still decreases the peak deceleration experienced by your head thereby decreasing the incidence of TBI, skull fractures, and therefor decreases brain damage and chances of death. |
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I stopped wearing a bicycle helmet a few years back when I switched to recumbent bikes, which I heavily suspect are safer than regular bicycles. Most will not flip over forward from braking too hard or in frontal collisions. I gave up the helmet over time, because no helmet feels as good as riding with [no helmet]. In terms of bicycle riding safety, I feel that a good rear-view mirror is much more important than a helmet. IF I had someplace to ride a MTB off-road, then I might have a MTB, and for that I might wear a helmet. But for on-road riding, I don't anymore. ––––- Bicycle helmets aren't really made to protect you from much; the technical standards are something like only a 4-foot drop. How tall are you? In the Netherlands (where something like 30% of the population rides bicycles to work) helmet use is very rare except among young toddlers. Riders in sanctioned races are required to wear them, but nobody else does. Government studies there showed that helmet use had very little relation to decreasing riding injuries. http://www.ski-epic.com/amsterdam_bicycles/ ( safety precaution––rear racks on US bicycles are not strong enough to sit on. The rear racks on European bicycles are often welded integral with the frames, and are far stronger than the junk sold in the USA ) ~ You need to look at the link that flooger posted and then get back to us. |
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You have to protect your head. I know of two cases where people fell off a skateboard and hit there heads and they're DEAD!. I agree with a skate board, plus the knee -n- elbow pads with that but depending on how extream I'm going to be on a bike (risk). Hills, clifs, racing, yes. Crusing on a nice day uh no. When I was a kid, I was more prone to crushing my go-nads on the cross bar than a head injury. Men are Men because we are full of risk and adventure. There isn't any adventure or risk living at home with our moms wearing a helment. |
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3 true stories: 1. My cousins were big cyclists in Royal Oak and Ferndale Michigan. They never wore helmets. In 1975, my cousin was hit from behind by a drunk driver. She was 2 blocks from home (Oak Park). She has been on disability ever since, and is unable to care for herself. 2. Memorial Day 1998. I was riding in Bitburg Germany. Dead nuts in front of the Bitburg Krankenhaus (that's German for hospital), a lady turned in front of me, and I nailed her. I woke up to a Polizei talking to me. I dented the hood and roof of her car, and almost went through the windshield. My helmet was just about destroyed. And I had a freaking headache for a week. 3. While riding yesterday at McAllister Park, my helmet hit a low hanging branch. No real damage, but still glad I had it on. Please, wear your helmet. |
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It seems most everyone I see out on the local riding paths or trails has a helmet on. What gives? I can see if you're riding out in the street on a super duper European racing bike going 30 MPH, but seriously. These aren't simply families with children in tow, but grown adults. I spent much of my youth falling off a bike doing jumps from a homemade ramp and was never seriously injured. Why such precautions now? Are people just too weak today? Give me a logical argument why I should feel naked without a bicycle helmet. Konger I've been riding for a decade and only needed my helmet once, and that was strictly MY fault for starting the fight and ending face planted at 20 mph. As with most things in my life, I've shed the parental-influence safety hysteria and started approaching safety more objectively. When I go on rides with the group, I wear my helmet. The probability of an accident is low, but present. When I ride by myself in the country, I don't wear one if it's hot outside. edit - this is for road riding. Mountain biking I always wear one because I just suck at mountain biking. 
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Yeah, you think helmets are bad just imagine all the pussy-ass race car drivers with their firesuits, carbon-fiber helmet, HANS devices, rollcages, 6-point harnesses and fire-supression systems. They're the biggest pussies of all!
Seriously, do you people have any idea how fucking retarded you sound? |
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My buddy died 4 years ago on his bike. Not doing 30 mph, not on the street. Sidewalk going to work and someone opened their car door right at the wrong moment. He went over the handlebars, over the door and smacked headfirst onto the concrete sidewalk. Spent a few days in a coma with no brain activity before they took him off life support.
Should have had a helmet. RIP John "Hutch" Hutchinson, you are missed. |
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Quoted: Yeah, you think helmets are bad just imagine all the pussy-ass race car drivers with their firesuits, carbon-fiber helmet, HANS devices, rollcages, 6-point harnesses and fire-supression systems. They're the biggest pussies of all! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/ZakkWylde470/Funnies/megaeyeroll.gif Seriously, do you people have any idea how fucking retarded you sound? It's called reading comprehension, which you obviously lack. The OP is talking about cruising bicycle trails, not overrated so-called race car drivers who only know how to turn left for three hours. Talk about sounding retarded. |
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Yeah, you think helmets are bad just imagine all the pussy-ass race car drivers with their firesuits, carbon-fiber helmet, HANS devices, rollcages, 6-point harnesses and fire-supression systems. They're the biggest pussies of all! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/ZakkWylde470/Funnies/megaeyeroll.gif Seriously, do you people have any idea how fucking retarded you sound? It's called reading comprehension, which you obviously lack. The OP is talking about cruising bicycle trails, not overrated so-called race car drivers who only know how to turn left for three hours. Talk about sounding retarded. I know what the thread is about. I'm talking about all the other morons in this thread that think proper safety equipment is for pussies. But hey, any excuse to remind everyone you hate NASCAR, right? |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Just another step in the pussification of America. We have become a nation of hand-wringing, fearful people. Everything is dangerous or bad for you. I blame the mainstream media and the people who believe everything they see on the TV news. We have 24/7 fear mongering news on CNN. Exactly, that's why I cut out the seat belts and disconnect the air bags in every new vehicle I buy. Everyone should or else they'll be labelled pussies! We should all chain smoke and drink vodka for breakfast too. Like I said MM, I've visited a lot of friends in the hospital because they thought they would just hop on and cruise and never intended on getting a concussion. If wearing a helmet now makes them a pussy then they should probably hang out with you and toughen up a bit. We all have examples of how people have been hurt doing just about anything. Folks have been killed slipping in the shower. It does not mean that the common sense thing to do is wear a helmet every time you step out the front door. Shit happens, life has risks. To me putting on a helmet every time you take the old Schwinn for a spin is just paranoid. |
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I ride an MTB hybrid. I will not ride without a helmet but like many I'm turned off by the "flaming" Euro look of cycling gear. So I wear an A-Alpha from PT Helmets.
http://www.pthelmets.com/proddetail.asp?prod=4811931DMIL 
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Just another step in the pussification of America. We have become a nation of hand-wringing, fearful people. Everything is dangerous or bad for you. I blame the mainstream media and the people who believe everything they see on the TV news. We have 24/7 fear mongering news on CNN. Exactly, that's why I cut out the seat belts and disconnect the air bags in every new vehicle I buy.
Everyone should or else they'll be labelled pussies! We should all chain smoke and drink vodka for breakfast too. Like I said MM, I've visited a lot of friends in the hospital because they thought they would just hop on and cruise and never intended on getting a concussion. If wearing a helmet now makes them a pussy then they should probably hang out with you and toughen up a bit. We all have examples of how people have been hurt doing just about anything. Folks have been killed slipping in the shower. It does not mean that the common sense thing to do is wear a helmet every time you step out the front door. Shit happens, life has risks. To me putting on a helmet every time you take the old Schwinn for a spin is just paranoid. And calling anyone that wears one at any point in time a pussy is ignorant. |