Be prepared for an accident

[Andy in Germany]

This is a very moot point, open to much discussion & opinion.
When I was knocked off my bike in '18, I hit my head on the blacktop as I went down and was unconcious for at least twenty minutes as a result.
If I'd not been wearing a bash hat, I'd rather not think about the possible outcome.

That's the strange thing about helmet stories: I've come off a bike at speed and hit a drystone wall on the way down. I needed stitches and had a black eye for a week or two. An acquaintance here fell off their bike at a much lower speed, hit his head on a kerb, and never woke from a coma; he died a year or two later. He had been wearing a helmet, I hadn't; there seems to be no correlation.

I recently made the mistake of mentioning that I don't wear a helmet on a non-cycling forum and was immediately piled on by lots of people who haven't cycled in years but all apparently know more than me on the subject. Astonishingly, one of them sent a link to an article which cited a study I'd heard of from many years ago, and which I remember being heavily criticised for its methodology and because its findings were never replicated. Now in 2024, the same survey was being cited again, which suggests the findings still haven't been replicated.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Actually if you sit on the wall, best wear a helmet, in case you fall off.

What if you sit on the fence?

 

[classic33]

What if you sit on the fence?

Sit on the crossrail.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

What if you sit on the fence?

Be prepared for splinters. Always carry a pair if tweezers.

 

[Gwylan]

What if you sit on the fence?

You get a pain in the arse

 

[Ajax Bay]

Anyway, who actually (thread title) "prepares for an accident"?

 

[mjr]

Now in 2024, the same survey was being cited again, which suggests the findings still haven't been replicated.

That's not Thompson, Rivara and Thompson, is it? Not only never replicated, but retracted by its authors, yet still widely cited!

 

[mjr]

When I was knocked off my bike in '18, I hit my head on the blacktop as I went down and was unconcious for at least twenty minutes as a result.
If I'd not been wearing a bash hat, I'd rather not think about the possible outcome.

Bash hats are neither designed nor tested for collisions with other vehicles. Congratulations on your good luck.

 

[Rusty Nails]

You get a pain in the arse

Not if you've got used to a Brooks saddle.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Bash hats are neither designed nor tested for collisions with other vehicles. Congratulations on your good luck.

I thought blacktop referred to the road surface, not a car.

Could have been knocked off his bike by an out of control camel.

 

[matticus]

Could have been knocked off his bike by an out of control camel.

Yes he could! You'd think he'd mention that, what a great story. Or maybe something affected his memory, it's all a mystery ...

 

[mjr]

I thought blacktop referred to the road surface, not a car.

Could have been knocked off his bike by an out of control camel.

Not designed for collisions with anything. Only falls. Sorry for the unclear wording.

 

[Andy in Germany]

That's not Thompson, Rivara and Thompson, is it? Not only never replicated, but retracted by its authors, yet still widely cited!

It was indeed. Have you a link for the retraction? I tried looking it up, but only got propaganda.

 

[simongt]

Bash hats are neither designed nor tested for collisions with other vehicles.

But as I observed on my post, my cranial collision was with the road not a car.

 

[simongt]

Actually if you sit on the wall, best wear a helmet, in case you fall off.

Or on a bar stool which is probably more likely - !