Comparisons...

[HJ]

Stop trying to make him wear one and enjoy life, simple really...

Did you wear a helmet when you were his age?

 

[SimonC]

Well my kids do.

I just think it sends out the wrong message.

Its a personal choice. Personally, I only wear one for racing, cos its compulsory. Never for training or commuting.

My missus used to always ask me to wear one when going out training. Now she has started commuting on the bike, and also doesnt like wearing one, she never bends my ear about it.

What wrong message is it sending out, BTW??

 

[SimonC]

Stop trying to make him wear one and enjoy life, simple really...

Did you wear a helmet when you were his age?

+1 HJ, helmets werent around when I guess most of us were kids (not sure bikes were around for some members), and yet here we are, survived into adulthood, probably with plenty of scrapes along the way I would hope.

 

[purplepolly]

But surely if they have a fall, they are better protected with a helmet on?

Some of these kids were very young.

Aren't people more at risk of a head injury in the car or from falling downstairs than when riding a bicycle? Do you make your children wear helmets in the car?

Mind you, a major factor in head injuries for car occupants is speed - the body stops moving but the brain keeps going forward and hits the skull. Hope everyone always sticks to the speed limit, or slower.

 

[Theseus]

Its a personal choice. Personally, I only wear one for racing, cos its compulsory. Never for training or commuting.

My missus used to always ask me to wear one when going out training. Now she has started commuting on the bike, and also doesnt like wearing one, she never bends my ear about it.

What wrong message is it sending out, BTW??

Didn't you know? cycling is an extreme, dangerous activity and we need to be wrapped up in ultra high-vis and expanded polystyrene to nip down to the shops or go to work.

Oh, I ride with front light (Cateye EL500), 3 rear lights (IX-Red, Cateye LD600 & Smart Lunar half watt), wear high vis/ reflective jackets & gloves. No helmet, but then I think the Robinson analysis is superior to the Thompson, Rivara & Thompson one

 

[Smudgley]

Its a personal choice. Personally, I only wear one for racing, cos its compulsory. Never for training or commuting.

My missus used to always ask me to wear one when going out training. Now she has started commuting on the bike, and also doesnt like wearing one, she never bends my ear about it.

What wrong message is it sending out, BTW??

Yes it is personal choice and I have no problem with anyone choosing not to wear one, but I'm talking about kids aged around 6-15yrs old riding without a helmet, when the 2 adults in the group had helmets on. Just think that's not a good message.

I'm sure we are all more likely to have an accident in the car, I for one drive more than average miles per year and I'm sure I am at risk when driving, but I wear a helmet when cycling because of the horrific stories I've heard about people who have been knocked off their bikes, however I will read the link posted above and look into the safety aspect of it.

 

[SimonC]

Yes it is personal choice and I have no problem with anyone choosing not to wear one, but I'm talking about kids aged around 6-15yrs old riding without a helmet, when the 2 adults in the group had helmets on. Just think that's not a good message.

I'm sure we are all more likely to have an accident in the car, I for one drive more than average miles per year and I'm sure I am at risk when driving, but I wear a helmet when cycling because of the horrific stories I've heard about people who have been knocked off their bikes, however I will read the link posted above and look into the safety aspect of it.

This is one of those things with no right or wrong answer I'm afraid. It just a question of how you balance the risks and rewards, as in a lot of things in life.

Each to their own I say. From my original post though, I would still maintain that its the parents of the six year old who should be deciding whether to send their child with or without a helmet, not the people leading the group. The responsibility lies with parents, and cannot be devolved onto the ride leaders to make the choice.

I help to run a free saturday morning kids football thing, if any parent started complaining to me that his or her kid got hurt because we werent looking after them properly (not that they do, or that we dont), they would get a very short reply, and be told to either help out themselves, or look after their own kids!

Rant over.

 

[HJ]

Yes it is personal choice and I have no problem with anyone choosing not to wear one, but I'm talking about kids aged around 6-15yrs old riding without a helmet, when the 2 adults in the group had helmets on. Just think that's not a good message.

I'm sure we are all more likely to have an accident in the car, I for one drive more than average miles per year and I'm sure I am at risk when driving, but I wear a helmet when cycling because of the horrific stories I've heard about people who have been knocked off their bikes, however I will read the link posted above and look into the safety aspect of it.

So because you are frightened, you conclude that children should be frightened too?

Here is another link to read, making children wear helmets is not the way forward. Teaching them to cycle responsibly and that cycling is fun, is the way forward...

 

[Smudgley]

This is one of those things with no right or wrong answer I'm afraid. It just a question of how you balance the risks and rewards, as in a lot of things in life.

Each to their own I say. From my original post though, I would still maintain that its the parents of the six year old who should be deciding whether to send their child with or without a helmet, not the people leading the group. The responsibility lies with parents, and cannot be devolved onto the ride leaders to make the choice.

I help to run a free saturday morning kids football thing, if any parent started complaining to me that his or her kid got hurt because we werent looking after them properly (not that they do, or that we dont), they would get a very short reply, and be told to either help out themselves, or look after their own kids!

Rant over.

Fair comment.

 

[Smudgley]

So because you are frightened, you conclude that children should be frightened too?

Here is another link to read, making children wear helmets is not the way forward. Teaching them to cycle responsibly and that cycling is fun, is the way forward...

I didn't say I was frightened. I'm not frightened as such but I know a couple of people who know people who've been knocked off their bikes and killed. So I guess just trying to protect myself really.

I will read the links posted as I am interested to find out more fors/againsts

I'd rather not wear a helmet if I'm honest, mostly because I look a bit of a wally in it, but also it's not that comfortable wearing a hat when your all sweaty, however I will contiinue to do so.

I'll read the links.

 

[andyfromotley]

So because you are frightened, you conclude that children should be frightened too?

Here is another link to read, making children wear helmets is not the way forward. Teaching them to cycle responsibly and that cycling is fun, is the way forward...

HJ i am confused. The link you provide clearly states that helmets wether properly fitted or not provide greater protection than not wearing one. Seems to undermine your own argument somewhat?

 

[HJ]

HJ i am confused. The link you provide clearly states that helmets wether properly fitted or not provide greater protection than not wearing one. Seems to undermine your own argument somewhat?

I wouldn't fully endorse every thing said in that BBC report, the point was that "wearing a cycle helmet that does not fit properly could double your chances of a head injury in the event of a crash" compared with wearing a well fitted helmet. This is what the study looked at.

However, the assertion that ill-fitting helmet "provided a greater level of protection than no helmet at all" is rather difficult to support on the basis that they only looked "1,700 cyclists of all ages who had worn a helmet when they were involved in a crash". They didn't look at any who had not been wearing a helmet, so that statement is invalid, as they have no evidence either way.