Im not trying to be opposing for the sake of it, but my views are quite different. Just shows how different mindsets can enjoy the same sport... I can't seem to multi-quote but...
To me cycling is potentially a dangerous activity, be it falling off on a road, skidding on a root on a trail or getting hit by another vehicle. Wearing safety equipment merely shows that particular participant is aware of the risks and decided to take some precautionary action. It could also be viewed positively, i.e. cyclists are seen as responsible for wearing helmets. Yes, this could put potential new cyclists off who don't want to get into a "dangerous" sport. Shame. But is this a bad thing? In my view cycling carries inherent risks, no point hiding the fact. If the realisation puts someone off, good - it aint the sport for them.
Health benefits (and I'd add general enjoyment too) definitely outweigh the dangers - agreed. In terms of having to wear protection due to other road users. Yes this is perverse, but no its not unfair - its just recognising the risks and taking action, we are more vulnerable on a bike at the end of the day and people (or animals it seems!) don't always see us.
False protection - for sure helmets could be improved, but shockingly the test criteria is only 33% lower than motorbikes. Helmet design has to be a balance betweem safety, comfort, ventilation, weight, aero etc etc... striking the overall balance means we don't need or want top ride in motorbike or fighter pilot lids. Still work to be done but...
Re cycling in a way to minimise danger. I think sometimes I put myself at risk - but I love the performance aspect of cycling - thats why I personally keep doing it. If I temper it too much I lose the thrill. So thats why I wear an expensive pro lid.
They do work, FOR ME, they prevent some injuries. But for sure they could be better. Too much hype, without a doubt... but then thats marketing of frames, tyres, wheels.... everything...
I'm going to take some positives from my fall. The helmet outweighed my expectations - and yes, I was there I'm the only one who knows for certain it workef for me. I have to replace it. I get to do that at half price. Giro get another sale at the same price as they get at wholesale. They also get the damaged helmet back to evaluate with a description of the accident. I hope they use this info to improve the safety of their products... maybe they will.
So personally, I'M happy with helmets....
Putting risk compensation aside for a moment. My personal view is that the widespread adoption of bicycle helmets suggests to the general (cycling and non-cycling) public that cycling is a 'dangerous' activity. Well it must be dangerous, why else would they all wear helmets? By wearing a helmet we propagate that myth. Anything which puts people off cycling is a Bad Thing. Every bicycle helmet is an attack on cycling.
Cycling - as we all know from analysing the statistics - is not a dangerous activity in itself. As we know: the health benefits of cycling outweigh the dangers by a factor of twenty to one. Any danger posed to cyclists is delivered by other road users. If we want to remove that danger it seems to me perverse and wholly unfair that the victims of the danger be obliged to 'protect' themselves. It would be like suggesting that people must wear bullet-proof vests because someone is shooting off an AK-47 nearby.
And they are a false sense of security - you only have to look at what is involved in the official test procedures to see that.
I would much rather ride my bicycle in a way which minimises my exposure to danger than wear a lump of foam on my head in the delusion that it will do me any good when I fall.
And as Cunobelin so lucidly illustrates - by any measure, cyclists are way down the list of people who should be wearing head protection.
So, they don't work, they don't deal with the actual danger which would be a better target for our efforts, and even if they did we'd save more injury and deaths by making drunks wear them.
There is a massive industry behind cycle helmets - don't believe the hype.