Giro helmets - huge appreciation

[Dan B]

[QUOTE 1481153"]
Someone comes off his bike and his helmet affords some protecting.

I don't understand why people get so het up about it.
[/quote]

I don't think anyone is getting het up about that specifically. What people are getting het up about is that he has apparently decided on the basis of that single experience that he now knows more about it than anyone else, that it is his role to lecture the rest of us, and that anyone disagreeing with him must have brain injury

If his helmet has protected him against some head injury then I'm pleased for him, but it doesn't follow that I want to be told I'm writing "total nonsense" by someone who clearly knows approximately nothing of the subject.

 

[tigger]

Dan B - I'm no scientist and no I didn't come on here to lecture. I came on hear to recommend a product and service I feel I have benefitted from and also to give people some advice based on my real life experience. No different to recommending a bike, wheel shoe etc. Its strange how people want to turn this on its head and see this as a violation of their freedom to express their hardness by not wearing a lid!!

If we are to have a helmet debate now - seems we can't avoid. Wouldn't it be more beneficial to base this on experience rather than theories? So has anyone else out there had a cycling accident which involved hitting their head on the road at speed? Were you wearing a helmet? What are your experiences and recommendations?

 

[ianrauk]

PLEASE PLEASE, always wear a helmet. I know some people are sceptical - myself included before - but I am certain that without a good helmet I would at best had serious concussion and at worst who knows. This was an accident in an instant. I don't know what happened to the cat. The crazy thing is whilst I was lying in a mess on the road 2 cars passed without stopping! Luckily some good people stopped and called an ambulance shortyly afterwards.

Anyway, take care all and please always wear a good well fitting lid


The above from your first post is a lecture in my book..

And for your information, yes I have had an (a couple in fact) off at speed whilst not wearing a helmet and yes my noggin did hit the floor. Battered and bruised it was, some nice lumps. But ITS MY CHOICE not to wear a helmet. I do not go on to forums lecturing others that it's safe to not to wear a helmet like you have done with you lecturing people to wear a helmet .

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Dan B - I'm no scientist and no I didn't come on here to lecture. I came on hear to recommend a product and service I feel I have benefitted from and also to give people some advice based on my real life experience. No different to recommending a bike, wheel shoe etc. Its strange how people want to turn this on its head and see this as a violation of their freedom to express their hardness by not wearing a lid!!

If we are to have a helmet debate now - seems we can't avoid. Wouldn't it be more beneficial to base this on experience rather than theories? So has anyone else out there had a cycling accident which involved hitting their head on the road at speed? Were you wearing a helmet? What are your experiences and recommendations?

+1

 

[threebikesmcginty]

It's a lack of balance. You never get these unsolicited testimonials from people who crashed and died whilst wearing a helmet.

 

[mickle]

I have had more than one incident where had I been wearing a helmet the health service professionals who tended to me would have said that my helmet saved my life.

 

[Red Light]

Dan B - I'm no scientist and no I didn't come on here to lecture. I came on hear to recommend a product and service I feel I have benefitted from and also to give people some advice based on my real life experience. No different to recommending a bike, wheel shoe etc. Its strange how people want to turn this on its head and see this as a violation of their freedom to express their hardness by not wearing a lid!!

If we are to have a helmet debate now - seems we can't avoid. Wouldn't it be more beneficial to base this on experience rather than theories? So has anyone else out there had a cycling accident which involved hitting their head on the road at speed? Were you wearing a helmet? What are your experiences and recommendations?

So whose experience are you going to base it on? Your having a crash with a helmet where nothing happened? A cyclist having a crash without a helmet where nothing happened? A cyclist having a crash with a helmet where they suffered serious head injuries? A cyclist having a crash without a helmet where they suffered serious head injuries? The only way you can sort out all those anecdotes is to look at how each compares with the others and what you find is that in percentage terms just as many or slightly more helmet wearers suffer head injuries in crashes than non helmet wearers.

If you want to just go on "experience rather than theories*" then you are back in the world where the earth is flat, the sun goes round the earth, sacrificing virgins improves crops, patients need to be bled to make them get better and posies ward off the plague. In every single case people were convinced based on their experience that what they were doing was right - until some bl**dy interfering scientists came along and showed otherwise, usually against strenuous and sometimes fatal objections. I find the evidence based world more attractive personally but YMMV

* its not actually experience v theories as most of the evidence is based on the collected experience of a large number of people, not theories, it being unethical to ask you to go and repeat your crash without a helmet so we can see what difference it actually made.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

then you are back in the world where the earth is flat, the sun goes round the earth, sacrificing virgins improves crops, patients need to be bled to make them get better and posies ward off the plague.

What's the problem here?

 

[benb]

So whose experience are you going to base it on? Your having a crash with a helmet where nothing happened? A cyclist having a crash without a helmet where nothing happened? A cyclist having a crash with a helmet where they suffered serious head injuries? A cyclist having a crash without a helmet where they suffered serious head injuries? The only way you can sort out all those anecdotes is to look at how each compares with the others and what you find is that in percentage terms just as many or slightly more helmet wearers suffer head injuries in crashes than non helmet wearers.

If you want to just go on "experience rather than theories*" then you are back in the world where the earth is flat, the sun goes round the earth, sacrificing virgins improves crops, patients need to be bled to make them get better and posies ward off the plague. In every single case people were convinced based on their experience that what they were doing was right - until some bl**dy interfering scientists came along and showed otherwise, usually against strenuous and sometimes fatal objections. I find the evidence based world more attractive personally but YMMV

* its not actually experience v theories as most of the evidence is based on the collected experience of a large number of people, not theories, it being unethical to ask you to go and repeat your crash without a helmet so we can see what difference it actually made.

Nice. I like you.

 

[Davidc]

Mickle is absolutely right (post 83). So is Red Light (post 84).

The trouble with all of these helmet threads is that there's nothing but anecdote and opinion. One day there may be some rigorously conducted research with worthwhile results to talk about. It hasn't happened yet.

I'll refrain from giving the details of my "if I'd been wearing a helmet I'd be dead now" crash. As an anecdote it's of no real use.

What's the problem here?

That the Earth clearly isn't flat. Every cyclist knows there are hills on it.

 

[Red Light]

Wow - didn't intend to spark off a debate!

I can't believe people are taking an anti helmet slant here!!|??? You must have banged your head in a past cat accident or something! All I can say is that every part of my body which was in contact with the road is smashed, grazed, bloodied or broken. The only exception is my head - which is still perfect thankfully. That is not a coincidence.

I've not worn a helmet for most of my cycling life of over 5 decades and have yet to have a head injury (like you plenty of road rash etc, fortunately no breaks). Coincidence too?

Gaz - your helmet also did its job. The polystyrene will crack, split crumple. Thats what its designed to do.

That's not what its designed to do. Its designed to decelerate your head by compressing the foam, not by cracking, splitting or crumpling. Not sure why you feel the need to lie about it.

Armchair scientists saying helmets don't do this or were not designed for that and only have a % effect of this.... total nonsense in the real world. I'm a real life crash test dummy, and my grossly over-priced piece of plastic venting and aerodynamic faff saved me from a lot worst for sure.

The only bit I agree with on that is the word "dummy". You can believe the rest personally if you wish but if you want to try to present it as fact then you had better be prepared to back it up with evidence.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

That the Earth clearly isn't flat. Every cyclist knows there are hills on it.

To deny the existance of hills would be foolish. Look, here's a map - it's pretty clear how it all works.

 

[Red Light]

What's the problem here?

Nothing, nothing at all.......now can I interest you in this bottle of snake oil?

 

[4F]

Wow - didn't intend to spark off a debate!

I can't believe people are taking an anti helmet slant here!!|??? You must have banged your head in a past cat accident or something! All I can say is that every part of my body which was in contact with the road is smashed, grazed, bloodied or broken. The only exception is my head - which is still perfect thankfully. That is not a coincidence.

Gaz - your helmet also did its job. The polystyrene will crack, split crumple. Thats what its designed to do. The same as motorbike helmets, one accident and you must discard - thats how helmets work. So the fact that Giro will replace at half price is a great service.

Armchair scientists saying helmets don't do this or were not designed for that and only have a % effect of this.... total nonsense in the real world. I'm a real life crash test dummy, and my grossly over-priced piece of plastic venting and aerodynamic faff saved me from a lot worst for sure.

Nice, good attempt at getting back on topic. As you have now volunteered to be a crash test dummy could you please attempt the same accident again this time not wearing a helmet. I think however on balance it is not fair to use the same cat again and a badger would be fine as a replacement.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Nothing, nothing at all.......now can I interest you in this bottle of snake oil?

Ooooo a cure-all elixir - that sounds great. Wonder if it's any good for head injuries.