Helmets why doesn't everyone wear them?

[Wobblers]

[QUOTE 2052761, member: 45"]Quite obviously, as I was replying to a comment about a helmet's effectiveness over 12mph I'm going to relate the reply directly to that. I did however purposefully include the phrase I have highlighted in bold because I'm well aware that some will jump on the necessary bias of the reply to suggest that the author is in a position that they are not necessarily. As has happened here.

If you want an opponent in a specific position then there are plenty around for you to find. I'd appreciate you not making me into one by putting me there.[/quote]

User, you've said before that you're unbiased when it comes to helmet debates - yet the majority of your comments I've seen on helmet threads are similar to your reply to green1. You could have made a similar point with tadpole, but you didn't.It may be an unfair impression, but it certainly looks like you have a specific position. And, to be fair, if you're going to criticise others you really can't expect not to have your own comments subject to similar scrutiny, can you?

 

[G2EWS]

I get very intrigued by the arguments I am finding on this forum and this one has come up a couple of times in my short stay here.

Why on earth would you argue over something that is this personal?

I wear a helmet because I want to and in my book it will save me in certain circumstances. I forgot it one day last week in my rush to get home and didn't realise until I was almost home. I felt totally naked once I realised. That tells me that my helmet does not bother me being on!

I insist my young Daughter wears hers as well. Once she leaves home she can of course do as she pleases.

I used to box at a high level and now have tinnitus and pure double vision. I see two of everything with either or both eyes open. These problems are both down to boxing according to the docs.

Basically I believe if your head gets banged, there is a chance of damaging whats inside. So for me anything that can protect it is worth wearing.

Am I concerned that some of you don't? Of course not, you are big enough and ugly enough to make your own decisions. It doesn't make you any more or less a nice or good person, just someone who made a decision. No worries!

Regards

Chris

 

[Wobblers]

you take a pen and poke it through 25mm to 30mm of dense foam and then tell me that it's the same as poking it through a 1.2mm of 'styrene. Strawman much.

Basic materials science. And physics. I'm quite sure you know there's a substantial - by which I mean "orders of magnitude" - difference in hardness between dense foam and wood or bone. You'll still find it rather easier to poke a pen - or a drill bit, for that matter through 30 mm of dense foam.

You still have to supply some evidence that helmets are in any way effective against penetrative objects.

 

[tadpole]

You still have to supply some evidence that helmets are in any way effective against penetrative objects.

I wear a helmet now mainly because the one and only RTA I've had whilst cycling, involved a head impact that would have killed me, the Police, ambulance staff and hospital staff that treated me all agree. My head hit the ground with enough force to drive the road debris (a 10mm bolt) through my helmet and 2mm into my scalp, had I not been wearing a helmet, that bold would have gone 25-30mm into my brain.

Ok a chance in a million, but that one in a million chance happens all the time.

Evidence enough for me, I’m alive.

 

[Wobblers]

Well, science aside, I wear one for three reasons:
1. My wife tells me to.
2. My little girl being born prompted me to be safer (even if it's just an illusion of safety)
3. Because I get enough of 'get in the cycle lane' and 'pay road tax' so I don't fancy having 'wear a helmet' added to the shouts.

I've never been shouted at for not wearing a helmet. Maybe that's one reason why many dislike this constant push for helmet wearing - it's just one more thing that's used against us. I wouldn't want that to get worse.

 

[Wobblers]

Evidence enough for me, I’m alive.

Ancedote. So, you don't have any evidence. I'm afraid that your conviction that the laws of physics shouldn't apply to you doesn't count.

 

[Theseus]

I've never been shouted at for not wearing a helmet. Maybe that's one reason why many dislike this constant push for helmet wearing - it's just one more thing that's used against us. I wouldn't want that to get worse.

I once had a fellow cyclist ask me if I didn't believe in them.

I said that I used to believe in the holy trinity, but was an agnostic now and that her helmet would work better if she wore it correctly.

 

[GrasB]

Problem is with object penetration into cycle helmets is there's nothing protecting the polystyrene. When a relatively small blunt object hits the easily deformed polystyrene it causes a dent which will continue to be guided into the block that's pushing against it. One demonstration I saw was a cycle helmet v's a hand gilding/microlight helmet. One of the tests used was stabbing the helmet with the end of a bamboo stick. The stick went straight through the plastic cover of the helmet & the polystyrene. Trying the same trick on the hand gilding/microlight helmet resulted in several broken bamboo sticks & deep gouges to the outer shell, which looked to be layers of fibreglass & kevlar, but no penetration into the underlying polystyrene.

PS. IMHO if you're going to buy a helmet you'd be much better off wandering down to your local hand gliding centre. I wear one of these on my recumbents in Italy, they're about twice the weight of a cycle helmet but they are designed to take some serious abuse.

 

[I like Skol]

I know I've been beaten to it, but

Move up a bit

 

[GrasB]

[QUOTE 2052958, member: 45"]When my boys do wear helmets they're usually BMX style ones. No face protection, but hard shell.[/quote]
My understanding, which is just an understanding, is that the shell of a BMX helmet isn't that good at resisting puncturing.

 

[tadpole]

[QUOTE 2052932, member: 45"]We've been here before.

As you're very aware, whenever a pro-helmet person posts there are plenty of members who will bring the balance. So there's no need for me to say anything. As an example, you're challenging tadpole. There's no benefit in me joining in.

[/quote]I'm not "pro helmet", I'm "me helmet" I wear one for the reason given, I do not give a monkeys armpit what anyone else does. If asked my opinion I will say wear one, but do I give a ratsarse of anyone does or not, Nope.

 

[ufkacbln]

Pardon the pun, but for me its a no brainer....
The brain is the main CPU, without it none of the peripherials (arms legs etc) will work.

I can still funcion to near normal levels with a busted leg/arm, the same is not true with brain damage.

Same for pedestrians, drunks, car drivers, children, dogs and cats?

 

[ufkacbln]

I've have never had concussion. My partner had concussion from tripping over uneven pavement. I know plenty of people who have had concussions, none of them from cycling though. I've not noticed any of them wearing helmets since though.

coz they look rubbish.....

Cheeky?

How do you know his partner and friends look rubbish?

 

[ACS]

I wear a helmet.
I wear a helmet because I want to.
I wear a helmet because I want to not because I have too
I will however always defend your right not to do so.

 

[Boris Bajic]

Gloves are a good idea though.

I agree with this wholeheartedly, both in the sense of gloves as protective clothing for cyclists and as a general observation that gloves, when first invented, were a good idea.

The AK-47 on the other hand, although a good idea when first conceived as a weapon, is not a good idea as protective equipment when cycling.

Similarly the deck chair. A good idea, but not... Well, you see where I'm going.

I hope this has helped.

I fear it has not.