Pro-helmet article on BBC One Show right now

[4F]

That is why, whatever your personal beliefs and interpretations of said facts, that you are left with the conclusion that nobody really knows and you're best to make up for you own mind and respect the rights of others to do likewise - even if they may disagree with you.

And I think that sums it up nicely.

 

[Dan B]

So would the helmet absorb say 75% of the impact in a 20mph crash? would the smooth surface of the helmet mean that the head will slide on impact rather than grip and disintegrate. Sorry to say I have no idea. Also are most falls from the bike slow speed one's like forgetting to unclip, or not getting a good footing when stepping off.

All good questions (though not original ones).

Kinetic energy increases with the square of speed, so the energy that needs dissipating in a 20mph collision is approx 3x as much as at 12 mph - and a 50mph collision? Well, let's just say "lots".


We don't have a really good idea what difference the surface makes: there are lots of variables and not many tests.

And I would anticipate that most low-speed falls from the bike are not life-threatening/do not require hospital treatment and thus don't get into the statistics in the first place.

All that said, I find it difficult to see how you'd hit your head as a result of a clipless moment, unless onto the edge of a kerb - if you're falling onto a flat surface from a low speed surely your shoulder or arm will hit the ground first and take most if not all of the impact. But again, this is anecdote and speculation, and not rigorous

 

[billy1561]

Right, i'm off out to replace my damaged helmet

 

[Davidc]

And if cyclists didn't wear helmets that 1% would be a lot higher.

That rather ignores the fact that the introduction of helmets has made no difference to the numbers.

 

[on the road]

Absolutely....

The chance of being hit by a car or falling when walking or having visited the pub and hitting your head is the same if you do or don't wear a helmet.
If you do wear a helmet then obviously the chance of hurting your head is significantly reduced. If you don't then it is significantly increased. The difference between the two is the very, very small inconvenience of having a bit of a weight on your head (less tan 300g) and having to remember to put it on. I see absolutely no logic in a pedestrian or pub user deciding not to wear one.

1% of head injury admissions are cyclists, 40% are falls and 60% alcohol related...............

Spot the deliberate mistake

 

[yello]

No mistake at all; all cyclists are pissed. It's simply a misleading double count.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

He hasn't mentioned sex acts with hoovers and small pets, all of which come under 'i tripped and somehow this all happened'. Or his math is a little out

 

[screenman]

Davidc. Can you back that up with any evidence? I would like to read it as I am very interested in the helmet subject and would like to collate more information.

Just a thought many people around the world have said a helmet saved their lives or lessened their injuries, I cannot find anybody who says they would be alive today if they had not worn one. Again if you know different please let me have the facts for my collection.

 

[Dan B]

Just a thought many people around the world have said a helmet saved their lives or lessened their injuries, I cannot find anybody who says they would be alive today if they had not worn one. Again if you know different please let me have the facts for my collection.

I'm alive today and I don't often wear one. Does that help?

 

[on the road]

The chance of being hit by a car or falling of you bike and hitting your head is the same if you do or don't wear a helmet.
If you do wear a helmet then obviously the chance of hurting your head is significantly reduced. If you don't then it is significantly increased. The difference between the two is the very, very small inconvenience of having a bit of a weight on your head (less tan 300g) and having to remember to put it on. I see absolutely no logic in deciding not to wear one.

Emotional blackmail

 

[on the road]

I see elements of smoking will not give me cancer in these helmet posts, there will always be people who think it will not happen to them. Funny enough thinking about the people I know who do not wear helmets they are all smokers, smelly horrible things. This of course may not be every bodies experience or opinion.

Personally I do not smoke and I do wear a helmet, I have done my own risk assessment and consider it a worth while thing to do.

I don't wear a helmet, I don't smoke, I don't stink so I must be the exception

 

[on the road]

Forgot to put my bone dome on for my commute to work the other day, thought bugger it I'll ride without it today. Then turned around, went home and fetched it. Won't ride without one, saved me too many times not too.

However it is personal choice. Large dent in your head, or large dent in your helmet...

Your sound like an unsafe cyclist, maybe you should stop cycling if you're always having accidents.

 

[4F]

Davidc. Can you back that up with any evidence? I would like to read it as I am very interested in the helmet subject and would like to collate more information.

Just a thought many people around the world have said a helmet saved their lives or lessened their injuries, I cannot find anybody who says they would be alive today if they had not worn one. Again if you know different please let me have the facts for my collection.

Look up rotational injury http://www.cyclehelmets.org/1182.html

 

[ianrauk]

Emotional blackmail

It's the main argument (?) for the pro-helmet brigade.

 

[ianrauk]

I'm alive today and I don't often wear one. Does that help?

I can vouch for that as I saw Dan alive on the Bognor FNRttC..