Reasons not to wear helmets

[Angelfishsolo]

http://www.copenhage...ood-helmet.html
http://www.thudguard.com/

The critical issue is "successfully" mainly because almost everyone would think it a crazy idea. So why don't they, you included, think it a crazy idea for cycling and moreover why are so many people, most of them non-cyclists, trying to get us to wear one?

Well in my youth I was a County Standard Track and Cross Country runner and also competed in Road Races. I never once fell and hit my head. I have seen many people fall and the injuries were either spike related or shoulder or wrist breaks.

On the MTB I have had numerous off which have resulted in hitting my head. Anything that affords me ever the slightest bit of protection is a plus in my book. I have seen the state of a mates helmet after he crashed whilst descending a very rocky road at speed. The helmet compressed and cracked. He was in a confused state but had no external head injuries and he made a full recovery.

I will take this over statistical data any day.

 

[ianrauk]

I goes without saying that for MTB'ing a helmet is necessary. For everyday cycling not so.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I goes without saying that for MTB'ing a helmet is necessary. For everyday cycling not so.

Does it though Red Light talks a lot about Risk Compensation and as such discredits even this seemingly logical statement.

 

[Red Light]

He was in a confused state but had no external head injuries and he made a full recovery.

Confused state implies internal brain injury which is what matters and as I pointed out elsewhere concussion is caused by rotational injury of the brain, not linear deceleration, and rotational injuries are exacerbated by a helmet.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Confused state implies internal brain injury which is what matters and as I pointed out elsewhere concussion is caused by rotational injury of the brain, not linear deceleration, and rotational injuries are exacerbated by a helmet.

FYI - Confusion can be a result of shock and does not immediately imply brain injury.

So you don't see the fact that the helmet compressed and cracked as having any part to play in the lack of external injuries that would almost certainly have occurred if a helmet was not worn?

 

[Red Light]

Does it though Red Light talks a lot about Risk Compensation and as such discredits even this seemingly logical statement.

At least with normal risk compensation you end up back where you started so hopefully no worse off. The pernicious one is risk compensation where you are not actually protected to compensate for the increased risks you take. It has been shown in research that ski helmet wearers ski faster, take more risks and have more accidents than those without. There is limited research on cycle helmets but what there is points in the same direction.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

At least with normal risk compensation you end up back where you started so hopefully no worse off. The pernicious one is risk compensation where you are not actually protected to compensate for the increased risks you take. It has been shown in research that ski helmet wearers ski faster, take more risks and have more accidents than those without. There is limited research on cycle helmets but what there is points in the same direction.

So do you agree with

ianrauk

I goes without saying that for MTB'ing a helmet is necessary. For everyday cycling not so.

or not??

 

[ufkacbln]

Mountain biking is an excellent example of why choice is required.

Any cyclist should be able to weigh up their risks :

How they cycle
Where they cycle
Level of experience
Level of training
Type of bicycle
Whether they have a pint whilst out on the bike

(and probably lots of other factors)

The concept of someone wearing a helmet when on a mountain bike trail (due to the increased risk) but not wearing it whilst riding to or from the trail is perfectly reasonable.

 

[Red Light]

FYI - Confusion can be a result of shock and does not immediately imply brain injury.

The most common feature of a concussion is confusion.

The most common symptoms of shock include:

• A fast, weak pulse
• Low blood pressure.
• Feeling faint, weak or nauseous.
• Dizziness.
• Cold, clammy skin.
• Rapid, shallow breathing.
• Blue lips.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

The most common feature of a concussion is confusion.

The most common symptoms of shock include:

• A fast, weak pulse
• Low blood pressure.
• Feeling faint, weak or nauseous.
• Dizziness.
• Cold, clammy skin.
• Rapid, shallow breathing.
• Blue lips.

Yes I am a first aider I do appreciate this. As the blue underlined sentences say "the most common". I said it "can be a result of......"

 

[GrasB]

MTB & road cycling offers completly different risk sets. For this reason I wear a helmet when on the mountain bike but not on the road bike.

Interesting point is that a human's physical proportions in terms of shoulder/upper body to head size relationship sits around a very interesting geometric boarder line. One where adding less than 1cm diameter to the skull is likely to increase the risk of head impacts when falling over substantially... now how much further out from the skull is the outside of a helmet? In theory is more than possible to have a severe impact to a helmet that would have virtually no impact on the persons head.

As I said before every time I've had a big off (on-road) without a helmet while I've sustained cuts & abrasions to my head there's been a distinct lack of serious brain injury (eg concussion). In contrast I've not suffered superficial injuries when wearing a helmet, it's just I've ended up with a concussion every time I've had a big off.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

The most common feature of a concussion is confusion.

The most common symptoms of shock include:

• A fast, weak pulse
• Low blood pressure.
• Feeling faint, weak or nauseous.
• Dizziness.
• Cold, clammy skin.
• Rapid, shallow breathing.
• Blue lips.

Would you answer post #234 please. It requires a yes or no answer only.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I do hope not. If this rain blows over anytime soon Mrs C and I will be pulling bikes off the back of the camper and engaging in a gentle ride on some forrest tracks. Although MTB riding of a sort, I would rate that about as safe a bike riding experience as there is.

Maybe we should differentiate between riding a MTB and MTB riding here. If by tracks you mean fire roads then I would agree with you. If you mean narrow paths through the forestries then I disagree,

 

[Red Light]

So do you agree with

ianrauk

I goes without saying that for MTB'ing a helmet is necessary. For everyday cycling not so.

or not??

No, these days I mountain bike without a helmet too. I actually find it makes the experience much more alive and less "insulated" than when I wore one. You should try it some time. It takes a few rides to get past the conditioned "Oh my God, I've not got a helmet" but then you get to really enjoy the directness of the experience.

I guess its similar to the reasons rock climbers give for soloing.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

No, these days I mountain bike without a helmet too. I actually find it makes the experience much more alive and less "insulated" than when I wore one. You should try it some time. It takes a few rides to get past the conditioned "Oh my God, I've not got a helmet" but then you get to really enjoy the directness of the experience.

I guess its similar to the reasons rock climbers give for soloing.

Thank you for an honest answer. What type of terrain do you ride on and what grade would you give the routes