Anthrapologists call it a "Braincase". Medical people call is a "Cranium". Others call it a "Skull". A lot of people call it a Nut, Noggin, Bonce etc.
It has developed to protect the soft grey matter inside.
Rotational head injuries
- Thread starter Chris S
- Start date
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Anthrapologists call it a "Braincase". Medical people call is a "Cranium". Others call it a "Skull". A lot of people call it a Nut, Noggin, Bonce etc.
It has developed to protect the soft grey matter inside.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I see quite a few people riding with loose helmet straps. I reckon that is the worst of all worlds - much less chance of it staying on the head to protect it in an accident and a strong possibility if it does get dragged off, of it doing damage to the rider.
If you do choose to wear a helmet, wear it properly!
It all depends on how the crash evolves, if you part company with your bike for some reason, then instinctively you will try and protect yourself, but if there is a chance of recovery, no matter how slim, you will try and recover from the developing situation and right to the end if unsuccesful. Many a time I have had a crash, but got out of it and remained mounted, despite having a bumpy ride, but if I had deemed it useless and addopted a crash position, then without doubt, I would have come a cropper.
As for the evolution of man, we did not evolve wearing clothes etc but we have to now, even if it is to just keep warm. The evolution of man has nothing to do with wearing helmets, its probably due to the fact someone invented the wheel in our case and the need for speed, plus other hazards even if your not a speed merchant.
I keep out of the helmet debate as a rule, but having had a crash at 27mph, recorded on the garmin, my helmet was smashed to pieces on one side through the glancing blow, I was concussed for a couple of days, lost a lot of skin, but there was no damage to my head at all, without a helmet I fear what would have happened.
In all honesty my biggest fear is barbed wire, many of the roads, especcially one fast 40mph plus steep decent I do, all I can see is that strand of barbed wire on fence lines and imagine what would happen if I had a situation where I lost control and plowed into it. The faster you ride the more it becomes visible.
gbb
Squire
- Location
- Peterborough
If there were such evidence, i may reconsider. But reality doesnt bear that up. In a minority of cases perhaps.... There is no definitive set of circumstances one way or the other (IMO) that'd make the wearing a plus...or a minus.
As i said, you pays your money...
gbb
Squire
- Location
- Peterborough
I've had almost exactly the same circumstances. Small child on a tricycle, straight into the road (child previously hidden by bushes). Launched into the air over the handlebars, no helmet at maybe 15mph.
In the seconds i was flying forward, arms outstretched (you're between the devil and the deep blue there)...i was thinking 'this is going to hurt'.
As it was, my head didnt touch the ground. I let my elbows bend as hands hit the floor, rolled over on my back, and stood up in one seamless move. Mere small grazes to my hands.
If i'd have outstretched my arms once i'd stood up....i'd have done an olympic gymnast proud.
If it's going to happen, i'd like to think it'd always happen like that. Wishful thinking no doubt.
swee'pea99
Squire
Next time, a little presence of mind please - it's very important to end up with: "Ta-da!" Then take a bow.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I went out on my mountain bike one time and was descending a muddy bridleway at speed when I rode into a deep rut. I started singing to myself "I'm in a rut, I gotta get out of it, out of it, out of it..."
My happy little song was brought to an abrupt stop, as was my bike, when the rut suddenly came a dead end.
I was launched over the bars so violently that I landed on my feet and was able to continue running down the hillside until I could safely stop. My bike was completely undamaged too!
On another occasion I chased another mountain bike rider into a deep dip filled with water. He ploughed straight through but I hit an underwater pothole or boulder, shot high into the air, did a complete back-flip and landed in a pile of mud between two huge boulders. If I'd landed on one of them I'd have been badly hurt. As it was I was still in a right mess - I looked like The Creature from the Black Lagoon!
Howls of laughter came from the hillside to my left. A group of mountain bikers were sat up there eating their lunch. "Do it again!" "Brilliant - top marks for style!" "I think you've got a spot of mud on your face, mate!" and so on...
My happy little song was brought to an abrupt stop, as was my bike, when the rut suddenly came a dead end.
I was launched over the bars so violently that I landed on my feet and was able to continue running down the hillside until I could safely stop. My bike was completely undamaged too!
On another occasion I chased another mountain bike rider into a deep dip filled with water. He ploughed straight through but I hit an underwater pothole or boulder, shot high into the air, did a complete back-flip and landed in a pile of mud between two huge boulders. If I'd landed on one of them I'd have been badly hurt. As it was I was still in a right mess - I looked like The Creature from the Black Lagoon!
Howls of laughter came from the hillside to my left. A group of mountain bikers were sat up there eating their lunch. "Do it again!" "Brilliant - top marks for style!" "I think you've got a spot of mud on your face, mate!" and so on...
snorri
Legendary Member
- Location
- East coast, up a bit.
It is interesting to hear the reasons for helmet wearing.
In the case of Zacklaws that you quoted a cycle helmet would be virtually useless, and a motorcycle style helmet more suited....
Globalti
Legendary Member
On the contrary. Casualty medics and physios are familiar with the torn nerves in the neck caused when the motorcyclists's body hits an object and spins while the head continues straight with the mass of the head and helmet. The resulting nerve damage paralyses the arm, which atrophies. Not quite the same, but the mass of the helmet plays an important role.
TBH when I used to mountain bike at night my biggest fear was that I might hit a black cow in the dark and get my helmeted head stuck up its arse and suffocate on liquid cow poo. A black cow once gave me a hell of a fright in the dark.
An entirely rational fear methinks!
snailracer
Über Member
http://www.dft.gov.u...cyclist2008.pdf
Head/face injuries (38%) are much more common than neck injuries (2%).
IF so-called rotational head injuries are classified as neck injuries, and IF there are not 19 times fewer helmet wearers than non-wearers, then it could be argued that helmets reduce your chance of being injured IN A COLLISION.
Update: roughly 30% of cyclists wear helmets, according to: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme1/ppr446.pdf
Which does say:
" This report focuses on understanding whether cycle helmets reduce the frequency and severity of injury in the event of a collision. It does not include detailed consideration of whether wearing (or not wearing) a helmet influences the likelihood of being involved in an accident, either through behaviour changes in the rider or in other road users. "
Head/face injuries (38%) are much more common than neck injuries (2%).
IF so-called rotational head injuries are classified as neck injuries, and IF there are not 19 times fewer helmet wearers than non-wearers, then it could be argued that helmets reduce your chance of being injured IN A COLLISION.
Update: roughly 30% of cyclists wear helmets, according to: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme1/ppr446.pdf
Which does say:
" This report focuses on understanding whether cycle helmets reduce the frequency and severity of injury in the event of a collision. It does not include detailed consideration of whether wearing (or not wearing) a helmet influences the likelihood of being involved in an accident, either through behaviour changes in the rider or in other road users. "