The CycleChat Helmet Debate Thread

[mjr]

As someone who has accidents, both with and without helmets, could one of the anti helmet brigade tell me if those without helmets are better at risk compensation, or was it just me being a twat when I received multiple cuts to my head in an off road high speed gravity testing experiment.

I'm not sure what "better at risk compensation" means in that context because people without helmets aren't doing anything perceived as a notable unusual risk-reduction measure, so there's nothing to compensate for.

I am quite open minded about helmets and don't always wear one, but the doctor who treated me called me a twat, and I am sure he has seen the aftermath of more cycle accidents than most.

If he really did then you should probably complain before he bullies someone less robust than you.

And as they say in the motorcycling world, if you have a two bob head, a two bob helmet will do. I have a 6d head obviously !

More meaningless bullying from the helmet-pushers?

 

[ufkacbln]

If he had (and I doubt he did) then I'd have called him out. A doctor is not an expert on cycle helmets. Most clinicians who make such comments speak from a position of ignorance but their arrogance is such they think they're experts on areas outside their competencies.

There is a certain lack of "evidence based practice" - I have challenged health care" professionals", none of which could quote a single item of peer reviewed evidence to support their position.

 

[ufkacbln]

and I am sure he has seen the aftermath of more cycle accidents than most.

Ironically they will have seen the aftermath of far more car accidents, pedestrian accidents, sports injuries, assaults and alcohol related head injuries (cycle head injuries are a minority in any cohort study on head injuries)......yet somehow don't think that helmets have any benefit in these cases?


if a person falls form a bike at low speed, or simply falls whilst walking, the head injury impact is similar, yet one is censured for not wearing a helmet, and the other is not required to?

Sheer hypocrisy as either a helmet helps prevent injury or not.

 

[Mugshot]

I am sure he has seen the aftermath of more cycle accidents than most

It's quite possible that he's seen the aftermath of all sorts of things which aren't cycling related and also involve head injuries, do you think he is telling everybody he sees with a head injury that they're a twat for not wearing a helmet or is this bedside manner reserved just for cyclists? If, as I suspect it will be, he keeps his name calling to just one particular group, ask yourself why this is.

 

[Mugshot]

could one of the anti helmet brigade tell me if those without helmets are better at risk compensation

I expect I'm probably lumped in with those pesky anti helmet kids in which case have a look at THIS recent study.

 

[RoubaixCube]

Don't you think the helmet made slamming into the tarmac more likely? (Extra weight exceeding the capability of your muscles to hold your head up, or otherwise.)

Which helmet was it and is it tested for side impacts or did you get lucky?

Giro Atmos II 2016

 

[Racing roadkill]

But he'll have to damage it if he's going to give us an 'after' photo....

Ohhh aren't you the little comic genius

 

[Racing roadkill]

That's the hit point dent, broke visor and scratches along the top.

That's me being able to push the outer skin inwards, on account of the internal foam components having been pushed in / away from the outer shell.

It's hard to make out, but the first layer of impact foam ( darker grey) has intruded right in past the ( broken ) second layer of impact foam, and now makes contact with my right temple. The lid is unfortunately, goosed. More fortunate, is that I can get a new one for 250 quid, instead of the 350 original price a couple of years ago.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Giro Atmos II 2016

It's a Casco Speed time, but interestingly, I was looking at the Giro Atmos II, last night, as a replacement.

 

[Racing roadkill]

As someone who slammed the side of their head on the tarmac and survived with some scratching and grazing while their helmet was written off. Im all for helmets

It stuns the hell out of you, doesn't it?

 

[Tim Hall]

View attachment 124044

That's the hit point dent, broke visor and scratches along the top.

View attachment 124045

That's me being able to push the outer skin inwards, on account of the internal foam components having been pushed in / away from the outer shell.

View attachment 124046

It's hard to make out, but the first layer of impact foam ( darker grey) has intruded right in past the ( broken ) second layer of impact foam, and now makes contact with my right temple. The lid is unfortunately, goosed. More fortunate, is that I can get a new one for 250 quid, instead of the 350 original price a couple of years ago.

That's well broken. Glad you walked away from it. What's the white cable/pipe thing exposed by the damage?

 

[Racing roadkill]

So it failed then...

Yes, it "failed" in the engineering sense of the word, but the deformation is the ting that dissipated the energy, and meant that I did not sustain any injuries to my head, or brain. The foam moved in, enough to take the energy, but not enough to cause my head damage, which is exactly what it's supposed to do.

 

[mjr]

Giro Atmos II 2016

http://www.giro.com/eu_en/products/men/helmets/atmos-ii-18.html makes no claims about testing, so I suspect it's only undergone basic EN 1078 and you got lucky. Congratulations!

 

[Racing roadkill]

That's well broken. Glad you walked away from it. What's the white cable/pipe thing exposed by the damage?

That's the retaining bungee, for the visor, it stops the visor from detaching and flying into anything around you, or coming back into your eyes.

 

[Racing roadkill]

http://www.giro.com/eu_en/products/men/helmets/atmos-ii-18.html makes no claims about testing, so I suspect it's only undergone basic EN 1078 and you got lucky. Congratulations!

Yes, but mine isn't the Giro, it's a Casco Speed time. Read the spiel under the picture, it tells you about how it was tested.
http://www.velodromeshop.net/index.php?p=product&id=1927

So EN 1078 compliant, and CPSC (USA standard). The main thing is, that it worked, it died an honourable death, so that I didn't have to. I'm going to give it a worthy send off ( douse it in a nice IPA (India pale ale, not isopropyl alcohol). Then bury it in a suitable skip.