The CycleChat Helmet Debate Thread

[Racing roadkill]

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 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. 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 !

Well said. I don't always ride with a lid, and have had my fair share of tumbles. I've learned ( the hard way ) when a lid is a necessity, and when it's an option.

 

[Racing roadkill]

It's strange, because when I suddenly hit the tarmac with my head on a patch of black ice a couple of years ago, while wearing my magic woolly hat, I wasn't stunned at all, and just got back on my bike and continued with the ride. Are you sure the weight of your plastic hats didn't add some momentum to the impact?

They weigh next to nothing, so no not really. Especially the Carbon fiber / Kevlar one.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Your helmet gets written off every 3 years regardless of whether or not you hit the road with it. And should be written off every time you bang it or drop it anyway.

A very good, and often overlooked point or two there.

 

[mjr]

Yes, but mine isn't the Giro, it's a Casco Speed time.

You're not the only person to crash, you know? This thread isn't only about you

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).

There's a lot about aerodynamic testing, but it still only claims the bog standard crash test of EN 1078 (and the CPSC test which was downgraded to allow weaker EN helmets to be sold in the USA). I think that's rather strange.

Did you notice that they offer 40% trade in for your crashed helmet, if you bought it from there and want the same again?

 

[mjr]

I call bullshit on the 'next to nothing' bit.

As someone who suffered neck pain apparently caused daily use of a relatively light helmet (220g), I echo that call.

 

[PenttitheFinn]

You want someone from the not rabidly pro-helmet campaign I presume?

Not quite what I said, but are non-helmet wearers more risk averse? amongst my rambling that's what I meant !!!

 

[PenttitheFinn]

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.

Problem was he was right, trying to do big jumps on a BMX track on a MTB whilst not wearing a helmet makes me a twat!!!

 

[mjr]

Not quite what I said, but are non-helmet wearers more risk averse? amongst my rambling that's what I meant !!!

More risk-averse than helmeteers? The strongest evidence suggests so, but it's not clear how much they're more risk-averse because they don't wear helmets and how much they don't wear helmets because they're more risk-averse. The Bath study linked in an earlier answer tests if they're more risk-averse because they don't wear helmets, but I don't know of studies looking at the reverse.

 

[mjr]

Problem was he was right, trying to do big jumps on a BMX track on a MTB whilst not wearing a helmet makes me a twat!!!

I humbly suggest the statement would be equally true if "whilst not wearing a helmet" wasn't there...

 

[martint235]

Not quite what I said, but are non-helmet wearers more risk averse? amongst my rambling that's what I meant !!!

Depends what you call risk averse? I spend most of my commute outside the design parameters of a cycling helmet. As I've mentioned several times in this long (very long) thread, I really don't seem to bang my head as often as the helmet wearing community though. I come off the bike maybe once a year, once every two years approx but the last time I hit my head was nearly 20 years ago ish

 

[PenttitheFinn]

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

Interesting article and I quite agree with some of the findings, but I still can't get too up-tight about the pros and con, I feel it's down to personal choice, but my feeling is that most leisure cyclists helmets don't fit properly, so won't be of any use anyway. Interestingly enough when using a 180bhp 2 stroke snowmobile at <100kph with a poorly fitting helmet I soon shut off, but was quite happy with a good fitting helmet, so that's an example of risk compensation.

 

[martint235]

Interesting article and I quite agree with some of the findings, but I still can't get too up-tight about the pros and con, I feel it's down to personal choice, but my feeling is that most leisure cyclists helmets don't fit properly, so won't be of any use anyway. Interestingly enough when using a 180bhp 2 stroke snowmobile at <100kph with a poorly fitting helmet I soon shut off, but was quite happy with a good fitting helmet, so that's an example of risk compensation.

This kind of statement is what I don't get. It's always said in such a way as to imply that there is evidence that proves beyond doubt that if worn properly a helmet will offer protection.

 

[PenttitheFinn]

I humbly suggest the statement would be equally true if "whilst not wearing a helmet" wasn't there...

No need to be humble, and yes you are correct, but I can probably guarantee I would have had less in the way of cuts to my head with a helmet. wouldn't have stopped me flattening my nose and biting through my tongue though.

 

[simongt]

Interesting point about the correct fitting of a helmet. Apparently if your helmet fits properly; chinstrap done up closely etc., you should be able to push up below the front of the helmet and it shouldn't move, or at least only a very small amount. The theory behind this of course being that if your lid is going to slip backwards in the event of a spill, it won't be of much use - !

 

[PenttitheFinn]

This kind of statement is what I don't get. It's always said in such a way as to imply that there is evidence that proves beyond doubt that if worn properly a helmet will offer protection.

I believe a good fitting helmet offers some protection in some circumstances, and I have that evidence it's called my head. Twice I have slid down the road and my helmet was seriously abraded but no loss of skin. But please believe me I am not a pro-helmet prophet, I am just a bit amused by the enthusiasm shown by both sides of the argument. Personally I believe wearing eye protection is a far better argument, but I don't always wear it!