The CycleChat Helmet Debate Thread

[mjr]

To be fair, maybe the risk of being hit by cars behind is greater than falling off forwards.
Not so silly after all !

You really ought to mark such sarcasm in some way, else someone will read it and believe it. You know how gullible those helmet users are...

 

[glasgowcyclist]

What is that supposed to spell?

Twat?

GC

 

[mjr]

What is that supposed to spell?

Dunno, but it warns you that it may park on double-yellows.

 

[Profpointy]

You really ought to mark such sarcasm in some way, else someone will read it and believe it. You know how gullible those helmet users are...

Although I was (of course) being facetious, now I think about it, maybe my theory is right !

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I have never claimed perfection

You're too hard on yourself.

GC

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I must say when I took a hammer to an old helmet it took a lot of hard whacks before much happened.

I dropped one (around £ 30.00) from handlebar height, a big chunk detached itself.
Another helmet, quite pricey for me at £ 70.00 rolled from my hands at pannier height, dented.
I'm not buying another one, waste of money, keeping the dented one in case I need to wear it for events.

But back on topic. I've seen a lot of folk who I know were more biased towards longer distance / road riding, and exposing themselves to the added risks involved in such riding, have had enough of it, and only 'leisure / utility' ride now. A lot of them no longer think that the risks they are now exposed to, warrant wearing a lid.

That is a bit silly, you can come off or be run over if you are on a utility ride.
Group riding is of course more risky, specially at fast speed, but on our paced ladies group rides there has been incidents too, due to too much chatting, no enough concentration on the terrain.

The bloke wearing one backwards, well what can you say...

80% of the helmet wearers I see have it fitted wrong.

I'm not wearing one unless I have to, or if the weather is really bad, gives me an extra layer of insulation.
Did not think I needed one when I started cycling, then caved in to peer pressure.
If they break by being dropped 50cm, what's the use?

 

[screenman]

Pat. there was nothing inside the helmets you dropped, this I feel makes the difference on how they absorb a blow.

 

[newfhouse]

Pat. there was nothing inside the helmets you dropped, this I feel makes the difference on how they absorb a blow.

Are you suggesting that the head saves the helmet?

 

[srw]

Pat. there was nothing inside the helmets you dropped, this I feel makes the difference on how they absorb a blow.

If only the forum had a materials scientist on hand to tell whether the evidence backs up your feeling.

 

[screenman]

Are you suggesting that the head saves the helmet?

No, I am saying the helmet does not flex and break so quickly. Try it see what you come up with, I was only playing with a couple of old helmets to see the effect on them.

Please not I am not suggesting anyone wears them or not, that is up to you.

 

[screenman]

If only the forum had a materials scientist on hand to tell whether the evidence backs up your feeling.

Do we have one?

 

[ufkacbln]

....but on our paced ladies group rides there has been incidents too, due to too much chatting, no enough concentration on the terrain.

I can just see the future rules....

All riders must wear a helmet... and female riders must not chat

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Pat. there was nothing inside the helmets you dropped, this I feel makes the difference on how they absorb a blow.

I see, ok, but it seems illogical.
I'm gonna try your hammer attack, I think I have an old, unblemished, helmet I could sacrifice to the experiment.

Are you suggesting that the head saves the helmet?

Funny!

 

[screenman]

I see, ok, but it seems illogical.
I'm gonna try your hammer attack, I think I have an old, unblemished, helmet I could sacrifice to the experiment.

Funny!

Put something inside the helmet before you hit it, I used yep you guessed it a melon.

 

[newfhouse]

No, I am saying the helmet does not flex and break so quickly.

So in normal use the force (compression aside) is passed to the contents of the helmet. Without a head or melon to absorb the force the helmet is just brittle polystyrene. Who would have thought it?