The CycleChat Helmet Debate Thread

[Justinslow]

Well a few more would have been nice.

HERE's a link to the full report

Just thought I'd point this bit out;

Conflict of interest.
Peter Halldin is the CTO at the helmet company MITS AB, Sweden.

Well whatever or whoever is behind it, it is a scientific study.
It does back up what some of have been saying with regards to helmets in accidents esp those that have actually had accidents whilst cycling and been "shot to pieces" on this thread.
As @User says, the chances of these accidents may be rare, but a helmet can help.......

 

[Mugshot]

Well whatever or whoever is behind it, it is a scientific study.
It does back up what some of have been saying with regards to helmets in accidents esp those that have actually had accidents whilst cycling and been "shot to pieces" on this thread.
As @User says, the chances of these accidents may be rare, but a helmet can help.......

Agreed, just thought I'd point it out.
Maybe the rarity is why they only tested three?

 

[Big Andy]

So, to sum this up, it confirms what I and others have been saying to you all along. A helmet may protect from some injuries in some circumstances but the probability of all that coming together is sufficiently low as to make it not worth bothering with.
The probability of all that coming together is way too low to countenance projecting such a negative image of cycling.

I suppose its very subjective about whether the risk is sufficiently low as to make the wearing of a helmet not worth the bother. Would also depend on how much of a bother you consider it to wear a helmet.

Personally i dont consider wearing a helmet is any bother at all, barely realise I have it on usually.

 

[Profpointy]

Mmm, the modelling of accidents study, when coming up with such high benefit figures should give the experimenters a note of caution, since this doesn't seem to bear up in real life, specifically Australia, and the figures are wildly high. Either the modelling is flat out wrong, or, more likely, it is specifically only modelling a case where helmets genuinely do help. It may or may not have taken account of the extra size of head causing more head impacts and / or more neck industries - probably haven't I guess. The wearing helmets "just in case" argument is fine, once it's proven or at least strongly indicated that there's a benefit - but the numbers (Australia again) seem to suggest not.

Edit: I should emphasise that by "give some benefit" I meant on average / on balance taking account of the disbenfits in other scenarios, not merely helping one specific situatio

 

[Poacher]

I suppose its very subjective about whether the risk is sufficiently low as to make the wearing of a helmet not worth the bother. Would also depend on how much of a bother you consider it to wear a helmet.

Personally i dont consider wearing a helmet is any bother at all, barely realise I have it on usually.

So you wear it when walking, yes? If it's no bother at all.....

 

[Big Andy]

So you wear it when walking, yes? If it's no bother at all.....

No because in my humble opinion the risk is much smaller when walking than cycling. Just my personal opinion and choice. I am more than happy for others to conclude differently

 

[srw]

No because in my humble opinion the risk is much smaller when walking than cycling. Just my personal opinion and choice. I am more than happy for others to conclude differently

An evidence-based opinion or a guess-based opinion?

 

[Justinslow]

An evidence-based opinion or a guess-based opinion?

A personal experience opinion??

 

[Big Andy]

An evidence-based opinion or a guess-based opinion?

What difference does it make? Its my opinion based on a number of factors
It has no effect whatsoever on anyone else and I am perfectly entitled to it just as others are perfectly entitled to their own.
For what its worth I would say it is an experience based opinion.

 

[Justinslow]

On another note I've had two mates come off their bikes in the last two days on the road, both good riders and not nutters.....

 

[MontyVeda]

Both helmet wearers?

 

[Justinslow]

Both helmet wearers?

Yep, your point?
Let me guess- reckless, over confident, riding beyond their ability level?

 

[srw]

A personal experience opinion??

What difference does it make? Its my opinion based on a number of factors
It has no effect whatsoever on anyone else and I am perfectly entitled to it just as others are perfectly entitled to their own.
For what its worth I would say it is an experience based opinion.

That'll be a guess, then. Which is a shame because the evidence is available.

 

[Big Andy]

That'll be a guess, then. Which is a shame because the evidence is available.

You may like to consider it a guess, i will disagree with you.

 

[Justinslow]

That'll be a guess, then. Which is a shame because the evidence is available.

So wear a helmet when walking then........