The CycleChat Helmet Debate Thread

[Profpointy]

Yes but in my mind it's win-win I cannot lose, if helmets don't do any good then I've just got a pointless hat on my head - oh well never mind, but if they can do some good and most people agree that they can do some good then hey, I've got a helmet on my head, what's not to like?
The car/pedestrian analogy I just don't buy because it just isn't real world and untill the general populus starts wearing helmets for driving cars or walking I won't even consider it just like you won't.
And by the way folks we've been here before about 3-4 weeks ago and this same analogy didn't go very far that time either, round and round we go.

i think you have missed a key point.of with the "sometimes help so I'ĺ wear em" logic. Given the Australian stats (which I keep banging on about) which indicate they don't help on average, the if we accept hats sometimes help, then it follows from the stats they MUST make things worse other times. There's no other explanation else we'd see a net benefit. Bigger head is one obvious reason - twice as big, twice as many hits presumably - and presumably damage per hit halved hence zero net benefit. And that's without the rotational and neck injury thing which is a bit more speculative.

An analogy might be a drug which helped some patients but made an equivalent number more sick - I'd not be taking it just in case unless I had some good reason to think I was likely to be in the "made better" category

 

[glenn forger]

"An analogy might be a drug which helped some patients but made an equivalent number more sick"

Yeah, or a powerful hallucinogen that puts you in a coma for eight years and when you wake up you only have to touch someone to see their future. You get a job with a wealthy man to tutor his son but your spooky predictions unsettle the household. Then you shake the hand of a local politician and foresee nuclear war..

See, helmet proponents never think things through.

 

[Justinslow]

I agree that enough is enough. It is quite clear that you can see the truth of the matter in front of you but are unable to embrace it. I understand where you are here, it is after all hard shaking off a deeply engrained and faith based point of view.

But my point of view is my point of view, I am entitled to it just like anybody else is entitled to theirs, I have a friend who landed on their head and had a serious accident ALL the medical staff involved said his helmet probably saved his life. Many others have come on here and posted similar comments and all been rubbished by the "antis" and I'm using that term instead of "pro choice" because it is quite clear that many on here clearly are "anti helmet". I ride through forests and rough trails on my MTB, fast road solo, fast road in close proximity to others and I choose to wear a helmet on those rides, rides with the family - sometimes I don't wear a helmet sometimes I do. It is my decision and my decision alone.
Some of you have an almost evangelical stance - trying to "cleanse the evil" that is cycle helmet wearing and all because you are terrified of compulsion.
This is a helmet debate Thread, there are two sides.

 

[Justinslow]

Byeeeeee.

Hello

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I followed a fairly recent acquaintance on facebook last week. The very first post I saw from her was of a totally smashed catastrophically failed helmet with the usual numpty "saved my mates life, all cyclists must wear one" bs. Instant unfollow.

 

[glenn forger]

I have a friend who landed on their head and had a serious accident ALL the medical staff involved said his helmet probably saved his life.

So, you refuse to wear a helmet when you are most at risk cos people you've never met said it saved your mate's life?

 

[martint235]

Who would you regard as anti helmet? I'm certainly not. Show me a helmet backed by evidence that says in the unlikely event I crash and bang my head it will offer a significant improvement in the outcome and I'd consider buying one.

I'm "anti" people being sold a placebo and kidded into thinking it will make a difference. Not only that but they are sufficiently kidded that they then try to persuade/cajole others into wearing them. Even going so far as to re-distribute reference papers that were discredited years ago

 

[User33236]

This one came up in my news feed earlier:-

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news...clists-take-more-risks-study-indicates-199184

Odd way they chose to demonstrate risk taking :-)

 

[martint235]

[QUOTE 3998194, member: 43827"] View attachment 109591


Aimed at no side in particular. The thread is going round in circles.[/QUOTE]
You new here? This is standard for a helmet thread. We've not even reached 100 pages yet. It's a simple formula:
1. My mate banged his head and cos he was wearing a helmet, he didn't die
2. Where's your evidence?
3. Well the doctor/nurse/gynaecologist said so
4. That's not evidence
5. Some muppet lobs an inflammatory post or cartoon into the mix
6. Go back to 1.

 

[totallyfixed]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod...g-real-world-aerodynamics-and-cycling-fashion

you might find it funny. your choice.

Yep, that was the one I was commenting on in an earlier post. He is not the only pro to think like that either.

 

[User33236]

You new here? This is standard for a helmet thread. We've not even reached 100 pages yet. It's a simple formula:
1. My mate banged his head and cos he was wearing a helmet, he didn't die
2. Where's your evidence?
3. Well the doctor/nurse/gynaecologist said so
4. That's not evidence
5. Some muppet lobs an inflammatory post or cartoon into the mix
6. Go back to 1.

Not quite sure where you're going with that lol.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

But my point of view is my point of view, I am entitled to it just like anybody else is entitled to theirs,

"You are not entitled to your opinion. You are only entitled to what you can argue for.” Patrick Stokes

If you don't want to read the whole article, the following quote is a reasonable summation:

The problem with “I’m entitled to my opinion” is that, all too often, it’s used to shelter beliefs that should have been abandoned. It becomes shorthand for “I can say or think whatever I like”
​

...it is quite clear that many on here clearly are "anti helmet"...

Name two.

GC

 

[davidallenxyz]

Why are people so sensitive about helmets?

It's not a legal requirement, so don't wear one if you don't think it matters.

Personally, I doubt they will make much difference in a really big impact (they are hardly built to the standards of a full-face bike or racecar helmet), but I also think they don't do any harm, and I would rather bang my head against the floor via a lump of polystyrene than without. I would also rather set an example to my kids of making an attempt to protect themselves a little bit, just in case.

I don't care if someone rides without one. I'm more concerned by the quality of their riding and awareness rather than the safety gear they put on, because riding with your senses switched on is the best way to protect yourself. So no need to defend your choice. Any helmet-wearer that demands you to defend your choice is missing the point. And I doubt you will find many people that think like that.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

And I doubt you will find many people that think like that.

You must live a sheltered life.

People; complete strangers, pedestrians, people on bikes, drivers, often go out of their way to advise me to wear a helmet.

Maybe I just have an approachable face?

 

[Tin Pot]

Why are people so sensitive about helmets?

Imagine people on the streets suddenly started wearing face masks because a rumour started that they prevented lung cancer.

Pretty soon the majority of people you see in the street are wearing face masks.

Entirely voluntarily.