The CycleChat Helmet Debate Thread

[Poacher]

Which ever way you cut it, if head injuries as a result of falling off a bike [whether this is wearing a helmet or not, who really knows] are in the minority proportionally compared with other types of activity, why the hell are helmets not prescribed for those activities?
Call me cynical, but selling helmets is big business, to promote cycling as dangerous reaps big rewards for those who make them. I will bet the person who came up with the original idea never once contemplated that helmets might possibly cause more accidents or in certain situations actually increase the chances of a more serious injury.
Just because something is mainstream does not make it right, a lot of money has been invested in helmets, a pity the same amount of thought and real world testing did not also go into it.

The manufacturers are maybe missing a trick in failing to market pedestrian and car passenger helmets. I wonder how they'd go about it - are Thompson, Rivara and Thompson still available for hire?

 

[classic33]

Yeah but, the rewards on offer for getting car helmets mainstream would be awesome.

Didn't it cut down on the number of vehicles on the road, where it was mandatory?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Yeah but, the rewards on offer for getting car helmets mainstream would be awesome.

How the heck do you market driving as a dangerous activity? Sitting in a driver's seat is the safest most drivers feel all day... an Englishperson's car is their castle.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Don't think fear sells - just makes you avoid the activity or pretend there's nothing to be scared of.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

How does that work for cycling and cycling helmets?

Cycle helmets are sold on the basis that they protect you. Thus you need fear no longer.
Exactly the same basis that cars are sold to drivers. Inside you are safe.

Rabbits feet and St Christopher's used to provide the same illusion of safety at one time iirc.

 

[ClichéGuevara]

Cycle helmets are sold on the basis that they protect you. Thus you need fear no longer.
Exactly the same basis that cars are sold to drivers. Inside you are safe.

Rabbits feet and St Christopher's used to provide the same illusion of safety at one time iirc.

Even for rabbits?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Even for rabbits?

Rabbits live in fear. It's all in the eyes.

 

[ufkacbln]

Rabbits live in fear. It's all in the eyes.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

How does that work for cycling and cycling helmets?

most 'normal' people view it as a dangerous activity and avoid it.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Cannot abide Art chuffin' Garfunkel. And so, in revenge...

Which is why people should consider whether or not they are comfortable with participation in portraying cycling as dangerous.

Reinforces all the macho "grow a pair" bs that surrounds cycling, if you ask me. Which you didn't.

I reckon if someone demonstrated incontravertably that road cycling somehow carried zero risk half the lycra warriors would take up another pastime. I'd say golf but most of them seem to have come from there.

 

[mjr]

So, purely anecdotal, how many times have you hit your head whilst cycling?

None, as far as I recall. When I used to wear a helmet, I hit my (still helmeted) head on the door frame of the shed many times, though! Never did it without.

I think I crashed more often in my helmeted years and I didn't ride anything like as far then, but I can't explain why. I wish I knew.

 

[classic33]

None, as far as I recall. When I used to wear a helmet, I hit my (still helmeted) head on the door frame of the shed many times, though! Never did it without.

I think I crashed more often in my helmeted years and I didn't ride anything like as far then, but I can't explain why. I wish I knew.

Why were you
a) cycling indoors
b) wearing a helmet indoors. It's unlucky.

 

[ufkacbln]

Cannot abide Art chuffin' Garfunkel. And so, in revenge...



Reinforces all the macho "grow a pair" bs that surrounds cycling, if you ask me. Which you didn't.

I reckon if someone demonstrated incontravertably that road cycling somehow carried zero risk half the lycra warriors would take up another pastime. I'd say golf but most of them seem to have come from there.

Fiddled......

The fluffy bunnies are nice, but the bird takes out a hare (different body proportions)

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Fiddled......

The fluffy bunnies are nice, but the bird takes out a hare (different body proportions)

A Jack Rabbit is not rabbit. It is a kind of hare

 

[martint235]

A Jack Rabbit is not rabbit. It is a kind of hare

I was going to say that but thought it would be picky