The CycleChat Helmet Debate Thread

[totallyfixed]

Now I wish I had known this earlier.

If I wear a helmet there is more chance of me crashing. Presumably, because I subconciously think I am safe in my little polystyrene bubble and dont take as much care as I do when I wear my Buff.

What a crock...

Well, already we are hearing of evidence to show that helmets may indeed have an effect on how you ride, I am not inferring that everyone will be affected, that might be too much of a sweeping generalisation, but not I believe, a crock of shoot as you so eloquently describe it.
Now I think about it, just about all the cyclists that wear a helmet and have questioned why I am not wearing one [and it is a lot!]. have a story of how their helmet saved there lives / prevented serious injury. Something wrong here, are they really so crap at balancing on 2 wheels?

 

[steveindenmark]

I have never seen any evidence to support what you are saying. It is like one of those mythical cycling stories. I used to wear a helmet occasionally, otherwise it was my Buff. Maybe my helmet was too heavy and it unbalanced me. I really dont care if other people dont want to wear helmets. But after my experience I will be. I was good a 2 wheel balancing for over 50 years. If I just hadnt picked that helmet up I would have been ok.

 

[totallyfixed]

I have never seen any evidence to support what you are saying. It is like one of those mythical cycling stories. I used to wear a helmet occasionally, otherwise it was my Buff. Maybe my helmet was too heavy and it unbalanced me. I really dont care if other people dont want to wear helmets. But after my experience I will be. I was good a 2 wheel balancing for over 50 years. If I just hadnt picked that helmet up I would have been ok.

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

 

[steveindenmark]

As yet unpublished psychological experiment indicates that helmet wearers may have a higher overall level of danger

But that proves nothing. An unpublished paper which may or even may not prove something.

 

[steveindenmark]

Had an off about 10 years ago which landed me in the hospital with concussion followed by 6 months of nausea. Pothole in the middle of the night. I blame my poor lighting at the time, not to mention tight county budgets. Don't know how fast I was going, but it's possible it was within the parameters helmets are designed for. It made me think too: I needed better lights.

Not much use on a bright sunny afternoon, country Lane with no traffic. I think I missed the loose gravel on the road. :0)

Its my age, I think.

 

[MarkF]

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

I'll send that to my riding partner & cousin, he (a 100% helmet wearer) is always falling off, last time it cost him a fractured skull and several broken ribs.

I treated myself to a Honda Fireblade many years ago, I bought full leathers, body armour, new boots etc Then I started to do what I'd never done before in my life, fall off a motorbike. I took more risks because my previous and usual concern, gravel rash, had been removed.

 

[MontyVeda]

Oh stop being a bunch of twonks. Can't @steveindenmark make his own decisions without you lot belittling him??? He's not telling anyone but himself to wear a helmet so get down off your soap boxes.

 

[steveindenmark]

I'll send that to my riding partner & cousin, he (a 100% helmet wearer) is always falling off, last time it cost him a fractured skull and several broken ribs.

I treated myself to a Honda Fireblade many years ago, I bought full leathers, body armour, new boots etc Then I started to do what I'd never done before in my life, fall off a motorbike. I took more risks because my previous and usual concern, gravel rash, had been removed.

Oh I did that in 1991 off a Yamaha 125. I snapped both forearms and right leg. I have had bikes and mopeds ever since and not come off again. At stages I can travel as fast on a bike as I can on a moped. But I would never think of getting on a moped without a helmet. Its not the helmet law just the safety aspect.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

If I wear a helmet there is more chance of me crashing. Presumably, because I subconciously think I am safe in my little polystyrene bubble and dont take as much care as I do when I wear my Buff.

I think this is more true than you realise - I found myself thinking a few years back about cycling in London (which is a lot more frantic and dangerous-feeling than cycling in Manchester) and thought - even then, when I'd started to read about helmets and their effectiveness or lack thereof - I thought 'I wouldn't cycle in London without a helmet'.

 

[MarkF]

Oh I did that in 1991 off a Yamaha 125. I snapped both forearms and right leg. I have had bikes and mopeds ever since and not come off again. At stages I can travel as fast on a bike as I can on a moped. But I would never think of getting on a moped without a helmet. Its not the helmet law just the safety aspect.

Although I've never worn a cycle helmet, I have to wear a m/cycle one, but I wouldn't always do so if if I didn't have to. I ride in regular clothes nowadays and feel safer that way.

 

[Origamist]

Not much use on a bright sunny afternoon, country Lane with no traffic. I think I missed the loose gravel on the road. :0)

Its my age, I think.

Slow down if you're having problems identifying hazards.

 

[totallyfixed]

Oh stop being a bunch of twonks. Can't @steveindenmark make his own decisions without you lot belittling him??? He's not telling anyone but himself to wear a helmet so get down off your soap boxes.

I think @steveindenmark is big enough and ugly enough to defend himself, however for the record if indeed you are referring to me, I do not belittle folk on the internet, never have. The points I have raised are I believe worth at least discussing.
If we don't put our opposing views to the pro helmet brigade with reasoned arguments as to why helmets might not be all they are cracked [sorry] up to be then I foresee an inexorable creep towards helmet compulsion aided and abetted by those with financial motives, scare stories and a country that is quite frankly health and safety bonkers.

 

[MontyVeda]

I think @steveindenmark is big enough and ugly enough to defend himself, however for the record if indeed you are referring to me, I do not belittle folk on the internet, never have. The points I have raised are I believe worth at least discussing.
If we don't put our opposing views to the pro helmet brigade with reasoned arguments as to why helmets might not be all they are cracked [sorry] up to be then I foresee an inexorable creep towards helmet compulsion aided and abetted by those with financial motives, scare stories and a country that is quite frankly health and safety bonkers.

I wasn't just referring to you... but since you claim you don't belittle people on the internet, i think you do "...are they really so crap at balancing on 2 wheels?"

 

[MontyVeda]

fair enough... i just felt some of the belittling replies (eg. can't balance) were unnecessary.

 

[Dan B]

I dont like helmets. They can move about and be hot

If it's moving about doesn't that mean it's not fitted properly?

Best of luck with the finger.