What bits do I need?

[HJ]

I think its what happens after your hit by a car that a helmet could help, side slam your head or head dive or other angles of impact once your off the bike. Just like seat belts, head ons are very rare it seems so dont do anything on side impacts . It seems its a gamble on these instances happening when you are knocked or fall off, I for one would like to keep my head in one piece , even if i did have a shattered hip or leg because a car side swiped me. But having a shattered skull because of side slamming the road as I was knocked off as well as hip or leg ect is a lot worse.
I really cant understand how you feel a helmet doesnt help in these instances, as they are as possible as not, and are designed to absorb impact when needed, obviously very fast impacts with the head will just break your neck or more, but any impact that doesnt kill you is lessened.

Col, there is very little evidence that helmet do help in these instances, it is a question of understanding the odds. I am not going to tell anyone not to wear a helmet if they want to, but I think people should understand that the level of risk in cycling is actually very low, also that:
a) a helmet is not actually necessary to cycle safely
the level of protection is far less than than is widely suggested.

 

[montage]

It does annoy me when people argue a case so much against wearing a helmet.
If somebody wants to wear a helmet - great! If somebody doesn't...well...I would try persuade them to but so be it.

If you had a small child who had just learned to ride a bike, and were taking them on the road for the first time, would you or would you not put a helmet on them?

 

[gavintc]

And what is wrong with having a beard?

Nothing that Mr Wilkinson would not sort out.

 

[montage]

Also, last time I had a crash, my helmet lost a fair bit of the paintwork after my lovely skid round the roundabout, no major damage done, nothing that would have proved life threatening, but the road rash on my legs is only just dissappearing in some place. The helmet prevented facial road rash - this is more than worth it!

 

[yellowhammer]

Well, if nothing else I know not to mention helmets now.