I was following a 14 (?) year old cyclist today in heavy traffic he was wearing no helmet but apair of electronic ear muffs, guess that would be an accident risk in reducing spacial awreness (I like to hear what's going on as well)
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My friend, an experienced cyclist, won't wear a helmet - although he recommends them for children. My son, another experienced cyclist, likewise.
Maybe it's the old Volvo syndrome at work where helmet-wearing cyclists are concerned - 'I feel secure, therefore I can do stupid things'.
Before I run for cover, I have to say I've owned more than one Volvo...
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I think Mike and his friend hit the nail on the head. There is a point of view that says they're good if you fall off onto a kerb, but can increase the risk of injury in moving accidents where they can catch the road and apply rotational force to the skull. The sort of injury caused when the brain is bashed about inside the head like washing in a dryer features in lots of nasty cases in BI rehab units and big compensation claims. I worked for ten years dealing with folks who were mentally incapacitated for one reason or another. Dealt with lots of car and industrial accidents and the odd fall in the home, but only one cyclist. You do however need to be very careful walking home from the pub after a few jars!
See www.cyclehelmets.org/ for more info.
Personally I've never found a helmet that is comfortable and does not interfere, even if only subliminally, with both peripheral vision and hearing. I swear I'd end up falling off while fiddling with the chinstrap. I don't feel invulnerable while bare headed and I think I'm more in touch with the surrounding traffic etc. What i do find is that riding close in to the kerb encourages manic passing.
Having said that I try and insist the kids wear one, at least riding on public roads.
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I never wear one. There is no evidence to show that head injuries have been reduced in the fifteen or so years that modern helmets have been on the market, and in the years before that when many more people cycled regularly head injuries among cyclists were never an issue.
Part of the hysterical "If it save one life it must be worth it" school of (non) thinking.
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Robin Reliant, formerly known as Tom Shaw
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I never wear one. There is no evidence to show that head injuries have been reduced in the fifteen or so years that modern helmets have been on the market, and in the years before that when many more people cycled regularly head injuries among cyclists were never an issue.
I do a lot of cycling both on and of road and i always have and always will wear a helmet, i have had a couple of accidents where if i hadnt been wearing one significant damage would have been done to my head!! these accidents were not all caused by me doing stupid things (admittedly one was but this was not on the road so does not count!!) but by the drivers not seing me/ ignoring the fact that i was there despite lights and reflective clothing!
the fact is that most motorists dont believe cyclists belong on the road so therfore choose to ignore them. It is down to personal opinion and choice to wear one or not but having see the state of a cycle helmet after an accident and thinking that would have been my head i will always wear one and will always advise others of my experiences if the spout forth some of the twoddle about helmets being no use at all.
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Temporarily not a student, where did the time go???
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How do you know what damage would have been done to your head without the helmet? The likelyhood of your head making contact with the ground when wearing one is greater as it is two-three inches larger than without. Helmets will shatter with very slight impact, try dropping one from waist height and you will see. There is no statistical evidence to show that helmets have reduced head injuries, and I have been involved in cycling for many years longer than they have been in use without seeing anyone killed or reduced to vegetable status after crashing without wearing one.
Casualty departments see far more head injuries from car accident victims than from cyclists, so the net benifit would be far greater if drivers wore them. This argument crops up regularly on cycling forums, and if all the people whose live were saved by a helmet were to be believed then pre helmet days would have seen carnage on an unimagined scale.
BTW, all of the four riders killed at Abegele this year were wearing helmets.
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Robin Reliant, formerly known as Tom Shaw
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I never wear one either. Hideous looking and horrible to wear, they look far too flimsy to be of any use, and then you got to lug the wretched thing around all day once you get off the bike.
That said, I have no objection to any cyclist dressing themselves up in full body armour if they want to do so. What I do object to is the increasing tendency to make this sort of self-protection compulsory (as with seat belts), while things which cause danger to others (such as cars tailgating or cyclists on pavements) go unprosecuted.
[begin rant]
Road transport law is rapidly turning into a situation akin to the old game of prosecuting people who attempt suicide, but with a new twist of not disturbing murders. It's a piece of insanity which could have been devised only by the lumpen polytechnic who we are insane enough to elect to govern us. [end rant]
Travelling up the M1 today, I lost count of the number of times I saw some nutcase undertaking in order to squeeze into a less-than-2-second gap in the 3rd lane, and then tailgating the car in front. By the time I got to Rotherham, I was feelng quite depressed that I had seen precisely zero police/HA patrol cars, which is presumably why these nutters reckon they can get away with that sort of thing.
Then, just before Sheffield, I was greatly cheered to see that a patrol car had pulled in a particularly aggressive Porche-driver. Except that once I thought a little more, I reckoned that the average mad lane-hopping, undertaking tailgater could probably expect to be caught only once every few thousand miles :(
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Sigh....
I think there were probably some very similar opinions going round some years ago when seat belts were coming into vogue. You know, "there is no evidence that seat belts save lives, my father's friend wasn't wearing one and he was thrown clear". etc etc.
I've ridden motorcycles for about 30 years, and have always worn a helmet. When growing up in the 1960s, I didn't wear a cycle helmet as they weren't around then. In more recent times I always wear one. Here in New Zealand it is now the law that you must wear one. They're only ugly and uncomfortable if you don't get a good one. I honestly can hardly notice mine and it doesn't affect my hearing, perception, awareness or confidence in any negative way. I don't ride more recklessly just because there is a better chance of surviving an accident. (See seat belt arguments above).
My only close involvement in cycling injuries has been when a close relative was hit from behind by a car a couple of years ago. The driver was blinded by low sunlight but continued at full speed (100km/h) despite this. My relative is a man in his early thirties, a very fit and competitive road and mountain cyclist. He sustained several broken bones and a head injury. His helmet was destroyed in the accident. With therapy and determination, he can now talk, walk and work again. The police, ambulance officers, the emergency room staff, his hospital carers and foremost, he are unanimous in their opinion that without a helmet he would have been killed instantly.
If I had any doubts about the wisdom of wearing cycle helmets, the site of Shane in his hospital bed, and the knowledge of what it took him to recover from his injuries, erased them. If anyone thinks this is a made-up story, then check out www.cdhb.govt.nz/communications/healthfirst/issueh...f
Look for the article on "The Living Room"
Safe and happy cycling everyone!
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grrr.
Of course 'site" should be 'sight'
I blame my auto-spell checking browser....
PM
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I have never worn one, but I imagine they reduce your perceptions of small 3D noises that we subconciously rely on, by rubbing against the head and making a sustling noise, I also thing a user of these helmets is less likely to flick their head about to increase their peripheral vision as a an object strapped to your head would make this almost impossible (increased weight and distance of mass from moment).
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I think there is no statistical evidence what so ever to support their safety, and I can completely believe that they increase risk, for the reasons stated. When 14-18, I raced MTBs, and I used to ride to school. I treated my commute as a training run, and 'expected' to be knocked off once a term as I rode extremely agressively through traffic. Seems silly now, but made sense at the time, and yes, I wore a helmet.
I *always* wear a helmet now, and always will. I've landed clean on my head a couple of times, and made a complete gougeing mess of the helmet - it feels very soft when you're anticipating road. I've got a decent (read fairly expensive) Giro helmet that is comfortable and doesn't restrict my vision or hearing. It's personal choice, on the road I have no problem with people I'm with wearing or not. Off road I won't ride with people if they don't have a helmet but the risk profile is completely different. Any attempt to legislate is a stupid, counterproductive idea that will kill more than it saves by increasing obesity and other diseases thru putting off potential cyclists.
IMHO. Gord.
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There are two entirely different lines of reasoning here, and they are getting confused.
1) is the argument about the effectiveness of the helmet in reducing injuries, and possible lessening of awareness or over-confidence from wearing one.
2) is the argument this research was addressing, about car drivers' perception of cyclists wearing helmets, and driving in a way that actually increased the risk to the cyclist.
I'm sure the second point is true. I'm aware myself of having different feelings towards helmeted cyclists. If they are children, I think to myself, "there's a child with an over-protective parent, but I'll give it a wide berth in any case". But if it's an adult, I think to myself "he's probably some sort of militant cyclist nutter".
I don't deliberately cut him up, but I am aware of having a rather prejudiced attitude to him. So it wouldn't be surprising if some drivers did actually drive closer, as the research found.
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I used to have the same discussion and arguments on building sites when safety helmets first became mandatory. The same reasons as people on this thread have put forward that they restricted vision, movement, etc etc.
Eventually It became a ?you either wear your helmet or leave site? statement with no exceptions to visitors or VIPs.
Very quickly it became automatic and common sense prevailed. And a couple of times they prevented serious injury to myself.
Would any of you let your child onto the road with his bike without a safety helmet?.
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my mate works on large construction sites and has had two accidents.Both were caused because he was wearing a helmet!,The peak of the helmet obscured his view on both occasions resulting in him hitting his head on object sresulting in neck injuries both times.He would not have had the accidents if he had not had the helmet on.He thinks they cause as many accidents as they prevent.
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my mate works on large construction sites and has had two accidents.Both were caused because he was wearing a helmet!,The peak of the helmet obscured his view on both occasions resulting in him hitting his head on object sresulting in neck injuries both times.He would not have had the accidents if he had not had the helmet on.He thinks they cause as many accidents as they prevent.
They don't sound like particularly serious accidents-I would rather crick my neck like that, but survive a brick falling on my head!
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I've worn a bike helmet while riding since the late 1980s. I don't find they restrict vision or hearing. In fact the only issue I have with them is that the cheap ones are not well ventilated enough. So I don't buy them. I ride a lot of miles and I've had just one accident since then. A car pulled out of a side road and I hit it. I landed on my head on the other side of the car, destroying the helmet. But I was left with no injuries other than a stiff neck for a few days. I've been knocked out a couple of times in my life, both times as a result of lesser impacts than that one.
I think of it this way. If someone was going to smack you over the head with a cricket bat and they gave you a choice about wearing a helmet, what would you do?
But the all time greatest safety device on a bicycle is a rear view mirror. I would not be without one now.
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This is not the first piece of research on this topic with a similar conclusion. Any such research is likely to add credibility to risk-compensation theory: the more you reduce the perceived risk, the more risks will be taken. There is plenty of other evidence, such as the junction "improved" by the removal of a hedge blocking the view of approaching motorists: the accident rate went up.
"the fact is that most motorists dont believe cyclists belong on the road so therfore choose to ignore them." I don't see much evidence of this. There is some, for sure. But for every motorist who doesn't give a cyclist enough room, there is certainly a cyclist riding without lights, running red lights, riding on crowded pavements, switching from carriageway to footway at random, riding the wrong way on one-way streets, etc. In fact, I'd wager that the ratio is greater than 1:1. In a nutshell, cyclists as a group are their own worst enemies in this respect, because they are a conspicuous and provocative source of disorder on the roads. That said, there are well behaved cyclists and they get the same respectful treatment from me as I have no option but to give to their idiot counterparts too.
Let's all read the Highway Code from time to time and heed its advice.
Cycling helmets? They still make me chuckle.
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Cycling helmets? They still make me chuckle.
An alien wearing a bunch of bananas on his head, as someone wrote recently.
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begin rant]
Road transport law is rapidly turning into a situation akin to the old game of prosecuting people who attempt suicide, but with a new twist of not disturbing murders. It's a piece of insanity which could have been devised only by the lumpen polytechnic who we are insane enough to elect to govern us. [end rant
Which plytechnic's that then ? - don't disagree though.
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Well for the sake of 22 euros I am not going to gamble with my head. How much is yours worth?
My latest from Carrefour is well ventilated and comfortable. I replace them when the interior starts getting a bit frayed.
My helmet and peak often fend overhanging twigs out of the way when cycling on towpaths etc..
--
I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Well for the sake of 22 euros I am not going to gamble with my head. How much is yours worth?
All racing drivers wear helmets, no matter what class of the sport they are competing in. They are not prepared to gamble with their heads because they know there is a chance of head injuries in a car crash.
So how come those who want to force helmets on cyclists drive their cars bareheaded? For the sake of 22 euros, etc...
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Robin Reliant, formerly known as Tom Shaw
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Helmets are not an option in most areas of motorsport and indeed are subject to scrutineering for condition and safety Standards as far as I know. Do any F1 drivers protest about their freedoms?
I voluntarily use my helmet as I see it as a sensible precaution against my own stupidity. Whenever I have fallen off a pushbike it has been my fault.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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After watching 'Seaside Rescue' on BBC1 last night, seeing a girl of appx 12 years of age, hit a speed bump, come off her cycle and subsequently 'headbutt' the road, yes, I think the helmet was an enormouse benifit in preventing a fractured scull
If she haddn't been wearing one, what do you really think would have been the result, just a scraze???
secondly, sorry, Robin Reliant !!!!?????
Why do thousands of people insist in naming those vehicles in this way, its Reliant Robin, as in Ford Escort.
People don't call them Escort Fords do they!? get it right.
Even Jeremy Clarkson quoted the Robin in this manner in his book, 'Born to be Riled' . Page 47, 7th paragraph down. Why !!!!????
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After watching 'Seaside Rescue' on BBC1 last night, seeing a girl of appx 12 years of age, hit a speed bump, come off her cycle and subsequently 'headbutt' the road, yes, I think the helmet was an enormouse benifit in preventing a fractured scull If she haddn't been wearing one, what do you really think would have been the result, just a scraze???
Possibly, how can we know ?.
How much cushioning can polystyrene give you ?.
All i can add is the fact at the age of forty i do not know anyone who has died falling off a bike !!.secondly, sorry, Robin Reliant !!!!????? Why do thousands of people insist in naming those vehicles in this way, its Reliant Robin, as in Ford Escort. People don't call them Escort Fords do they!? get it right.
What's in a name Mr Cortina Hippo Reggie ? :)-
Even Jeremy Clarkson quoted the Robin in this manner in his book, 'Born to be Riled' . Page 47, 7th paragraph down. Why !!!!????
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All i can add is the fact at the age of forty i do not know anyone who has died falling off a bike !!.
Well, I'm not yet 40 and I know of one: a classmate of mine at school in the early 1980s who hit a pothole and headbutted a kerbside lamppost. I've seen and heard of quite a lot of serious injuries though. Having said that when I was an idiotic teenage "roadie" with a fixed wheel my mates and I used to "draft" the double decker buses on a dual carriageway on the way to school. We used to brake by bumping the front wheel off the back of the bus as it slowed down. I don't know anyone who was killed or even slightly injured that way. So it must be safe, right?
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secondly, sorry, Robin Reliant !!!!????? Why do thousands of people insist in naming those vehicles in this way, its Reliant Robin, as in Ford Escort. People don't call them Escort Fords do they!? get it right.
Ah young man, you are obviously new to this website.
As a former Reliant owner my forum name was changed as a public protest against those on here (including a certain moderator) who obviously know so little about cars that they could not see that the mis-naming of a fine motor car by the tabloids was in fact a mistake.
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Robin Reliant, formerly known as Tom Shaw
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a public protest against those on here (including a certain moderator)
Ex moderator, I think you'll find ;o)
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