Remember kids... always wear a helmet. (The almighty bikeradar helmet thread)

I saw someone commuting in full elbow/knee guard set-up the other day. Takes all-sorts I suppose.

There seems to be a bunch of assumptions that people in this city have any idea what the fuck they are doing and there is any logic to anything any of us do.

There is not. Move on.

When my gf and I were living with my mother-in-law, she gave me so much grief re helmets that I ended up leaving the house with one on, go up the road, take it off and hide it under a bush before going on a ride and then recovering it before going home. Got found out when she somehow happened to be driving along the same narrow country lane as me one day. We then moved to New Zealand where we have a mandatory helmet law.

Elbows, wrists and knees are good places based on common cycling injuries. Not sure where to put the other 2.

Ask @WornCleat

I lived in Finland for two years until a year ago when I moved back to London, and just found out that apparently they have mandatory helmet laws there.

Fortunately they are completely unenforced.

Ok, so I haven't worn anything other than a hat for about 10yrs but today I can tell you I'm having doubts..

Yes, on this morning's club run I was only wearing a cap when the accident happened.
Thankfully I can tell you that an ambulance was not required and I do not appear to be suffering with concussion.

Just be careful out there... Those fucking conkers hurt!

I got got by one this evening too. Painful as heck. I wasn't wearing a helmet either but I don't think it made a difference. I wasn't riding a bike. And it hit me on the shoulder.

I haven't worn anything other than a hat for about 10yrs

You are the naked rambler AICMFP

I got a bee stuck in my helmet on a club run. Am sure I wouldn't have been stung if it hadn't been trapped between a polystyrene cage and my head.

That's happened to me twice this year , dangerous things helmets

I had a bee stuck in my bonnet once - couldn't stop talking about it.

I got a fat lip colliding with a bee on @|³|MA3K first Clacton ride*

*not connected with helmets

These conked and bee related issues are easily solved by the use of a good stout trilby.

Acorns too. I took an early walk in Cherry Tree Woods in E Finchley with a coffee and relaxed on a park bench.... next thing is I've been acorned. Plum in the middle of my head. That was when I saw the bastard squirrel. I checked on my blackberry for acorn attack but could only find reference to a pear conference. I moved away as quickly as I could but I've a dodgy hip. The cherry on the cake was the squirrel blowing raspberries at me from his oaky perch.

M'conkers

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/sep/12/cyclist-group-reviews-support-for-australias-helmet-laws-it-will-get-messy#comment-105100964

"Richards said the survey was not black and white and the results could throw up middle-ground alternatives, such as current Northern Territory laws which require a helmet for riding on the road but not for riding on bike paths."

Fuuuuu

Given the kinds of speeds of impact a helmet protects you from they have got this arse about face. Off-road trails are when I go most slowly and with highest likelihood off falling off. Helmet off road is essential as it protects me from my own fuck ups.

¯_(ツ)_/¯

They did ask to fill in a survey, which I've done. FWIW, I'm happy to cycle to the shops and city etc without if legal, but would put one on if doing mtb, group or training ride. I don't get that choice here, so ...

These conked and bee related issues are easily solved by the use of a
good stout trilby.

A silly hat solves nothing.

Ask @WornCleat

Ha. After my accident, I was asked many times "were you wearing a helmet?"

"Yes", I would reply "but sadly not on my buttock".

Of course it doesn't. A much more sensible hat is required ... a deerstalker for instance.

Some interesting research on helmets (based on data from St Mary's)

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185367

Three years ago I had a moan on here about my kids' school trying to make helmets compulsory (on threat of detention) for every pupil who cycled to school. I wrote to the head about the school's lack of responsibility/liability for pupils' mode of journey, and the misguided, counter-productive nature of such a rule. It was quietly dropped.

Now I learn from my son that, starting next half-term, anyone cycling to school without a helmet will have their bike taken and locked up until a helmet is produced.

Is this even legal?

I have no idea as to the legality or not, but these things never go away--you have to keep campaigning on them. Chances are that there's been a change of leadership, or maybe a decision by the governors, and unless you find enough other parents who feel strongly enough about it, they'll probably press ahead with it.

Perhaps there's some consistency there, though--their earlier proposed threat of detention strikes me as equally absurd.

Sounds to me that perhaps a similar letter should be sent to them?