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

I'm glad to see this thread is in the meaningless section.

Good thought provoking OP, roxy. Sometimes i need a nudge to remember to grow up a bit more. I have a fiancee and a kid - I should think about them and how my chioices couild affect them.

Looks like my commute is about to get around twice as long, on some bigger roads, from Brockley to Soho and back. Though I am looking forward to increasing the daily miles, from what is really a 3 or 4 mile pootle each way at the moment, I am starting to wonder if this watershed might be catalyst for me to grasp the nettle that I have up to now ignored: wearing the skidlid.

Like General Lucifer, I think I would probably choose to use it for the daily miles and long rides, and not to wear it on more leisurely rides, perhaps when i'm in Suffolk or just riding to a park with my nipper etc.

Up to now, I have only worn mine at the one session I have attempted at Hernia Hill (which means twice, including the induction) and I am aware that it wasn't nearly so annoying as I had anticipated.

Cheers for bringing it up in a thoughtful, not hectoring, manner.
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tricity. I take your point about HGVs. Death on London's streets is most likely to come from an HGV. No helmet will save you from one of them. Helmets can, however, save you from a life altering injury. More accidents result in those than in death.

I have to say, however, that the attitude of non cyclists can be amusing. After an accident earlier this year when I suffered unpleasant but healable injuries to my buttocks and elbow, numerous concerned friends said "I do hope you were wearing a helmet". To which I replied "Yes but sadly not on my arse or my elbow."

They're law in Australia and compulsory for almost all racing and participation events. I have no qualms wearing them. I have no qualms leaving them at home when I ride to the shops. I do get tired of helmet debates and that's where this will go in T-minus 10.. 9... 8..

3...2....1

if it's your time it's your time
it's like that incident on london bridge motorbike comes whizzing across the central barrier and takes out cyclist
wearing a helmet wouldn't have made a difference
how many people on here have had accidents and have received brain damage ?

There is something to be said for not wanting to look a complete cock, though.
I'd rather be dead than:

+1 - I don't look that bad........

And from what I have seen, the chances of being in an accident on a bike are quite low, and the chances of being in an accident and getting a severe head injury are lower still.

Not sure I agree with this.

I have tumbles quite regulary (well in the winter at least). Most of these are low speed tumbles due to poor conditions, and any head impact (rare) is nicely cushioned by my helmet. The formentioned helmet now has a notable dent in it from a high speed tumble a couple of weeks ago (now buying new one).

Using your 'risk matrix' I'd say....
slight tumble chances x slight tumble potiental injury = quite high.

Thats just me though. I still believe in personal choice.

cat-like, cat-like, for-the-win, for-the-win!
Also I don't know how to post images, just links...

http://www.vitonica.com/images/2007/07/CatlikeWhisper.gif

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/catlike-whisper-plus-zoom.jpg

http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/images/Catlike-Whisper-Plus-02-hi.jpg

The old helmet debate

add in abit of emotion - My boyfriend/dad/husband/wife blah blah blah..........

add in abit of - if i wasn't wearing my helmet blah blah blah...................

And we have another shit thread

how many people on here have had accidents and have received brain damage ?

most of this forum has brain damage.

Some school friends of mine, two sisters, one in the year below me and one above, lost their father to a degenerative brain problem precipitated by a fall from a bike. This is in Milton Keynes, where there is a dedicated cycle path system that is entirely seperate from the roads. He used to commute to his academic post at the O.U. from Stony which is a good distance there and back, something like 18 miles a day. Once he'd taken the fall, not associated with any other vehicles but an unlucky accident, it took him about 6 years to crumble from a bright active academic to a helpless 'vegetable' before passing away. this was during their teenage years when they really could have done with the support of both parents, rather than their mum having to struggle to support them financially and care for them and their dad.

His daughters used to really hassle me about wearinga helmet. Whenever I think about this issue, their sadness reminds me that it is worth doing. Perversely, I have still managed to avoid wearing one til now.

Well said Roxy.
I wonder how many forum members with children ride without helmets?

Guilty, but not when I'm out with said child.

I generally only wear my helmet when off roading.

I do not know why.

If you catch me riding today, look out for the yellow and black lid!

There is something to be said for not wanting to look a complete cock, though.

That's the funny thing though, it's all subjective. Those hipsters think they look the bollocks on their arropoked lo-pros when in fact everyone else thinks they look like complete cocks. They would never wear a helmet for no other reason than ego.

Fact of the matter is, helmets are here, they are not particularly expensive, uncomfortable or unsightly. They are not compulsory so you can make your own decision to wear one or not, but make that an informed decision based on your safety, not what you think you will look like.

Personally, I've spent a lot of time riding without a helmet, and a lot of time riding with one, and I see no practical reasons not to.

Hereby endeth my contribution to LFGbikeradarSS

If you choose to wear a helmet, can you make sure you wear it correctly. The number of people I see wearing it beret style is insane. I had to tell a guy again this morning, all the straps were completely loose and the helmet sitting on his neck. I told him he would be safer without one.

... Those hipsters think they look the bollocks on their arropoked lo-pros when in fact everyone else thinks they look like complete cocks. They would never wear a helmet for no other reason than ego.

...they are not particularly expensive, uncomfortable or unsightly. They are not compulsory so you can make your own decision to wear one or not, but make that an informed decision based on your safety, not what you think you will look like.

... I see no practical reasons not to.

+1

RPM is a hard bastard, he has tatts and everything, so if he says wearing a helmet is cool then I want to wear one too. it'll make me look tougher.

:D

except for when i'm just riding to the shops. don't want to scare the checkout chicks.

Totally agree with every sentiment other than the fact that the non-helmet wearer is the selfish party. I think "Imagine if I had to devote my time to caring for that cripple" says a lot.

PS. I don't let my brother or sister ride a bike in London for purely selfish reasons.

If you choose to wear a helmet, can you make sure you wear it correctly. The number of people I see wearing it beret style is insane. I had to tell a guy again this morning, all the straps were completely loose and the helmet sitting on his neck. I told him he would be safer without one.

god yes.
i feel hypocritical though. i nag 'er indoors to make sure hers is fitted properly. then don't wear one myself.

ho um.

In all seriousness, they do fuck your hair up.

The arguments about caring for an injured partner or being worried about hair are moot for me as I'm single and balding. I wear a helmet because if I accidentally fall off my bike, I dont want to smash the fuck out of my skull on the road.

In all seriousness, they do fuck your hair up.

wearing a helmet also makes you go bald

They're law in Australia and compulsory for almost all racing and participation events. I have no qualms wearing them. I have no qualms leaving them at home when I ride to the shops. I do get tired of helmet debates and that's where this will go in T-minus 10.. 9... 8..

I find myself strangely drawn to this debate. I had an argument with an Australian woman at work who seemed to think the law change in Oz had been an unassailable success story.

Have a read of this:

http://www.cyclehelmets.org/papers/c2022.pdf

It concludes:

[INDENT]"Comparisons of pre- and post-law injury data show that there is little benefit to either cyclists or the community from passing laws forcing cyclists to wear helmets. Rather than encouraging cyclists to wear helmets, the laws appear to have discouraged cycling, resulting in reduced health and fitness, but very little change in the percentage of head injuries. If the money spent on helmets had been used for other measures e.g. improving accident blackspots for cyclists, the benefits would have much been greater."
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Yeah, its worth noting that helmets are almost universally ignored in places where cycling is a norm, such as Holland.