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

why do i exist?

To serve as a warning to others.

Balki

VeeVee may have a point here.

The proof is probably in the pudding.

Agreed... tasty, tasty pudding.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/7908583/James-Cracknell-stable-after-fracturing-skull-in-road-crash.html

Amazed really, he is alive after getting hit from behind !!!

Bet it sells a helmet or 3 this news...

This is a very convincing argument; until we meet a neurologist who would not advise it. Then we have to ask every neurologist in the country, no, the whole world, before we can settle the matter. Neither your nor my neurologist is *the *expert. (I don't actually have a neurologist. I've been meaning to get one but you know how it is)

Well I saw a documentary about this bloke (great man, ghreat documentaries, he cycles to work and doesn't bother with a helmet, he reckoned they were a waste of time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Marsh_(neurosurgeon)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/7908583/James-Cracknell-stable-after-fracturing-skull-in-road-crash.html

Amazed really, he is alive after getting hit from behind !!!

Bet it sells a helmet or 3 this news...

It's the same old nonsense every time:

Cracknell’s life was saved by his crash helmet, which took the full force of the impact.
If you're hit by a truck at some speed, a small piece of plastic isn't going to take the 'full force' of the impact.

Comments like that are ridiculous, and I'm pro-helmet wearing. The hyperbole is no good for both sides of the argument.

Did wearing a helmet contribute to Cracknell's accident or injuries?

It's the same old nonsense every time:

If you're hit by a truck at some speed, a small piece of plastic isn't going to take the 'full force' of the impact.

makes me imagine that he must have got off the bike and bent forward with his head towards the lorry, taking the full force with his head like a super hero!

Did wearing a helmet contribute to Cracknell's accident or injuries?

Guess not, but then did it help prevent the accident or injuries. Would the skull have been more cracked than it already was if no helmet had been worn?

Kerley

The helmet did nothing to prevent the accident. This much is certain.

Would the accident have occurred if he had not been wearing a helmet? We shall never know.

Were his injuries greater or less as a result of wearing a helmet? Again we shall never know.

I wear a helmet; believe it is up to others to decide whether they do or not. I do, however, abhot people sounding off with speculation and dressing it up as though it is evidence. If we are going to debate, let us, at least debate in a proper way. If you have a good popint, no doubt there is hard evidence ot support it.

The lack of hard evidence is what makes the debate either interesting or pointless (can't decide which!)

Amazing how compelling this topic is and we continue to engage in this old chestnut.
I and i'm sure many people here have been posting helmet stuff on helmet threads on bike forums and other forums for decades and it just won't go away.

This thread is massive and i bet nothing new is being posted on this topic. If all the time and energy spent posting helmet arguments was spent on spreading simple messages to cyclists such as 'ride a car doors width from parked cars' or 'check back regularly and engage with drivers behind you' or 'ride in drivers field of vision so drivers can see you' we would do so much more to improve the safety of riders

@skydancer re: breakfast. Do you think the consumption of bacon butties every morning would be a postive encourager of safe cycling? Only asking, as I'd love an excuse to have bacon butties every morning!

Go for it Bagheera with a strong cup of coffee. Set you up for good commute.

Balki dear chap, I believe it was some time ago:

Wear a helmet if you wish. Don't wear one if you don't. Don't disrespect those who chose to wear them; don't preach to those who don't. Whatever you have on your head, ride safely and with consideration for others.

Amazing how compelling this topic is and we continue to engage in this old chestnut.
I and i'm sure many people here have been posting helmet stuff on helmet threads on bike forums and other forums for decades and it just won't go away.

This thread is massive and i bet nothing new is being posted on this topic. If all the time and energy spent posting helmet arguments was spent on spreading simple messages to cyclists such as 'ride a car doors width from parked cars' or 'check back regularly and engage with drivers behind you' or 'ride in drivers field of vision so drivers can see you' we would do so much more to improve the safety of riders

pictures anyone?

http://good.kz/adds/EXPERIMENTS/Helmets

[Citation needed]

I was avoiding mentioning names because I didn't want it to get personal... But there are 2 I am willing to name because they are both very good players... Firstly ian, not really statistically valid as I've only seen him without a helmet recently once or maybe twice. And emmet, who I definatly think gives himself more room when he'snot wearing a helmet. I'm not saying either is riding dangerously when wearing a helmet, the opposite. But I do think it is an example of behavioual change.

On a similar note I'd be interested to see the serious injury stats for american football and rugby.

Which borough? I am surprised at this.

I must admit I was being a bit disingenuous they had already replied and said I could do the course, just that they recommended wearing a helmet and (seemingly more importantly) 'you'll be the only one not wearing one'!!!

It was Merton.

[quote=wiganwill]...
Please dont have kids...,[/QUOTE]
does anyone else find this immensly funny?
Nyquil, will's defo got at least one boy ;)

If all the time and energy spent posting was spent on spreading simple messages to cyclists such as 'ride a car doors width from parked cars' ' we would do so much more to improve the safety of riders
have you read the rest of the forum!? :)

K2: PM me and I will tell you how to get individual cycle training with no helmet requirements of any kind and, most likely, for free.

does anyone else find this immensly funny?
Nyquil, will's defo got at least one boy ;)

Well, I recently adopted what's his name, er, you know, Paramounted, that's it. Otherwise I am quite sure I don't know what you mean :)

Vicks NyQuil, I though you'd like this;

You should always wear a helmet.

After I crashed last year a number of people asked me; "were you wearing a helmet?" "Yes," I would reply, "but sadly not on my arse."

You clearly needed this one:

http://www.lfgss.com/post1555242-1338.html

Vicks NyQuil, I though you'd like this;

helmet or not he would have still died. would it make any difference if i said i didnt wear one, only on long distance

I suppose the longer you ride the higher your risk of an accident but that is some strange logic there!

This thread is full of strange logic

Being in a rush this morning, I forgot to don my helmet for my commute. God, I love riding helmetless, it is a joy.

But normally I choose to wear one....or rather I was nagged into it. But for my loved ones, I want to give myself a sporting chance if the worst happens. In fact it already has, and it has firmed up my belief in helmets.

Back in spring, after the big thaw, I instinctively bunny-hopped over a large pothole on London Bridge at speed. In mid-air I realised that I had not bunny-hopped a fixed gear bike before! I landed, wobbled one way, wobbled the other and was thrown off my bike. I landed on my back and my head was whiplashed back onto the road. It hit it with a sickening force. I was wearing a helmet and I got up and cycled away, albeit with a throbbing headache and a broken helmet.

I know how hard my head hit that road, and it scares me to think what would have happened had I not had my helmet on.

devil's advocate: bunny hopping at speed is quite dangerous.

No it's not- I've done it at high speed as I am sure many others have.

What Pistolero is saying is that he had an accident that a helmet helped him with, which involved a bunny hop.