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

I never normally wear a helmet commuting, but do wear one when out in the lanes.

How come?

I do the same because;

1. wearing a helmet makes me sweaty and my commuting/city riding doesn't usually make me sweaty. (Although now it's winter and because my GF has mentioned it I'll probably start wearing one with a hat underneath).

2. I assume (rightly or wrongly) that I am more likely to suffer a side injury as a head one - even though the one time I've seriously stacked it I hit my head.

3. On longer rides I go fast enough that if I fall I think I need head protection.

I meant I've never suddenly realised there's a cyclist right in my path because I didn't spot them early enough.

I'll check the front grill in a bit though.

I have. At dusk in the late summer the other year I was turning right onto a minor road, I didn't spot the cyclist until I was already turning and effectively did an emergency stop. I'd waited at the junction and thought I'd looked down the road adequately and waited until the onwards cars had all passed. I don't remember being especially tired, rushing or anything. It was poor light, he had no illumination and I didn't spot him until the last moment*.

I don't think it's something that happens when you're riding along a straight road. The dangers are where there are junctions and corners.

• just to be clear I'm not saying if I'd have hit that guy the onus should have been shifted to him.