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

At work, we had those idiotic Lance Armstrong video showing repeatly on tv, showing the TdF in 2000.

I noticed something i hasn't noticed before; no helmet.

it was strange to actually see the peleton's faces.

No helmet, no gloves, and no sunglasses. Yet involved in some of the fastest stages in pro cycling.

Seems plain nuts to me TBH.

^

YouTube - ‪cocaine‬‏

Only wearing a analog watch too. Were the fuck is his GPS? radio? powermeter?

Did he start with all that stuff and punt it for coke on the way around?

Looks like his sunglasses gouged him in the fall.

'Remember kids, never wear sunglasses' thread?

Seriously though. Had'nt he have still hurt his face if he was'nt wearing one? or did the helmet cause the crash? what exactly is the argument here?

Because pictures of cyclists with bleeding heads, are'nt convincing me to leave my lid at home.

you could say that the helmet helped but wasn't really up to spec to protect his head more.

you could say that the helmet helped but wasn't really up to spec to protect his head more.

I though you were making a point about it being pointless to wear a helmet or something. Sorry. Not really up on this thread, as I try to ignore it.

I would'nt want to ride at that speed in that tight a bunch. With only a little moulded EPS, some lycra, and some mitts for protection.

Object, I did one thing you'd be please to hear.

I lost my glove in Wimbledon just when I was setting off to Cumbria.

Luckily did not needed glove, hand warmed up enough, handlebar feel fine on my hand, only concern is road rash on my hand if I fall over.

Now I look like I got rupert the fucking bear's hand due to the sun.
I'm not some kind of glove fascist, I just despise wearing them myself when I'm on the road bike. It's a totally unfounded hatred.

On thread related news, I have worn a helmet the last two times I've been out on the road bike and noticed a marked increase in my top speeds, I'm aware this is a false bravado.

I still do not wear a helmet when riding my commute, or out on any of the toy bikes.

/pointless facts about me

it was strange to actually see the peleton's faces.

It's definitely harder to identify them now.

/pointless facts about me

An oxymoron surely?

Who you calling a moron?

FFS, I tried my best to kill this thread a week ago and now someone dredged up the same old argument all over again.

Can we all go back to thinking about Eric Pickles in rubber knickers, possibly rubbing goose fat into his breast and stop talking about the pro's and con's of helmets.

Helmet no helmet helmet no helmet...

This thread will exist as long as people ride bikes.

I wore my American football helmet last night.

Reduced visability, reduced head mobility and I felt completely invunerable... Found myself wishing for a car to pull out in front of me so I could put my helmet through their window whilst going round a corner much faster than I would have normally.

Maybe not entirely compatible to the feeling of wearing a flimsy bit of polystyrene though. But overall I feel safer without a helmet.

flimsy bit of polystyrene

Have you ever tried to break up a modern cycle helmet? Flimsy is not the word I'd use.

‪A personal appeal from James Cracknell - Use your head. Use your helmet‬‏ - YouTube

Waits for naysayers

For what? I don't know what he's saying.

From his Twitter feed...

A year ago a bike helmet saved my life. Take a minute to watch this bit.ly/USEYOURHEAD & pass to friends & family #wearahelmet Please RT

Thanks for all the amazing messages. Really important to get helmet use and the video out there. Here’s the link again bit.ly/USEYOURHEAD

Popcorn anyone?

I make no comment on whether to wear a helmet or not.

I will, however, say this...

James Cracknell is a tit

ah, just another bloke who insist on people to wear the same thing as he did because it save his life (apparently).

Said that to Wouter Weylandt.

I post this in the video, 'comment pending', bet it won't get approved;

I'm already cycling safety, and don't feel the ride I tend to do required such safety device, thank you.

Ed, he was hit from behind by a truck, and although this is unrecorded he may have been in the primary position and everything.

He suffered a fractured skull in the crash, which suggests that he hit the deck hard with his bonce/something hit his head pretty hard.

I can see why he is probably a helmet fan- he'd quite possibly not be around to make the video you commented on if not for the lid absorbing some of the impact.

Transcript for Ed:
I used to be James Cracknell. I'm not any more. Last year when i was cycling across America a truck's wing-mirror smacked into the back of my head at 70 miles per hour, knocking me off my bike and onto the road. My brain swund against the front of my skull as it hit, causing severe damage to the frontal lobes of my brain. When i came out of intensive care i wasn't me anymore. All my firends and family told me my entire personality had changed. My short term memory was gone. I couldn't make decisions. I had no motivation. But i was lucky; i was wearing a helmet. If i hadn't been, i'd've been dead. The doctors say that in time i should hopefully make a good recovery. I'm already back on my bike. Some cyclists will never ride again. I make the choice to wear a helmet. If you do too, please send this on to a friend. I'm nearly James Cracknell. Please use your head. Use a helmet.

Point being if it's save your life, fine, and I'm glad it did.

But to go around telling everyone that they should wear it because it will save their isn't, somehow create the illusion that as long they wear a helmet, they'll be perfectly safe.

moth, thank for the transcript, it was really nice of you to give up a bit of your time to do that.

From what he says, it's not clear if the frontal lobe damage was from hitting the road, or rebound from the initial impact. But anyway it clearly indicates that a helmet isn't complete protection.

What would really have happened if he hadn't been wearing a helmet? Would the blow have dashed out his brains? Would a sharper impact have put more of the energy into damaging the wing mirror? Would the blow have connected as solidly or at all? Would the truck driver have given him a wider berth if he'd looked more vulnerable?

I still choose not to wear a helmet.