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

Just because a safety device doesnt protect for the worst case senario. Doent mean its useless.

Just because a safety device doesnt protect for the worst case senario. Doent mean its useless.

Helmet thread>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

:)

by which I mean "yeah I bet no-one's ever made that point/made the counterpoints against that ever anywhere ever on the internet anywhere, I bet"

Twas a fecking lame post.

Could'nt stop meself.

Brakes thread >>>>>>>>>>>>>

and so it continues

http://road.cc/content/news/77035-surgeons-scotland-debate-helmet-issue-do-they-increase-cyclists-safety-or-not

2 surgeons debate the matter

yay, same old great helmet debate arguments in the comments section too.

Like Ms Myles, he points out that helmets “are (and can only be) designed to withstand minor knocks and falls, not serious traffic collisions,” and says there is evidence that wearing one can increase certain types of injury.

...yet offers none.

I got a beard hair trapped in the buckle of a helmet once, that was pretty painful.

"...the fact that two senior medical professionals working in the same city and dealing with the aftermath of incidents in which cyclists have been seriously injured have such differing opinions on the subject..."

Do they, though? They both seem to be saying exactly the same thing (helmets can help in making low-speed falls and knocks hurt less), but one says "it shouldn't be compelled by law". The other doesn't seem to say anything about the law, only things about the low-speed falls and knocks that the other one actually agrees with.

It's like saying "putting pesticides in your garden may kill off unwanted garden pests" is an argument against "the government shouldn't insist you spray your garden with pesticides because it's none of their business what you do with your own garden" and then writing a whole fucking article about the matter saying that one of them is an expert in horticulture at Kew Gardens and the other is the chairman of the Botanical Society of the British Isles.

^^ On that kind of note, I went out with the Uni club today (lovely day btw!) who require you wear a helmet, and I found it's a lot harder to eat a banana with helmets straps fastened than without. Just say no!

I'll wear a helmet for long or fast rides, and at night (because my light is on it) but I'll be damned if I want to be forced to wear one when I pop to the supermarket. I totally get enforcement for club rides though, insurance is a bitch.

^ A lot of people seem to just wear them on long or fast rides -- isn't this just admitting that they're effective? So why not wear them all the time? And aren't they allegedly at their least effective at high speeds?

Not trying to stir anything, just something I've pondered in the past.

Exactly. What difference does the length of a ride make? You're probably more likely to be hit near a supermarket than in the lanes and the same goes for low speed wobbles.. loaded up with groceries vs. not.

Helmets are all about perceived benefits, and people assume that the faster and further they are cycling the more benefit the helmet will give them.

To be fair, if helmets are useful in slow crashes, you are more likely to be riding slowly over the course of a long ride than a short ride (all other things being equal).

I came off at 20mph, not slow, and went into a curb a few months back. I have a 2cm deep curb imprint in the helmet.
I walked away. Someone without a helment would be in big trouble.

~~Force to damage helmet != force to damage skull.

I am able to push a spoon through a helmet, but doubt I could manage it to your skull.~~

Edit: sorry ignore me, got sucked into the argument without thinking.

I am able to push a spoon through a helmet, .

Your mastery of the unsettling euph is second to none, too.

Would you have prefered a fork?

Come near me with a spoon and there will be trouble.

I've had a fair few crashes. Not. Once. Have I hit my head. My knees on the other hand are just 100% scar tissue. Guess I should count myself lucky.

I still wear a helmet if i'm going on a long ride or training... Commuting, I don't tend to bother.

Anyone comes near me with a spoon and I swear I'll do time.

fixt

Do cats count as family?

I quite like them, but I can only imagine their consternation at being left a Volvo.

^ A lot of people seem to just wear them on long or fast rides -- isn't this just admitting that they're effective? So why not wear them all the time?

It's likely that they don't vary their perception of the benefit, it's that the costs (inconvenience, sweat, helmet hair) are discounted more on a long training ride rather than a 5 minute trip to Sainsbury's. Since the costs are largely fixed, the cost:benefit gets much better as the ride duration increases, even without the further discounting which applies to the different type of ride.

I feel they are discounting my point re. bananas, tho. How many people need to eat on a trip to the shops, eh??

Do cats count as family?

I quite like them, but I can only imagine their consternation at being left a Volvo.
*Has this been resolved yet? *