bike helmets for adults

[oasispaw]

yea or nay?

[Santtu]

yes. Riding with helmet is mandatory in Finland, tho there is no punishment set from not riding with one, except perhaps in a case of health insurance disputes (the insurance company would try to talk out of insurance coverage, or try to reduce the amount of paid, if the driver in a cycle accident wasn't driving as the law dictates)

I use the helmet for maybe 80% of my trips with a bike, and I like having one with me. I drive slower when I don't have one.

When I do have one, I usually ride at the maximum speed allowed for vehicles in some congested areas of my town, which is a ridiculous 30km/h .. 20mph:shock:

[spirilis]

Never, ever, ever, ever, EVER put your noggin in danger. Never. NEVER!
:)

[Dark Razor]

yay it's very important. If you commute by bike and/or regularly ride long distances you will understand why. There are a lot of dangerous and near-miss situations, especially if you are navigating heavy rush-hour traffic.

Personally I have had several serious accidents already, at one time I was approaching a busy intersection on a bike path seperate from the road at about 20 mph. My attention was focused on the cars to my left, to see which ones would make a right turn and cross my path. Because of this I did not notice another byciclist coming out of a another bike path to my right that was hidden by some bushes. He sudddenly was directly in front of me and I crashed into him almost at full speed. I was catapulted over the handle bar, met the ground with my hands and tried to roll over, however the force of impact was too great and so I smashed on my shoulder and then on my head. I did suffer injuries of course, such as a dislocated shoulder, however without a helmet I would probably have cracked my skull open and might have been killed. (thankfully I was immediatly surrounded by about half a dozen people, one of which was a doctor, in addition to an ambulance which was also present at the intersection lol.)

I was also hit by cars on several occasions, though thankfully at low speeds so nothing serious happened. The point is though, that on a bike the risk of being involved in a serious accident is very high, and a helmet is absolutely not optional.

[murkrow]

looking like a dork is the main reason to ride a bike.

[aeon]

Absolutely and without fail, a helmet when riding, yes.


cheers,
Ian

[SensEye]

Nay.

[FFF]

Riding at night or next to high traffic areas: yea.

Riding in a neighborhood or on a track: nay.

[file cabinet]

yes..

Bicycle Helmet Statistics (http://www.helmets.org/stats.htm)

Two percent of motor vehicle-related deaths are bicyclists. The most serious injuries among a majority of those killed are to the head, highlighting the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet [...]

[oasispaw]

i hope he doesn't mind me quoting it, but...

Senator Prozanski, to quote you from bikeportland.org:

"I guess maybe as I get older, I feel there are certain things we can do that enhance safety but at the same time not be over-burdening."

Your age or feelings are irrelevant to protecting the life and liberty of the people of Oregon.

Have you researched the *real effects* of mandatory helmet laws? There is no clear consensus that they are beneficial and there is actually plenty of evidence that they cause greater harm than good. They reduce the amount of cycling people do, which is the last thing we need right now considering the issues of global warming, traffic congestion, and obesity. Moreover, they promote the idea that cycling is dangerous -- it is not. Cycling is no more dangerous than walking or driving a car. Why don't we try requiring pedestrians and car drivers to wear helmets?

And don't you think our police already have enough ways to harass and inconvenience average people? Why should they focus on something that has been shown to be quite harmless instead of fighting crime?

It's also detestable that you are relying on the ignorance of the general public to get this passed. It's clear that you have not studied the issue in depth, and it's certainly common sense to assume that the average Oregonian has not either. From personal experience, I know that most cyclists are even ignorant of bicycle helmet statistics and studies. So why would you provide an opportunity for voters -- most of whom do not cycle much, many not at all -- to cause harm and curtail personal liberty in the name of paranoia and ignorance? This is tyranny of the majority, plain and simple.

We don't need you to harm and harass us with your misguided notions of protection. We don't need you to impose your ignorance upon us. Please inform yourself. Here are some good places to start:

Do helmets save lives? | Life and style | The Guardian (http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/health/story/0,,1610264,00.html)

Why I Am Opposed to Mandatory Helmet Laws (http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/advocacy/mhls.htm)

Bicycle helmet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_helmet#The_helmet_debate)

Thank you





what are your thoughts on this, folks???

[CaptainChick]

Nay.

If you want to then by all means do, if you don't want to well, then, you have every right to put the safety of your head at risk.

[bluebell]

Bike helmets are mandatory where I live.

I'm pro-helmets. I'd have a few less friends without them. I've seen their helmets after their crashes - they would either have been killed or ended up with brain damage without them. Some of their crashes were on roads, some were on tracks in the forest.

[aeon]

Absolutely and without fail, a helmet when riding, yes.

To be clear, when I said this I meant what I value in terms of what I would choose for myself.

I wish all people to be safe and well when riding bicycles - but as it concerns a helmet when riding, may they choose in accordance with their own values as it concerns their persons.

I do not value the use of law, coercion, or force to make them wear a helmet.


cheers,
Ian

[Randomnity]

They aren't mandatory here if you're over 18.

I never wear mine anymore (I think I lost it actually). I really should buy a helmet though, I know it's terrible not to wear one and I feel like a moron every time I think of it. I've never been in a crash but I guess the first time might be the fatal one.

[Uberfuhrer]

I didn't think bikes wore helmets.

(Okay, that was a bad joke.)

I think all helmets are stupid.

The difference between riding a bike wearing or not wearing a helmet is said to be merely the difference between an open or closed casket.

[Ivy]

said by whom?

[Uberfuhrer]

said by whom?

I think I read an article one time that wearing a helmet ultimately doesn't make a difference...although this was mostly referring to motorcycle riders.

[spirilis]

I think I read an article one time that wearing a helmet ultimately doesn't make a difference...although this was mostly referring to motorcycle riders.

Um, everything I've seen (and was presented in my MSF course) certainly indicated that motorcycle helmets are flat-out life savers. There is a limit, however, to how much it can help you with a motorcycle--if you hit a concrete wall at 100MPH, for instance, helmet or not you're fucked.

I've also read reasonable testimony to the effectiveness of motorcycle gear (specially-padded/fabric'd jackets, gloves, boots & pants) in a crash.

[rhinosaur]

Yeah, I realize that my noggin could get bumped, but most of the time I don't bother wearing the brain bucket. Occasionally I'll remember, but not wearing it has become a habit.

[creativeRhino]

They've been compulsory down here for a long time. I used to commute using a bicycle and do long distance touring.

I got concussion once when I was run off the road by a car side-swiping me when I was riding to University. I ended up with numerous lumps/bruises/grazes. But the only permanent thing has been tinnitus (very mild ringing in ears) long term. The old fashioned little padded leather straps "cyclist helmet" I wore saved me quite a bit of surface injury. Yet I've got this constant little reminder of my misadventure.

Dying isn't the issue for me, the bigger worry would be brain damage that impacted my ability to live independently. Then it becomes a cost to the community or your family (or worse, you are stuck without either!) I've seen enough of that with a few people I went to school with who injured themselves horse riding/cycling/skateboarding.

Also I used to ride a motorbike and through my club we used to visit injured motorbikers - sometimes the only thing unbruised/broken was their heads (that were in helmets).

[01011010]

Pro helmet

[Sling]

Sorry to put a stick in your spoke, but screw all you cyclist commuters. You assholes think you can ride around, saving gas money, totally vulnerable to cars, and we upstanding folks with combustion based vehicles(you know, the people who the traffic system was designed for) are obligated to look out for your well being, because it's considered "vehicular manslaughter" to run one of you pricks over, accidental or otherwise.

Why the hell do you think I bought a tank? I bought it so I didn't have to pay attention on to minor potential collision objects such as yourselves. You'll make an easily avoided piece of roadkill with those neon-safety form fitting nylon short shorts.

So you sit there with your smug little faces with your helmet under your armpit, "While you were wasting money and supporting terrorism, I was boosting my health and helping the environment." Well while you were enjoying the ride over, I was already there, fucking your soon to be ex-girlfriend on my passenger seat.

I want to hear the thud of your noggin against my bumper as you're pulled under.

To feel the satisfying squish of flesh under rubber.

To look in my rear-view mirror and see an enflamed bicycle tire bouncing along a blood spattered pavement.

To pry out chunks of twisted metal and bone from under my chassis as I laugh.

I want to give you a real reason to wear that helmet every day.

http://www.screenhead.com/funny/PENNY4747474.JPG

[Xander]

I just bought a bike to save on the petrol costs and the missus started nagging about the ol skid lid before I'd even picked one out. Normally I'd just make a gesture of non compliance and disregard this but I figured for 20 quid why not... if it's terrible then I'll bin it. I found out that although I had to mail order mine (they don't stock my size in the shops) it's quite nice and much better to ride in than a baseball cap.

Anyhow, I wouldn't call them essential necessarily but I did hear about one guy who was pelting along and decided to take a short cut under a roadside sign only to catch the bottom of it. Now if he'd had a lid then he'd be knocked silly but this guy was knocked out cold and had a nice trickle of blood down his head.

It's the same thing as all safety measures, sure they're not necessary and I'm sure that no one here is enough of an idiot to need one but one day it won't run according to plan, one day you will be half asleep... maybe one day you'll really need it. Who'd be the idiot then if you didn't wear it?

Would sir rather be a cucumber or a lettuce?

[rhinosaur]

Sorry to put a stick in your spoke, but screw all you cyclist commuters. You assholes think you can ride around, saving gas money, totally vulnerable to cars, and we upstanding folks with combustion based vehicles(you know, the people who the traffic system was designed for) are obligated to look out for your well being, because it's considered "vehicular manslaughter" to run one of you pricks over, accidental or otherwise.

Why the hell do you think I bought a tank? I bought it so I didn't have to pay attention on to minor potential collision objects such as yourselves. You'll make an easily avoided piece of roadkill with those neon-safety form fitting nylon short shorts.

So you sit there with your smug little faces with your helmet under your armpit, "While you were wasting money and supporting terrorism, I was boosting my health and helping the environment." Well while you were enjoying the ride over, I was already there, fucking your soon to be ex-girlfriend on my passenger seat.

I want to hear the thud of your noggin against my bumper as you're pulled under.

To feel the satisfying squish of flesh under rubber.

To look in my rear-view mirror and see an enflamed bicycle tire bouncing along a blood spattered pavement.

To pry out chunks of twisted metal and bone from under my chassis as I laugh.

I want to give you a real reason to wear that helmet every day.

http://www.screenhead.com/funny/PENNY4747474.JPG

I strongly encourage you to do this. When you get out of jail, I'd like to find you and bust your head open with a bat.

[Xander]

I strongly encourage you to do this. When you get out of jail, I'd like to find you and bust your head open with a bat.
I'd say that I agree to some degree. However there are the occasional cyclist who seems to think that because the car driver will get prosecuted as standard that this gives them the right to ride like airheads. Similar to the mothers who seem to think they can use a pushchair to stop traffic and then yell at anyone who doesn't immediately slam the anchors on (remembering that here there's none of this jay walking nonsense).

[rhinosaur]

the car driver will get prosecuted as standard

Not true. A friend once got a ticket after being hit by a car, because he was on the sidewalk instead of the road.

I still ride on the sidewalk, though. I figure there's less chance of getting killed, even if it's illegal.

[Xander]

Not true. A friend once got a ticket after being hit by a car, because he was on the sidewalk instead of the road.

I still ride on the sidewalk, though. I figure there's less chance of getting killed, even if it's illegal.
After having witnessed what passes for driving your side of the pond, you have my sincere sympathies. I think I'd wear bubble wrap if I cycled over there... oh and neon lighting... with sandpaper on the outside of the bubblewrap just to make sure I did the maximum damage to anyone that ignored the lights.

I'm sure Ray Charles could get a license over there with minimum fuss.

[alicia91]

I think it's a good idea but I wouldn't want it legislated. The reason being that I don't want to be told how to stay safe on my skateboard, rollerskates, ice-skates, razor scooter, skiis, sled.................

[millerm277]

Personally, I think adult bike helmets are a good idea, and I wear one when I'm mountain biking or in traffic. I don't wear it when biking on trails (that aren't next to roads) or when cruising around the lightly traveled residential area around me.

However, I am 100% against legislation mandating it. If someone doesn't want to wear one and feels like taking those risks (as I do at times), its fine with me.

[runvardh]

I like to think of my brain as one of my more valuable assets...

[Works]

I like to think of my brain as one of my more valuable assets...

Agreed. I rely on my brains for my livelihood. Arms and legs I could do without if push comes to dismemberment, but the brain has got to stay.

[Sling]

Agreed. I rely on my brains for my livelihood. Arms and legs I could do without if push comes to dismemberment, but the brain has got to stay.

I wouldn't mind totaly brain debridement, as long as my consciousness stayed in my brain.

I wouldn't mind being a floating brain.

I'd hover about, issuing orders, smearing brain juice on freshly cleaned windows. Possibly disguise myself in the grocery store meat department and talk to passers-by.

hmm...

Then I would come home, and I'd need a vat of brain fluid.

The government would try to retrain all of their animal control people to be able to catch me with conventional tools.

[Santtu]

I'd say that I agree to some degree. However there are the occasional cyclist who seems to think that because the car driver will get prosecuted as standard that this gives them the right to ride like airheads. Similar to the mothers who seem to think they can use a pushchair to stop traffic and then yell at anyone who doesn't immediately slam the anchors on (remembering that here there's none of this jay walking nonsense).
Where I live, the justice system seems grossly in favor of car owners vs cyclists, and the settlements for minor injuries caused by car drivers are ridiculous. One low-speed accident entirely at car driver's fault was estimated at what, few hundred euros. He got away with bruises and some abrasions (wounds, don't got a better word), with few days away from work.

This is a reason why I've actually planned to carry a sledge hammer in my oversized backbag - to hold immediate field street court sessions - and to execute the punishment to the said vehicle after rulings of said court.

My eyes actually gleamed over when I saw that 10-pound hammer with a 2 3-feet shaft in the local hardware store.

[Xander]

Where I live, the justice system seems grossly in favor of car owners vs cyclists, and the settlements for minor injuries caused by car drivers are ridiculous. One low-speed accident entirely at car driver's fault was estimated at what, few hundred euros. He got away with bruises and some abrasions (wounds, don't got a better word), with few days away from work.

This is a reason why I've actually planned to carry a sledge hammer in my oversized backbag - to hold immediate field street court sessions - and to execute the punishment to the said vehicle after rulings of said court.

My eyes actually gleamed over when I saw that 10-pound hammer with a 2 3-feet shaft in the local hardware store.
Dude... get with the century. You could get one of those mercury bats... much lighter but with a similar impact. I mean... a hammer...jeez... you want a pickaxe or just an axe. How are you going to get a hammer through a sports cars grill? I mean.. come on... forward planning... hello...


;)

[Grayscale]

only if it's pink

[rhinosaur]

However, I am 100% against legislation mandating it. If someone doesn't want to wear one and feels like taking those risks (as I do at times), its fine with me.

I agree wholeheartedly.

[runvardh]

Agreed. I rely on my brains for my livelihood. Arms and legs I could do without if push comes to dismemberment, but the brain has got to stay.

Eh? I'm more along the lines of my arms and legs can be put in a cast. Most everything else can heal when broken just fine - the brain can't... :(

[oasispaw]

I wouldn't mind totaly brain debridement, as long as my consciousness stayed in my brain.

I wouldn't mind being a floating brain.

I'd hover about, issuing orders, smearing brain juice on freshly cleaned windows. Possibly disguise myself in the grocery store meat department and talk to passers-by.

hmm...

Then I would come home, and I'd need a vat of brain fluid.

The government would try to retrain all of their animal control people to be able to catch me with conventional tools.

you could be like krang and get a bike helmet for the robot whose belly you reside in.

then shredder and rock steady and be bop would come over and, well, it would just be awesome.

[oasispaw]

Where I live, the justice system seems grossly in favor of car owners vs cyclists, and the settlements for minor injuries caused by car drivers are ridiculous. One low-speed accident entirely at car driver's fault was estimated at what, few hundred euros. He got away with bruises and some abrasions (wounds, don't got a better word), with few days away from work.

This is a reason why I've actually planned to carry a sledge hammer in my oversized backbag - to hold immediate field street court sessions - and to execute the punishment to the said vehicle after rulings of said court.

My eyes actually gleamed over when I saw that 10-pound hammer with a 2 3-feet shaft in the local hardware store.

i worked with a dude who carried a hammer when he rode downtown and would break the lights of drivers who threatened him.

[Anja]

Forgive but a cursory glance at this thread. Apparently you are talking about bicycle helmets.

Here in MN there has been a long-standing debate about motorcycle helmets. which I can say a few words about. The issues remain similar.

I'll preface this with the fact that I have a friend who lost her nineteen-year old son when he hit a curb, fell off his bicycle and struck his head on the cement. He was traveling at a slow speed and so it was a bizarre quirk of fate. Tragic.

My husband and I have both ridden motorycles since the '70s and for some time he was politically active in ABATE, American Bikers Aimed Toward Education.

So both sides of the issue are clear to me and there are valid arguments on both sides.

We also have acquaintances whose lives have been permanently altered by accidents both while wearing helmets and not. Chosing to put yourself out there with cars on either motorized or unmotorized vehicles is a risky choice. While not all automobile owners are aware of that fact in a personal manner, every biker knows it only too well.

My personal preference is all I can offer. I own a helmet but wear it only where required by law or in inclement weather. I feel stifled by it and think it interferes with hearing vehicles approaching me from the rear. It also muffles the sound of my engine which I feel a need to hear to operate my bike well.

I understand that helmets can be purchased which don't cover the ears. Many wear the full-head ones because they like protection from the wind, however.

There is the stance of social obligation should one have a life-threatening accident which requires financial support from insurance or Medicare. So some think one is being socially irresponsible if they choose to not wear a helmet and leave the consequences for society to take care of.

Another viewpoint considers the egg-shell quality of even the best engineered helmet at speeds higher than thirty-five miles per hour.

Another thought is that many riders who survive accidents while wearing a helmet suffer from the helmet damaging the neck area and causing paralysis leaving the victim alive but unable to move.

I've heard more than one biker say fatalistically that he'd rather die flat out than survive severely disabled.

Of course, ultimately no manner of precaution will protect us from a convergence of quirks in the weave of fate. So my thought is the government needs to tend to more pressing issues than whether I wear a helmet or not.

Let them spend our tax money on education for all who take to the road on two wheels, learn the safest possible way to enjoy their rides and take their chances.

*Sits back and waits for the Toilet Police.*

[Jack Flak]

Yep.

http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/images/Giro-helmet-hi.jpg

[BridgeCable]

wow i just glanced through this thread but that is one badass helmet you got there sir! I ride an average of 10 miles a day and dont wear a helmet, i feel kinda bad but i have so much hair that helmets don't fit...also helmets, besides the one i just laid eyes upon^^(awesome) are lame, for special needs people and while i am not big into fashion and style it is a submission to fear of crashing and i cant deal with the shame, perhaps if i had a helmet like that though... I would also wear a helmet that had viking horns, or a samurai bike helmet

[Santtu]

I use http://www.changing-gear.com/acatalog/HE52SP.jpg

[Usehername]

I work at a bike shop; I ride with a helmet. One of my co-workers over the weekend shattered his helmet into 6 pieces riding on the highway due to a poor car driver forcing him into a bad situation.

Important note: If you use a one-time use helmet (i.e. the typical cycling helmet as pictured above with the Giro Ionos and MET lids) you need to replace it every few years. As soon as you first sweat into it, it begins to erode the fibres of the helmet. One of the sales guys put his foot through a 5 year old helmet to show how weak it would be after riding that long, and it crumbled like styrofoam underneath his foot, puffs of material floating into the air. Alternatively, a brand-new Giro Atmos helmet was (purposefully) driven over with an SUV earlier this summer and it simply crushed properly and absorbed the impact.

Things to think about.

[Usehername]

wow i just glanced through this thread but that is one badass helmet you got there sir! I ride an average of 10 miles a day and dont wear a helmet, i feel kinda bad but i have so much hair that helmets don't fit...also helmets, besides the one i just laid eyes upon^^(awesome) are lame, for special needs people and while i am not big into fashion and style it is a submission to fear of crashing and i cant deal with the shame, perhaps if i had a helmet like that though... I would also wear a helmet that had viking horns, or a samurai bike helmet

I'd bet you serious cash that the helmet pictured above, as well as Giro's more entry level helmets (Indicator, rift, which is what I ride with with my thick long hair) will fit. That's an outdated excuse. If by some chance that doesn't fit you (although I'm sure it WILL) you need their Titan helmet, which is made for oversized heads. Helmets such as these have an internal mechanism that you clock down to fit your head properly, and as such, the neck strap isn't nearly as important (though it does need to be done up and ideally no more than 2 finger spaces from your chin).

Benefits of one-time-use helmets: They can absorb more of the impact, increasing the time that the crash exists in (like a car bumper) and are thus safer at higher speeds because less damage goes to your head. They also have more air venting as you go up in price and get a bit lighter. The Giro Rift is the first helmet with a removable visor, which is a nice feature for roadies who ride an agressive position and don't want one more thing to look up past to strain their necks further. Brands like Giro, Bell, MET, etc. are all equally safe, the only price difference is weight and venting and helmet sexiness.

Benefits of multiple-impact helmets: (the skater/BMX/etc. style of helmet i.e. Nutcase) good for multiple impacts. It is heavy to ride with for any longer distance, and has next to no venting, so you'll arrive at your destination with wet hair from all your sweating if you use this to commute across the city.

[Jack Flak]

post.
The benefits of a hugely expensive helmet like the Giro Atmos or Ionos are across the board. I have two Atmos myself. They weigh almost nothing and let air flow over your head to remove heat. If you're a serious rider, no matter if you're slow as a pig, I highly recommend them. And they're only about a hundred bux. A top level road racing bike is over five grand.