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Nice to see normal service is resumed, I admit.
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Bike Forum
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Why do XC riders wear helmets?
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Posted 2 years ago #
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Branches. We get that a lot, if you can finish a ride after rain or snow without banging your head you've done well. No open fells in these parts.
Posted 2 years ago # -
There is another reason though....The STWers haircut of NO CHOICE
Posted 2 years ago # -
Tempting fate, but...
I've never had a crash on a bike where I've needed a helmet but I have had a branch stick into a vent on the helmet and stop me dead in my tracks.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I bet you'd be more careful with no helmet...
OTOH I might not, I'll let the plastic/polystyrene take care of the branches as I take care not to pilot my steed
into a tree
Posted 2 years ago # -
Because we are all **** gay!
and your a super tough, ninja freeriding downhillin guru.
Posted 2 years ago # -
OTOH I might not, I'll let the plastic/polystyrene take care of the branches as I take care not to pilot my steed into a tree
I did that once. But I'd forgotten that I wasn't wearing a helmet
Posted 2 years ago # -
Cycle helmets are distinctly flawed in testing and design.
Leaving aside my own anecdotes of the times I have dented helmets and thought how much it would have hurt if I wasn't wearing one, what's wrong with the way helmets are designed and tested ?
There is no good evidence of them reducing head injuries.
How could such evidence be gathered without subjecting live humans to identical simulated crashes with and without a helmet ?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Have you ever seen other STWers with no lid on
it's like riding with the 'Hoods' appriciation society.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Is that for safety reasons or because Giro, Met, Bell et al are pretty big sponsors of the sport?
Only became compulsory on the road (more publicity) after some reasonably high profile deaths from head injuries, most notably Andrei Kivilev in the Paris-Nice. So it seems extremely unlikely it was to do with sponsorship revenue.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I've been knocked unconscious twice (once on a tree, once on a car) and head/face planted many times while not wearing a helmet.
Still, I only wear one if I think I'm going somewhere where I may need it, otherwise I wear a hat.
Why? I don't like it. If I could find a nice comfortable, good looking helmet I would wear it all the time, but I have a weird shaped napper and usually helmets just perch on top of it.
I had a Giro Rift and got rid of it because of this. I bought a Met Predatore because it is big, but still don't like it. I fancy something the style of Giro Hex, but I'm reluctant to get on for this reason. I actually fancy a pisspot type helmet, although I only ride XC / Trail.
Any advice on good helmet styles??????????????Posted 2 years ago # -
Only became compulsory on the road (more publicity) after some reasonably high profile deaths from head injuries, most notably Andrei Kivilev in the Paris-Nice. So it seems extremely unlikely it was to do with sponsorship revenue.
But that was a change. Road riding and change don't really go hand in hand...
Posted 2 years ago # -
If it was about money, they'd have gone for it.
Posted 2 years ago # -
MilitantGraham - Member
Cycle helmets are distinctly flawed in testing and design.
Leaving aside my own anecdotes of the times I have dented helmets and thought how much it would have hurt if I wasn't wearing one, what's wrong with the way helmets are designed and tested ?
They are designed to meet the tests which basically is dropping the helmet onto various shaped objects from 5 ft.
Independent research shows that all helmets can create and exacerbate rotation forces which cause serious injury and cycle helmets are worse for this than other designs of sports helmet. However no testing is done as part of the standard testing to look into this.
There are other arguments about helmet testing standards as well - I suggest you have a look at the actual tests if you are interested
Posted 2 years ago # -
Of course, a branch might fall just as I pass beneath but the chances of that are infinitesimal.
Not quite! Top 20' of a tree fell on me whilst at Llandegla. Over the bars, cut chin and eyebrow. Helmet completely split down the front. Was a bit dazed!!
Helmets are cool!
PaulPosted 2 years ago # -
I love my ROAD helmet.
That's my ROAD helmet for all you h8ers!
Posted 2 years ago # -
The sponsorship (on the road) argument does have some relevance.
When the helmet compulsion came in, the riders were allowed to take off their helmets at the end of mountain finishes,
The sponsors were livid at the sight of riders universally ripping off their helmets and chucking them down at the side of the road, at the earliest opportunity.
FWIW, I think roadracing is less visually interesting, now that all you see are a field of nodding plastic-covered heids, less individual, and you dont really see the sweat and suffering faces you used to.Posted 2 years ago # -
Independent research shows that all helmets can create and exacerbate rotation forces which cause serious injury and cycle helmets are worse for this than other designs of sports helmet.
What was effectively gleaned from that research, IIRC, is that heads offer lower frictional coefficient to hard plastic over a foam base. I really really struggle to see that being the case, though I suppose the skin does move fractionally on the bone. Still, one paper on it hardly constitutes accepted scientific research. I'd actually really like to repeat this testing myself, I have the kit to do it if I can set up a rig and find a human head to drop
Posted 2 years ago # -
FWIW, I think roadracing is less visually interesting, now that all you see are a field of nodding plastic-covered heids, less individual, and you dont really see the sweat and suffering faces you used to.
I like DH racing for the opposite reason - you don't have to look at a bunch of gurning blokes with faces like rucksacks full of dented bells.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I had a friend fall of her bike doing 6mph, hit her head on the kerb, lost her memory for 2 years, she had to learn who all her friends were along with lots of other life skills, Kinda puts it into perspective,Doctor said at the time a helmet would have saved all the heartache.
I never ride without a helmet, you can fix most part of your body but the brain is not so easy.Posted 2 years ago # -
cant stand watching sports anyway, rather get out and do it - watching it is just frustrating.
Posted 2 years ago # -
This thread has been a credit to all concerned on this subject, with everyone displaying restraint, maturity and a lack of hysterical guilt-tripping...
...then jd_boy shows up with that anecdotePosted 2 years ago # -
I had a friend fall of her bike doing 6mph, hit her head on the kerb, lost her memory for 2 years, she had to learn who all her friends were along with lots of other life skills, Kinda puts it into perspective,Doctor said at the time a helmet would have saved all the heartache.
I never ride without a helmet, you can fix most part of your body but the brain is not so easy.Lots of people have the same experience in the shower. That's why I always wear a helmet while showering.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I had a serious concussion while in the kitchen, the doctor said I 'almost certainly' would have been fine, had I been wearing a helmet.
(no, he didn't)Posted 2 years ago # -
5mph 30+mph muppet
Posted 2 years ago # -
Because everyone comes off! And if you’re using your XC bike to commute you’ve got pot holes the size of bomb craters and drivers that think you’re a hood ornament.
That said what true rider would get far without his helmet?
Posted 2 years ago # -
That said what true rider would get far without his helmet?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Well, I seem to be living proof that non-wearing of polystyrene hat = not necessarily dead, despite being a 350 mile+ a week rider at one point.
Posted 2 years ago # -
RSF boys? Some of them don't wear helmets. True riders I guess
Posted 2 years ago # -
That photo illustrates a good point, that is, the number of pro road cyclists that died from head injuries, before the helmet-mania, is really almost surprisingly small, despite non wearing being almost total.
Posted 2 years ago # -
That's not the kind of riding I was talking about! and it sure is not XC.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Aye, its not likely that road cyclists ever go fast, take risks or encounter obstacles.
(see;Savoldelli, Cancellara, and above all Abdujaparov! for a rebuff of THAT statement)Posted 2 years ago # -
Agreed on the helmet design. Something like these would be better: http://www.urgebike.com/accueil_gb.html (look the Endur-o-matic)
You're kidding right. They are poo poo poo uber poo. You can't adjust the size, they don't come with different padding to compensate for the fact that there is only 2 shell (one too big and one too small) and lets face it they are a massive rip off (I know that because my LBS have received the 2008 prévisionnel).As for TJ old same argument dating from the early 90's. New am helmet are much rounder, peak is design to remove under the impact and they cover much more of the head without being an oven (yes I know that is not the main consideration in the UK) ;).
Posted 2 years ago # -
Juan the rotational thing is still there with modern helmets - its partly materials and partly design.
I find it very interesting how so many sports use different helmets for what is a similar risk. ski helmets for example compared to cycle ones? Very similar task bar the cycle helmet needs more ventilation but the ski helmet is a lot closer to the head and comes down lower and covers the ears
Posted 2 years ago # -
I guess if you only ride as fast as you run there is indeed no need for a helmet.
Posted 2 years ago #
Topic Closed
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