[Closed] Forgotten helmet when arriving at trail head, do you...

iainc - Member
Would be interesting to know how many who are opting for A or B have previously had serious crashes that involved smashing their helmets to bits.

in 30+ years of cycling and *loads* of crashes i've never once smashed a helmet, or even given one a dent big enough to consider replacing it. i've broken a few bones (and bikes) though but no-one clamours for full body-armour all the time you're on a bike...

i did however brain myself on a kitchen cupboard the door a couple of weeks ago, big hole in head, lots of blood, tidy scar forming, but no-one says you should wear a helmet all the time you're indoors, even though it would prevent more head injuries

A, B, C or D , depending on who I am and where I am.

You play at being multiple characters Dez ?

Been riding 20 odd years now and have always worn a helmet so probably D , I don’t particularly crash a lot but I feel like I’ve worn one for so long now it would be guaranteed to be the one time I didn’t that would be the one I wish I had .

Would be interesting to know how many who are opting for A or B have previously had serious crashes that involved smashing their helmets to bits.

Friend did a) at fod once, came off, mashed his head into some rocks and has spent the last 2 years with massive problems due to the trauma. I told him to rent one. Would rather a sweaty rental lid than going through what he did!
I would probably buy one!

buy a new one,
ive duct taped my magic shine to my head once, never again.

ive duct taped my magic shine to my head once, never again.

go hire or buy a cheap one. why would you ride off road without one.

Because you've left it at home, don't want to go back or spend money you don't need to and still want to ride. Loads of people never wear helmets and most don't kill themselves.

they were on the pre-hack stw, hosted on photobucket,, if you remember that

Seems like yesterday...
Shame you don't have pics now though.

Ahh Junkyard ..that explains a lot ..

mainly that I have had two bad crashes on a MTB

Would be interesting to know how many who are opting for A or B have previously had serious crashes that involved smashing their helmets to bits.

I have had serious crashes but as I have never worn a helmet how could they involve smashing a helmet to bits?

Maybe they weren't serious enough crashes...

hodgynd -
You play at being multiple characters Dez ?

Always
[img] [/img]

Junkyard
Yes that as well...

Years ago I was going kayaking with another fella at Stanley on the Tay, down to Thistlebrig. Those of you who know this will know what it is like - grade 2+ with some areas of heavier water. The other fella forgot his buoyancy aid, and wanted to drive home. I gave him mine and paddled without one as I thought a swim was very unlikely.

Anyway, I didn't swim, but I was FREEZING, and as a consequence didn't enjoy the paddle. The thermal shock every time I rolled could well have made me swim. The very fact the buoyancy aid wasn't there made a fundamental difference to my perception of my performance/enjoyment and as a result I wouldn't paddle without one in cold water in winter again.

I'd be interested to see the source of the 'more likely to injure yourself on drive to the trail' statistics, and whether that's normalized per number of journeys/time/distance. I've wrecked several helmets in 15 years riding, whilst I've never had a single head injury from a car accident; that's despite (sadly) spending a lot more time in a car commuting than riding MTB. I'll admit that is entirely subjective, but at the same time it seems like common sense. Happy to be proven otherwise.

Anyway, D.

On one of the early stw/mleh rides, treemagnet left his helmet at home, bought a new one and then left that behind in the car park.

Genuinely laughed/snorted at this.

I accidentally left my helmet at home before a gravel ride, I just went at it cautiously. When I left it at home before a MTB, I packed up and went home. In a huff.

A, never had a head injury on a bycycle. Had a head injury in a minor car crash.
Riding a bycycle off road is not really that risky.

B

But only because I rarely come off because I've learned I only fall off when I brake or do something way beyond my ability. Then it's usually ribs or shoulders.

HYN BTW.

E: Ride without one but stress and worry so much that you're not wearing one that you crash due to the tension.

I bought a helmet this year after 15+ years of riding dangerously without, dunno why it just seemed a good idea at the time. I've had an old full face for years for Gawton and Chipshop where you have to wear one to ride but never wore it anywhere else. I know how to fall and like Luke says it's usually ribs and shoulders (and fingers, wrists and my jaw), that said in some crashes it's been only by pure chance that I haven't bashed my head.

I'd be interested to see the source of the 'more likely to injure yourself on drive to the trail' statistics,

I worked with a bloke for years doing tree work and I got hurt more in the Transit because of his driving than I did doing the work.

Measuring MTB miles per injury to compare with car miles per injury and making a meaningful comparison would be nearly impossible to be honest. A big difference is that with an MTB it's almost always up to you and you're not at the mercy of someone else wiping you out as is often the case with cars. I would still say the car journey is more risky overall though.

How did you get hurt sitting in a van ?

because of his driving

Lalzowoodbine - I think you're quite right, it is difficult to make a meaningful comparison between driving and riding MTB, but this is partly my point; I don't see the logic in using the safety statistics of the former being used to justify fewer safety precautions in the latter.

Personal choice ultimately. I would just be taking it so easy if I did go on a helmetless ride that I wouldn't enjoy it anyway. No helmet no ride for me.

Would be interesting to know how many who are opting for A or B have previously had serious crashes that involved smashing their helmets to bits

Yep, chose A right at,the start of the thread with an example of when I last did. I've been riding since before helmets were a thing. My first helmet was a Giro with a lycra cover before they even had model names. I've always worn one and always supported the idea of wearing one. In all those years, I've smashed my fair share and had a bump or two where I might even claim a helmet saved my life.

However, in that time, I've had a lot more rides where I wore one but didn't need it. Hence my decision that once in a several blue moons, I'm probably going to get away with it. Just like life itself, it's a numbers game.

Yes, it felt odd at first, but by the top of the first climb, I didn't give it another thought until someone passed comment to the wife at the bottom of fluffy kitten.

C or D no helmet Defintely means no ride.

C or D for me too.

I've ****ted my head a few times, and once bad enough to be out cold and woke up on a stretcher being carried out of the woods.

Used to be a bugger as a kid for riding without one.

I'd probably buy one...helmet is getting on a bit so my instinct would be to get a decent one rather than the cheapest.

[I]statistically you're more likely to suffer a head injury on the drive to the trailhead (and doing C or D is only going to make this worse), so if you've survived the car journey you'll probably be ok on the ride[/I]

95% of statistics are up, including this one. I know loads of people who have come off and smashed their helmets, and a few that have ended up in A&E to have their bonce checked. I don't think I know anyone who has had a car accident going to or from a ride, head injury or no head injury.

Did this on our annual post xmas ride in 2016. I wouldn't have ridden the Gap route without one. Which would have meant sitting in the van/pub for 5 hours while everyone else did. Luckily I found the only shop open in Crickhowell on the 27th of Dec. Helmet didn't really fit and was exactly what you'd expect for £15.

As a placebo effect tho, it worked for me. Didn't crash test it thankfully. Wasn't sure what to do with it, but luckily the dog ate it 😉 Wrote a thing about th experience: http://pickled-hedgehog.com/?p=3814

If I was in the FoD, I'd probably ride without one. Anywhere else probably not.

This happened to me a few years back when we where on holiday in Pembrokeshire. Wife gave me half a day off dad duties, so I could pop up to Innerleithen for a ride. So got up v early and drove all the way there and no helmet.

Stood in the car park I considered all those options and decided I’d wait for the bike shop to open and grab a new one.

But the guy in the camper van by me came over and started chatting, mean while his “lad” was on some massive down hill bike doing very impressive wheelies. Round the car park. Bloke kindly offed to lend a helmet for my ride, very nice chap. I had a great ride and when I pop it back I went over for a brew, it was only then that I managed to answer the nagging question that I’d seen that “lad” before.... it was Danny Heart... close as I’ll get to riding like him is borrowing a helmet off his dad... he won his first world championship not long after.

Not doubting your story ..but..Pembrokeshire to Innerleithen ( North Wales to the Scottish Borders ) ..is at least a 7 hour journey so there and back is 14 hours travelling time and then you had to ride ..in half a day?..
Are you sure you have your holiday destination right ?
Maybe Dumfrieshire?

D for me. New lids are cheap if you can resist the lure of expensive stuff. If you crash badly it’s others that have to step in and deal with the consequences. And As an option D isn’t enough of a pita to make the others viable

ETA: my guess is Renfrewshire

I'm always thankful to BMX riders. Their selfless devotion to testing the limits of what a helmeted and un-helmeted head can take without serious injury is a great service to society.

OP are you still waiting at the trail head for the general consensus to your dilemma?
If so neither a,b,c,d you need to get someone to come and pick you up.. 🙁

If you crash badly it’s others that have to step in and deal with the consequences

I get the helmet odds but for me it’s this.

I’ve also had branches drop down in bad weather and they don’t brush aside as you pass.

Was in theatre the next day, having spent the night in hospital, getting my knee cleaned out with dettol and a wire brush. Left with 10 stitches.

Ah intensive cleaning , I did wonder why they wouldn’t do my arm with a local 🙁

Goldigger sed: OP are you still waiting at the trail head for the general consensus to your dilemma?

😆

Risk is finite on an average basis,but unpredictable and non finite on a local one. Hence, it depends is the answer to the original question!

If the ride was a slow non techy ride with some mates, then i'd consider riding without an helmet, but at reduced pace / risk. For proper MTBing, on features with a significant risk of crashing, then no, i'd not ride without one.

Left my helmet on the ferry at Calais once. Cycled to Barcelona and back without it....including some pretty fast alpine/pyraneean descents.

Probably wouldn't do that now though. I'm properly conditioned to wear a lid at all times except pootling along a towpath.

Wouldn't ride unless it was really tame

Got to Swinley and had forgotten it.....earlier this year.......rode on, steadily.

Mark

i have no idea why I wrote Pembrokeshire,your right that would have been a very long day out.

I was staying in Northumberland.....

B for me. Making a dynamic risk assessment as I went along.

Yes I have previously smashed a helmet up, landing on my head repeatedly during Megavalanche practice. I wouldn't ride those bits without a lid