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Slightly different tack,
in oz helmets are compulsory and i hate having to don a lid to ride slowly to the shops.
On a longer ride(mtb/road)helmet is part of the kit,but when i cycle tour
i carried it on the trailer and only put it on in towns.
should be personal choice
bloody nanny state 🙄
Indeed - you simply do not know what would have happened without a helmet and whilst protecting from some injuries a helmet makes other types worse - neck breaks being a classic example. You have an increased risk of neck break if you wear a helmet.
Also injury free head impacts with a helmet would not mean death or serious injury without a helmet. If you would have had a serious or fatal injury without a helmet the same impact with a helmet you will still be injured but obviously of less severity.
TJ - I find it hard to believe the chances of a neck break will have increased with a helmet (unless you are saying that your skull caving in softens the blow). In the case of my wife's neck break, this was most likely cause by a severe whiplash motion caused by a 5ft drop face first onto a rock. I do believe (and so did the doctors) that both sever head trauma and extensive facial injuries are likely to have been prevented by the helmet.
I agree that it is up to the rider to decide what suits, but in my view there are so many variables out with the riders own skill that can dictate a crash (especially on the road!) that it doesn't make sense not to wear on - I just don't think it is worth a chance. In terms of anecdotal evidence, I have seen 2 major accidents to close relatives and a few others with friends that were likely to be much worse with no helmet - that is good enough for me!
While it may be comfier to not wear a lid, its also comfier not to wear a climbing harness and crampons when winter climbing... I might be OK without this safety equipment, but who knows...
Had a look at this site
http://cyclehelmets.org/1019.html
Does seem more biased in favour of not wearing helmets - I think that sound facts could be generated from either side of the argument for and against. I think it comes down to how much risk you are willing to accept.
That said I cannot possibly see that a lightweight good fitting helmet can actually increase your chance of injury (making your head heavier or larger can contribute to injury - ?!?! (for a 400gsm helmet!) - so are big headed riders more likely to die in a collision, maybe you should ensure that you shave your head too - nonsense!!!)... therfore myself, my wife and child will still always wear theirs anytime we ride our bikes.
And I especially pity those that don't wear a lid at kiroughtree - I am a very experienced rider and have had a pretty big 'off' at those trails. Rather them than me!
I saw a bloke smoking last week. Crazy fool!
And i suspect my neighbor doesn't always eat 5 portions of fruit and veg. I'm tempted to go round and tell him there's a risk he could die, but some idiots take this sort of advice badly. Still, Darwin's laughing at them.