[Closed] No helmets - Why? Are they mad?

I've now worked trying to plan services and support for people with acquired brain injuries (ABI) for over 10 years. ABI can have many causes, perhaps 40%-50% (according to my stats) being the result of trauma (blow to the head).During this time, I've worked with 11 people whose ABIs came as a result of coming off a bike. Some were roadies/townies (a certain city's bus service seems particularly liable here) but others were MTB riders.

Now TJ (who, bless him, seems a particularly sophisticated helmet denier) might argue that these people might have had their ABIs anyway, or might have experienced different sorts of brain injuries (I take the diffuse axonal point to some extent, but I think the counter-arguement is that the helmet should reduce the severity of impact and thus the effect of reverberation of the brain inside the skull - I know that's what it felt like for me when I came off a bridge and headbutted an earthen bank!) I'm not convinced that we do more bonkers things just because we wear a lid. My 'sophisticated risk assessment' - ha! - is more concerned with my fingers, hands, elbows and knees, because experience tells me that these are what I have damaged when I've had offs.

But at the end of it all lies the question - why ever not wear a helmet? Vanity? Personal freedom? Spurious science? Most of us take the view that if there's a chance a hat will save us from some kind of TBI/ABI, then why not wear one? It's a small price to pay. And for those who take the personal liberty angle, sure, on your own head be it (literally), but be aware that in doing this, because you live in society rather than some individual void, you send a message to others that having a lid on is not really necessary........and (speaking personally) that is what really pisses me off.

And the beat goes on.........

[i]Wow, didn't realise there was such an anti-helmet brigade here! [/i]

There isn't.

What there is is a group of people (myself included) who suggest that sometimes you don't need to wear a helmet, and sometimes there are times when it's better to wear one.

OK?

dekadanse

I am not a helmet denier. I wear one when appropriate,

Why not wear one - its much more pleasant to ride without them. They are uncomfortable and sweaty

there are two arguments that folk get muddled up[
1) cycling is safe. the odds on getting a brain injury are very low indeed. How many of the people you have looked after got their brain injuries when drunk?
2) cycles helmets offer very little protection against serious brain injury and indeed may exacerbate serious brain injury

Both these things are well supported by research.
http://www.ctc.org.uk/desktopdefault.aspx?tabid=4688

2)

but be aware that in doing this, because you live in society rather than some individual void, you send a message to others that having a lid on is not really necessary.....

Good - thats exactly the message we should be sending out

ffs why are some on here so bothered what others do or don't? I agree with TJ. The higher the risk, use more protection.

sorry but those in crashes who say "I'd be dead without the helmet" rarely have the knowledge etc to state that with any authority-and are of course less than objective.

well free to recreate my experiences but without a helmet and tell me how you feel afterwards, but I don't think you would be able to 😉

In my own experience the idea that you should wear a helmet only when doing 'extreme' things like downhilling and jumping doesn't stand, because its always been silly things like falling at 1mph that have resulted in me smashing my bonce. Apart from the car incident, I've never hit my head in 18 years of mountain biking from coming off any faster than 2mph :lol:, but I'm not going to interpret that as meaning I can safely ride without a helmet.

Horses for courses though, and I'm pretty sure that anyone that does have a crash resulting in head hitting something, will wear a helmet next time.

I've now worked trying to plan services and support for people with acquired brain injuries (ABI) for over 10 years. ABI can have many causes, perhaps 40%-50% (according to my stats) being the result of trauma (blow to the head).During this time, I've worked with 11 people whose ABIs came as a result of coming off a bike.

I don't give a toss what other people do, but I wear a helmet on the road. Two weeks when I crashed and wrecked my road bike, I ended up with a hole in my elbow, a gashed knee and a sore shoulder. I hit my head on something similar to this:
[img] [/img]

and my nut was fine. Without a helmet, at the very minimum, it would've bloody hurt.

headbuts wall with no helmet,,,,,, feels pain
headbuts wall with helmet on,,,,,, doesnt feel as much pain.

😕

rubberneck - Member

headbuts wall with no helmet,,,,,, feels pain
headbuts wall with helmet on,,,,,, doesnt feel as much pain.

Bingo. My sentiments exactly.

tandemjeremy

there is something missing from your picture! a helmet! or two!

As I get older I've mellowed to the fact that people choose not to wear a helmet, it means theres more chance of healthy vigorous organs available for transplant.

Jokes aside what annoys me is the number of people who choose to wear a helmet and then don't have a ****ing clue/have had crap advice/wear one as a jaunty fashion accessory. As an example the helmet that is that small that it's more than about an inch above the eyebrow, the straps that might as well not be done up etc..

Annoying to the point where you have that classic MBR side panel on a page that asks people a few questions like what will their next purchase be? Usual answer being the 10/10 Spesh costing thousands of quid rather than a HELMET THAT FITS YOU CORRECTLY...

headbuts wall with no helmet,,,,,, feels pain
headbuts wall with helmet on,,,,,, doesnt feel as much pain.

I have done some work with people with head injuries as well. I have seen a couple of serious cycle head injuries, a couple of moderate ones. I have seen far more that were caused by falling when drunk ,that were caused by accidents at home and that happened when in cars as well.

cycling is safe.

I've just headbutted a lamppost, so I'm glad I was wearing a helmet.
Still not sure how I managed to come off but sliding towards the lamp post just managed to turn my head in time to stop me going full frontal into it.

isn't it noticeable how its the habitual helmet wearers that hit their heads?

Helmets are dangerous kids - they make you crash and hit your head. Teh only time I have hit my head I was wearing a helmet

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.This has as much logic as many of the pro helmet stances on here

Or maybe it's 'cos they're here to tell the tale?? 😯

Some silly arguements trying to compare extremities to the head. Having an accident with limbs is painfull but (& that's a big but) it won't kill you. A bad head injury could. .... Might not, granted.

I personally use one but not often enough. I fell off my bike & had some knee pads I'm my rucksack. Turns out I'd fractured my knee, cursing my stupidity, I left in a wheel chair. Coming back from Cannock, great day out but stripped off the protection thinking 'no danger here, I'll leave my stuff off' which is exactly what caused my accident. My mistake cost me mobility, I won't be making the same mistake with my head.

I need to look after it, and my Ginger hair .... Lol