[Closed] Why people refuse to wear helmets?

It would result in a lesser injury with the helmet than without it and that is the point and not a guess.

Yep, I should think that a helmet has saved me a trip to A&E before now. I also would've been saved a trip to A&E had I been wearing arm & knee guards, yet no-one bangs on about those as essential safety equipment.

I don't get the hatred towards cyclists without helmets. Very few people in their lifetimes will hit their head that hard. Most of us will get a few knocks, but who doesn't? That's all part and parcel of life.

On a bike, everything feels all too real with the wind through your [s]hair[/s] vents in your helmet, but going back to the car example, where you could actually wear a proper helmet that is built primarily to save your life (rather than be comfortable when you're sweating your boobies off on a big climb), it would probably save just as many people. Probably more, given that so many more people drive each day.

And on that note, why not wear a proper helmet on a bike, rather than these lightweight paper mache things that could potentially do more harm than good? If people are going to get on their high horse, they might as well do it properly.

It's amazing the stir caused by cycle helmets. And not just among cyclists either. It's just something to get irrate at people for.

I wear my helmet all the time, so I'm not anti-helmet at all - quite the opposite...but I respect anyones choice to not wear one. There's plenty of other things likely to kill them first.

3 pages already. Stop it!!!!

A helmet is designed to split. A skull isn't.
Split helmet does not mean split skull.

PS how did the blind watchmaker know about the need for skulls good enough to withstand MTB crashes - is it yet more proof of intelligent designe]

o repeat , it does mean it is likely you were injured and it just saved your from some blunt face trauma , that, whilst possibly not life threatening, would have hurt a lot.

Yep, I acknowledged that in the next bit, but wrecker did originally say [i]"you'd have cracked your skull...How could it not? "[/i].

(I do like the notion of a "blunt face trauma" though - a particularly nasty crash for the aesthetically-challenged 😀 )

So if you split your helmet, what do you do on the ride home? Do you just parcel tape the remnants to your hair?? Or **Gasp** do you ride home helmet-less?

you walk and be sure not to tread in any puddles.

risk compensation is my criteria about safety equipment-- if i was racing a cycle, my risks and others are increased, off road there are more risks, so i would wear a helmet.

everyday cycling i choose not to wear a helmet, have so far survived .

Statistically pedestrians and occupants of motor vehicles involved in incidents do sustain a fair number of head injuries-- are people calling for helmets for all at all times......

in the house there are a number of risks..........

why are our choices in life these days open to so much scrutiny and judgement?
incidentally I agree with those who choose to base decisions on their own self assessment of risk. and this is what I do too.

100.

[img] [/img]

I like that article GrahamS.

i used to rock climb without ropes.

sometimes the risk is worth it

I like that article GrahamS.

Good innit? Decent mag all round that for commuting/urban/utility cycling.

[IMG] [/IMG]

Why people refuse to wear helmets?

Odd title, what makes you think they've 'refused'?

I've never been asked, and therefore have never ever refused. Still don't wear one though.

Really wonder why people (particularly older blokes with those silly little roadie caps) insist on not wearing a helmet.

Can I just say this is the first time I've appeared on a helmet thread?

Can I just say this is the first time I've appeared on a helmet thread?

No, I'm sorry, there isn't time.

Over to Leicester East!

Really wonder why people (particularly older blokes with those silly little roadie caps) insist on not wearing a helmet.

I do wonder why some A4 drivers insist on taking a bike to a cafe in a wood, makes no sense to me, it is not as though they actually ride the bike.

never posted on a helmet debate before...keen to have my tuppence worth!

Like many, I don't give a shit if someone wears a helmet or not, totally up to them, as long as their choices don't negatively impact on me.

I would however be fairly annoyed if I had to stop at the side of the trail and attend to someone who had cracked their head open/concussed themselves whilst not wearing a helmet...call me harsh, but sympathy would be very limited.

interesting:

http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/testhelmetlist

Like many I don't care if someone else wears a helmet or not. I have been saved from serious head injuries whilst wearing a helmet - conversely have also had serious facial injuries whilst wearing a full face... However I wear a helmet each time I ride and make the mini-JAMJ's wear them also.

I also don't care though about what mandating the use of helmets has done in Australia or elsewhere - bloody lame argument as far as I am concerned. Whether it lessens or increases participation - I really don't give a monkeys! I have been riding since 1987 and whether rider numbers have been up or down has not affected my riding pleasure one iota.

@munrobiker

I rarely wade into the helmet argument, because it's like banging your head on a wall, but I read an interview with James Cracknell, a man whose life was saved by a helmet

[img] [/img]

This James Cracknell? The one not wearing a helmet? In the spirit of helmet thread speculation I'll speculate that if he had been using a mirror he could have avoided the truck hitting him altogether by swerving to the nearside, if necessary off the road. I've done it myself.

This James Cracknell? The one not wearing a helmet? In the spirit of helmet thread speculation I'll speculate that if he had been using a mirror he could have avoided the truck hitting him altogether by swerving to the nearside, if necessary off the road. I've done it myself.

I'd also point out that he may have noticed the truck bearing down on him if he hadn't deliberately sleep-deprived himself.

In the spirit of helmet thread speculation I'll speculate that if he had been using a mirror he could have avoided the truck hitting him altogether by swerving to the nearside, if necessary off the road. I've done it myself.

Yes but however uncool you look with a helmet on you look quadruply uncool with a mirror on you bike; and lets face it its better to die looking cool then to survive whilst having a mirror on your bike.

pbiker - Member

I would however be fairly annoyed if I had to stop at the side of the trail and attend to someone who had cracked their head open/concussed themselves whilst not wearing a helmet...call me harsh, but sympathy would be very limited.

Sounds like you've not read any of the links. It's really not that simple.

I would however be fairly annoyed if I had to stop at the side of the trail and attend to someone who had cracked their head open/concussed themselves whilst not wearing a helmet...call me harsh, but sympathy would be very limited.

But how would you feel if they broke their wrist whilst not wearing wrist guards? Or cracked their neck whilst not wearing a neck brace? Or, gasp, split their head whilst wearing a helmet?

whether rider numbers have been up or down has not affected my riding pleasure one iota

I think you're missing the thrust of that argument. It's not about "riding pleasure", it's about overall public health and also safety in numbers for riders on the road.

I wore a helmet on Sunday's off-road ride and generally wear one when commuting.

Didn't wear one this morning while travelling to the docs. It's nice to have the choice...

Do we have the swing at Luton?

Thread in general tl;dr.

I did read a post that said helmets don't work above 15mph. Pff. You crash into a bus at 20mph+ and tell me whether you would rather have a helmet on or not. Fact is, you are far better off wearing a helmet than not.

However, doesn't mean everyone has to. Not everyone rides in traffic or fast. If I ride to the shop I don't bother.

Sounds like you've not read any of the links. It's really not that simple.

Of course I haven't...surely thats half the fun of posting on here??

In all seriousness however, whilst I'm not saying that a helmet will guarantee to prevent serious injury, I don't believe for a second that it won't lesson the damage to some degree. Having said that I don't think I have ever seen anyone on my local trails who hasn't been wearing a helmet, so for me its fairly irrelevant either way.

Its always a lively debate when people talk about helmets.

I do believe in freedom of choice but did split a helmet in two at the start of the year. I therefore may or may not have been able to write this and that was on a pootle I knew well.

A friend of mine now wears a helmet rather than not after I discuss this with him.

It largely depends on what accident you plan to have wether the helmet helps or indeed may hinder. I think its for bumps not head on into cars, trees etc.

Arguments are not cool, too hot, only riding a short distance.

On the cool side its a lot less cool having someone else wipe your arse as you dribble your spoon fed dinner down your cheeks.

I am not even sure if the testing of helmets is relevant, would it change peoples minds if they knew more and a real world study was done.

Personally I dont go without. It just might, and I say might save my life or save me from a more serious injury than if I didnt wear one.

I wouldnt ride with someone who didnt wear one. I would be frustrated having to help someone with a head injury if they hadntwore a helmet but would still help.

With the society as it is, health and safety it will only be a matter of time before it does become compulsory. What then, stop riding or wear a helmet.

Fact is, you are far better off wearing a helmet than not.

Fact eh? Care to share a link to that conclusive peer reviewed scientific data?

It largely depends on what accident you plan to have

🙂

On the cool side its a lot less cool having someone else wipe your arse as you dribble your spoon fed dinner down your cheeks.

I am not even sure if the testing of helmets is relevant, would it change peoples minds if they knew more and a real world study was done.

Personally I dont go without. It just might, and I say might save my life or save me from a more serious injury than if I didnt wear one.

I wouldnt ride with someone who didnt wear one. I would be frustrated having to help someone with a head injury if they hadntwore a helmet but would still help.

With the society as it is, health and safety it will only be a matter of time before it does become compulsory. What then, stop riding or wear a helmet.

Does your argument hold true for people just walking? If not, why? I know someone who died banging their head just from falling over. My sister suffered a severe brain injury just falling down the stairs. She wasn't wearing a helmet. I don't personally know a single person who's suffered a head injury whilst bike riding. I'm 47.

Edit: And my partner works in a large hospital.

I've never commented on a helmet thread before either but I had to after noticing the picture quote way back on the first page.
By Charles Mingus, no doubt known as Charlie to his friends 😆

It appears that even without the much maligned TJ, STW is capable of having a helmet thread.

Couple of questions;

If you got a head injury while wearing a helmet, would you sue the helmet manufacturer?

If helmets were shown by rigorous peer reviewed scientific data to be of no effect in preventing head injuries, would you wear one?

I got a proper full on scowl the other day from a chap riding with his son. Both had helmets on, I didn't. Trouble was, in scowling so vehemently at me, he rode into a dip at the side of the road and almost fell off...

I know someone who died banging their head just from falling over. My sister suffered a severe brain injury just falling down the stairs. She wasn't wearing a helmet. I don't personally know a single person who's suffered a head injury whilst bike riding. I'm 47.

coming out with an argument as mathematically daft as this surely indicates that you yourself have experienced a head injury whilst riding, so severe that you are unaware of the terrible effect it has had on your ability to apply logic..

But how would you feel if they broke their wrist whilst not wearing wrist guards? Or cracked their neck whilst not wearing a neck brace? Or, gasp, split their head whilst wearing a helmet?

I see you're point, biking is never going to be entirely safe. But for me I weigh up the risk and make an informed choice on what I feel is 'bare minimum' protection, and that in my mind is a helmet. It also appears that the vast majority of people were I ride agree, given I've never seen someone on the trails without one. If you can't be arsed wearing one then don't expect me to show sympathy when I see you crumbled at the side of the road with a head injury.

..question for everybody questioning whether there is any benefit in wearing a helmet whatsoever(tucker etc) . Do you ever wear one off road, visiting a trail centre etc? Or is it a blanket no helmet approach regardless of terrain?

[i]If you can't be arsed wearing one then don't expect me to show sympathy when I see you crumbled at the side of the road with a head injury.[/i]

Classy.

So if I didn't have knee pads on you'd show no sympathy when I hurt my knee?
So if I didn't wear a Leatt neck brace thingy you'd show no sympathy if I hurt my neck?

I'd stop and help anyone who was injured, however silly they may have been, but I'm not a ****.

Edit: And my partner works in a large hospital.

Statistically irrelevant post of the thread!

[i]Do you ever wear one off road, visiting a trail centre etc? Or is it a blanket no helmet approach regardless of terrain? [/i]

Some of us are old enough to remember riding when helmets didn't exist, should we have waited for them to be invented before daring to venture out?

I wasn't wearing ankle protection today, and I very slightly hurt my ankle a bit. 😥 Can I get some sympathy???

Only really hurts if I do this #now does this# OWWW!

In the same way that I would wear a helmet in a car whilst on a trackday but not during everyday driving, if I'm going for a proper ride then I wear a helmet. Taking the dog around the local common, usually not. To those who always, always wear a helmet - do you feel nervous sitting on a bike without one? If so, why?