who doest wear a helmet when popping to the shops

Perhaps a light on your bike could have prevented the accident.
Dark ally, didn’t spot bollard, right?
Hope you heal fast.

mtbel: it’s really not just here. Honestly. Spend time on any bike forum, in a bike group on social media, or even just in an actual cycle club or hanging around a cycle cafe and sooner or later The Great Helmet Debate will come up.

Even mainstream media picks it up on occasion – see the arguments and outrage about Chris Boardman not wearing a helmet on the BBC for a recent example:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/11204961/Chris-Boardman-branded-a-fool-for-not-wearing-a-helmet-as-he-cycled-on-TV-programme.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2818854/Olympian-Boardman-refuses-wear-helmet-BBC-clip-cycling-safety.html

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/article/20141103-campaigning-news-Boardman–Why-I-didn-t-wear-a-helmet-on-BBC-Breakfast-0

Ironic that Chris Boardman will do more to increase cycle safety than any of the helmet evangelists.

Now if we could all just stop arguing the toss about helmets and focus our efforts on supporting Chris’s work, we’d really be getting somewhere.

Graeme. What are you on about? I’d rather not spend all that much time on any bike forum thanks (discussion like this kinda sums it up for me) and I’m guessing your social media must be full of STW types. FWIW I have ridden with actual cycle clubs for 30+ years… you know, since before helmets were even common.

For me, it’s not a debate even worth entering into. I have had the odd comment over the years from folk who haven’t gotten to know me very well yet but funnily enough, without a keyboard to hide behind they’ll generally make one stupid comment. i’ll shrug, smile, laugh or say nothing at all and that’s an end to it. Seems impossible for this to happen here so I’ll leave you all to it.

All the evidence I’ve seen suggests far more lives would be saved by compulsory bike helmets in cars than compulsory helmets for cyclists. Not to mention walking down stairs, showers etc

Is that because more people drive cars and take showers than ride bikes?

The people who slip in showwers and fall down stairs, are they the same demographic as cyclists? Are you comparing like for like? Do you care, or are you trying to justify your position? Even though you don’t need to?

In answer to the original question – no, I don’t.

The reason being that over a period of years I’ve experimented with the reaction to cyclists wearing all the gear against those wearing ‘normal’ looking clothing and there’s a definite difference. With that in mind but not wanting to forfeit the benefit of some garments, I now wear some full length Humvees, a tightish windproof, a pair of Spesh Sonoma and a fleece skull cap (winter attire, all black – looks a bit special ops or something). The difference in the space given by drivers is very noticeable.

Try it – you’ll be surprised at the difference.

In answer to the original question – no, I don’t.

The reason being that over a period of years I’ve experimented with the reaction to cyclists wearing all the gear against those wearing ‘normal’ looking clothing and there’s a definite difference. With that in mind but not wanting to forfeit the benefit of some garments, I now wear some full length Humvees, a tightish windproof, a pair of Spesh Sonoma and a fleece skull cap (winter attire, all black – looks a bit special ops or something). The difference in the space given by drivers is very noticeable.

Try it – you’ll be surprised at the difference.

This is back up by research: http://drianwalker.com/overtaking/

Ah, didn’t know that. It’s good to know I’m correct in my approach, then.

Thanks for that…

Edit : The ‘Obree Wobble’ is another worthwhile addition to your cyclist protection strategy.

Graeme. What are you on about? I’d rather not spend all that much time on any bike forum thanks

you were arguing that only “STW types” get into a hissy fit about helmets, Graham pointed out that the rest of the world seems to aswell. Lots of media reports and court cases regarding cycle (and has to be said, a vehicle is normally involved aswell) incidents state whether or not the cyclist was wearing a helmet.

Whether you care about it is a different matter.

Lots of media reports and court cases regarding cycle (and has to be said, a vehicle is normally involved aswell) incidents state whether or not the cyclist was wearing a helmet.

Indeed: a report on a cyclist killed because their pelvis was crushed by a HGV will mention whether they were wearing a helmet; a report on a pedestrian who died of head injuries will not.

(Showing a similar bias, cars reported as being involved in accidents often appear to have been driverless, based on news reports.)

(Showing a similar bias, cars reported as being involved in accidents often appear to have been driverless, based on news reports.)

or my personal favourite “the cyclist collided with a car”. Chinny reckon?

This hasn’t changed my opinion on helmets for the shops or any kind of road riding. I don’t and never plan to, it’s better to not crash in the first place. .

winter attire, all black

Helmet or not, whatever, but wearing all black is bloody stupid.

As for the research – interesting but it’s not a double blind test.

wearing all black is bloody stupid.

Pah. I have reflective bits on all items and front and rear lights on regardless of conditions. Drivers are very aware I’m there.

Quit the histrionics…

Reflective bits only work when lights are shining on you, also they only work at night not at dusk or in low light.

It’s not histrionics – wearing black on a bike is bloody daft. End of.

It’s your funeral though, but I hope you don’t **** with the driver’s head too much when you appear from nowhere and they hit you.

It’s not histrionics – wearing black on a bike is bloody daft. End of.

No, it’s not end of, it’s far more detailed than just black and flouro.

What do wear – dayglo? Whatever colour top I wear it will shrouded from view by my backpack, which has reflective bits on it as well as being covered in a yellow raincover. So, easy to see. But sometimes I use it without the cover and it’s black and grey with reflective bits and guess what…I don’t get hit by cars. In fact, in the last 10 years of riding the same roads, I’ve been hit when wearing dark clothing only once (regardless of having a seriously bright rear light) and they failed to stop. The car behind them stopped and explained how I was clearly visible and couldn’t understand how they’d ploughed into me.

So, I disagree. It’s not daft. To suggest I wear something bright to avoid being hit by someone that probably won’t see me anyway is daft. I have bright clothing and folk seem to treat me with more contempt and get a lot closer when I’m dressed up like a classic ‘commuter’ cyclist – how does that fit in with your philosophy…?

What do wear – dayglo?

Just bright colours that don’t blend in with the scenery. White, bright red, orange, blue.

I’ve been hit when wearing dark clothing only once

Hang on. You are basing your argument about how safe it is to wear black based on the fact you’ve been hit by a car?

😯

If that’s not daft I don’t know what is. Goodnight.

Hang on. You are basing your argument about how safe it is to wear black based on the fact you’ve been hit by a car?

Read it again, you argumentative cock. The point I made was clear enough.

And I’ll re-post this, just in case you missed it, intellect boy.

I have bright clothing and folk seem to treat me with more contempt and get a lot closer when I’m dressed up like a classic ‘commuter’ cyclist – how does that fit in with your philosophy…?

Or are you only responding to and misquoting stuff that suits your obviously limited viewpoint on this subject?

who doest wear a helmet

Sub topic amendment.

Offroad aye. On ? More likely to be crushed to death under something.

Youll have a nice scar to show off though and in the years to come youll laugh about this. 😉

I lived, and therefore commuted, in Edinburgh and Belfast (1995-1999) and never wore a helmet, never had an accident, never even considered wearing one, it just wasn’t an issue. In 1999, after moving to Exeter, I discovered that people here drive like loons and I had a couple of incidents where it was obvious the car drivers had no idea I was there. Fortunately I do tend to assume most drivers haven’t got a clue I’m there and so I was able to slow or stop or whatever, however I did also decide that a helmet was in order.

I now always wear my lid and on the one day I forgot to take it with me for the commute after dropping Kip Jr at school I felt naked and vulnerable without it. I rode slower down the fast hill and was paranoid about being hit by a car. It was the strangest feeling!

I know it’s totally irrational but there you go!

I don’t .. I do get extra room sans helmet .. Countless attempts on my life with full gear on 🙄

Hope you heal quick op … Just unlucky 🙁

… bright colours that don’t blend in with the scenery. White, bright red, orange, blue.

If you’re silhouetted by a low sun in the evening or morning it makes no difference what colour you’re wearing. The only thing that helps in this instance is a reasonably bright rear light. I use one of those at all times – do you?

I also don’t ride in dusk or dawn conditions when ‘popping to the shops’ which is when I wear my ninja clothing, so little danger of falling foul of your other point about reflective surface limitation.

As for the research – interesting but it’s not a double blind test.

Mine or the stuff from the Miketually’s link?

Ok after this morning I say wear one. I had a very lucky near miss. right hand holding my tuna sandwich cycling back from the shop to work, gears skipped and right foot slipped off the pedal, fell forward and caught the wobble but headed straight towards a tree/kerb but somehow ‘just’ saved it (crushing the sandwich). If I had landed it’d been painful and stoopid.

**** that.

Plain tuna or donned with extras…?

Salad and onions/peppa’s on a baguette. My breakfast treat 😀 I think I should oil the chain. Its browner than brown. (Ratbike).

Theres a lesson to be learnt here folks. When carrying food or beverage, always wear a helmet 😆

I thought I’d revive this thread after a close shave yesterday. Couldn’t be arsed starting a new thread.

Overcast day, almost end of light conditions all day so thought it best to be as bright as possible; lights front and rear and wearing something identical in colour to this…

A car coming the other way catches my attention for some reason – its speed or maybe the crossed arms of the occupant, who knows, but it saved my life. As I approached, at speed, a crossroad junction with a main road the guy just swerved straight into my path only seeing me at the last moment. I braked so hard I popped a little endo before coming to a halt. Looking down as I passed the car I reckon there was less than a foot between my shin and the bumper.

The guy had the decency to roll down his window to which I responded with a “WTF, man…?!!! You coulda ****in’ killed me!” He just nodded and bowed his head in what looked like a form of admittance and I continued with my journey. I should have got a bit closer as there’s always a chance that they could be pissed or something but probably best I didn’t, considering my blood was up.

The only difference between this and all other journeys I make along this particular road was the lack of pulse to the front light – this time it was a steady beam so maybe it confused or mislead the driver. The other thing was the bright green top and it wasn’t obscured by my backpack. My opinion, recalling the driver’s face, was that he simply didn’t see me which is what I’ve always suspected – what you wear when cycling makes little difference to those that don’t see you anyway.

So, Molgrips and anyone else that believes coloured clothing makes an iota of difference – how does that fit your outlook?

Stay safe, folks.

Edit : Just read that crossed arms bit. I meant he had them crossed over each other whilst hold the wheel not doing half of some Russian dance routine, obviously.

I’m glad you didn’t get run over.

anyone else that believes coloured clothing makes an iota of difference – how does that fit your outlook?

It’s very hard to stand behind that argument. If you wear bright riding clothes it is more likely that you will be noticed early by most drivers.

Not in my experiences of using the road as a cyclist. Most close shaves and side swipes happen when I’m wearing bright colours and a helmet whether or not I’m heading into town or taking a jaunt down the back roads. From some of the comments above it seems others have experienced similar, not to mention the results of that study up there.

Maybe there are certain backdrops where certain colours become temporarily invisible – blue top and blue van passing behind you, for instance – I’m not sure. As I wrote above, some folk simply won’t see you regardless of a garish get up.