Cycle helmets
- Thread starter Geri
- Start date
Still looking for that study - will psot if I come across it again.
To the OP - here's a summary of a lot of the research which has been undertaken into helmet safty stuff.
http://www.ecf.com/files/2/12/16/060608_2006_Helmets_Dilemma.pdf
and a more general page of info:
http://lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=211
To the OP - here's a summary of a lot of the research which has been undertaken into helmet safty stuff.
http://www.ecf.com/files/2/12/16/060608_2006_Helmets_Dilemma.pdf
and a more general page of info:
http://lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=211
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
Judging by the drivers I see, they just don't think that quickly. It seems a weird calculation to make in one's head when one is drivingBiddlyBee said:
pembrokestephen
New Member
I was agreeing with you (which I think may be a first!) right up until that second sentence, and I even slightly agree with that one.Cobbles said:
I don't like the idea that we have to bloody legislate for EVERY aspect of human behaviour, but, to be blunt, if people are "feeling guilty" or worrying about wearing a cycle helment, and not actually doing anything about it, then perhaps legislation's the only answer - take the responsibility away from them.
So...anyone out there who's riding a pushbike and doing anything other than resolutely wearing or not wearing a lid: you're responsible in some small way for the Nanny State being what it is. There. Does that help you come to a decision?
Biddlybee
making knots with sticks
It's just the same as the calculation you'd make in your head about how much space to leave when overtaking a parked car... how is that any more weird than what goes on in your head when overtaking a cyclist? Drivers make judgements about all sorts of things very quickly.Orang Utan said:
Think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.
pembrokestephen said:I was agreeing with you (which I think may be a first!) right up until that second sentence, and I even slightly agree with that one.
I don't like the idea that we have to bloody legislate for EVERY aspect of human behaviour, but, to be blunt, if people are "feeling guilty" or worrying about wearing a cycle helment, and not actually doing anything about it, then perhaps legislation's the only answer - take the responsibility away from them.
So...anyone out there who's riding a pushbike and doing anything other than resolutely wearing or not wearing a lid: you're responsible in some small way for the Nanny State being what it is. There. Does that help you come to a decision?
http://www.cycle-helmets.com/index.html
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
I guess so - I'm being stupid - was thinking that it was a concious calculation, but I guess notBiddlyBee said:
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
It's a much more contentious issue in countries with helmet laws, as evidenced by some of these articles. Some of these points I agree with: Enforced helmets discourage new cyclists, head injuries are rare and serious ones rarer still. But I still see that the only reasons not to wear a helmet are political/scoial reasons.
It seems to me that if you take two responsible, road-skilled, healthy cyclists, then putting a helmet on one of them will increase that cyclist's safety. All the other issues can be valid, but they can also be quite easily seperated from the immediate safety benefit of helmets on the ground.
So yes - better cycle education, promote it as a healthy, safe way to get around, educate other road users about the needs of cyclists. Don't force them to wear a helmet. All that good stuff.
But I'll carry on wearing one. It takes no effort and increases my safety by an amount, however small. That's my choice.
It seems to me that if you take two responsible, road-skilled, healthy cyclists, then putting a helmet on one of them will increase that cyclist's safety. All the other issues can be valid, but they can also be quite easily seperated from the immediate safety benefit of helmets on the ground.
So yes - better cycle education, promote it as a healthy, safe way to get around, educate other road users about the needs of cyclists. Don't force them to wear a helmet. All that good stuff.
But I'll carry on wearing one. It takes no effort and increases my safety by an amount, however small. That's my choice.
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
A lot of these statistics are very difficult to pin down or provide adequate control samples. eg. The sort of people who wear helmets are the sort of people who would go to A&E for an injury that a less responsible person might not. Also, less cyclists on the road = more complacent car drivers = more accidents.finalstryke said:
It's a very tangled web.
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
I tend to wear one now for longer / faster rides (ever since my mate full off in front of me and had his ear torn off), but in town I don't bother with em. I'm pro choice, I think its wrong to castigate someone for not wearing one and wrong to push to make them compulsory. Ultimately they are a pain in the arse, cold in winter and boiling in summer, they make cycling a far less pleasurable experience and remove much of the feeling of freedom you get from riding.
Crispy said:
This is so true.
I started cycling to work about 3 years ago. I lived / worked out around Harrow / Barnet areas. Drivers were bastards.
When I started working in west end, especially after reading on urban about all the crazy black taxi drivers and stuff I was pretty intimidated about cycling in zone 1.
But as it turns out, compared to Harrow it's a piece of piss because there are so many more cyclists around, so the car drivers seem more clued up and stuff.
pembrokestephen
New Member
Worth pointing out that compulsory seat belt wearing in cars also increased hospital admissions. Mainly because people were coming in with serious injuries who would probably otherwise have been coming in dead.Crispy said:
I don't know that the same applies with bikes, but I wouldn't be surprised.
In any case, my argument for wearing a helmet is that it doesn't take much of a knock to the head to end up in a pretty bad way - even concussion isn't much fun. If a helmet means that I can fall off, or get knocked off, my bike, and stand a better chance of getting up again and limping home, rather than having to take a trip to the hospital in an ambulance, I can't really see the downside. I've always tended to use reasonably decent ones (my first one cost about £25, my last one was £40), and I've never had any great problem with sweating under it, or finding it particularly uncomfortable.
subversplat
writer of wrongs
Haircuts are always more important than brains.Crispy said:Absolutely, which is why I won't force you to wear one, but I will point and laugh and say "that weirdo thinks a haircut is more important than their brain! hahahahaha!" if you don't mind?
pembrokestephen
New Member
Revolutionary suggestion coming up here...why not get the brakes fixed?zenie said:Yes but my front brakes are fucked
I havent dared the commute to work but next will have to brakes or no brakes!!
I think if you're deciding which to do first - get a helmet or make sure your brakes are working - I'd get the brakes fixed first.
But if you must have fucked brakes, have fucked back ones.
christonabike
Elm Park Bencher
I don't like them but I wear one
The reason is: if I didn't, and came off my bike and hit my head, and then needed to be fed through a tube and looked after for the rest of my life by my lovely wife, and all this could be avoided by the wearing of a helmet, then I could not forgive myself for putting her through that
Long sentence that, does it make sense?
The reason is: if I didn't, and came off my bike and hit my head, and then needed to be fed through a tube and looked after for the rest of my life by my lovely wife, and all this could be avoided by the wearing of a helmet, then I could not forgive myself for putting her through that
Long sentence that, does it make sense?
damnhippie
shark sandwich
it shouldn't be a legal requirement because that would just deter people. but here's my main reason for wearing one, posted in another thread so short version:
mate knocked off, spent week in coma, doctors didn't know if he'd wake up (he did). he'd've died without his helmet.
as far as 'cars give you more room if you look vulnerable'...what, are we supposed to cycle naked? either cars see you or they don't. wear hi vis.
all the other anti-helmet arguments seem to be along the lines of 'don't like how it looks, makes my head sweat, takes the fun out of it'. i agree with all these points a little bit but for a week i thought my mate was dead or a vegetable. wear a fucking helmet.
mate knocked off, spent week in coma, doctors didn't know if he'd wake up (he did). he'd've died without his helmet.
as far as 'cars give you more room if you look vulnerable'...what, are we supposed to cycle naked? either cars see you or they don't. wear hi vis.
all the other anti-helmet arguments seem to be along the lines of 'don't like how it looks, makes my head sweat, takes the fun out of it'. i agree with all these points a little bit but for a week i thought my mate was dead or a vegetable. wear a fucking helmet.
christonabike
Elm Park Bencher
That is my reasoning in the post previous to yours damnhippie
damnhippie
shark sandwich
christonabike said:That is my reasoning in the post previous to yours damnhippie
very wise it is too
pembrokestephen
New Member
Yep. Also, lying in a hospital bed and being fed slop through a tube looks even more uncool than wearing a cycle helmet.christonabike said:I don't like them but I wear one
The reason is: if I didn't, and came off my bike and hit my head, and then needed to be fed through a tube and looked after for the rest of my life by my lovely wife, and all this could be avoided by the wearing of a helmet, then I could not forgive myself for putting her through that
Long sentence that, does it make sense?
If I weren't already convinced, I would be now...
Herbsman.
Nah Lotion, Pet, Nor Powder.
Apparently helmets are only required to protect you from a 12mph impact as a minimum. Bit worrying considering that my average speed on a flat, open road is about 20mph. If I get hit head on by a car travelling at 20mph that's equivalent to me hitting a stationary car at 40mph... what would happen to the helmet in that situation?
I only started wearing mine recently, because it wouldnt fit over my hair. It turned out that the plastic click strap at the back was stuck on one side, it's now unstuck and the helmet now fits over my big head
Once you've got into the habit of wearing one for every journey, it's no longer an inconvenience. I don't think twice about bringing mine with me when I'm going to work - going out without it would be like going out without shoes on.
I think, subconsciously, it makes me feel far less vulnerable, so I have to make a real conscious effort not to take bigger risks than I normally would. For example when I first started wearing it I would corner faster, take tighter gaps, not look behind me as often, etc. without really thinking about it. A lot of people have told me the same thing too
I only started wearing mine recently, because it wouldnt fit over my hair. It turned out that the plastic click strap at the back was stuck on one side, it's now unstuck and the helmet now fits over my big head
Once you've got into the habit of wearing one for every journey, it's no longer an inconvenience. I don't think twice about bringing mine with me when I'm going to work - going out without it would be like going out without shoes on.
I think, subconsciously, it makes me feel far less vulnerable, so I have to make a real conscious effort not to take bigger risks than I normally would. For example when I first started wearing it I would corner faster, take tighter gaps, not look behind me as often, etc. without really thinking about it. A lot of people have told me the same thing too
gentlegreen
I hummus, therefore I am ...
People don't seem to wear hats these days - except for baseball caps indoors 
I rarely go out without a hat of some kind.
A helmet's just enough to keep the sun off me shiny bonce.
I rarely go out without a hat of some kind.
A helmet's just enough to keep the sun off me shiny bonce.
mtbskalover
drive,ski,drive,ski
Crispy said:I now desperately want to se a cycle-helmet-vent pattern sunburnt onto someone's bald head
helmet hair is good!
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