Comments on: 09/06/2012 – Debrief at the Kickstand http://yehudamoon.com/09062012/ Thu, 23 May 2013 14:45:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Jimm Pratt http://yehudamoon.com/09062012/#comment-55887 Jimm Pratt Tue, 18 Sep 2012 07:48:50 +0000 http://yehudamoon.com/?p=3449#comment-55887 "helmented" - ha! new word! define "dementia from helmet promotion": helmented! “helmented” – ha! new word! define “dementia from helmet promotion”: helmented!

]]> By: Jimm Pratt http://yehudamoon.com/09062012/#comment-55885 Jimm Pratt Tue, 18 Sep 2012 07:38:33 +0000 http://yehudamoon.com/?p=3449#comment-55885 "These are people who think anecdotal helmet safety stories trump actual data" - classic quote! “These are people who think anecdotal helmet safety stories trump actual data” – classic quote!

]]> By: 2wheeler http://yehudamoon.com/09062012/#comment-55610 2wheeler Mon, 10 Sep 2012 21:01:24 +0000 http://yehudamoon.com/?p=3449#comment-55610 I choose to wear a helmet for commuting (almost all my bike miles) and have at least two close friends who have been in accidents where the helmets were badly damaged but not their heads. I think a helmet costs less than an ambulance ride, and four orders of magnitude less than a head injury might cost me in lost lifetime earnings or medical costs. My helmet is well ventilated and comfortable, and includes a rearview mirror, reflective tape, and lights. It is part of how I ride safely. I choose to wear a helmet for commuting (almost all my bike miles) and have at least two close friends who have been in accidents where the helmets were badly damaged but not their heads. I think a helmet costs less than an ambulance ride, and four orders of magnitude less than a head injury might cost me in lost lifetime earnings or medical costs. My helmet is well ventilated and comfortable, and includes a rearview mirror, reflective tape, and lights. It is part of how I ride safely.

]]> By: Adam in Indiana http://yehudamoon.com/09062012/#comment-55523 Adam in Indiana Fri, 07 Sep 2012 16:26:37 +0000 http://yehudamoon.com/?p=3449#comment-55523 DS: No, that's not what I said, actually. I made a reference to other activities where no one seemingly questions the wisdom of wearing a helmet, and then compared that to cycling. I, for one, see the wisdom in wearing a helmet while cycling just the same as those other activities. If someone else feels different and doesn't wear a helmet, I'm actually quite fine with that. As a side note... Once again, it's the anti-helmet voice that resorts to sarcasm, personal attacks (my previous grasshopper comment was a bit of a joke on myself, by the way...perhaps I should have made that more obvious), and wordy, adjective-loaded insults. None of these things have any place in a civil discussion. And if anyone has taken any of my comments in those ways, I apologize. DS: No, that’s not what I said, actually. I made a reference to other activities where no one seemingly questions the wisdom of wearing a helmet, and then compared that to cycling. I, for one, see the wisdom in wearing a helmet while cycling just the same as those other activities. If someone else feels different and doesn’t wear a helmet, I’m actually quite fine with that.

As a side note… Once again, it’s the anti-helmet voice that resorts to sarcasm, personal attacks (my previous grasshopper comment was a bit of a joke on myself, by the way…perhaps I should have made that more obvious), and wordy, adjective-loaded insults. None of these things have any place in a civil discussion. And if anyone has taken any of my comments in those ways, I apologize.

]]> By: El Chapitan http://yehudamoon.com/09062012/#comment-55520 El Chapitan Fri, 07 Sep 2012 16:04:18 +0000 http://yehudamoon.com/?p=3449#comment-55520 Or rather, they said, "we already make helmets for motorcycles, we could totally expand our market into bicycles" Or rather, they said, “we already make helmets for motorcycles, we could totally expand our market into bicycles”

]]> By: DS http://yehudamoon.com/09062012/#comment-55519 DS Fri, 07 Sep 2012 15:36:13 +0000 http://yehudamoon.com/?p=3449#comment-55519 @Adam: So what you're really saying is this: Bell Sports looked at the <500 bike head injury deaths in the U.S. and said "Hey, if we can scare bike people into wearing helmets. We'll make a fortune!" But when someone said "Hey, there's thousands of walking head injury deaths each year, and maybe 25,000 inside cars! Let's make an even bigger fortune there!" then the people at Bell Sports said "Naw, let's just do bikes." So how do you decide who should wear helmets? Not cost to society, cause that would put them on motorists and walkers. Not risk per mile cause that's worse for walkers and about the same for city drivers. Not risk per hour cause you'd wear one walking in winter or walking down steps. Its just marketing. Bell said "There are dudes who will buy anything for their bikes. Lets sell foam hats and say its for safety." Then they started saying "The racers all wear them so you should." Next thing you know, whee! People riding around the block get told they need a garish streamlined perforated picnic cooler on their head or they'll die! And everyone who has a grasshopper hit their hat says "It saved my life!!!!!" @Adam: So what you’re really saying is this:
Bell Sports looked at the <500 bike head injury deaths in the U.S. and said "Hey, if we can scare bike people into wearing helmets. We'll make a fortune!"

But when someone said "Hey, there's thousands of walking head injury deaths each year, and maybe 25,000 inside cars! Let's make an even bigger fortune there!" then the people at Bell Sports said "Naw, let's just do bikes."

So how do you decide who should wear helmets? Not cost to society, cause that would put them on motorists and walkers. Not risk per mile cause that's worse for walkers and about the same for city drivers. Not risk per hour cause you'd wear one walking in winter or walking down steps.

Its just marketing. Bell said "There are dudes who will buy anything for their bikes. Lets sell foam hats and say its for safety." Then they started saying "The racers all wear them so you should." Next thing you know, whee! People riding around the block get told they need a garish streamlined perforated picnic cooler on their head or they'll die! And everyone who has a grasshopper hit their hat says "It saved my life!!!!!"

]]> By: Kapusta http://yehudamoon.com/09062012/#comment-55516 Kapusta Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:16:05 +0000 http://yehudamoon.com/?p=3449#comment-55516 Wow, a helmet debate! This is so AWESOME!!! Wow, a helmet debate!

This is so AWESOME!!!

]]> By: Chris http://yehudamoon.com/09062012/#comment-55492 Chris Fri, 07 Sep 2012 07:31:05 +0000 http://yehudamoon.com/?p=3449#comment-55492 The site to which I linked below has some good criticisms of many studies. The site to which I linked below has some good criticisms of many studies.

]]> By: Chris http://yehudamoon.com/09062012/#comment-55490 Chris Fri, 07 Sep 2012 07:28:26 +0000 http://yehudamoon.com/?p=3449#comment-55490 >I trust myself and my own riding skill, but I don’t trust the guy in the car >coming up behind me while I’m at a stoplight. That's exactly why I proceed through signaled intersections as soon as the way is clear. Legal or not, it enhances my safety without negatively affecting anyone else. >True, a helmet may not help much in vehicle collisions, but it certainly can’t >hurt Actually, they can hurt. Many people make the decision to wear a helmet while under the impression that they can only provide benefit, not detriment, but that isn't true. They can make injuries worse than they would otherwise be. >I trust myself and my own riding skill, but I don’t trust the guy in the car
>coming up behind me while I’m at a stoplight.

That’s exactly why I proceed through signaled intersections as soon as the way is clear. Legal or not, it enhances my safety without negatively affecting anyone else.

>True, a helmet may not help much in vehicle collisions, but it certainly can’t
>hurt

Actually, they can hurt. Many people make the decision to wear a helmet while under the impression that they can only provide benefit, not detriment, but that isn’t true. They can make injuries worse than they would otherwise be.

]]> By: Adam in Indiana http://yehudamoon.com/09062012/#comment-55480 Adam in Indiana Fri, 07 Sep 2012 04:16:02 +0000 http://yehudamoon.com/?p=3449#comment-55480 Very good points, I agree. Cyclists who want respect from motorists need to be responsible "drivers" themselves, and that goes hand-in-hand with cycling safely. Making sure you're seen and riding predictably goes a long way. One final point: if it weren't for cars on the road, I most likely wouldn't wear a helmet. I trust myself and my own riding skill, but I don't trust the guy in the car coming up behind me while I'm at a stoplight. True, a helmet may not help much in vehicle collisions, but it certainly can't hurt, and it's a very inexpensive and simple precaution. Very good points, I agree. Cyclists who want respect from motorists need to be responsible “drivers” themselves, and that goes hand-in-hand with cycling safely. Making sure you’re seen and riding predictably goes a long way.
One final point: if it weren’t for cars on the road, I most likely wouldn’t wear a helmet. I trust myself and my own riding skill, but I don’t trust the guy in the car coming up behind me while I’m at a stoplight. True, a helmet may not help much in vehicle collisions, but it certainly can’t hurt, and it’s a very inexpensive and simple precaution.

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