Probably not. There is most like a correlation between non-helmet wearing, belief in individual freedom, and an intolerance for “for your own good” nanny types. Especially ones that gotta toss that opinion in, no matter how unasked for.
Forget it. In a country where you can sue for anything – such as spilling McDonald’s coffee on yourself – the Liberal nanny-state types will always flourish. For the record, I wear one – while its still my choice!
I wear one during my commute, but sometimes skip it for short errands in the neighborhood. To people, mostly non-cyclists, who start off on some cyclist not wearing a helmet, I point out that more deaths & injuries would be prevented if car drivers wore helmets.
Quick trip to the grocery – no helmet
Ride on the flat, smooth bike path – maybe helmet
Commute to work where downhill top speed reaches 45mph – roadie helmet
CX Race – roadie helmet
Freeride MTB or Enduro race – Full face helmet, goggles, plus elbow, forearm, knee, shin guards and armoured gloves.
But, that’s just me. I’ve seen people hit the same FR trails as me in team-kit lycra, clip-in pedals, and an ultralight helmet like they’re out for an XC race. Most of them aren’t aiming for mid-air hangtime, though.
After dying and having my face ripped open in the same wreck (with a helmet but a wussy road helmet) I now wear a full face BMX helmet when I ride. I didn’t like dying, and the healing process when they sew your face back on is… unpleasant. Of the two I think dying was the least bad, at least after I came back that part was over. The itching that went with getting my face sewn back on, that lasted for weeks that felt like months with all the drugs I was getting. So while I vehemently oppose MAKING me wear a helmet I wear that BMX helmet every where I ride, except for short rides when I need to have my ears bare to listen to a noise and figure out where it came from so I can fix what’s making the noise.
I wear a helmet on a bike as it makes me feel I am doing the most I can to prevent damage to my body and my family feels better about my cycling. For city riding, I like the shape of urban helmets [Giro, Bern]. If your head hits something, there is less chance of a rotational injury. Even if you simply fall off your bike, your head can hit the pavement.
I wonder if there’s a correlation between non-helmet wearing and smugness…
Probably not. There is most like a correlation between non-helmet wearing, belief in individual freedom, and an intolerance for “for your own good” nanny types. Especially ones that gotta toss that opinion in, no matter how unasked for.
or non-helmet wearing and tetchy defensiveness…
Forget it. In a country where you can sue for anything – such as spilling McDonald’s coffee on yourself – the Liberal nanny-state types will always flourish. For the record, I wear one – while its still my choice!
So, the first thing Joe does when he gets to work is service his new bike?
I wear one during my commute, but sometimes skip it for short errands in the neighborhood. To people, mostly non-cyclists, who start off on some cyclist not wearing a helmet, I point out that more deaths & injuries would be prevented if car drivers wore helmets.
You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away, know when to “ride”…..
Here you go, argue away.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/771371-The-helmet-thread
… and within the forum a link to this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07o-TASvIxY&feature=player_embedded
Quick trip to the grocery – no helmet
Ride on the flat, smooth bike path – maybe helmet
Commute to work where downhill top speed reaches 45mph – roadie helmet
CX Race – roadie helmet
Freeride MTB or Enduro race – Full face helmet, goggles, plus elbow, forearm, knee, shin guards and armoured gloves.
But, that’s just me. I’ve seen people hit the same FR trails as me in team-kit lycra, clip-in pedals, and an ultralight helmet like they’re out for an XC race. Most of them aren’t aiming for mid-air hangtime, though.
Ok, now there are three things you “never talk about” at parties — politics, religion and HELMETS….
Agreed! Everybody, please, let’s not get into The Great Helmet Debate again. It always ends in a flame war.
Yea, but its always good for some free entertainment…
I’m a true mugwump on the helmet question but cannot ride in comfort without a mirror clipped to my eyeglasses.
Speaking of mirrors — Chuck “The Mirror Man” Harris of Gambier, Ohio has passed away.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/08/22/gambier-cycling-enthusiast-dies.html
First met him at TOSRV in 1975. Like Yehuda, he was one of a kind.
Pedal on, Chuck, now that you’re in the land of smooth roads and tailwinds.
I think Ill stop wearing a helmet then when/if I get hurt I can sue the state or federal government for not making me one. It seems like a plan!
After dying and having my face ripped open in the same wreck (with a helmet but a wussy road helmet) I now wear a full face BMX helmet when I ride. I didn’t like dying, and the healing process when they sew your face back on is… unpleasant. Of the two I think dying was the least bad, at least after I came back that part was over. The itching that went with getting my face sewn back on, that lasted for weeks that felt like months with all the drugs I was getting. So while I vehemently oppose MAKING me wear a helmet I wear that BMX helmet every where I ride, except for short rides when I need to have my ears bare to listen to a noise and figure out where it came from so I can fix what’s making the noise.
Sorry TL;DR
I wear a helmet on a bike as it makes me feel I am doing the most I can to prevent damage to my body and my family feels better about my cycling. For city riding, I like the shape of urban helmets [Giro, Bern]. If your head hits something, there is less chance of a rotational injury. Even if you simply fall off your bike, your head can hit the pavement.