Well said… our child often tells other children pround: “I am allowed to cycle without helmet” what always give disapproving looks by parents.
We just found out she rides by far more carefull without a helmet. So we decided to prevent accidents prior to injuries..
right, mostly because parents refuse to obey the rules. Many year ago, the school of my first daughter has two gates: one for the kids coming by foot, and another for those who were brought by car. Gate one was always blocked by cars, I never saw a single car at gate two, just because one had to drive 100meters and two turns extra.
It probably won’t save you in every instance — neither will seat belts and airbags in the car, as far as that goes. But I know my helmet has saved me from more-serious injury on a couple of occasions, and that’s good enough for me.
So it become a tradeoff — the inconvenience of not being able to just jump on the bike and go someplace as opposed to strapping on the helmet and putting up with the extra half-pound or so of weight on the noggin. After serious consideration and literally decades of experience, I’m willing to make that tradeoff.
I’m with Bill, although I wear one more for my own user error than cars. If I hit sand or misjudge the cracks in the road, or anything else, I’d rather have it!
If I’m just doodling around at 5mph or so on a good day that’s one thing, but when I’m trying to get to work or the store at 15-18mph…..I studied physics, I want the helmet.
But that’s just a personal preference. I don’t think it should become a legal issue myself.
“the inconvenience of not being able to just jump on the bike and go someplace” is not all…
You nee to:
– find a place to store your helmet at home
– take a extra piece of luggage everywhere you go
– remember it every time you leave home… (purse, keys, gloves, sunglases… hard for me still without an extra)
– spend money to buy one, probably better spend in better brakes or headligths
– spend extra money to buy a winter cap fitting under it
– spend extra money to buy an raincover
– spend extra money to buy second one, for the time the Pads of first one dry after washing
– and so on…
a lot of afford for very little protection against accidents that would probably not happen without helmet.
Addressing your “concerns”, in order:
– find a place to store your helmet at home
Hook it over the handlebars or brake hood when you park the bike. It’s right there when you need it.
– take a extra piece of luggage everywhere you go
You’re wearing it! Unless your head is detachable, it’s right there where you need it!
– remember it every time you leave home… (purse, keys, gloves, sunglases… hard for me still without an extra)
See the response to your first “concern”
– spend money to buy one, probably better spend in better brakes or headlights
Even if you buy one new helmet per year, you can get a serviceable helmet for under $100 (or less than $10/month). Pass up one Starbucks per week and you’ve paid for it, and can still buy better brakes or headlights.
– spend extra money to buy a winter cap fitting under it
Thin-knit stocking caps can be purchased for less than $10…. you can probably find that much money in change in the cushions of your couch back home.
– spend extra money to buy an raincover
Why worry about the top of your head? If it’s raining the rest of you is going to get wet anyway.
– spend extra money to buy second one, for the time the Pads of first one dry after washing
A second set of pads is a whole lot cheaper than a second helmet.
“– find a place to store your helmet at home
Hook it over the handlebars or brake hood when you park the bike. It’s right there when you need it.”
probably, if not stolen, damaged or filled with something unpleasant. Tried that with a motorcycle helmet and found used hankies or stubs in it when I came back.
“– take a extra piece of luggage everywhere you go
You’re wearing it! Unless your head is detachable, it’s right there where you need it!”
In the shop, at the dentist, the barber, in my office, in the flat of my friends? Please, send pics 😉
“– spend money to buy one, probably better spend in better brakes or headlights
Even if you buy one new helmet per year, you can get a serviceable helmet for under $100 (or less than $10/month). Pass up one Starbucks per week and you’ve paid for it, and can still buy better brakes or headlights.”
lucky me, no starbucks in town 😉 Serious, I see your point, but I am not willing to spare so much for so little protection…
“– spend extra money to buy an raincover
Why worry about the top of your head? If it’s raining the rest of you is going to get wet anyway.”
Already have rain gear that works perfect for cycling and walking. A must have here in Germany. But wearing a helmet makes the hood useless. And, I know, rain covers do not cost a fortune, but all this little things sum up an must be taken with, thought of, stored somewhere…
“– spend extra money to buy second one, for the time the Pads of first one dry after washing
A second set of pads is a whole lot cheaper than a second helmet.”
And will be got lost somewhere in my place when I need them.
Yes, You are right, if one thinks a helmet is useful or at necessary, all this things are easy to handle. But nevertheless is is a lot of things to do an organize. So everybody should see for itself if the limited protection is worth all this.
For sports: Offroad, race, trainig and so on I would strongly recommend one. But normal every day ride? I would prefer to by a car helmet first..
I’m with Bill too, and I will also add that risk compensation (i.e. mountain biking) can be a lot of fun. But mostly I think it’s a personal decision and I’m sick and tired of the preaching from both sides.
True, a helmet will likely not protect you against cars, but that’s a completely false argument, which assumes the ONLY harm that might come to a cyclist is from cars. One of my worst accidents was caused by another cyclist. Dribbled my head a few times on the pavement from that, got a concussion. Bike helmets didn’t exist yet. I’ve had two nasty accidents, neither was caused by a car. Wish I’d had a helmet both times.
Well said… our child often tells other children pround: “I am allowed to cycle without helmet” what always give disapproving looks by parents.
We just found out she rides by far more carefull without a helmet. So we decided to prevent accidents prior to injuries..
Yes, from the other Moms driving their fat kids in SUVs 1mi to school, while posting to F’book about it!
Hmm,
this is a world wide phenomenon. In Germany they try to stop it now in some cities. But they have no plan how to do….
right, mostly because parents refuse to obey the rules. Many year ago, the school of my first daughter has two gates: one for the kids coming by foot, and another for those who were brought by car. Gate one was always blocked by cars, I never saw a single car at gate two, just because one had to drive 100meters and two turns extra.
i see lots of kids riding with their helmets unbuckled or with them dangling from their handlebars.
While i won’t ride without one, i recognise that it can’t save me in every instance, nor will i call people out for going lidless.
It probably won’t save you in every instance — neither will seat belts and airbags in the car, as far as that goes. But I know my helmet has saved me from more-serious injury on a couple of occasions, and that’s good enough for me.
So it become a tradeoff — the inconvenience of not being able to just jump on the bike and go someplace as opposed to strapping on the helmet and putting up with the extra half-pound or so of weight on the noggin. After serious consideration and literally decades of experience, I’m willing to make that tradeoff.
I’m with Bill, although I wear one more for my own user error than cars. If I hit sand or misjudge the cracks in the road, or anything else, I’d rather have it!
If I’m just doodling around at 5mph or so on a good day that’s one thing, but when I’m trying to get to work or the store at 15-18mph…..I studied physics, I want the helmet.
But that’s just a personal preference. I don’t think it should become a legal issue myself.
“the inconvenience of not being able to just jump on the bike and go someplace” is not all…
You nee to:
– find a place to store your helmet at home
– take a extra piece of luggage everywhere you go
– remember it every time you leave home… (purse, keys, gloves, sunglases… hard for me still without an extra)
– spend money to buy one, probably better spend in better brakes or headligths
– spend extra money to buy a winter cap fitting under it
– spend extra money to buy an raincover
– spend extra money to buy second one, for the time the Pads of first one dry after washing
– and so on…
a lot of afford for very little protection against accidents that would probably not happen without helmet.
Addressing your “concerns”, in order:
– find a place to store your helmet at home
Hook it over the handlebars or brake hood when you park the bike. It’s right there when you need it.
– take a extra piece of luggage everywhere you go
You’re wearing it! Unless your head is detachable, it’s right there where you need it!
– remember it every time you leave home… (purse, keys, gloves, sunglases… hard for me still without an extra)
See the response to your first “concern”
– spend money to buy one, probably better spend in better brakes or headlights
Even if you buy one new helmet per year, you can get a serviceable helmet for under $100 (or less than $10/month). Pass up one Starbucks per week and you’ve paid for it, and can still buy better brakes or headlights.
– spend extra money to buy a winter cap fitting under it
Thin-knit stocking caps can be purchased for less than $10…. you can probably find that much money in change in the cushions of your couch back home.
– spend extra money to buy an raincover
Why worry about the top of your head? If it’s raining the rest of you is going to get wet anyway.
– spend extra money to buy second one, for the time the Pads of first one dry after washing
A second set of pads is a whole lot cheaper than a second helmet.
“– find a place to store your helmet at home
Hook it over the handlebars or brake hood when you park the bike. It’s right there when you need it.”
probably, if not stolen, damaged or filled with something unpleasant. Tried that with a motorcycle helmet and found used hankies or stubs in it when I came back.
“– take a extra piece of luggage everywhere you go
You’re wearing it! Unless your head is detachable, it’s right there where you need it!”
In the shop, at the dentist, the barber, in my office, in the flat of my friends? Please, send pics 😉
“– spend money to buy one, probably better spend in better brakes or headlights
Even if you buy one new helmet per year, you can get a serviceable helmet for under $100 (or less than $10/month). Pass up one Starbucks per week and you’ve paid for it, and can still buy better brakes or headlights.”
lucky me, no starbucks in town 😉 Serious, I see your point, but I am not willing to spare so much for so little protection…
“– spend extra money to buy an raincover
Why worry about the top of your head? If it’s raining the rest of you is going to get wet anyway.”
Already have rain gear that works perfect for cycling and walking. A must have here in Germany. But wearing a helmet makes the hood useless. And, I know, rain covers do not cost a fortune, but all this little things sum up an must be taken with, thought of, stored somewhere…
“– spend extra money to buy second one, for the time the Pads of first one dry after washing
A second set of pads is a whole lot cheaper than a second helmet.”
And will be got lost somewhere in my place when I need them.
Yes, You are right, if one thinks a helmet is useful or at necessary, all this things are easy to handle. But nevertheless is is a lot of things to do an organize. So everybody should see for itself if the limited protection is worth all this.
For sports: Offroad, race, trainig and so on I would strongly recommend one. But normal every day ride? I would prefer to by a car helmet first..
>For sports: Offroad, race, trainig and so on I would strongly recommend one.
Normal Helmets are tested to protect at a maximum speed of 18 km/h.
So why wearing one on youre race bike, were you are probably a littke bit faster.
Helmets for downhill sports are a different thing – but no one would wear such a helmet on every days ride…
I’m with Bill too, and I will also add that risk compensation (i.e. mountain biking) can be a lot of fun. But mostly I think it’s a personal decision and I’m sick and tired of the preaching from both sides.
sick and tired of the preaching from both sides
me too
True, a helmet will likely not protect you against cars, but that’s a completely false argument, which assumes the ONLY harm that might come to a cyclist is from cars. One of my worst accidents was caused by another cyclist. Dribbled my head a few times on the pavement from that, got a concussion. Bike helmets didn’t exist yet. I’ve had two nasty accidents, neither was caused by a car. Wish I’d had a helmet both times.