Helmets

donal7

Hi All,

I've just got into cycling into work 3/4 times a work (just over 15 miles total) and am really enjoying it. Feel some much fitter too and really enjoy it

Plan to upgrade the bike next year at some stage.

Thing is at the moment I don't have a helmet. People have been saying to me how stupid I am for not wearing one. I've yet to have an accident but had a few near misses so far.
I've taken their advice on board and am shopping online looking at some helmets now.

Just wondered if anybody else out there like myself commutes without a helmet?

blorg

Lots of us do. However I would never suggest to anyone they don't wear one, you are much better off wearing one if you are comfortable with it. You are probably best off buying your first in a local shop as sizing is very important if it is to be effective.

DirkVoodoo

Ahem, I will keep this about buying helmets only, I left my tin opener on my other laptop.

Helmets are mostly preference and budget. You will get a quality lid for 60-80 euro (cheaper if you want, im just picking a good range there). Go into a shop, try on as many makes and models as you can and pick whichever you prefer. If a helmet makes you feel safer on your commute then it can't be a bad thing can it?

Look at Giro, MET, Bell. If you find the shops too expensive have a look online, but don't buy online without trying them on first if possible, I have found some makes suit me better than others (giro make me look like toad from mario games!).

Civilian_Target

Yeah... I don't usually ride in a helmet unless it's slippy out. Then I have a pretty neat little Giro I picked up in Cyclelogical for e60.

I'd definitely recommend it, it's light and well ventilated. I've taken a knock in one before and my head is still just fine.

cyclopath2001

Make sure it's a colour easily seen by truck drivers.

Funkyzeit

At the risk of being controversial....get one.... Bell or Giro and you can't go wrong...

BostonB

I'm on my second helmet. :eek:

I see lots without though.

I like wearing one if I'm honest.

rubadub

donal7 wrote: »

People have been saying to me how stupid I am for not wearing one.

I bet those stupid people did not wear them while cycling as a kid or adult 20years back when they were also available. Next time some self righteous hypocritical arsehole brands you stupid just ask them why they do not wear one out walking or in the car. A cycling helmet offers far more protection in a car than on a bike, and that is taking into account seatbelts and airbags.

http://www.cyclehelmets.org/

And a pro site
http://www.helmets.org/

Raam

rubadub wrote: »

I bet those stupid people did not wear them while cycling as a kid or adult 20years back when they were also available. Next time some self righteous hypocritical arsehole brands you stupid just ask them why they do not wear one out walking or in the car. A cycling helmet offers far more protection in a car than on a bike, and that is taking into account seatbelts and airbags.

http://www.cyclehelmets.org/

And a pro site
http://www.helmets.org/

I had been wearing one for ages following a crash. Then a few weeks ago I stopped wearing it. All was going fine, then some plank in a car decided to drive exceptionally close, I'm talking inches. It was enough to put the heebie-jeebies back into me, so I'm wearing the helmet again.

MCOS

rubadub wrote: »

I bet those stupid people did not wear them while cycling as a kid or adult 20years back when they were also available. Next time some self righteous hypocritical arsehole brands you stupid just ask them why they do not wear one out walking or in the car. A cycling helmet offers far more protection in a car than on a bike, and that is taking into account seatbelts and airbags.

http://www.cyclehelmets.org/

And a pro site
http://www.helmets.org/

Probably because the Parents bought them a shiny new bmx but no helmet, I'm no exception.

Only thing for me to say on this thread is COP ON :mad:! Get yourself a helmet and if you have kids, make sure they are wearing a helmet too!

rubadub

Raam wrote: »

All was going fine, then some plank in a car decided to drive exceptionally close, I'm talking inches.

you are lucky, if you were wearing that helmet he might have been those few inches closer.
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=205323&sectioncode=26

MCOS wrote: »

Probably because the Parents bought them a shiny new bmx but no helmet, I'm no exception.

What about the adults. Point is it was not seen as neccesary, and then became the trend to get them. I expect some people now would not buy a car without an airbag, and think people "stupid" who do. Yet they would laugh at the idea of wearing a helmet in a car which offers far more protection. Just like they laughed at the idea of a cycle helmet in the 80's

MCOS wrote: »

Only thing for me to say on this thread is COP ON :mad:!

Yes, use your common sense, and do not be blindly hypocritical, question why you now think it is essential to wear a helmet, but ONLY on a bike, as I have said before, most head injuries I have heard about from people I know is when out drinking, so wear the cycling helmet to the pub. You might find that ridiculous, as ridiculous as people though cycle helmets were years back. And why in hell would you get in a car without a helmet, the protection offered by a seatbelt and airbag is minimal in comparison. Have a read of this site http://www.cyclehelmets.org/ there is perfectly good reasoning NOT to wear a helmet, specifically with the aim of being safer. COP ON and see both sides of the coin before branding people stupid, when it is often the case of ignorance on the other side.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18481926?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16019398?ordinalpos=12&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

I would get a helmet for my child, since I have read both sides in detail and weigh up the dangers, I think they would be safer with one, and me without, I would wear one mountainbiking. I wear other protective gear that I see others without, I do not brand people "stupid" for wearing cycling shorts, I would not, for protection in a crash, I also wear gloves nearly all year round for safety.

petethedrummer

MCOS wrote: »

Only thing for me to say on this thread is COP ON :mad:! Get yourself a helmet and if you have kids, make sure they are wearing a helmet too!

Only thing for me to say on this thread is COP ON :mad:! read the pro and anti-helmet literature and make your own valued judgement.

Chips Lovell

Raam wrote: »

...then some plank in a car decided to drive exceptionally close, I'm talking inches.

I've been fortunate enough to never have a run in with a car, but I hate, hate, hate when this happens. It really spooks me, so much so that on a few occasions I've had to stop, get off the bike and take a minute or too to pull myself together. Elderly people and van drivers seem to be the worst offenders, at least in my experience.

MCOS

petethedrummer wrote: »

Only thing for me to say on this thread is COP ON :mad:! read the pro and anti-helmet literature and make your own valued judgement.

Read plenty of it. A friend of mine was killed on a bike because he was not wearing a helmet. Each to his own. I wasn't given a helmet with my new bmx on my 7th birthday, cracked my head off roads, pavements, cars, ramps... I was just lucky, my friend wasn't.

Subsequently I copped on and bought a Helmet.

petethedrummer

MCOS wrote: »

Each to his own.

I'll stick with that.

Bruce11

Had a Giro Ventoux years ago when it was the coolest helmet on the market, then got a Met Stradivarius 6 years ago.

Have since changed this year to a Limar Pro 104 helmet, it has 22 vents and is quoted by them as being the lightest helmet on the market. Very happy with it. Need a skull cap on underneath it as it certainly does let the air in.

I would advocate the use of helmets as have seen a good few accidents where people have received nasty head injuries when not wearing one.

ollaetta

I really don't get why this pro and anti helmet thing causes such debate. As a previous poster says, read the literature and make your mind up. What I do find astonishing though is the number of people who wear helmets incorrectly thereby rendering them almost useless.

Personally, I'm very much pro helmet having had two bad falls when on both occasions I landed head first.

TinyExplosions

I have a Giro Ionos, and like it a lot

Signal_ rabbit

I have a Catlike Whisper and I enjoy wearing it as it looks the dogs!

monument

I don't wear one. It used to be just because I didn't want to were one, but I looking at the facts have made me argue against them if there is a discussion on the topic. Although I try to stick to the each to their own, and along those lines I'd say...

Commuting at averaged speeds - if you do, please also wear one any time you feel like running.

Racing - yes, because of the speed.

MT biking - yes, because of the terrain.

monument

ollaetta wrote: »

Personally, I'm very much pro helmet having had two bad falls when on both occasions I landed head first.

I'm not taking the piss here -- helmet or none, you should try to stop your head from hitting the ground by using your hands or arms.

Raam

monument wrote: »

I'm not taking the piss here -- helmet or none, you should try to stop your head from hitting the ground by using your hands or arms.

That brings the added risk of breaking your collarbone. Take your pick

TinyExplosions

Signal_ rabbit wrote: »

I have a Catlike Whisper and I enjoy wearing it as it looks the dogs!

Don't go near Niceonetom then, he's scared by the Catlike (something to do with them being insect-like)

monument

Raam wrote: »

That brings the added risk of breaking your collarbone. Take your pick

And what exactly is the likelihood of that vs the likelihood of brain damage etc?

cyclopath2001

rubadub wrote: »

just ask them why they do not wear one out walking or in the car. A cycling helmet offers far more protection in a car than on a bike, and that is taking into account seatbelts and airbags.

Looks like Clarkson & co might be offering a good example to motorists:

Raam

monument wrote: »

And what exactly is the likelihood of that vs the likelihood of brain damage etc?

You want numbers? I've no idea.

monument

Raam wrote: »

You want numbers? I've no idea.

Even just which is most likely to happen: a serious brain injury from directly hitting your head (helmeted or not) OR breaking your collarbone by using your arms or hands protecting your head?

Bruce11

Even just which is most likely to happen: a serious brain injury from directly hitting your head (helmeted or not) OR breaking your collarbone by using your arms or hands protecting your head?

Why not go outside and try both concepts, see which hurts more and what you feels is best? If you want to know go forth and investigate young Monument

monument

Bruce11 wrote: »

Why not go outside and try both concepts, see which hurts more and what you feels is best? If you want to know go forth and investigate young Monument

In the context of what I said and his/her reply, I think my question is quite reasonable.

BostonB

...and if you break both your legs don't come running to me...

Gavin

monument wrote: »

And what exactly is the likelihood of that vs the likelihood of brain damage etc?

Don't know stats, but when I was in hospital getting stitches the Doc told me that the most common cycling injury they got in was by far a broken collar bone. Person sticks arm out to prevent fall, force goes right up the taut arm and breaks collarbone. Certainly it's a pretty common mtb injury, maybe not roadie. You don't want to hit the ground with hands/arm, you want to hit a bent arm and roll onto the shoulder.

On the infamous helmet debate topic, I suspect it flairs up because uninformed people insist that people who do not wear helmets are fools. This enrages people who have gone to the effort of reading up on helmets. I think you'd have a hard time finding anyone who is actively 'anti-helmet'.

Raam

Verb wrote: »

Doc told me that the most common cycling injury they got in was by far a broken collar bone.

That's what I've heard also. I have whacked my head off the ground a few times, sans helmet. I've never broken my collarbone though. I'd like to avoid both as much as possible.

TinyExplosions

Raam wrote: »

That's what I've heard also. I have whacked my head of the ground a few times, sans helmet. I've never broken my collarbone though. I'd like to avoid both as much as possible.

Only a matter of time I reckon.... if you cycle enough it's not a case of 'if', but a case of 'when'!

Raam

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Only a matter of time I reckon.... if you cycle enough it's not a case of 'if', but a case of 'when'!

That's what I'm afraid of

rubadub

MCOS wrote: »

A friend of mine was killed on a bike because he was not wearing a helmet.

Sorry to hear that. I am not being smart in saying this and do not mean any offence, but I lost 3 friends in car crashes on separate occasions beacuse they were not wearing helmets, and another was knocked down by a car while walking and was killed because he was not wearing a helmet.

People get emotive about this discussion and also come up with their own logic, yet do not apply this logic to similar risks/situations. People need to step back and fundamentally look at things and question them. e.g. why do you think people are completely stupid not to wear a helmet on a bike, but conversely would consider them stupid to wear a helmet out walking.

The logic is "my mate fell off his bike and his helmet cracked, therefore he would now be dead if he had not worn it", maybe without the realisation that the helmet is designed to fracture to absorb impact, and the skull is far harder. I briefly studied helmet design using finite element analysis in college in engineering, the skull is a hell of a lot stronger than a helmet.

MCOS wrote: »

I wasn't given a helmet with my new bmx on my 7th birthday, cracked my head off roads, pavements, cars, ramps... I was just lucky, my friend wasn't

If I was going to cycle on ramps or go mountainbiking I would wear a helmet. And as I said before I would get one for my kid.

niceonetom

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Don't go near Niceonetom then, he's scared by the Catlike (something to do with them being insect-like)

=



in my mind.

dunno why.

great, now i've creeped myself out.

kev_rower

had a bad crash there last year where a car came across my lane and i hit it side on, hit the roof/windsheild on my way over and did a 360 degree flip in the air. Landed on my knees somehow but i had a helmet on and the simple fact is if i didnt and i landed on my head id either be dead or have very serious head injuries injuries. Just to give you an idea of how bad the crash was i wrote my bike and the car off and did serious damage to my back. I would really encourage people to wear helmets because when you think about it its just not worth it at the end of the day for the sake of looking 'cool' by not wearing one.
I highly recommend the giro atmos by the way

rubadub

kev_rower wrote: »

Landed on my knees somehow but i had a helmet on and the simple fact is if i didnt and i landed on my head id either be dead or have very serious head injuries injuries.

So are you now wearing knee pads too? were they not seriously injured? if not why would you presume you would have had serious head injuries or die?

This comes up in every thread, "my helmet saved my life" since it cracked a little. There was a thread the other day a lad tore his jacket & gloves, christ, lucky he had them on, he would have had to have his arm amputated otherwise.

for the sake of looking 'cool' by not wearing one.

If you researched you would see that is not the only reason some people do not wear them.

Signal_ rabbit

One of the main reasons i wear a helmet is because i think i look cool (?)

'68 Fastback

I always wear a helmet. I used to mtb alot so it was a neccessity and I just got used to it. There's no legal requirement to wear one so it's really up to you, try a few on and see what you think.

AstraMonti

For me (that i am new in cycling) its like wearing a seat belt. I just can't drive without it. And also it keeps my head warm

kev_rower

rubadub wrote: »

This comes up in every thread, "my helmet saved my life" since it cracked a little. There was a thread the other day a lad tore his jacket & gloves, christ, lucky he had them on, he would have had to have his arm amputated otherwise.

its called brain damage dude! doesnt really occur to often when you hit your knees.

Look at fabio casartelli, i mean if he had a helmet on the chances are he'd still be alive today!

Gavin

kev_rower wrote: »

its called brain damage dude! doesnt really occur to often when you hit your knees.

Look at fabio casartelli, i mean if he had a helmet on the chances are he'd still be alive today!

Jeese, you didn't really read up on that one very far did you

According to Wikipedia, the source of all things true

Many have claimed if Casartelli had been wearing a modern bicycle helmet his life might have been saved.[1] However, Gerard Porte, the Tour's senior doctor, claimed that protection was academic since the fatal blow was to an area of Casartelli's head that would not have been covered by a helmet.[1]

[1] http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/low/other_sports/cycling/4682485.stm

Helmets are not amazing life saving devices.

bobtjustice

Raam wrote: »

That's what I've heard also. I have whacked my head off the ground a few times, sans helmet. I've never broken my collarbone though. I'd like to avoid both as much as possible.

Broken collarbone from cycling would be a Referred impact injury, I.e. coming off the bike and natural reaction is to put your hands out to cushion ( and to protect your head) the blow. Shock travels up your arm and is referred to the weaker clavicle, falls on a outstretched hand can cause damage to flexor and extensor muscles too.
Given Irish road conditions and its users, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to wear DH body armour on your commute to work.I'd always recommend a helmet though

blorg

I broke my collarbone in a different way- shoulder caught a lamp-post, bike continued on its way and I came off backwards. On my one (so far) excursion mountain biking I had a very similar shoulder collision with a tree (luckily did not break anything that time )