Helmet in France

[jorgemartin]

Hello,
I'm off for a week of touring next week in the south of France. Wondering whether I should take my helmet with me. I only will if it's compulsory. Does anyone know regulations there?

Cheers

 

[Crankarm]

A hi-viz gilet at night is mandatory though.

 

[Cathryn]

Take it anyway...for some reason, I never feel like wearing a helmet in France, so last summer for most of our tour, my helmet swung happily around, tied to my rack bag. However there were certain roads where I bunged it on immediately, and even the husband put his on when descending cols as you're going so much faster. They weigh nothing, I think it's worth taking.

 

[John Ponting]

I don't own a helmet so it's a no brainer for me.


If you believe in helmets why not take it on holiday?

 

[asterix]

In the bit I mostly to cycle in (Haute Vienne), helmet use is about 50/50, if that. I wear one to keep Mrs A. happy.

 

[yello]

Helmets not compulsory. Hi-viz is compulsory at night and/or in poor visibility but not in towns and cities. So definitely take the latter.

Practically, helmet use is probably as asterix suggests, i.e. 50/50. In my club, it is exceedingly rare for there to be someone without a helmet and my observation of other club rides would suggest this is the case with them too. But this is balanced by the number of solo cyclists 'sans casque'. It seems to me that hardcore roadies don't almost as a rule!

For touring, I personally wouldn't bother with a helmet. But take a cap.

 

[Crankarm]

Helmets not compulsory. Hi-viz is compulsory at night and/or in poor visibility but not in towns and cities. So definitely take the latter.

Practically, helmet use is probably as asterix suggests, i.e. 50/50. In my club, it is exceedingly rare for there to be someone without a helmet and my observation of other club rides would suggest this is the case with them too. But this is balanced by the number of solo cyclists 'sans casque'. It seems to me that hardcore roadies don't almost as a rule!

For touring, I personally wouldn't bother with a helmet. But take a cap.

Chapeau.......!

IGMC
.

 

[waffle]

the roads are so noticeably quieter in places than england that its easy to think a helmet isnt worth it at times

 

[Archie_tect]

But take a cap.

...compulsory in Holland.

 

[yello]

the roads are so noticeably quieter in places than england that its easy to think a helmet isnt worth it at times

That's true. The road surfaces are just as hard in France as in the UK!

 

[HJ]

the roads are so noticeably quieter in places than england that its easy to think a helmet isnt worth it at times

Helmets are worth it any time on the roads, they were invented for mountain biking, and that is where they should have stayed!

Helmets have absolutely nothing to do with road safety, they are a total red herring...

 

[HJ]

That's true. The road surfaces are just as hard in France as in the UK!

Are Danish and Dutch road surfaces softer?? Maybe that is why the Dutch and the Danes don't wear helmets, after all there are more cyclist is Denmark and the Netherlands than in France and the UK put together

 

[yello]

Are Danish and Dutch road surfaces softer??

Dunno. Could be. You have that bouncy tarmac stuff in children's playgrounds, maybe Danish roads are made of that

 

[rich p]

Helmets are worth it any time on the roads, they were invented for mountain biking, and that is where they should have stayed!

Helmets have absolutely nothing to do with road safety, they are a total red herring...

Shurely shome mishtake

 

[Comatosed]

I don't own a helmet so it's a no brainer for me.


If you believe in helmets why not take it on holiday?

Is that a pun?