Helmets in the press.

[ComedyPilot]

Being of the very seldom wearing one crew (I have worn one on a velodrome and whilst TTing a few years ago) one sees the promotion of helmet wearing possibly more so than the swivel eyed loons that wear them on the bike, in the bath, on the loo....

I am not a regular cycle mag buyer, but do indulge every now and then. I recently bought cycle active and cycle sport and was a little dismayed at the level of helmet promotion - not direct as in "You must wear one" but subtle....as in almost every picture in the mags of someone riding a bike depicted them in a pudding bowl.

Now call me a cynic, but that seems more that pure coincidence? It seems more like a group editorial line that most if not all pictures must show someone in a lid.

I would love to know why this seems to be so?

And the propaganda has an effect, because it makes people subliminally accept the helmeted get up as 'normal'.

Thoughts anyone?

 

[ianrauk]

Cycling Plus usually has at least one letter a month with the classic 'Glad I was wearing a helmet' thing.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

This isn't a full explanation but it is worth bearing in mind that wearing a helmet is the default ''uniform'' of the pro cyclist. And there's pressure to represent cyclists as athletes so the professional template wins out. (You will probably also notice that nearly all the photos are of slender, youngish things - nothing like what we see on the roads every day.)

 

[ComedyPilot]

Good point DM. Utility, touring and recreational cycling are almost never covered in mainstream cycle mags, but they will be by far the largest denominator of new cyclists in years to come. Not everyone wants to be a racing cyclist. Perhaps there's a niche for a more leisure orientated cyclist magazine?

 

[ComedyPilot]

So it could be a commercial position that promotes helmets in the media as opposed to a safety position?

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

So it could be a commercial position that promotes helmets in the media as opposed to a safety position?

I'd imagine that they combine rather than oppose. I'd also like to see statistics about helmets and fatalities in the pro world. Because their default is to wear helmets under conditions that helmets are not designed to work effectively as safety devices in. I mean, when they come off, it's never at speeds for which generally available helmets are effective. (Just musing about whether the pro world wearing helmets is statistically justified, and if so, how it applies to everyday cycling.)

EDIT:...or rather, if they're not justified in racing, the compulsion could go and the default helmet-wearing might disappear from the cycling press.)

 

[classic33]

Three in seven days in the TDF IN 2011
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pro-cycling-plagued-by-head-injuries

 

[buggi]

Three in seven days in the TDF IN 2011
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pro-cycling-plagued-by-head-injuries

is there anything to show whether head injuries have increased for pro's since they started wearing them?

 

[classic33]

is there anything to show whether head injuries have increased for pro's since they started wearing them?

What type of helmet though?

Or more modern for this day & age?
http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/sport_injuries.html

 

[ufkacbln]

This isn't a full explanation but it is worth bearing in mind that wearing a helmet is the default ''uniform'' of the pro cyclist. And there's pressure to represent cyclists as athletes so the professional template wins out. (You will probably also notice that nearly all the photos are of slender, youngish things - nothing like what we see on the roads every day.)

The default for professional drivers is helmets and fire retardant overalls, but you don't see car adverts where this is portrayed as the norm.

I remember a letter in the CTC magazine a few years ago condemning the irresponsibility of having a young lady on the cover who was NOT wearing a helmet

That is where the pressure is from... the pro-helmet lobby with repertoire of scaremongering lies and unfounded claims

 

[Cycleops]

It's a Al Queda plot of course, much like the flouridisation of our water supply. Subjugation of the masses.

 

[compo]

http://www.harlowstar.co.uk/News/Ha...ety-advice-by-Essex-Police-20140123113241.htm

"Sgt Graham Freeman, who is running the operation, said: “The vast majority of people we stopped were very receptive and those who were fully complying with the law were most impressed that Essex Police was tackling the problem.

“The majority of those who had no lights or reflective clothing assured us that they would have some as quickly as possible. Only one or two people had to be reminded that there would be a £50 fine if they failed to comply and were stopped and warned for a second time.

“About 50 per cent had no lights and were given verbal warnings. About 50 per cent had no reflective clothing and 75 per cent had no cycle helmet"

So Essex police have decided that you can be pulled for not wearing reflective gear or helmets.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

The default for professional drivers is helmets and fire retardant overalls, but you don't see car adverts where this is portrayed as the norm.

That's true enough. I'd think that the reason for this is cycling's representation as a specialist, outsider's activity, while driving is represented as a mass and thoroughly normal activity.

I just googled ''amateur car racing'' in the search for images of a more equivalent driving activity and the 2nd image on the 2nd link was this:

 

[srw]

is there anything to show whether head injuries have increased for pro's since they started wearing them?

I asked this question a while ago and never got an answer. There's a partial answer here:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_professional_cyclists_who_died_during_a_race

where there are rather more listed after helmets were mandated than before - but you'd need to make sure the data was robust and then normalise it for the amount of racing to be sure.

This survey of 2008 Olympic teams: http://m.ajs.sagepub.com/content/37/11/2165.abstract?sid=b12bf6ad-10c3-4f92-a9e5-0f95165564d9%5C (only abstract available for free to the public) doesn't list cycling in the most risky or least risky sports during competition.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Not everyone wants to be a racing cyclist. Perhaps there's a niche for a more leisure orientated cyclist magazine?

That was Cycling Active's aim a while back .... but like C+ it's gone where the money is.