Helmets - (my case study)

[4F]

Attempted to cycle to work this morning however went down like a sack of spuds on some ice and survived intact without banging my head (I do not wear a helmet)

So as I was still close to home I wheeled the bike back home and then walked to the bus stop only to go down again this time cracking my head hard on the pavement

So my case study has determined that helmet use should be made compulsary for all pedestrians as you are more likely to suffer a head injury walking than cycling.

 

[John the Monkey]

I do wear a helmet. I've not hit my head in any off my offs so far.

However, I would say that any thought of tucking, attempting to protect the head, or any other such ways of mitigating damage to yourself are, in my experience, a complete fiction. When hit by a bus, or a car (the two vehicles my personal experience is of) at 20mph, you barely have time for the thought "Oh f***" to go through your head before you're sliding along the tarmac. Whether you bang your head or not seems to me to be down entirely to luck, in the way that the striking vehicle hits you, and how you're arranged on the bike/road at the time.

 

[4F]

I do wear a helmet. I've not hit my head in any off my offs so far.

However, I would say that any thought of tucking, attempting to protect the head, or any other such ways of mitigating damage to yourself are, in my experience, a complete fiction. When hit by a bus, or a car (the two vehicles my personal experience is of) at 20mph, you barely have time for the thought "Oh f***" to go through your head before you're sliding along the tarmac. Whether you bang your head or not seems to me to be down entirely to luck, in the way that the striking vehicle hits you, and how you're arranged on the bike/road at the time.

I had no time to make a concious decision to move my head out of the way this morning nor did I when I came off on diesel a few months back however it was noted that on neither time did my head come into contact with the ground. Maybe this is a plus with regard to my current body shape Time for the salad to go back in the fridge

 

[twowheelsgood]

I'd draw a different conclusion.

I'd be grateful I was lucky enough to not hit my head the first time.
I'd be more careful when waking or cycling when it's icy.

 

[tyred]

To make a proper scientific study, you need to carry out more than 1 test. I propose you fall from your bike about fifty times and fall while walking to the bus stop fifty times and see if you can spot a trend in how often you bang your head

 

[Arch]

I do wear a helmet. I've not hit my head in any off my offs so far.

However, I would say that any thought of tucking, attempting to protect the head, or any other such ways of mitigating damage to yourself are, in my experience, a complete fiction. When hit by a bus, or a car (the two vehicles my personal experience is of) at 20mph, you barely have time for the thought "Oh f***" to go through your head before you're sliding along the tarmac. Whether you bang your head or not seems to me to be down entirely to luck, in the way that the striking vehicle hits you, and how you're arranged on the bike/road at the time.

I think you're right, which raises an interesting point. The collision you describe, is not something cycle helmets are rated to withstand, I gather. They are designed to protect in a fall from the bike at less than 12mph (I think that's the figure, please correct me if I'm wrong) - which is perhaps the occasion when you are more likely to be able to think about protecting yourself anyway. (although I know, it's still pretty quick)

Of course, most people don't fall in the best way, on bike or foot - hence broken wrists and collar bones as they bung an arm out. Knowing how to fall well is perhaps a knack more of us should have (I know I don't have it). Maybe an evening class in 'Stunt manning for beginners' would be a good idea...

 

[4F]

To make a proper scientific study, you need to carry out more than 1 test. I propose you fall from your bike about fifty times and fall while walking to the bus stop fifty times and see if you can spot a trend in how often you bang your head

Having considered your proposal I regret I will have to decline. There is no way that I would consider using the bus 50 times

 

[Arch]

Having considered your proposal I regret I will have to decline. There is no way that I would consider using the bus 50 times

You could watch 50 different people fall over at the bus stop....

 

[tyred]

Having considered your proposal I regret I will have to decline. There is no way that I would consider using the bus 50 times

You could always get sponsorship from Disprin

 

[Wolf04]

Unlucky FFFF glad your in one piece!

 

[4F]

You could watch 50 different people fall over at the bus stop....

Where I live the bus only calls every 2 hours so this study could take some time. I will get back to you by 2018

 

[twowheelsgood]

Helmets are made to withstand certain repeatable tests in a laboratory. They claim to approximate to various "real world" accidents.

However there are so many variables it isn't possible to come up with a definitive answer. The most obvious being the surface you fall on and the speed. I point impact on the skull, rather like one of those emgency hammers to break a window will require no effort whatsoever to kill you - think edge of pavement kerbstone

There are also many types of head injury with some brain injury being near impossible to diagnose e.g. if you developed memory issues, alzheimers or epilepsy at a later date would it be possible to link this to an earlier accident?

There isn't some magical cut-off like 12mph where a helmet can potentially be useful.

 

[4F]

There isn't some magical cut-off like 12mph where a helmet can potentially be useful.

I am sure though that the tests they have to pass to be acceptable for use are only done up to 12 mph hence the mention of that figure. Of course it is impossible to determine whether they will be of any use up to or over that speed as all depends on the type of accident and the way you fall.

What my experience has shown is that you can crack you head slipping over as a pedestrian just as you may coming off your bike.

To summise: 2 falls on bike, no head contact with ground
1 fall as ped, head hits ground

 

[4F]

How did you fall on your bike and when walking FFFF?

both falls on bike have been sideways having lost the front wheel so landed on side first (both left side as it happens), on foot it was circus style with legs flying forwards and body going backwards. Of course if I had a trike then I would not have had this problem, looks up website address of catrike

 

[hackbike 666]

Hmm, I think this is to do with the position that you have on a bike when going to ground.

You will (I hope) be moving in a forward direction on a bike when you come off. Most of the time imo you will either land sideways or face first. Landing sideways your arms will take most of the impact and landing face first your instinct is to put your hands up hence the reason why some falls off a pushbike end up with a broken clavicle.

How did you fall on your bike and when walking FFFF?

Thankyou Professor Lee.