How do professional cyclists feel about having to wear helmets?

[Cyclopathic]

I know it's a very general question and different riders will have different views but I just wondered if anyone knows of any pro's who have been vociferous about the subject, one way or another?

Also since they have been introduced to pro cycling has there been any data kept on what effect it has had one way or another?

 

[Crackle]

I imagine the same level of ignorance abounds in pro cyclists as non pro cyclists, perhaps more so as they get sponsored to wear them.

Don't know about stats but it didn't help one poor soul in the Giro d'italia who was killed instantly when he hit a wall head first.

 

[Cyclopathic]

I imagine the same level of ignorance abounds in pro cyclists as non pro cyclists, perhaps more so as they get sponsored to wear them.

Don't know about stats but it didn't help one poor soul in the Giro d'italia who was killed instantly when he hit a wall head first.

Well quite. There are a lot of high speed, high impact injuries that a helmet won't save you from.

 

[Cycling Dan]

I imagine the same level of ignorance abounds in pro cyclists as non pro cyclists, perhaps more so as they get sponsored to wear them.

Don't know about stats but it didn't help one poor soul in the Giro d'italia who was killed instantly when he hit a wall head first.

When was that?

 

[MichaelO]

2011, I think - Weylandt (Leopard Trek)

 

[Brandane]

I would imagine that professional cyclists feel quite good about wearing helmets; especially when the big cheque is banked from whatever manufacturer is sponsoring them to do so. I might even be tempted to wear one myself if that was the case for me.....

 

[Cyclopathic]

I would imagine that professional cyclists feel quite good about wearing helmets; especially when the big cheque is banked from whatever manufacturer is sponsoring them to do so. I might even be tempted to wear one myself if that was the case for me.....

Perhaps it's just the pay cheque that deters them from speaking about it. It could be that many of them find it an annoyance, especially those who are older and didn't have to wear one at the beginning of their careers. I really just wondered if any professionals had made their views known.

 

[Crackle]

2011, I think - Weylandt (Leopard Trek)

Yes it was.

The account of the accident is on Wiki and makes for grim and sad reading.

 

[Dogtrousers]

If you think about the ridiculous amount of suffering and hard work that a pro has to put themselves through, I don't suppose the small matter of wearing a hat is either here or there. Consider too the extent to which it's controlled by sponsors. They'll be told: From now on you use these gears, this bike, these shoes, you wear this polo jersey and this cap and these shoes when on team duty off the bike. The UCI have changed the rules and you can't use that equipment any more but you have to use this equipment. It's probably just more of the same. I guess. I dunno. I expect they just grumble and get on with it in the same way that we do when rules and regulations in our working enviornments change.