The CycleChat Helmet Debate Thread

[ufkacbln]

FTFY

The sliding layer being called "Skin"

 

[MontyVeda]

The sliding layer being called "Skin"

or in some cases, a woolly hat or cotton cap.

 

[snorri]

More fodder for the debate here including an explanation of the research that started much of the controversy.
https://momentummag.com/bicycle-helmets-holding-us-back-2/

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

"This helmet thing is a huge, huge diversion of very smart people’s time and energy"
From the above link, says it all.

 

[srw]

More fodder for the debate here including an explanation of the research that started much of the controversy.
https://momentummag.com/bicycle-helmets-holding-us-back-2/

That's one of the clearest articles I've read on the subject. Recommended

 

[EnPassant]

That's one of the clearest articles I've read on the subject. Recommended

There is one commenter on that article who has his own take and has published it on his own site. Amongst its discussion is this paragraph which I thought sums up the 'fear sells' aspect rather well:-

"As much as we might like to believe otherwise, Americans live in a culture of fear. And fear is lucrative. If you can make people afraid of something (e.g., gluten, cholesterol, body odor, terrorists) you can sell them a “solution”. And they’ll stand in line, ready to pay because, whatever the price, “it’s a small price to pay” for the promised security. It doesn’t matter if there’s no rational basis for the product or if the problem is wildly inflated or if the “solution” is ineffective or worse than the problem. Once people are afraid, they are easily led and ready to buy anything that supposedly makes them safe. Fear sells massive SUVs to soccer moms. It sells insurance. It sells magazines. It sells cosmetics. It sells wars. And it sells bicycle helmet"

 

[ufkacbln]

Meier Hillman pointed out many years ago, that if the money, effort, dedication and evangelism of the pro-helmet lobby was directed to real cycle safety, everyone would benefit greatly

 

[hatler]

Per Saint Boardman on helmets "It’s not even in the top 10 of things you need to do to keep cycling safe or more widely, save the most lives."

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Very happy to see this thread take a turn into the sunshine. Finally intelligent people are starting to just think that maybe, just maybe helmet suppliers are a bit iffy

 

[snorri]

"My helmet saved ......"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-36574817

 

[ufkacbln]

Actually I came across a good idea from a helmet company

Forgetting for a moment that this is more of a promotion for their helmet than an honest appraisal of helmet viability

If properly supervised and authenticated this idea could be worthwhile.

 

[benb]

Could be, as long as those numbers actually translate to real-world protection.

 

[ufkacbln]

Could be, as long as those numbers actually translate to real-world protection.

Even so, they would prove a comparison

 

[Profpointy]

Actually I came across a good idea from a helmet company

Forgetting for a moment that this is more of a promotion for their helmet than an honest appraisal of helmet viability

If properly supervised and authenticated this idea could be worthwhile.

I notice there's no figure for extra hits to the head and increased neck injury risk by making your head bigger

 

[Glow worm]

Meier Hillman pointed out many years ago, that if the money, effort, dedication and evangelism of the pro-helmet lobby was directed to real cycle safety, everyone would benefit greatly

I was lucky enough to live next door to Hillman for a few years. He was years ahead of his time and a real inspiration. He's probably one of the main reasons I took up cycling.