The Helmet Debate

[Freddyflintstone]

Nobody talks about the tech side of these useless helmets
They are a collapsable piece of polystyrene that absorbs the kinetic energy of a person
falling from the bike to the ground. What use is that for a car or vehicle impact at speed.
Also the contact area of the polystyrene has to be a very good close fit all the way round. 90% are NOT fitted correctly so you might as well not have them

 

[Arfcollins]

Nobody talks about the tech side of these useless helmets
<skip>
Also the contact area of the polystyrene has to be a very good close fit all the way round. 90% are NOT fitted correctly so you might as well not have them

Data?

 

[lukesdad]

The fastest riders on the planet wear them, could be a training advantage ....... anyways back to this as you were.

 

[Red Light]

They are a collapsable piece of polystyrene that absorbs the kinetic energy of a person's detached head
falling from the bike to the ground.

FTFY

 

[Red Light]

Data?

Good call Arfcollins - he is of course wrong. Its 96% not 90%.

 

[DresdenDoom]

Strikes me that if it makes people more comfortable and confident on the road, then they should wear them. The placebo effect is 100% real!

 

[Red Light]

Strikes me that if it makes people more comfortable and confident on the road, then they should wear them. The placebo effect is 100% real!

As is risk compensation, a direct consequence of the placebo effect making people think they are protected when they aren't.

 

[DresdenDoom]

I can't see anyone who believes that a helmet is actually necessary doing a full 180 into 'just do it' mode. But a little less nervousness is a Good Thing. I wouldn't dream of wearing one, but then nerves are hardly my problem.

 

[Red Light]

I can't see anyone who believes that a helmet is actually necessary doing a full 180 into 'just do it' mode. But a little less nervousness is a Good Thing. I wouldn't dream of wearing one, but then nerves are hardly my problem.

Risk compensation is much more subtle than going into "just do it" mode. As many studies have shown, making people feel safer leads to them taking more risks to at least nullify the safety benefit. The problem with helmets comes if there is no safety benefit to nullify but the users feel safer and take more risks nonetheless.

 

[doog]

If I fell head first onto the deck at 5mph would I be safer with a helmet on or without?

Most accidents are low speed and happen at junctions and roundabouts (of that this is no doubt)

I need some clearance here....I wear a helmet because it keeps my head warm, keeps my skull cap on, when I am cycling abroad most other people wear them and they cant all be mugs...can they?

I hate bees / flies getting in my helmet through the gaps so if anyone can tell me its safer to not wear one than to wear one I will listen.

What is safe about not wearing a lid.... ?.Ive done the Pyrenees and on the ascents had my lid on the bars and it felt good, I felt naked..free....it would be great if someone could persuade me that lid wearing is a complete waste of time

what about a woolly hat?

 

[doog]

d/p

this forum is struggling isnt it ?

 

[Red Light]

If I fell head first onto the deck at 5mph would I be safer with a helmet on or without?

Most accidents are low speed and happen at junctions and roundabouts (of that this is no doubt)

I need some clearance here....I wear a helmet because it keeps my head warm, keeps my skull cap on, when I am cycling abroad most other people wear them and they cant all be mugs...can they?

I hate bees / flies getting in my helmet through the gaps so if anyone can tell me its safer to not wear one than to wear one I will listen.

What is safe about not wearing a lid.... ?.Ive done the Pyrenees and on the ascents had my lid on the bars and it felt good, I felt naked..free....it would be great if someone could persuade me that lid wearing is a complete waste of time

what about a woolly hat?

Best evidence is they make no difference one way or the other. So do what you feel is right for you in the light of that. Its a decision only you can make Despite that, unfortunately you'll find lots of people trying to tell you you must wear one but no-one will tell you you mustn't wear one.

 

[snorri]

when I am cycling abroad most other people wear them and they cant all be mugs...can they?

That's contrary to my experience, which countries have you been cycling in?

 

[Red Light]

That's contrary to my experience, which countries have you been cycling in?

I think it depends. For utility cycling in Europe, helmets are pretty rare except where required by law. In the Pyrenees that Doog mentioned its mainly wanabee racing cyclist dressed up in all the gear to emulate their heros. Which includes wearing helmets as are mandated for their heros by the UCI. So in some ways you could say yes, they are all mugs. But not I think in the way that Doog was thinking.

 

[ufkacbln]

Data?

I have different figures.

The ones I have are from a US medical centre that looked at helmet wearing.
60% of children had helmets that were more than half an inch out in fit. They then suggested that when head injuries were experienced that ove half the victims in this age group had an inch difference between the correct fitting and the one actually worn.


Their main concern was that 14% of helmets actually came off during the crash!

The conclusion was that helmets should be fitted by trained staff a redesign of helmets for children to make them ft better.