Helmets

kkgree1

I agree with Big G RC although I do think it would be difficult to make helmets compulsory.

My cousin was knocked off his bike cycling along a country road in Kent by the drag from a car that overtook him too closely. He was seriously injured but if it wasn't for his helmet he wouldn't be alive today.

I cycle daily in one of the major cycling cities (Cambridge) and the number of cyclists wearing helmets is gradually increasing. My one pet hate though is parents who make their kids wear helmets but won't wear one themselves!

mcfisco

Big_G_RC wrote: »

I'm lucky enough never to have come off, but I still wouldn't ride without my helmet. It only takes 1 incident to kill or maim you

Helmets should be law.

I'm fairly confident that you're riding way too slow and carefully to ever need a helmet

FWIW - I rarely ride without one - the odd trip to the pub or a tootle down the shops maybe - but to make them compulsory makes no sense whatsoever.

Marco_Panettone

kkgree1 wrote: »

I agree with Big G RC although I do think it would be difficult to make helmets compulsory.

My cousin was knocked off his bike cycling along a country road in Kent by the drag from a car that overtook him too closely. He was seriously injured but if it wasn't for his helmet he wouldn't be alive today.

I cycle daily in one of the major cycling cities (Cambridge) and the number of cyclists wearing helmets is gradually increasing. My one pet hate though is parents who make their kids wear helmets but won't wear one themselves!

Should stab-vests be law too? Someone got stabbed and they were wearing one. If they hadn't been they'd be dead.

The danger should be tackled, and on the roads it is bad driving that causes accidents, not cycling normally. In the 'close overtake' scenario there's evidence to suggest the wearing of helmets encourages drivers to give cyclists less space.

westy23

Morning
If I had not been wearing a cycle helmet I probably would be dead or in a wheelchair.
I was cycling at about 15 mph when my rear wheel clipped a kerb and the next thing I am aware of was waking up in the back of a ambulance.
My cycle helmet was SPLIT open just above my left eye and my hand and knees were a right mess.
If I had not been wearing a helmet the impact would have been on my skull and the injuries would have been far worse.
Sorry but if you cycle without a helmet you are a idiot.

Marco_Panettone

westy23 wrote: »

Morning
If I had not been wearing a cycle helmet I probably would be dead or in a wheelchair.
I was cycling at about 15 mph when my rear wheel clipped a kerb and the next thing I am aware of was waking up in the back of a ambulance.
My cycle helmet was SPLIT open just above my left eye and my hand and knees were a right mess.
If I had not been wearing a helmet the impact would have been on my skull and the injuries would have been far worse.
Sorry but if you cycle without a helmet you are a idiot.

Why were you so close to the kerb? Whilst I generally agree (and have had my fair share of crashes) I certainly wouldn't force people to wear them. There's not sufficient evidence that the benefit to cyclists outweighs the harm caused by putting people off cycling.

ILW

westy23 wrote: »

Morning
If I had not been wearing a cycle helmet I probably would be dead or in a wheelchair.
I was cycling at about 15 mph when my rear wheel clipped a kerb and the next thing I am aware of was waking up in the back of a ambulance.
My cycle helmet was SPLIT open just above my left eye and my hand and knees were a right mess.
If I had not been wearing a helmet the impact would have been on my skull and the injuries would have been far worse.
Sorry but if you cycle without a helmet you are a idiot.

Is it possible that the sense of security the helmet gave you caused you to be careless, thereby resulting in the accident?

RichardD1970

ILW wrote: »

Is it possible that the sense of security the helmet gave you caused you to be careless, thereby resulting in the accident?

Lots of things are possible, but the helmet still saved his life.

A few years ago I was doing 15-20mph down a road and had a catastrophic failure of my rear tyre, the tyre was ripped of the rim so totally lost control.

Luckily, either through good luck or exceptional skill (;)) I ended up hitting the curb and flying onto the grass verge rather than veering across the road into the oncoming bus.

I was glad of the helmet as I did hit my head, but if I had hit the bus then no amounts of helmets would have saved me :eek:

So on balance I would rather wear a helmet for those occasions where it would help.

I have never put on my helmet and felt invincible, only an idiot would (I know, idiots do exist!)

custardy

westy23 wrote: »

Morning
If I had not been wearing a cycle helmet I probably would be dead or in a wheelchair.
I was cycling at about 15 mph when my rear wheel clipped a kerb and the next thing I am aware of was waking up in the back of a ambulance.
My cycle helmet was SPLIT open just above my left eye and my hand and knees were a right mess.
If I had not been wearing a helmet the impact would have been on my skull and the injuries would have been far worse.
Sorry but if you cycle without a helmet you are a idiot.

were you wearing gloves?

Cycrow

RichardD1970 wrote: »

I have never put on my helmet and felt invincible, only an idiot would (I know, idiots do exist!)

Unfortautlly some drivers do think your invincible when wearing a helmet.

i had a peroid when i didn't have a helmet and i had much less close over takes to when i wear helmets. I've had alot more problems with drivers since wearing a helmet

I've even seen comments about someone who was crushed by a lorry, and they commented that if they had a helmet they would still be alive now

stevemcol

Helmets absolutely should not be law and I hate the fact we even have to discuss it. Every now and then a politician or other will kick off the debate and I'm convinced they do it just to get us used to the idea.
There are so few cyclists now that don't wear helmets that it's not even worth legislating for.
So please joe public, politicians and Big G RC, stop worrying about my well being and resist your urges to protect me from myself. I promise to take responsibility for my own safety and ride defensively.