Why I don't wear a helmet when biking

Runner on a bike wrote:

Not sure I agree, but it's a well written argument:

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/transportation/2015/jun/26/why-im-done-wearing-helmet

I do not even need to read the article. Unless the author wishes to die, then go right ahead and not wear a helmet.

I was a professional track cyclist, and road tens of thousands of miles annually on the roads. I had 7 crashes in training where the helmet likely saved my life. In 5 i was fine, in 2 I had a concussion.

I saved each helmet as a reminder not to neglect wearing a helmet whilst cycling.

Sasha K wrote:

Runner on a bike wrote:

Not sure I agree, but it's a well written argument:

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/transportation/2015/jun/26/why-im-done-wearing-helmet

I do not even need to read the article. Unless the author wishes to die, then go right ahead and not wear a helmet.

I was a professional track cyclist, and road tens of thousands of miles annually on the roads. I had 7 crashes in training where the helmet likely saved my life. In 5 i was fine, in 2 I had a concussion.

I saved each helmet as a reminder not to neglect wearing a helmet whilst cycling.

You should really consider not landing on your head.

And I always thought my brother was the biggest douchenozzle in Minnesota.

Where is the box I can check to withhold my tax dollars for his charity care when he is in a vegetative state?

I don't wear a helmet when I run next to traffic, so why should I when I bike?

I just got into biking. Nothing too hardcore - a Trek Hybrid bike for medium intensity 10-15 mile rides on trails (no cars). Really enjoy it. First week I didn't have a helmet, but bought one because everyone else has one.

It is a little weird to me that helmets have become standard (well, I do see lots of people without them) or at least fairly prevalent. As many of you know if you're old enough (I'm 40), there was a time when helmets weren't such a big thing and certainly weren't required anywhere. Millions upon millions of children and adults rode all around without helmets and have no injuries to show for it. While deaths and serious head injuries obviously happen, the percentage of bikers who suffer such a fate is actually very, very low.

But, still. At first, I figured that since I'm not riding around cars, I don't need a helmet. Then I thought about it. Most people probably just hit something on the surface wrong or have to swerve for some reason and fall off their bike and hit their head. It's just good insurance - even for someone like me who isn't going that fast, or riding around vehicles, or riding in crowded conditions.

team japan wrote:

I don't wear a helmet when I run next to traffic, so why should I when I bike?

I agree. People such as yourself should never wear any protective gear.... helmets on bikes or motorcycles... seat belts in cars etc.

We need to speed natural selection along people.

Running in traffic is far more dangerous than casual biking without a helmet.

Smell the coffee wrote:

Running in traffic is far more dangerous than casual biking without a helmet.

Def agree don't succumb to the liberal agenda

don't do it wrote:

I agree. People such as yourself should never wear any protective gear.... helmets on bikes or motorcycles... seat belts in cars etc.

We need to speed natural selection along people.

Ahh, the good old "wish people like you would die" response. Classy.

It's all about context. Go to a really large college campus and you'll see hundreds of kids biking around, and probably less than 5% of them will be wearing a helmet. These kids will, generally, be just fine, and the extra hassle of carrying a helmet around when biking half a mile to class might not be justified. If you are a guy who regularly does hundred-mile road bike rides with his cycling buddies, then wearing a helmet is probably not to be neglected.

something like 700 people a year are killed on bicycles in the US. Compared to somewhere in the ballpark of 30,000 in automobiles.

I wonder how many auto fatalities could be prevented if the passengers wore helmets? Seriously. Even with airbags and seat belts I bet a lot of car passengers get wanged in the head. More than 700 even.

Bad Wigins wrote:

something like 700 people a year are killed on bicycles in the US. Compared to somewhere in the ballpark of 30,000 in automobiles.

I wonder how many auto fatalities could be prevented if the passengers wore helmets? Seriously. Even with airbags and seat belts I bet a lot of car passengers get wanged in the head. More than 700 even.

This ^ is true. I have often thought that if people were serious about safety then wearing a motorcycle helmet while driving should be mandatory (like wearing seatbelts).

You've really thought through this haven't you.

This is True Man wrote:

Bad Wigins wrote:

something like 700 people a year are killed on bicycles in the US. Compared to somewhere in the ballpark of 30,000 in automobiles.

I wonder how many auto fatalities could be prevented if the passengers wore helmets? Seriously. Even with airbags and seat belts I bet a lot of car passengers get wanged in the head. More than 700 even.

This ^ is true. I have often thought that if people were serious about safety then wearing a motorcycle helmet while driving should be mandatory (like wearing seatbelts).

Ok Wigins et al let's think this through. ...

30k car fatalities.... just under 1k bike deaths....

Do you really think that many people ride bikes in the US? I imagine for every 1 cyclist there are 400 fat slobs who never sniffed road rash.

BTW I agree don't put them on if you don't like them. Don't make your kids wear them.

Same with motorcycles and parachuting.. go balls out every day no safety gear necessary ... natural selection has been retarded by the pc society we have today. If you live, then you are either lucky or smart enough to be able to do those things without dying. Regardless, the unlucky and dim people will have less chance to reproduce.... net bonus for society.

On time I got clipped on the back wheel by a newbie. I hit my head on asphault. I thought I was going to die or be paralyzed it hit so hard.

Helmet was shattered in and I got a mild concussion with road rash and broken collarbone.

So here is an n=1 who is for helmets.

very very true true wrote:

Do you really think that many people ride bikes in the US? I imagine for every 1 cyclist there are 400 fat slobs who never sniffed road rash.

I guess that must be true if you imagine it.

I was thinking at least 1 bike for every 30 cars was reasonable, but I admit I wasn't really using my imagination.

I started to read the article then said screw this. I bike,I wear a helmet cause I feel safer with it,I really don't care what some other fool does.

Biking is my main mode of transportation, and I bike 4000-5000 miles a year, in traffic. In my whole life I've still never had a fall where a helmet would have or did help. I wear a helmet just because it's a habit and it's easy, but biking without one doesn't seem that unsafe to me. I never even had a bike helmet until I was 30. Riding as fast as you can in a tight group of riders seems like it would increase the likelihood of crashing a lot; but for most people biking without a helmet seems plenty safe.

Helmets are annoying.

My kids don't wear helmets because it distracts and I'd rather them feel comfortable.

I've crashed tons of times as a kid on a bike, never wearing a helmet. I landed well.

The helmet makes your head feel heavier.

A coworker's friend died after hitting his head from a bicycle crash and he was wearing a helmet.

If i did a lot of serious biking on the road with cars i would wear a helmet, though.