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Call me an old 57 year old fart, a weenie, a dork. But honestly I just don't understand why one would not wear a helmet while doing any of the activities mentioned in the thread title. I get it - doesn't look cool. But I think it's a small price to pay not to look cool while protecting myself from being brain damaged or worse.
So for those who don't wear a helmet, just curious if it's not just a fashion thing, why?
Depends on the roads / location / time of day / infrastructure.
Day time, quiet roads that I know - I won't put on my helmet.
Nighttime? I'll put on my helmet. Lots of busy intersections with distracted drivers - I'll put on a helmet.
In Amsterdam where there is good bike infrastructure? No helmet.
I ride slow.
If I was doing any sort of mountain biking adventure biking or in a fast race? Then it calls for a helmet. Leisurely rides in the city? Nope. Your odds of falling are pretty low.
Going down at 30 MPH can mess you up bad.
I've also broken a helmet at 10 MPH when a can ran over the front of my bike - I also broke my collar bone and did $2k damage to their car with my shoulder and head. The helmet had a big crack in it, but my head didn't.
One, they may give people a false sense of security, emboldening them to participate in more risky behavior, such as riding alongside heavy traffic, riding faster than is safe in urban areas, or mountain biking on trails more challenging than their abilities. It's called risk compensation. Many parents just strap a helmet on their kids and never go over safe biking practices.
Two, by increasing the leverage effect and torque on the neck in some cases. For instance, many road helmets have an extended back portion for aerodynamic purposes. If a rider is hit from behind and falls backward onto the top or crown of their head, their neck will be bent forward at a more extreme angle than if they weren't wearing a helmet.
I'm not saying don't wear a helmet, they can and do protect riders from injury all the time. They make the most sense to me for bike racers who have to deal with massive pileups involving other cyclists.
It's a personal choice. I used to bike on public roads a lot, but have stopped completely after one too many close calls. The realization hit me that there are too many distracted or hostile drivers out there. The risk/reward for staying healthy wasn't there. A helmet isn't going to do much anyone ground up into hamburger under a vehicle.
Helmets may protect you from some head injuries, but the bottom line is being aware of your surroundings and safe riding / scootering is going to be your best bet to stay alive and uninjured.
I was fishing under a bridge one time and a bicyclists crashed off the bridge about 30 ft above and landed head first within about 2 feet from me, I hate to think what would have happened had he landed on top of my head, helmet-first from that height. Later found out the reason he crashed was a bee got stuck between his head and the helmet lining causing him to freak out and crash off the bridge. He suffered a severe brain injury and now has to ride around on one of those sit down bikes and he never wears a helmet anymore.
Basically one of those always should, don't always do.
Back in college/shortly after when bike was my primary mode of transportation, I rarely did. Went to Davis and it 98% of the people do not have helmets. As long as you're on campus/downtown, there's so many bicycles you do have some safety in numbers and generally fairly low speeds. That said, one of the two times I got hit by a car was about three feet from campus. Car driving into the sun turned left in front of me and I rolled off his hood and landed on my head. Helmet would have been nice. Probably wouldn't have had a concussion if I'd been wearing one.
That said, bike helmets are uhh... pretty wimpy. I've had two crashes when I was racing crits and while the helmet certainly helped a couple ounces of Styrofoam is a couple ounces of Styrofoam. Compared with a motorcycle helmet it just feels like riding naked to me.
No, do not wear a helmet, do not intend to, I do not think it is needed. Has nothing to do with fashion, comfort, looks, etc, it is that I do not want to do it because I find it is not needed.
Safety? Yea, I am sure wearing a full hockey outfit while outside the home would be safe also, as would a full roll cage and safety outfit while driving, but we do not do it now do we?
If I was racing, zooming fast somewhere or something like that, sure, but not for the casual slow ride.
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