To helmet or not?

[1198]

I'm not sure if this is a well beaten path that will leave me cast out of the circles, and bring much derision on me, but i need to ask..
!0 years ago i was a keen cyclist. Time trials, Touring, 60 mile trips in about three hours. In all the miles i did i never wore a helmet.
I'm now getting back into it, but have noticed I'm now the exception in riding with the wind in my hair. Is this just me now? I'm not fanciyng the idea of sticking my head in a hat when it's 20 deg plus ambient temperature...

[Tungtvann]

Cycle helmets cause cancer.

[1198]

[Joncrete Cungle]

I got one when I got my mtb last year. It is still in the box in the spare room, can't be arsed with it.

[stinkwheel]

I wear one when I'm offroading because trees, low branches, big rocks and treestumps.

I don't wear one on the road because I get too fecking hot as it is without putting a hat on.
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[BTTD]

There's lots of arguments of impact protection vs increased rotational injury. I've been knocked off my bicycle twice while commuting to work, and helmet saved me some gravel rash on my scalp the first time, and was cracked through the second time (I was knocked out).

Cycling my old mtb beater bike to the shops, I often don't bother.
When out on my road bike I usually do.
More expensive lids aren't safer, but are usually lighter and flow air better.

[Dalemac]

My Uncle was knocked off his push bike and then ran over. The only thing that stopped his head from caving in was his helmet.

I think i'll keep wearing mine!
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[Irn-Bru]

I don't ride on the roads, so no I don't bother with one, on my bike the max I'll ever be doing is 20 and mostly on gravel-y cycle paths. I'd say a good 70% of the cyclists I see wear helmets.
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[D O G]

I don't wear one for road cycling, which is 99.9% of what I do.

I am in the minority like you, but personally I have never been involved in or witnessed an accident where a helmet was helpful, and I do a fair few miles.

It is all marketing, just some other shit to buy and some more brands to advertise.

I had to wear one for a year when I lived in Australia, as they are mandatory, but as soon as I came home I stopped. It is much nicer without a helmet, and you look cool as fuck.

EDIT: Sportives usually require them, but sportives are a bit gay too. Audax events don't require them, and are generally full of eccentrics rather than wankers.

[The Tot]

I headbutted a tree when I misjudged my braking point on a dowhhill rocky bridleway. Was quite fortunate that i wore my helmet, otherwise I would have probably needed a few dozen stitches on my crown!

On the road, despite some 40mph + descents on the cotswolds trail, I never bother!
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[chris-red]

Anytime I'm doing lots of road miles or offroading I will.

If I'm cylcing somewhere rather than going out for a ride I won't or if I'm out with my misses I won't (i.e. out for a bimble.)
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[carlosthejack...]

Always.

Guy at work was taken out by white van man while he was doing a TT. Three months off work, concussed, cracked vertebrae, broken ribs etc. bike totalled. When the doctor showed him his lid, he was pleased as it looked wearable. Until the doc turned it round to show him the impact side. It was mashed. Without it, he woulda been deader than dead...

Always.
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[JonB]

I won't give you any scare stories because I don't feel like I need to justify my own personal decision to wear one.

But it's your head, you are the only person who can decide what level of perceived protection you would like out and about. For me it is all about risk mitigation, if there is a 1% better chance of me surviving a pretty painful head injury through wearing one then for me it is worthwhile.

Just embrace the fact that it is still a personal choice rather than an enforced law.

Obviously you will be aware that to race etc it is generally the rules to wear a helmet.

If you decide that wearing a helmet is for you, then IMO like most things you get what you pay for. My current helmet is so light that sometimes I forget I am wearing it with absolutely incredible ventilation properties. I have worn cheaper helmets that are sweaty and very heavy.
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[The Shaggy D.A.]

I'm special needs enough without adding a helmet.

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[carlosthejack...]

[JonB]

[MattEMulsion]

I always wear a helmet on my mountain bike, so far I haven't had to test it. That said it has brushed off a few branches on the trails and I have also been head over heals on my bike. Each to their own, but around here the majority of bikers wear helmets, in fact pretty much all of the mountain bikers do.
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[elgard]

My helmet saved me when i went bonnet surfing when a prat pulled out and t-boned me.
Always wear it now.

[ninja_butler]

I would definitely wear a helmet if I was riding at speed, but not at my usual <10mph. Helmets are good but they are overrated, people often sustain head injuries while running and jogging and getting hit by cars while crossing the street is a regular everyday occurrence, but few people feel the need to wear a helmet for walking.

[ninja_butler]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

I wear one when offroad, messed my face up pretty badly when I landed from a jump straight onto my head.

Helmet was deformed, I only had a headache for a few hours afterwards. Lots of rash on my face, fortunately all my teeth stayed in.

I now have a full facer for the more lairy off road stuff.
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