Helmets - Yes or No?

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Don't ride a bicycle that much and tends only to be to pop into town but never owned a helmet for a bicycle or used one.

All the best

Keith
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elgard · Scooby Slapper Joined: 20 Sep 2007 Karma :

I started to wear one about 5 years ago after a few close calls with cars.
After bonnet surfing because a tosser pulled out on me, My Helmet was a right mess where it was ground down as i slid across the road.
Ever since i am a firm supporter.

UnknownStuntm... · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Karma :

Yep, now. Hurts when you smack a tree without a lid on. Inevitably, the only time I manage to crash is without a hat on.

Moo. · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Jan 2009 Karma :

Yep, i do. Seen some pretty horrific crashes, especially round london. Also an ex of mine went over the handles bars when a car turned infront of her and got some pretty bad injuries.

Helps to have an awesome helmet!

+1 for bern Laughing

I have the Bern macon

https://i1.wearecdn.net/images/article/bern/whw43022/bern-macon-2-0.jpg
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Knot600RR · Scooby Slapper Joined: 25 Aug 2011 Karma :

I tend to wear one most of the time. Most races and the like require one, so it's largely just habit now. You may laugh, but my lid wearing has become more comfortable since buying a lid with breatheable straps!

Dazbo666 · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Jun 2004 Karma :

Offroad on the mountainbike, always

On the road / commuting etc, probably not as often as I should
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haroman666 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Karma :

I ride Downhill/Freeride. So i ride with a full-face, Body armour and knee/shin pads.

Quick vid of me and my mate in Austria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_zurNqAvrc&feature=youtu.be

Cant really praise the kit enough. The amount of times i've come down going over wet roots or rocks and nearly seen my life flash before my eyes is probably beyond counting.

If i'm riding on the road however... Fuck it: if i'm hit by a car, i'm probably fucked with or without.
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MinhDinh · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Jan 2005 Karma :

bikertomm · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jul 2010 Karma :

furry-ninja · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Karma :

There is no debate. It helps protect the squishy brain bits. End of.

In the interests of research I've tried both.

With = a headache and not sure what day it was.
Without = CT scans, three days in hospital, no clue what year it was, no memory of the accident.

And even though just a normal road helmet it did protect my beautiful face from making full force contact with the side of the Ford.
Both in town on-road by the way.

That study is parroted so often it's dangerous. Peer review or not, it's at worst a complete load of bullshit, at best irrelevant in the real world.

i.p.phrealy · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 Oct 2012 Karma :

when I raced BMX as a kid I had a full face helmet, stopped using bikes for a few years, skateboarded everywhere until I went to college, bought a road bike and never wore a helmet (although the helmets of the late 80s/ early 90s were shit), had a few mountain bikes since just as back up transport and never felt the need to wear a helmet.
ironically when i worked in a cycle shop I sold loads of helmets to other people...
always wore gloves though, can't ride anything without gloves on.
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drzsta · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Karma :

I ride Enduro/all mtn and i rate it essential to wear a helmet. Case a jump hard and hit your head on a rock or tree and your done.

I did have to LOL at knobby's post about car drivers giving you more room without a helmet. What BS Laughing

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Llama-Farmer · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Jan 2012 Karma :

Always when off road, have got through 7 helmets in the last 5 years as a result of falling off/crashing.

On two occasions I have literally broken the helmet into pieces, ended up with concussions in both those, including LOC the first time, but ultimately no lasting damage. Had I not been wearing a helmet, my skull would probably have shattered and my brain fallen out onto the trail.

Nearly always wear one when on the road/paved surfaces too, isn't worth risking permanent brain damage or worse. Plus my helmets are all well ventilated and very light anyway so barely even realise they're there