(time to let loose the rebel within)


I've talked about this before, but I think the issue has gotten to a point where people are literally getting frightened into a money spending decision, for a mildly useful, but little reason. In my eternal quest to be like Lance, I've been riding my daily rides out in the country without my helmet lately, since the weather's been getting warmer. Especially when I have some longer climbs. I just get too hot. To be honest, it just feels so wonderful.

I've also come to learn, after studying tons of accident statistics, if I get hit by a truck doin' 60, I doubt the helmet will do much for me.

I also don't bother wearing it when I ride with my daughter (she's 7yo). I figure, if I'm not getting much faster than 8-10mph, what's the point? If wearing it all the time is such a big deal, I suppose I should wear it when I go jogging too. I jog around 8mph, so it is a definite necessity at such intense speeds.

I know, I know, I'm a Rebelious Darwin Award wannabe.

I can see a helmet law on the way. Pretty soon, we'll have to wear helmets while jogging and playing in the back yard with our kids as well.

I suppose all this is moot. It really doesn't matter. I've come to no longer fear death as I did in the past. I love my life, and whatever may lie beyond. I am so sick and tired of everyone gasping when I say I fell down and got a good goose-egg on my shin from MTB'ing. Or, getting a bloody nose or split lip from kick-boxing at the local gym.

I have no problem with helmets, as I still wear mine most of the time. Especially in groups with people I don't know. However, I will no longer live my life in complete fear of every little scratch and dent. Besides, I have life in insurance.

I have finally gotten a good enough OCP response to anyone who gasps at my lack of skull protection while out on the road.

Q: *gasp* "OMG, Why aren't you wearing a helmet?"

A: "I'm styling my hair."

i have a motherboard and intel quad core proc. with 4 gigs of memory and i put them in a case so that they wont get hurt.

some people have a pentium one with 64mb of memory so you really do not need a case.

well, I tell ya, your insurance money won't bring back a father for your daughter
with that said, I do agree with you. I don't think I need to wear it all the time. I only wear a helmet when I commute now. If I'm going on a ride with buddies or just around town, the cap stays at home.

Just like income taxes, regulation is progressive. Cigarettes have been regulated nearly completely from visibility. Soon they'll come after coffee.

Sorry, but I think your logic is flawed. It’s not going to do much at 60 mph, but when you take a spill at low speed or in a turn it could make all the difference. Also, it’s easy enough to do when riding with your daughter, tough to teach a kid to wear a helmet when you don’t wear one yourself. No offense, but I really thought you had more common sense. It doesn’t matter to me either way, you are free to not wear a helmet, but my hope is you would reconsider.

Does she wear a helmet?

It's your choice not to wear a helmet, but it's also an example for your daughter.




You do love your daughter don't you?

I still wear mine when commuting too.

I used to wear my helmet all the time, and really push her to wear hers. My daughter doesn't wear her helmet either. I got on her case alot, but then remembered, I never wore a helmet as a kid either. We did have helmets then too, they just weren't very popular. I almost think helmets really have become more of a popularity issue, more than anything.

Even when I get on her for it, she takes it off as soon as I walk away. I even disciplined her for it, to no avail. Finally, I just decided to let my kids be kids. I have realized parents too, have become far too overprotective in todays society. If they wear a helmet, great, but I won't traumatize my kids into submission, just so they put a styrofoam cup on their heads.

Even when I take a relatively fast turn, I don't go much more than 15mph. heck, I can run faster than that. I suppose I should wear a helmet then too.

- Maybe I should wear a helmet while driving my car as well.

- Maybe I should wear a helmet when ice skating. I skate well up to and over 20mph.

- Maybe I should wear a helmet when tubing behind my family's boat. I could hit my head on a Trout when I flip.

- Maybe I should wear a helmet all the time, even in bed. I could fall out and land on my dog sleeping on the floor.

Where does the fear end?

I remember reading an article about this English guy who has been riding a bike for the last 75 years. The same bike too. He was over 90 years old. It's the only way he ever travelled around town for his entire life. He still doesn't wear a helmet. I think he upgraded his saddle to a Brooks though.

Patriot, can I have your stuff?

Be free like Indian Larry.

I too enjoy the occasional cruise around the block w/o the lid. If it wasn't so darn refreshing, I wouldn't do it. Dang wind and summer and freedom...

Odds are you'll never need a helmet, but why risk a head injury. People wear them for a reason, and it's not to be popular.

Local wrench here in town used your logic, he's now in a partially vegitative(proper word?) state. I'm not scared of dying, but I'd rather not be partially braindead or paralysed and a lid improves my odds.

You forgot when taking a shower -- lots of injuries in there.

I hate my helmet for several reasons, overheating being the most common. I've heard that a well vented helmet is better than no helmet, but unless you're in a wind tunnel where everything can be exact, I don't believe it.

Yet I still wear the dang thing except for when tooling around on my trike at relatively low speeds. I've banged my head pretty good a couple times -- once I was knocked out even though I was wearing a helmet. I try to keep things in perspective. If I was that obsessed with safety, I'd stay on the trainer and ride in a steel cage (possibly with a helmet since they can help you there too).

It's all good...to each his own.
Personally I wear one almost all the time.

If it wasn't popular, why do people insist on buying the latest greatest helmet for $120 or more?

Why not just buy the cheap POS at Walmart for $15. They protect just as well, if not better.

Why not wear a padded body-suit, like body armor for MTB'ing? It's light, breathes fairly well, and gives lots of protection.

Why not wear leathers like Hoggers. You'll be well protected against road rash. You're not a racer, why care about going fast?

Where does the fear stop?

I figure it's probably worth the risk to go without one when you're in a "controlled" environment like in your backyard or in a very secluded cul de sac. Outside of that (i.e. public roads), I don't think it's worth it to go without a helmet. But that's just me...

+1

You bumped your head recently, didn't you??

Death is not what worries me, I wear my helmet in the hopes that if in an accident it will prevent paralysis.

I had a cheap helmet and it was annoying. Hot, heavy, and generally uncomfortable. My wife got a Giro Atmos and I tried it; it was a world of difference.It fit much better, and had plenty of ventilation. I hardly notice it. The only problem I have with it is that my hair gets sucked up through the air vents and when I take it off I have air-vent-shaped ridges on my head...

+1 but it's hard to get that look any other way...

lol, Maybe I've banged my head so many times now, it just doesn't matter anymore.

I've banged my head enough to know that it does matter. I can't count my lifetime number of concussions and contusions on one hand, but I can count how many more it will take to paralyze or kill me: one.

Love the atmos and ditto on the funky hairdo. But on really cold days, it can be too much ventilation. Brrrr...

Because children are the one population where there's been a significant benefit demonstrated from helmet use in terms of mortality and severity of brain injury, and parents should lead by example?