The ages old Helmet debate rekindled

Submitted by Scott on

Having always worn a helmet just for the added security I wonder what you guys figure on them? I know they dont offer much protection but they add a bit and it might be that "bit" that saves your life. It got me thinking though... why arent helmets designed a bit better with actual safety in mind? For example... I white water kayak and have a new helmet recently. The other day I threw it on and actually... I like it more than my bike helmet. Its more comfy, its water proof, its WAY more protective and I like the look. Here is a pic

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From my experience helmets

Submitted by gp4000 on

From my experience helmets offer more than "a bit" of protection. In two crashes, one racing, one commuting, I've broken two helmets thus saving my head both times. As for comfort I think you need to try on different helmets until you find one that's right. New helmets are so light and well ventilated that comfort shouldn't be an issue. I like to tell friends who aren't keen on wearing helmets about the time I was about 20 kms out on a training ride when I suddenly thought I had forgotton my helmet. But as soon as I thought this I felt the strap under my chin and all was well. I never ride without one.

Agreed!

Submitted by SpeedyJ on

I'd love to share my selection of shattered helmets with any doubters. I've walked away from stuff that could have killed me. I can assure you that helmets offer more then a 'little bit' of protection.

But...

Submitted by Scott on

because every case is unique within its own merit... how about the many many who have died of head injuries while wearing them? Lots. My arguement is to say.. why arent helmets for bikes made like a helmet for a motorbike? Or Kayaking in the above photo? Hard shelled and much more impact resistant.

I concur that many lives have been saved by wearing of a helmet but do you think those that lost the battle might have stood a better chance with a more heavy duty model? To this day I find it surprising that helmet makers dont go that route.

http://mybohemia.wordpress.com/ My Bohemia Blog

All I know...

Submitted by bclark on

Is that I've also had a couple of good crashes where I've whacked my noggin and the helmet has likely prevented any serious long-term damage. Funny enough two of the crashes were while I was commuting. One involved a car and the other catapulting over a dog. Both were very unexpected, especially the dog one. Thus, my vote is to wear a helmet for the type of riding I do. As far as the question about heavier duty helmets...I guess it comes to choosing one appropriate to one's riding style, i.e. if you are bombing dh trails you probably want a full-face vs. if you are just leisurely riding around the neighbourhood. Having said that, I suppose even the most prepared can still be caught unprepared by the "wrong" circumstance.

Bell Faction

Submitted by RV_Rider on

they do make hard shell bike helmets. My kids wear the Bell Faction "cause they're cool". I wear a ski helmet when I bike in the winter because they are warmer and provide more protection for those icy wipeouts. BUT, in summer (well, not this summer), they are too hot. I'd cook in that kayak helmet. Give me vents please.

a friend of a friend in

Submitted by denimjeff on

a friend of a friend in vancouver passed away yesterday from a cycling related head injury after spending the last month in a coma. i started wearing one only in the winter and when i have to ride in traffic but i think this will change that. i guess my wife is right on this one...

Comfort Too

Submitted by BCDon on

When its hot out (well, if it ever gets got out here, I'm still waiting), comfort becomes an issue and I can't see wearing a non-venting helmet. I have multiple Motorcycle helmets and they are both heavier and have MUCH less ventilation than my bicycle helmets. In winter I can wear a skull cap down to about -5 to -8. If I want warmth, I can put a goreted cover on my helmet. I have no idea how cold I could cycle in then.

When I ride I sweat a lot and need the ventilation, even around freezing and below.

But I still want protection so wear a helmet all the time.

Always Wear One

Submitted by gyrospanner on

Biking or Skiing.....

I don't trust MYSELF, not to mention the chance that someone else might hit you.

My kids always wear them, too.

Piece of mind .....

always always no helmet no ride

Submitted by RichieRich on

Am certain a helmet has saved my life at least once and definitely reduced injury several times. My kids are not allowed to ride without helmets, period. Yes there are many other types of crashes that helmets don't help much on, but then again the brain is extremely sensitive to injury so why risk it? For example... parent (no helmet) riding with kids (helmet). Parent crashes, gets brain injury... suddenly can't work, who takes care of kids? finances? etc? small decision but large potential result.

A busted bone heals whereas longterm affects of serious concussions are not fully understood yet - some studies seem to indicate that frequent concussions may lead to higher incidences of "age-related" brain issues: senility, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, etc...

Different helmet for different situations

Submitted by SirLanceImNot on

The difference between hard shells ( e.g. kayak ) and road bike helmets is the type of impact they are made to minimize.

Hard shells are designed for situations where an external object hits the head.( e.g. in kayaking - low hanging branches or, if you go overboard, rocks). The primary purpose is to prevent fractures. A road bike helmet, strictly speaking, is not primarily designed to protect your head from the pavement but rather to keep your brain from impacting the skull when it does hit the pavement.

When your head hits the deck there is rapid deceleration - you go from "n" Kph to O kph in an instant - but inertia causes the brain to smash up against the inside of your skull. That's what causes concussions.

The thick styrofoam layer inside the bike helmet is designed to slow the deceleration by crumpling around the head - similar to how cars are designed with " crumple zones" to lessen the sudden deceleration in a head on

personal choice - end of discussion

Submitted by critninja on

IMO - discussing helmet use is a complete waste of time. Wear one if you want - case closed.

Anything more than that is a waste of key strokes and brain power as it has all been said before. More importantly, this conversation deflects attention away from real cycling issues (on-street infrastructure funding or lack thereof, speeding pathletes, lack of bike parking, and a lack of education for motorists and cyclists alike) and perpetuates the notion that cycling is a dangerous activity. NOT cycling is way more dangerous for your health than cycling - helmet or not.

But of course, helmet debate is way more emotional than discussing how to get our alderman/city council/mayor to finally "get off their wallets" and spend money on real safety improvements.

Cykelhjelm - Don't Get Scared, Get the Facts from Copenhagenize on Vimeo.

Its not a waste of time

Submitted by BCDon on

for those of us who advocate for helmet usage. In a perfect world there wouldn't be a mandatory law but everyone would wear one because, well, it is sensible to do so.

If we didn't have advocates pushing for safety we'd all be driving around in cars like the Covair Monza with no airbags, no seatbelts, no collapsible steering wheel, no carseats and in the case of Monzas, with the wheels literally falling off.

And in fact, I did drive a Corvair Monza but managed to survive.

So, I'll continue to weigh in on my beliefs when something like this comes up. Same as I will when other contentious issues (such as allocating space to bicycles) comes up.

helmets

Submitted by 2wheeler on

in a perfect world we could all make decisions about the risk we accept in our lives and others would respect that choice.

exactly

Submitted by gp4000 on

Perhaps my sarcasm was not appropriate to this discussion. I agree. Ongoing discussion and dialogue, even concerning matters that will never achieve an absolute resolution, at least afford the opportunity for education. This thread is a perfect example.

Just a reminder...

Submitted by Scott on

Originally this thread was intended to debate "types" of helmets as opposed to pro's and con's of wearing them at all. I may not have indicated it as effectively as I could have but regardless... the opinions have been good.

I particularly like the point about the effects of the rigid foam inside a bike helmet designed to reduce the slamming of the brain into the skull within the head. A good point. Hard to imagine though with that hard grey foam stuff being so hard but I trust its a key point in the design. A rigid helmet like that of a kayak helmet which only has the fiber glass and then soft foam for comfort will obviously reduce abrasion type injuries but concussive impacts are more life threatening and I can see that this point is valid.

A good discussion gang.

Thanks

rigid foam inside a helmet

Submitted by Spinner on

That is a good point. I've heard this before, but have never been able to find any data to show if it is true or just talking points to sell the lid.
As a non helmet wearer, and lack of brain damage protection being a large part of why I've chosen not to wear a helmet. Good solid data may help to change my mind. As it is, all unbiased data shows not enough difference in high speed impacts to be a concern. And in the extreme, I'd prefer the fire dept. to wash my brains down the sewer than be a wheelchair bound drooling shadow of my former self.
If there is a helmet out there that will prevent this scenario, with solid data to back their claims,
then for myself at least, helmets would be worth taking a second look at.

Its not high speed.

Submitted by BCDon on

It's not high speed impacts I have a helmet for, it is low. At high speed, especially if I'm hit, I'm toast (so to speak). But, at low speed it is different. Dumb things like falling over because I had trouble unclipping or getting a small push from a car and falling into a pole.

As far as I can remember, I haven't been involved in any crashes where the helmet made a difference.

BUT, I have been "down" on a motorbike at around 100KPH and know that a helmet at that stage likely saved my life because I went a bit fuzzy from the impact and ground down part of the helmet.

From a bicycling perspective, my son has trashed 2 helmets, once when he was fooling around hit a car at low speed and rotated into the side head first. Crushed the helmet, no damage to him. Second was a crash on a downhill with mountain bike, stuck his front wheel into a creek going downhill and sunk into mud, bike stopped, he did not, hit rocks, broke clavicle and helmet was badly damaged. He was OK other than having to cycle out with a busted up shoulder.

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