Cyclists...do you wear a helmet?

foggy4ever

foggy4ever

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Without going into too much detail I had a mild road rage incident with a car on the way to work which left me battered grazed and laying flat on my back at a busy rounder bout.

My main point is I had a quite heavy hit to the back of my head when I landed which was taken fully by my helmet. I see a lot of commuters/cylists that still don't wear helmets.....it only takes 1 second so please wear one.
 
Agreed as I got hit by a car whilst on a training run on 19th April this year, I suffered a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula, I've only just had the metal bars holding my lower leg together removed and now have a cast on my leg, the specialist said it will be on my leg for the rest of the year.

Anyway after finding my helmet under the stairs a month or so ago I have to say there was some deep crush point on the outer shell and the inner polystyrene had cracked in half, I went as high as a double decker bus (so I've been told) and came down on a railing out side a school, my body, head and leg took some serious knocks.

I'll stick by what I've said from the accident happening, if I hadn't had an helmet on I wouldn't have been typing this now.

Enough said.
 
Oh I forgot to say, glad your ok Scott and not to badly injured.
 
Ouch sorry mate yours makes mine look like a paper cut. Hope your doing fine now, all I can say for me is that for a split second I was lying in the road waiting for an impact as I thought i had fell in front of the car.

I phoned the police straight away, the driver drove round and came back. Just awaiting for their report and CCTV review. I love biking when I can, have had more off road spills than on though, Brother in law wants to try cycling to work so doing a 35 mile round trip with him tomorrow morning to see if its doable for him.
 
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I always wear one, lost count of the times i've had an off and split my helmet open....:eek:

Scott, hope everything mends ok :thumbs:
 
digitalfailure said:
I always wear one, lost count of the times i've had an off and split my helmet open....:eek:

Scott, hope everything mends ok :thumbs:
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Cheers Brian, mainly aches and pains just a loss of skin on my left forearm which is quite sore. I'm in more danger from my wife and daughter who are not keen on me using busy roads.
 
Very interesting so if I had no helmet and was wearing a mankini I would have been fine :D
 
Not just on roads. Go to any offroad centre like Glentress and you'll see loonies throwing themselves off slopes and jumps in trees with no helmet attached. Madness.
 
foggy4ever said:
Very interesting so if I had no helmet and was wearing a mankini I would have been fine :D
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Well, as jkp points out, people try lunatic antics. Whether a cyclehelmet is any real protection in those situations...? And there's plenty of evidence that helmet-wearing would be of at least equal benefit to pedestrians and passengers in motor vehicles.

On your mankini point, there's a lot to be said for proper cycle clothing: sliding layers of Lycra; shoes matched to the pedal type; track mitts; even the cotton cap.
 
I only ever wore a helmet when on the road bike because I'm sure that thing is trying to kill me :gag: but never when on the mountain bike.

Until a month ago I was cycling to work for the first time after 5 weeks on the sick and had an off, landed rather heavy on my head on the pavement and gathered a bit of road rash, these things happen however what scared me was that I remember getting back onto the bike to cycle to work and the next thing I remember is being in the locker room chatting with the lads at work. That means I was out there in heavy rush hour traffic with out a clue as to what I was doing.

Now I wear the helmet regardless of what bike I'm on I think keeping my skull in one piece matters a whole lot more than looking cool as I cycle to work.
 
Glad you're OK Scott.:thumbs:

I must admit I only wear a helmet if I'm going offroad. Maybe I need to wear one everytime.

Most of my cycling nowadays is on the local old railway cycle track.

Was pleased I wore one at Dalby Forrest some while back. I got persuaded to do the red run and parts of the black and the inevitable happened. Nothing serious but the helmet helped.

I don't suppose it knocked any sense into you:lol:

Ken
 
I seem to remember, when I frequented cycling forums, that this was a petrol/diesel, raw/jpg, nikon/canon/topic.

Whilst there was plenty of anecdotal evidence from those that had fallen off their bike and landed on their helmet, the research that had been done didn't back up a clear cut case for the use of helmets.

I think there was some suggestion that helmets could even cause rotational neck injuries (particularly in children) during a fall, which wouldn't have occurred otherwise and were potentially far more serious than a bump to the head.
 
foggy4ever said:
Cheers Brian, mainly aches and pains just a loss of skin on my left forearm which is quite sore. I'm in more danger from my wife and daughter who are not keen on me using busy roads.
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I am glad you are recovering.

To be honest, using busy roads for cycling goes against common sense - it is dangerous for both the cyclists and the motorists trying to avoid you. I've seen somewhere a figure as high as 60% of all the accidents in the countryside involving a cyclist in one way or another :rules:.
Little used roads with good visibility are much better, but still cycle tracks are the safest :thumbs:

And i also cycle... and wear helmet.
 
I always wear a helmet when I'm driving anywhere near a cyclist :exit:
 
My OH uncle has been in a coma for the last 8 months due to being rammed from behind by a girl who didin't see him.

He wasn't wearing a helmet. Its very doubtful he's going make it.

He was in IT so has passworded all his PC's
The bank are repossessing his house
The Insurance are denying liability
The girl that hit him "can't remember what happened"
The only witness was from behind the girl so only saw him fly over the back of the car
There were NO skid marks
Looks like the police's hands are tied. No real witness, Girl "can't remember" only evidence is damage to the left front of her car and a battered bike
It's very doubtful he's going to pull through. Although he wont die because of his injuries he'll die because of complications so the Girl wont be prosecuted for causing death by dangerous driving.
He's being moved to a Hospice because the NHS wont pay for specialist care and the Insurance company are not accepting liability.




Wear your bloody helmets


It might save your life and your family a whole lotta grief
 
Sorry to hear about your Uncle Matt its bloody dangerous on the roads now.

I used to cycle loads on the roads doing hundreds of miles and even then (in the 80's) I wore a helmet

I will not leave the house on my bike without a helmet but I do see many people with all the gear on, glasses, fancy tops, top of the range bike - and no helmet :shrug: I just don't get it, is it a vanity thing or something or do they just think nothing will ever happen to them :thinking:

Helmets these days are comfortable, cheap and light on your head so what's the big deal.

I have a brother who is mentally handicapped through brain damage and believe me you DON'T WANT TO END UP LIKE THAT :shake:
 
Cheers John.

I'm a mountain biker and to be honest you look a prat without one. Its part of the gear like a uniform helmet, pads, gloves, backpack, oh and bike.
 
Every time. They may look uncool to today's youth, but a smashed skull is even more uncool.

What many detractors fail to realise, or even deliberately ignore, is that just because they won't be much use if a lorry drives over your head it doesn't mean they're of no use at all. They protect against the much more common incidents, such as a straightforward off where your head whacks against the road, a tree, a lamp post. Like a hard hat on a building site which won't help if you fall off a roof, but will deflect the spanner dropped from one.
 
Slightly different tack, I think all cyclists should be insured and pay road tax and take a test on at the minimum the highway code. On top of that they should wear reflective and protective clothing. Failing to do so would incur sever penalties and be liable for any and all accidents. The bikes should have proper mud guards- proper lights and reflectors.

As a motorist I get fed up with stupid cyclists who take up as much room on the road as a car by cycling down the centre of the road (often 2 side by side)-turn without indication right infront of a car- jump traffic lights- ride on pavements- sneak alongside a car waiting at lights -etc etc.

No wonder there are so many accidents with cyclists and most are their own fault

Realspeed
 
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realspeed said:
As a motorist I get fed up with stupid cyclists who take up as much room on the road as a car by cycling down the centre of the road (often 2 side by side)-turn without indication right infront of a car- jump traffic lights- ride on pavements- sneak alongside a car waiting at lights -etc etc.
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As a cyclist I get fed up with stupid drivers who take up as much room on the left of the road when overtaking as a parked car by driving down the gutter of the road (often when there's no room to do so safely)-turn without indication right in front of a bike - jump traffic lights - park on pavements- sneak alongside a bike waiting at lights -etc etc.

Two sides to every story....
 
The difference being motorist pay to use the roads, cyclists don't
The difference being motorist have to take a test to use the roads cyclists don't
The difference being motorist have to be insured to use the roads cyclists don't.

Just as 3 examples


Realspeed
 
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realspeed said:
The difference being motorist pay to use the roads, cyclists don't
The difference being motorist have to take a testto use the roads cyclists don't
The difference being motorist have to be insuredto use the roads cyclists don't


Realspeed
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Ah, ok, that makes it ok for some of them to behave like complete ******* then.

Thanks for clearing that one up :bonk:
 
I always wear a helmet. It's just stupid not to.

The thing that annoys me most about other cyclists though is the number that don't use the provided (and expensive to make!) cycle paths.

My drive to work has a top quality cycle path running alongside the road all the way and yet almost every day i have to go around cyclists using the main road at rush hour. They're causing an obstruction a whole 3 feet from an empty lane dedicated to their use. :shrug:
 
@ Nikon Ken....no sense added, still daft :D

@ mattyg....that really is a sad story :(

Thanks for all the messages.


If it wasn't for this bloody weather I would have had long tights on and a long sleeved top so the grazing wouldn't have been so bad.

Lets not turn this into cars v cyclists....I am quite within my rights to use the public road and I will continue to do so as the route I use is the quickest and most direct and I do use cycle paths when available and do not use pavements in the town centre.

There are idiots around whether driving cycling or walking.
 
realspeed said:
The difference being motorist pay to use the roads, cyclists don't
The difference being motorist have to take a test to use the roads cyclists don't
The difference being motorist have to be insured to use the roads cyclists don't.

Just as 3 examples


Realspeed
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I accept the 2nd two points but the first is such an overused piece of drivel. Road Tax was abolished in 1937. It is general and local taxation that pays for roads, not that little car tax disc so many seem to think. Car tax is based on the CO2 emissions of the vehicle so even of bicycles did have to have a tax disc, they'd be paying £0 for it because there are no emissions.




I often see people trying to justify reasons why they don't wear a helmet and none of them make sense to me. The roads are dangerous and no matter how able and safe the rider on the bike is there are many other people and things out there that present a risk. Heads are delicate, it doesn't take much trauma to do significant damage. Even if a helmet adds a little protection it's better than nothing, at the least it can stop road burn on your cheek and your nose planting the tarmac because of the lip protruding around the edge, at the best it can distribute and dissipate the majority of a heavy impact and minimise the force going through your skull.
 
the amount of times ive bashed my head while out riding, got a nice scar on my forehead from 12 years ago. ended up on the bonnet of a taxi once too, that was amusing..

that said i only used to wear a full face most of the time ("most" hence the scar) while out doing big trails.
 
realspeed said:
The difference being motorist pay to use the roads, cyclists don't
The difference being motorist have to take a test to use the roads cyclists don't
The difference being motorist have to be insured to use the roads cyclists don't.

Just as 3 examples
Realspeed
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Yep I've got all of those three and yet still choose to leave the car at home and cycle to work, my hours of work make it almost impossible to join a gym or the local rugby club so I cycle to work each day as the only means of exercise.

Don't get me wrong I drive for a living and all day long have to be on the look out from idiots on the road and they come in all forms including cyclists with a death wish, taxi drivers that have a letter from god saying they own the whole road along with HGV drivers that have had their phones transplanted to their ear.


Untitled by KeenBfB, on Flickr

This is the road rash I came home with the last time I came off I have no one but myself to blame, it did how ever teach me that a helmet it a must.
 
The photos above are horrible and really drill it home how careful we all need to be.

All the comments on this thread are interesting

As far as insurance and tax etc don't forget cyclists are also car drivers we also pay tax insurance etc

But I also agree that SOME cyclists are idiots on the roads, not giving car drivers any respect and riding like they own the place. I also hate it when cylists ride two abreast when cars are around them and whats with wearing all the dark clothes. I have seen loads recently who wear black or grey on the roads - are they wanting to be killed. Get something bright and at least give the car drivers a chance to see you. You don't even have to spend much, I got a florescent yellow shirt the other day for £3.

I have been riding bikes all my life (now 41) and these days I stick to bike paths as its so scary on the roads. I used to ride in time trials for a club on the roads and was heavily into my road biking but it scars the hell out of me now
 
averline said:
Hi there, Speaking of death prediction, I find it really odd that one of the on-line death prediction services showed me the same death date that I was foretold in my dream about a year ago. http://yourdeathdate.info/1/index.html - I can’t explain this coincidence in any other way except that there must be some kind of magic involved here.
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seriously? please do one.

RTM'd again..
 
I commute to work by bike so see my fair share of stupid drivers AND cyclists! You don't have to be one or other to be insensitive to other road users.

I always wear a helmet. I've gone through a couple and they are, I assume, easier to replace than my head though some would probably prefer me to replace my head :lol:

Also, please use lights (again I'm talking drivers and cyclists). Especially this time of year when the sun is low when commuting. Saw a cyclist almost run over the other day but I would have backed the driver 100% because you couldn't see him. Doughnut!
 
Always wear a helmet, a few years ago I was gunning for it when the chain slipped throwing me over the handlebars. I went down heavily head first onto the road, thankfully a club mate passed in his car and dragged me off the road. Anyway, the helmet had cracked in half and had I not been wearing a hat that crack would have been in my skull.
 
what I always find strange is when you see parents out with their children .. childern wearing helmets but not the parents. Why?!
 
justlooking said:
what I always find strange is when you see parents out with their children .. childern wearing helmets but not the parents. Why?!
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Yeah I have seen that so many times on the cycle tracks. I think its a vanity thing or they think as adults they wont fall off like their kids.

But saying that I have talked to people who don't wear seatbelts in the car. One said she would just stop herself if she crashed so did not need one :cuckoo:

I talked to her about what my wife had seen at work (she's a nurse) and I think I shocked her and hopefully she will wear one now :bonk:
 
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