1. Duncan
   Moderator
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   The results from the "Helmet Patrol Program" in Stouffville are in and it seems that many people are full of excuses when it comes to why they aren't wearing a helmet:

   What's Your Excuse?

   It wasn't until a close friend was hit by a car that I started to regularly wear my helmet.

   Before he ended up in the hospital I didn't personally know anyone who had been seriously injured on a bicycle. I'd raced throughout high school and had a bike with me during every university move and not a single person I knew had anything more than a few scrapes and bruises after minor falls.

   Out of site, out of mind.

   However, after witnessing the lengthy recovery my friend went through, although he never suffered a head injury, well, that was enough to get me to start wearing a helmet.

   What about you? Do you wear a helmet? Why or why not?

   Duncan's City Ride - That's my blog about cycling in the city of Toronto, natch!

2. toddtyrtle
   Moderator
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   I do. For a few reasons:

   - First off, I know there are a number of studies that say it isn't particularly effective and it definitely wouldn't be for major torso/internal injuries for sure. That said, I am very attached to my brain and its working as best it can for as long as possible. Looking dorky and arriving places with helmet head is a small price to pay for that little extra bit of security.

   - I'm a parent and partner. I owe it to my family to do my best to be around for my son, preferably in a fully functioning capacity. Becoming a parent changed a lot of how I viewed risk taking and risk mitigation.

   So while I respect others and their choice not to wear a helmet, it's the choice that works for me.

3. adcIN416
   Member
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   I wear. I had a relative who hit his (helmeted) head in a bike crash. His injuries would have been much worse had he not been wearing it, I think (he flipped over his handlebars, and struck the ground head-first, cracking the helmet).

   Myself, I've had one spill where my helmet came in handy. Well, the plastic visor more than the helmet itself. Going northbound on McCaul from Queen, I got snared in the in the tangle of streetcar tracks and was thrown from my bike. The only thing that stopped my face from being plastered to the asphalt was that visor hitting the ground first.

4. joe
   Admin
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   I wear... mostly because it's like a seatbelt in that I know that for the vast majority of my cycling it will be totally unnecessary... but there may be an instance where it saves my life.

   It's happened to me in a couple bad car accidents that wearing a seatbelt has saved my life (and my wife's)... and a helmet has that same potential.

   I understand why people don't wear one though. It feels awesome biking without a helmet, and most of the time they are not needed. I myself biked most of last year without a helmet... mainly because I couldn't find one that fit properly (I have a larger than average head).

   I did find a big one this spring though. :) An "Atlas" by Giro.

   

5. AnnieD
   Member
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   About 20 years ago, I had a mild concussion after being cut off by a truck at a T-intersection. The car was going straight through into a parking lot and I guess didn't realize how fast I was going (one of the reasons I no longer bike at my top speed, come to think of it). I still remember every moment of the collision - seeing the car cross my path and realizing there was no way I could avoid hitting it, and anticipating the coming damage to my body. Turning into the parking lot while hitting the brakes but still hitting the back of the truck. Falling, and as each body part hit the pavement, thinking "OK, legs are OK. Hips, that didn't hurt. Arms, Oh good! I didn't break my arms! I'm going to be OK! THWUNK! As my head hit the pavement..." After the accident I told my parents I thought I should get a helmet and they scoffed and said I didn't need one!!! No one wore helmets in those days.

   No matter how safe I try to be as a cyclist, I can't control the actions of the people around me.

6. Duncan
   Moderator
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   No matter how safe I try to be as a cyclist, I can't control the actions of the people around me.

   Annie, you make a great point there. There's a mindset that many people have, including myself at one time. The few years I spent racing I resented having to wear a helmet. I felt it looked bad (bike helmets sit high on my head) and I felt that I just didn't need it because of my own level of ability.

   Now, no matter how confident I am on my bike I know that my own skill won't save me from someone not paying attention. Also, my bright white helmet, while stuffy, leads me to believe I'm harder to miss.

   Duncan's City Ride - That's my blog about cycling in the city of Toronto, natch!

7. bonfire89
   Member
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   I don't wear one.. but... deep down inside I guess I know I should. My excuses for not wearing one are as follows.

   1. I add 5km or so to my commute so that I can take a route I deem safe to make up for not wearing a helmet

   2. I have had two "serious" crashes in the past where my lack of helmet didn't cause greater harm. One was a dirt jumping accident that resulted in an ambulance ride to the hospital and a month lying in bed during the summer. My second one was when I was stupidly riding fast on a sidewalk and T-Boned a car at Islington and Dundas resulting in my face breaking off her sideview mirror and putting a big dent in her door.

   3. I hold back on my aggressiveness while riding without a helmet. If I wore a helmet I would take more risks.

   4. I recently read that all it takes is for your head to fall 2 feet for damage to occur. Why don't we wear helmets while walking? running? going down/up stairs? Getting in and out of the shower? Playing soccer?

   5. I once read that drivers give more room to cyclists without helmets

   6. I tell myself that it is only me who can prevent an accident, the helmet will only aid me in the event of an accident.

   7. and perhaps most of all I have a stupidly shaped head. I have one of those heads that sticks out at the back. I don't know if you understand what I mean. But. I also fall between a Medium and a Large so mediums hurt and larges look stupid.

   8. a helmet is just another thing to lug around. More bicycle facilities would help.

   On another note. Todd has a good point about family. I am 22 and no one depends on me.

8. twowheelsarebetterthannone
   Member
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   Simply put, I've gone endo (end-over) on College Street during a semi-busy day, and I've also clipped the streetcar tracks once, falling onto my left side and skidding along. Thankfully both incidents were really minor, the College one because I reacted properly and braced myself, the latter because the roads were slick from rain and cars were sparse, so the road didn't really tear up my skin much.

   If I'd not been wearing a helmet, the streetcar track incident had grave potential: it was 2 am after a downpour, but I was on Dundas just west of Yonge. This is a busy road and the fall happened so quickly and sloppily that even a responsible driver could have easily run me over accidentally.

   That said, I wear one and I implore others to wear a helmet. After a 45-km ride with friends, which went smoothly and safely, my buddy took a bike out for a spin around the block for a quick test. No cars. His wheel jammed in something in the road and the night ended with him getting stitches and a minor concussion. No cars were even required for him to have a bloody, cut up forehead!

   That's my 2 cents :)

   It only takes one bad injury to kill you, if not make you a vegetable. Just remember that. You don't stick your wang into an electrical socket for kicks, do you?

9. twowheelsarebetterthannone
   Member
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   By the way, I needed a new helmet and doled out $70 on a Giro helmet. It fits so nicely, like getting noogies from a cloud. I suggest this over a $45 helmet -- it's insane the comfort you get.

10. Duncan
    Moderator
    Posted 3 years ago #
    

    @twowheelsarebetterthanone I just bought a new helmet the other day as well. I had be using an older skate-style helmet and found out that it is now "illegal." Also, it was starting to stink. I replaced it with a similar style helmet (although one that is safety certified) and just found out why cycling helmets have so many vents, it's a real cooker. I simply just prefer the skate-style one... but maybe next time I'll go for something with more vents.

    Duncan's City Ride - That's my blog about cycling in the city of Toronto, natch!

11. twowheelsarebetterthannone
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #
    

    Sweat is definitely going to happen, but the one I bought (I forgot to add) is also well ventilated. A long ride or a hot day means I'll get sweaty, but I don't think some folks realize how quickly sweat evaporates and -- if you showered that morning and you didn't wear heavy clothes while cycling -- you won't stink up the office. I work in an un-air conditioned warehouse on my feet and I manage just fine.

12. mecyclelots
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #
    

    I hardly wore a helmet, even on the fast paced Donut. I was struck my a truck last July, not wearing a helmet. Did this teach me? Heck no, still never wore my expensive Giro. Something made me wear it a few weeks ago when I joined the Thursday evening High Park ride. This is a shorter more intense version of the Donut. That evening a crashed occured right in front of me which i couldn't avoid. My helmet cracked when my head hit the ground. This has now made me wear my helmet daily, even when not on the bike....

13. lily
    Member
    Posted 7 months ago #
    

    uuu

14. taylorlin
    Member
    Posted 7 months ago #
    

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