In a training ride with dozens of riders, I was caught in a mess that happened in front of me. To this day, my mind won't recall what exactly happened.
I woke up in the hospital several hours later and was told I had a concussion and would have to spend the night for observation. My jersey and shorts had been cut off, I had a lot of road rash and several broken ribs. I was given a bag with my shoes and the remains of a Gyro helmet that the doctor said my head would have looked like had I not been wearing it.
As is done with all Gyro helmets, I sent the pieces back and it was promptly replaced by the company. As much as I didn't like them at first, I may not be sitting up typing right now, had I shunned wearing one.
PING
I'll keep on wearing my helmet while riding.
Well, Dr. Marsh, the neurosurgeon with a lifetime of clinical experience, better mind his Ps and Qs. Doesn’t he know this is “settled science”? Is he some kind of helmet “denier”?
Even if helmets aren’t effective, they look kind of cool and lots of kids in China are employed making them. And they make certain people feel good that they’re doing something for the children.
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What the neurosurgeon said sort of agrees with what an emergency room doctor said of motorcycle riders about a decade or so ago.
He said there are two types of motorcycle riders, those who don’t wear helmets, they are called organ donors.
Those who wear helmets...............quadriplegics.
Helmets are generally wise; should they be required (and if so when) is the question.
I twice conked a helmet on the ground and was glad it was not the corresponding part of my head that had conked.
I'd think that would depend on whether it's true or not. I'm so sick of people who act as if their opinion should be treated as sacrosanct and anyone who dares disagree should be treated as wrong, and probably malicious, and punished, without ever debating the issue on its merits.
If you have a $10 head, wear a $10 helmet.
It’s a population reduction technique derived from Darwin’s theories. Further, it has a bit of a Eugenic side: Stupid people will use this as an excuse not to wear one, and will be less likely to reproduce.
Interesting take on helmets, to conclude that the drivers of the cars around the cyclist give less room to helmet-wearers and thereby raise the risk of injury. I’ve already read that (likely non-professional/non-serious) cyclists who wear helmets apparently ride more carelessly and thus counteract most of the benefit afforded by the helmet. I imagine that those who cycle “seriously” as in the spandex/overpriced-components crowd probably don’t change their habits much, but kids and casual cyclists probably do infer more invulnerability from the helmet.
As to helmets on motorcycles, while I’m not a big fan of coercing riders to wear them, I cannot really understand the appeal of riding without one. I’ve had to do it a couple of times, when my helmet became unavailable for one reason or another, and it was miserable. The air rushing past my head drowned out all sound including the bike’s motor, my eyes watered so much I could barely see, and my face was constantly bombarded by dust/sand, bugs, and other assorted crap.