bike helmet?

Question

how much does a helmet really protect you

Answer 1

It protects your most valuable asset -- your brain. The helmet not only prevents injuries to your skull bones, it cushions the impact and therefore protects your brain.

I've proven a good helmet can save your life at least 4 times in my life. Once before I wore a helmet I tempted fate. That was my wakeup call.

Helmets are worth way more than you pay for.

Answer 2

Wearing a bicycle helmet is pretty decent risk management.

HOWEVER:

There are many folks that want bicycle riding to appear more dangerous than it actually is.

People will quote different statistics trying to prove that bicycle riding is more or less risky than commonly held perceptions, most with a particular agenda; selling cars, selling bikes, selling helmets, etc.

The state of Florida had some counties with mandatory helmets for children, some counties without the law. They compared head injury crash statistics, (Under 12 years old, probably riding under 15mph) and the summary was:

Helmet- 90% chance of no head injury at all.

No Helmet 90% chance of having significant head injury.

Summary:
Your chance of being in a bike accident are not as likely as some would have you believe; BUT if you are in an accident, a helmet preserves the most important part of your being.

I Crashed a recumbent trike at 20mph. Rolled it end over end. I was a bloody mess- arms and legs cut up. Helmet ruined. Head just fine except for being humiliated.

Helmet for you? your choice.

Answer 3

My riding buddies and I divide riders into two groups: those who have crashed and trashed a helmet, and those will soon.

Bike helmets do a great job of protecting your head in an accident. Basically, the helmet with absorb and the spread force over your head on impact. Typically, the helmet will crack rather than your skull cracking. Furthermore, a helmet skids on pavement much better than your head (or other skin covered parts will.) Insofar as a helmet costs much less to replace than fixing problem with your head or even getting stitches, they are a great deal.

I once had a dog run in front of my bike while going somewhat in excess of 20mph. I hit the pavement hard, with my head, shoulder, hip and knee taking the brunt of the impact. I lost lots of skin on my shoulder, hip and knee and had some nasty bruises. My head hit the road hard enough to crack the helmet and grind off a fair bit of the foam. Pretty much every part of me hurt except my head. So, I always wear a helmet.

Don't leave home without one.

Answer 4

Dude, wearing a helmet is critical.

I used to be one of those who would never wear a helmet.

Face it, you look like a dick with a helmet one. YOU LOOK, but if you DONT put it on YOU ARE a dick

A crashed quite a few times, and i can tell you that it transforms a day where you couldve gotten a huge headache adn possibyl some truama into a day where you just feel a little shook up. Helmets protect your head, which is the singular most vital part of yoru body

Answer 5

Any more than a brief tap on the head and they are useless!!

Why do Skydivers wear a helmet ? Pointless !!!!!


I won't get on my 'soapbox' about helmets today but suffice to say the protection is minimal and its almost better than nothing!

EDIT:
A rather large Butterfly hit my helmet the other day- If I was not wearing my Helmet, I would be dead with a brain injury and a headache!!! Blah . . Blah . . .Blah . . .YAWN!!

.

Answer 6

The guru Richard Ballantine summed it up in his orignal book - just wear one - you'd look much more silly with permamnent brain damage.

One interesting letter to the UK CTC magazine suggested that the statistics on helmet protection were probably skewed by the fact that people who crash and are protected by their helmet don't visit hospital.

Answer 7

I fell on wet leaves two weeks ago and hit my head on the road. If I would not have been wearing the helmet I probably would have been killed. As it is, I received a serious concussion but seem OK now. Or at least as OK as usual. LOL

Answer 8

Mountain bikers should always wear helmets. Lazy trail riders may get by w/o one but they look out of place. A helmet tells others you are a serious biker and besides, the ones they make nowadays look cool...........I have a Fox Flux in black camo............bad to the bone

Answer 9

Only the head and neck. Does nothing for the knee unless you wear it on your knee.

Answer 10

really?1?