First Helmet : jury is out.

Hmm. Just bought a cycling helmet for my last short tour which
encompassed quite a bit of city cycling. Never wore one before : don't
think I will again.

The added noise and irritation that the helment causes more than offsets
the "possible" help it gives in case of a spill by deducting from my
usual spacial awareness.

I don't know. I still refuse to believe that the helmet won't help in a
spill, but wonder if the %chance of it helping offsets the % increase
in likelihood of an accident due to lower awareness levels.

On Mon, 10 May 2004 10:32:56 +0200, Walter Mitty wrote:


Hmm. Just bought a cycling helmet for my last short tour which
encompassed quite a bit of city cycling. Never wore one before : don't
think I will again.

The added noise and irritation that the helment causes more than offsets
the "possible" help it gives in case of a spill by deducting from my
usual spacial awareness.

I don't know. I still refuse to believe that the helmet won't help in a
spill, but wonder if the %chance of it helping offsets the % increase
in likelihood of an accident due to lower awareness levels.

When our Mandatory Helmet Law came in in 1994 I complied, even though I
was dubious. (Very few data then, just a lot of handwringing and 'it will
save costs in the long run --') I also thought the helmet would detract
from road and traffic awareness, hearing etc. I found actually that my
hearing was enhanced, so that I often thought a car was behind me where
there wasn't one. (Perhaps "distorted" is a better word).
Statistics about whether helmets help in the overall scheme of things seem
to be very confused and contradictory, which is probably just another
way of saying that helmets have a very minor part to play in overall
safety of bicycling. However, they make fertile fodder for yet another
"Helmet war"!!! And you are right, they are very uncomfortable and
irritating.
So I would like the mandatory law repealed and leave it up to the
individual, and encourage measures for bicycling safety which really work.

Peter

--
This transmission is certified free of viruses as no Microsoft products
were used in its preparation or propagation.

Peter Keller wrote:


When our Mandatory Helmet Law came in in 1994 I complied, even though I
was dubious. (Very few data then, just a lot of handwringing and 'it will
save costs in the long run --') I also thought the helmet would detract
from road and traffic awareness, hearing etc. I found actually that my
hearing was enhanced, so that I often thought a car was behind me where
there wasn't one. (Perhaps "distorted" is a better word).

Most certainly is distorted!

Peter Keller wrote:
So I would like the mandatory law repealed and leave it up to the
individual, and encourage measures for bicycling safety which
really work.
Peter


Yes. Laws should be instituted to protect [negligent] people from othe
people; not to protect us from ourselves. If some were to protect other
from themselves, wouldn't that be limiting their respective freedom(s)


-

angotja wrote:
Peter Keller wrote:
So I would like the mandatory law repealed and leave it up to the
individual, and encourage measures for bicycling safety which
really work.
Peter



Yes. Laws should be instituted to protect [negligent] people from
other people; not to protect us from ourselves.

and also to protect society from carrying the costs of medical care - hence
(in the uk) compulsory 3rd party motor insurance against which then NHS can
recover cost of treating accident victims.

I'm not suggesting there is a parallel case wrt cycle helmets (the
probabilities are just too low to support compulsion) but your argument is
flawed.

pk

PK wrote:
angotja wrote:



Yes. Laws should be instituted to protect [negligent] people from
other people; not to protect us from ourselves.


and also to protect society from carrying the costs of medical care - hence
(in the uk) compulsory 3rd party motor insurance against which then NHS can
recover cost of treating accident victims.

I'm not suggesting there is a parallel case wrt cycle helmets (the
probabilities are just too low to support compulsion)

.... good to hear you say that...

but your argument is flawed.

Your meaning isn't clear to me. Are you saying that there _should_ be
laws to protect us from ourselves?

If so, which activities would you outlaw? How do you propose to choose
that list?

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

My first helmet , in 1982, was bulky and un-comfortable. So it spent
all of its time on the top shelf in the closet.
One afternoon in 1987 I'm out tearing around the hilly part of my
favorite loop when my front tire hit a small rock. This upset the
bike just enough to spill me over to the side at 18 mph. I landed on
my head, followed by elbow, shoulder, and thigh. The guys that helped
me out were alarmed at the amount of blood coming from my head and my
in-coherence.
Seems that when my head hit the pavement, my hair tore some skin away
from my scalp, and the ER doc described "darning" it back together
with sutures.
Funny how the memory of getting gravel picked out of my head , along
with other details is still vivid 17 years later.
My current helmet is light and far more comfortable than was available
22 years ago. I don't leave home without it.
When I wear a winter hat under it (on those cooold rides!) I lose
quite a bit of my awareness, otherwise I don't even notice it.
Derek

Walter Mitty wrote:
:: Hmm. Just bought a cycling helmet for my last short tour which
:: encompassed quite a bit of city cycling. Never wore one before :
:: don't think I will again.
::
:: The added noise and irritation that the helment causes more than
:: offsets the "possible" help it gives in case of a spill by deducting
:: from my usual spacial awareness.

What noise and irritation? Regardless of any merits about safety, I find my
helmet comfortable. If I ride without it, I feel as though I'm not wearing
my seatbelt.

::
:: I don't know. I still refuse to believe that the helmet won't help
:: in a spill, but wonder if the %chance of it helping offsets the %
:: increase in likelihood of an accident due to lower awareness levels.

Surely you can imagine the sitaution in a spill were a helmet might help.
Even if it won't save my life in a full head collision with the road, I'll
take what little protection it does offer. Given all the riding I plan to
do my options seem limited. 1) come away dead, 2) come away extremely messed
up, 3) come away with some skin removed and some stuff broken. So if my
helmet helps with situation 3, I'll be happy. In either of the other two
options, the helmet thing will be a moot point.

Plus, it looks cool....bicycle peacock thing.....IMO.

"Roger Zoul" wrote in message
...
snip
:: The added noise and irritation that the helment causes more than
:: offsets the "possible" help it gives in case of a spill by deducting
:: from my usual spacial awareness.

What noise and irritation? Regardless of any merits about safety, I find
my
helmet comfortable. If I ride without it, I feel as though I'm not
wearing
my seatbelt.

Interesting ... I've heard similar statements before. I wonder if there is
a "security blanket" effect associated with helmets. I can see how wearing
a "magic foam hat" fundamentally wouldn't be any different than a cave man
wearing a talisman around his neck while going into battle.

C.Q.C.

Q. wrote:
:: "Roger Zoul" wrote in message
:: ...
:: snip
::::: The added noise and irritation that the helment causes more than
::::: offsets the "possible" help it gives in case of a spill by
::::: deducting from my usual spacial awareness.
:::
::: What noise and irritation? Regardless of any merits about safety,
::: I find my helmet comfortable. If I ride without it, I feel as
::: though I'm not wearing my seatbelt.
::
:: Interesting ... I've heard similar statements before. I wonder if
:: there is a "security blanket" effect associated with helmets. I can
:: see how wearing a "magic foam hat" fundamentally wouldn't be any
:: different than a cave man wearing a talisman around his neck while
:: going into battle.

Well, seatbelts can save lives, even if helmets mostly don't.