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Can't Use Helmets in the Sun????



 
 
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  #181  
Old May 31st 06, 09:09 AM posted to alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent,rec.bicycles.tech,rec.bicycles.marketplace,rec.bicycles.misc
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Default Can't Use Helmets in the Sun????

"GaryG" writes:

wrote in message
ups.com...
I have been doing long distance self contained touring for about 20
years and have been hit by cars twice.

Both times was hit within a mile of my home while riding in the middle
of a group of bicycles. In each case a car rode directly across the
road from a cross street through the group of riders. How lucky can you
be.

In both cases although low speed collisions, I was thrown from bike and
landed by hitting my head on the curbing.

The first time in 1986 an MG hit my front wheel throwing me into the
air. I landed on my back and the back of my head hit the curbing. It
must have hit fairly hard because my glasses were throw completely
across the road despite the eye glass retaining strap I was wearing.
The driver kept on going but was caught by another driver. I was
stunned, My back abraded. My glasses were gouged, my front wheel and
fork were a pretzel and my helmet (a bell hard shell) was cracked. But
I was just dazed and abraded, otherwise unhurt. I think the helmet
saved my life.

The second time in 1998, I was the middle of three riders on the same
street as the previous accident. A Chevy station wagon, ran a stop sign
and hit me. This time she hit closer to the middle of the bike and I
was thrown across the street and hit head first on the curbing. This
must say something about the weight of my head versus the rest of my
body. I was knocked out. and had some pretty deep gouges on my right
leg and ankle, a strained neck and shoulder plus lots of bruises. My
helmet didn't crack this time (it was a Giro) but I was happy to
replace it. Again, I think the helmet saved my life.

I have been run off the road since but luckily not hit. There are two
things I take away from these incidents:

1. Stay off of that street

2. Always wear my helmet especially when I ride near home.

Roland

Dover, NH
ebent.com


Blasphemer!!! How dare you bring your personal experience with the
ostensible injury reducing benefits of a helmet into this hallowed
intellectual discussion?

Since you've raised the issue, be prepared to hear that:

1) You're a very poor cyclist. "Real" cyclists never get hit by cars, or
fall down.


Peter? Is that you?

2) Your injuries were worse than they would otherwise have been due to the
presence of the helmet on your head (rotational forces increased due to
additional circumference and weight, etc., etc.). Be thankful that you're
still alive given your ridiculous choice in headgear.


It is!


3) You would have survived those head impacts just as well, if not better,
if you had been wearing a proper cotton cycling cap (or, better yet, nothing
at all).


Yep. Its you alright. But why didnt you advocate wearing it for walking
to the toilet too because statistically .... blah blah blah.


4) You've clearly not studied the available research which proves (to some
AHZ stalwarts anyway) that wearing helmets increases the risk of head
injuries (unless you wear one while showering).

Ads
  #182  
Old May 31st 06, 11:11 AM posted to alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent,rec.bicycles.tech,rec.bicycles.marketplace,rec.bicycles.misc
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Default Can't Use Helmets in the Sun????

Kevan Smith wrote:

I was thinking something similar earlier. Since collarbone fractures are
by far a more common cycling injury (anecdotally), why hasn't anyone
developed some sort of protective gear for it? And, what would it look
like? It might be so bulky and hot as to spoil the fun of riding on a
warm enough day. Sort of like a lid.


A straightjacket? Virtually all collarbone fractures are the result of
putting your arms out to stop the fall. A direct fracture is very rare
indeed.

Impractical for cycling "but if just one collarbone could be saved"

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci
  #185  
Old May 31st 06, 03:56 PM posted to alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent,rec.bicycles.tech,rec.bicycles.marketplace,rec.bicycles.misc
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Default Can't Use Helmets in the Sun????

David Kerber wrote:

That doesn't mean the helmet
didn't reduce the severity of the injury, though.


Recognising that optimal performance removes no more than 10-15% of the
energy needed to fracture a skull.

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci
  #186  
Old June 1st 06, 02:26 AM posted to alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent,rec.bicycles.tech,rec.bicycles.misc,rec.bicycles.marketplace
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Default Can't Use Helmets in the Sun????


Tony Raven wrote:
Cathy Kearns wrote:

Worked for me for my children. One continues to ride a bike. The other
decided it wasn't worth it, and gave up bike riding when she entered junior
high. Prefered to walk the 1.5 miles each way. As we were looking at
colleges I was surprised to hear this child that gave up bike riding at age
11 wouldn't mind getting a bike for transportation when she goes away to
school, as by then she won't need to wear a helmet. (In California adults
(age 18) are not required by law to wear helmets while cycling.)



Which is an excellent illustration of one good reason many of us oppose
mandatory helmets - they put people off cycling especially children and
there is no clear evidence of any compensating benefit.


I am a little confused, though, why the daughter gave up riding when
she got into junior high. Did she give it up because she had to wear a
helmet? I understand the current comment made what, four years later,
that she wouldn't have to wear a helmet when she goes to college, but
did she say back in junior high that she was quitting because she had
to wear a helmet? That is always hard for me to believe, but I don't
have a daughter, and apparently they have different agendas than sons.
My 10 year old son wears a helmet. He cares how he looks, so there may
be some helmets he wouldn't wear if they made him look too dorky. But
otherwise, it is no big deal. Getting him to ride at all, though . . .
that's a big deal. Kids are so lazy these days, and it is usually easy
to get a ride in the car from mom and dad, so the incentive to ride
just isn't there anymore. -- Jay Beattie.

  #187  
Old June 2nd 06, 01:58 AM posted to alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent,rec.bicycles.tech,rec.bicycles.misc,rec.bicycles.marketplace
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Default Can't Use Helmets in the Sun????


Jay Beattie wrote:


I am a little confused, though, why the daughter gave up riding when
she got into junior high. Did she give it up because she had to wear a
helmet? I understand the current comment made what, four years later,
that she wouldn't have to wear a helmet when she goes to college, but
did she say back in junior high that she was quitting because she had
to wear a helmet? That is always hard for me to believe, but I don't
have a daughter, and apparently they have different agendas than sons.


I'm surprised you find it unusual.

I know a family in our bike club that took the "No helmet, no bike"
stance with their daughter. She was somewhere around 14 at the time,
IIRC. Her response? "Fine. I won't ride a bike." And despite their
continued avid cycling, and the years they spent riding pre-helmet, she
never rode again. (She's probably older than 30 now.)

With our two kids, we had the same discussion, although it was my wife,
not me, doing the promoting. Now this was years ago, when I was still
a helmet promoter, before I'd read the research papers on the topic.

Anyway, when each of our kids gave us the same response, I decided
riding was more important than wearing a plastic hat. The kids
continued to ride, and in fact, our daughter completed a coast to coast
tour across America with us just a few years ago.

And it goes without saying, neither kid ever had any problems. Each
kid toppled at low speed a few times (worst injury: leg scratches or
scrapes). Neither heads nor helmets ever touched ground.

Cycling is NOT very dangerous! Helmets are an ineffective solution to
a nonexistent problem.

- Frank Krygowski

 




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