Brain(hulk?) surgeon: There's no point wearing bicycle helmets

[brainhulk]

http://www.cnet.com/news/brain-surgeon-theres-no-point-wearing-cycle-helmets/

A British brain surgeon says cycle helmets are too flimsy and can actually create more danger by creating the illusion of greater safety.

I think I'll keep my helmet on thank you.

 

[Harabec]

He may be right about most of the crappy "half" helmets.

"half" or "open-face" motorcycle helmets now banned in Israel after a series of accidents has shown they're nothing like full-face helmets and may even cause further damage due to their design (think only half of your head is taking the hit - like a guillotine).
Bike helmets are even crappier. Full-face helmets offer real protection but it may be absurd (and impractical) demanding that everyone ride a bicycle with one.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

http://www.cnet.com/news/brain-surgeon-theres-no-point-wearing-cycle-helmets/



I think I'll keep my helmet on thank you.

I've never ever seen anyone wear a helmet like that and the last thing I need is having my head in a sauna.

The facts are that for children helmets are likely to make a difference however this has not been demonstrated for adults in typical riding situations. I lived in a NH town where there was this physician who championed helmets publically, to the point where he became politically active to require them worn by everyone at all times while on a bike. He died as a result of a bike accident due to a snapped neck.

BTW I read the CNN and the Telegraph article and it's emotional claptrap. Here's why you should wear a helmet. I SAY SO!

Critics provided dissenting opinions along the lines of "I hope he chokes on a bone and dies" or "hey we don't know jack but wear one anyway". I wear one as do others in my family, but the protection they offer is more against flying debris/bugs/abrasions than prevention of brain trauma according to that pesky thing, science. "Everybody knows" often means they don't.

 

[z1ggy]

I always thought it was funny how in some places, you can ride a scooter/road bike going anywhere upwards of 20-25mph and not have to wear a helmet (or not feel obligated to wear one), yet in many states it's law to wear a motorcycle helmet, even though many times you may not be traveling much faster than the speeds mentioned above.

The fact that a road biker can fall and hit the pavement just as fast as a motorcycle rider in certain instances, should be cause for higher awareness of bike rider safety.

 

[BikeJunkie]

POC > *

Many helmets are just insufficient (the cheap ones, which is what a lot of newbies buy), or their owners aren't wearing them properly. If the helmet is too loose on your head, then yeah, it's going to hurt more than help.

I've never ever seen anyone wear a helmet like that and the last thing I need is having my head in a sauna.

You usually find full-face helmets in downhill (DH) and all mountain (AM). Not so much with every day riding, cross country (XC), and trail riding.

 

[SunnyD]

He died as a result of a bike accident due to a snapped neck.

Well duh. I'm not sure how anybody is going to argue that a typical bike helmet is going to prevent neck/spinal injury.

 

[dank69]

I consider myself a relatively progressive guy but I die a little inside every time I see a little kid wearing a helmet to bike up and down the street.

 

[Arcadio]

I always thought it was funny how in some places, you can ride a scooter/road bike going anywhere upwards of 20-25mph and not have to wear a helmet (or not feel obligated to wear one), yet in many states it's law to wear a motorcycle helmet, even though many times you may not be traveling much faster than the speeds mentioned above.

Those cities want to encourage more bike riding since it's better for you and for the environment than motorcycle riding.

 

[JTsyo]

I consider myself a relatively progressive guy but I die a little inside every time I see a little kid wearing a helmet to bike up and down the street.

A helmet definitely saved me some headache. Was riding my bike as a kid on a speed run around the block. I hit some sand while trying to turn and wiped out. I fell right on a manhole cover and had my bell rung. Not sure how bad it would have been without the helmet.

 

[rednas]

I consider myself a relatively progressive guy but I die a little inside every time I see a little kid wearing a helmet to bike up and down the street.

There is a part of me who is right with you. Especially since my baby brother who is 19 years younger than I is not allowed to ride his bike on my moms property (she lives on a few acres) without a helmet when I remember being a kid and riding all over town and doing countless stupid things outside of adult supervision and without a helmet.

 

[Capt Caveman]

He may be right about most of the crappy "half" helmets.

"half" or "open-face" motorcycle helmets now banned in Israel after a series of accidents has shown they're nothing like full-face helmets and may even cause further damage due to their design (think only half of your head is taking the hit - like a guillotine).
Bike helmets are even crappier. Full-face helmets offer real protection but it may be absurd (and impractical) demanding that everyone ride a bicycle with one.

The issue is people not wearing their bike helmets properly. Past open-face bike helmets have saved me when mtbing, taking the full brunt of a fall.

 

[SunnyD]

I consider myself a relatively progressive guy but I die a little inside every time I see a little kid wearing a helmet to bike up and down the street.

I grew up without wearing one. Rode my bike pretty much everywhere. Lived out in the middle of nowhere so biking into town or even to my friend's house meant at least 5 miles and some travel along state highways.

My kids don't get on their bikes without helmets. Why? Because they have a mother. At the end of the day, there are some things you just don't argue with.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I always thought it was funny how in some places, you can ride a scooter/road bike going anywhere upwards of 20-25mph and not have to wear a helmet (or not feel obligated to wear one), yet in many states it's law to wear a motorcycle helmet, even though many times you may not be traveling much faster than the speeds mentioned above.

The fact that a road biker can fall and hit the pavement just as fast as a motorcycle rider in certain instances, should be cause for higher awareness of bike rider safety.

I've hit 48 mph downhill on a road bicycle. Still, it isn't really possible to wear protective fabrics like leather or helmets like motorcyclists wear on a bicycle. They are too restrictive and too heavy.

 

[phreaqe]

To say helmets don't help is idiotic at best. My brother wiped out on a bike when he was younger and he hit a rock with the helmet. The styrofoam where he hit was crushed down to about half the thickness it used to be. If that was his head he could have crushed his skull.

 

[dank69]

I grew up without wearing one. Rode my bike pretty much everywhere. Lived out in the middle of nowhere so biking into town or even to my friend's house meant at least 5 miles and some travel along state highways.

My kids don't get on their bikes without helmets. Why? Because they have a mother. At the end of the day, there are some things you just don't argue with.

Yeah pretty much the same thing with my childhood, and I know my wife is going to do the same with my kids. I understand the benefits, but I will never like it. Probably because when I grew up a kid wearing a helmet meant he was retarded.

 

[Humpy]

I've hit 48 mph downhill on a road bicycle. Still, it isn't really possible to wear protective fabrics like leather or helmets like motorcyclists wear on a bicycle. They are too restrictive and too heavy.

It's not a problem for skilled riders:

 

[z1ggy]

I've hit 48 mph downhill on a road bicycle. Still, it isn't really possible to wear protective fabrics like leather or helmets like motorcyclists wear on a bicycle. They are too restrictive and too heavy.

Leather, probably not. But just the fact it's very accepted a road biker will wear what's essentially a brain bucket, some teeny spandex and sun glasses is absurd. Especially given your experience.

You could very well wear a strong mesh type jacket with leather gloves, etc etc.

I know it won't ever happen but if they really wanted to be protected, they'd dress more like motorcycle riders.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Solution: don't ride a bike like a total asshole cock shit, near other asshole cock shits (other asshole cock shits are usually fatso automobile drivers who are pissed off violent blood thirsty creeps looking to hurt and murder innocent cyclists).

 

[ThinClient]

Without neck support to accompany the helmet, a helmet can very easily become more of a liability than a safety.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Well duh. I'm not sure how anybody is going to argue that a typical bike helmet is going to prevent neck/spinal injury.

No one I know would suggest it would however helmets are viewed by those who aren't familiar with the science of injuries seem to have the impression that they are a panacea or at least make automatic assumptions as to their efficacy. That's my point. It isn't that helmets are utterly useless but there's little objective science looking at their use and that seems to be the argument presented. Note that he was taken to task but not with rational,objective and quantifiable data.

 

[Fritzo]

My head was saved by a styro/plastic helmet after my front wheel clamp failed and I flew over the handlebars a few years back. I skated on my head for a good 10 feet and slammed into a curb. Didn't get hurt at all, but with out that helmet I'd probably be dead.

Some safety is better than no safety.

 

[JulesMaximus]

It's not a problem for skilled riders:

Go ride one of those 100 miles dressed like that and get back to me.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Leather, probably not. But just the fact it's very accepted a road biker will wear what's essentially a brain bucket, some teeny spandex and sun glasses is absurd. Especially given your experience.
You could very well wear a strong mesh type jacket with leather gloves, etc etc.

I know it won't ever happen but if they really wanted to be protected, they'd dress more like motorcycle riders.

In 2.5 years commuting and training I logged over 6,000 miles and never fell once. In a lifetime of cycling I've barely had anything more than a minor scrape. Why I would want to wear anything heavier than spandex?

Broken clavicle and/or shoulder injuries and head injuries seem to be the most common injuries in the pro peloton. A mesh jacket and leather gloves won't do shit to help prevent those injuries and I doubt you'd find anyone who rides who would want to carry the extra weight of a stifling garment like that. That would be like wrapping a motorcycle engine and radiators in duct tape.

 

[Meghan54]

It's not a problem for skilled riders:

Short track, single speed riding is not doing 50 miles on a road bike that'll do twice as fast as those BMX bikes. Not even in the same league.

But what can you expect from someone that sees a bike and thinks they're all the same?

 

[bradley]

Those cities want to encourage more bike riding since it's better for you and for the environment than motorcycle riding.

Except for places like NY... where they do everything within their power to keep their citizens off of bicycles. I could easily drive a car, or even a motorcycle, but choose to ride my bicycle everywhere in an extremely responsible manner.

I'll admit to having never worn a bicycle helmet. Can anyone recommend a really good purposeful one that isn't flimsy or stupid looking?