In Memoriam: Unsafe Headgear
I appreciate my helmet. I treat it with respect. I never leave for a ride without it. I replace it after a crash or even after helplessly watching it bound down the stairwell like some kind of deformed styrofoam slinky-dink after allowing it to slip from my grasp. (This activity also typically involves some assertions questioning what it does in its spare time, its origins of birth, and things of that nature.) Community member @chaz also recently suggested that, in accordance with motorcycle tradition, we ceremoniously cut the strap on the helmet and hang it in the VVorkshop in deference to the purpose it served us.
Suffice to say, I’m grateful for the advances technology offers us when it comes to protective headgear, because staying alive is in alignment with my strategy. But progress is the slayer of ritual and tradition, and I can’t help but look back longingly to the days when helmets were rarely worn and if they were, they consisted of thin strips of leather that, assuming it stayed on, would do little more than keep your cranium from coming apart after cracking it to bits on a cobblestone or some such object.
The hairnet was the coolest cranial accouterment ever designed, with the insulated cycling cap that fit over it being a close second. The cycling cap on its own was, of course, also a class piece of kit to be worn forwards, sideways, or backwards – made cooler only by perching a set of cycling-specific shades on top of it. A helmetless head saw hair slicked back by the wind as a byproduct of the V as riders raised their arms in triumph over the finish line. The bare noggin on the high mountain passes was a beacon of Purified Awesome, allowing us to see in all their glory the suffering faces of the riders as they moved sur la plaque over the summit.
Take a moment, fellow Velominati, to honor the Useless Headgear of our past.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/[email protected]/Headgear/”]
I would err on the sign of caution on helmets.
4 score and 20 years ago, I was last in a 3 man pace line ascending a very minor lump on an otherwise flat road when the guy in front of me inexplicably went down in a heap at about 35kmh. We got the guy up and he must have asked myself and the other guy “What happened?, What the F’ happened?, How did I get here?” about 50 times (despite our explanations repeated 50 times). He, ended up spending the night in the hospital, with a fairly serious concussion. The dude’s helmet was destroyed, as it took the brunt of his impact with solid concrete.
This is not a conclusion on whether helmets are necessary, but since they are so light, and some look pretty cool, my take is…wear it and increase your chances of walking away. You only have one brain.
PS- the cause of the crash- the dude had not fully tightened his front quick release—-so maybe the concussion jarred his brain for the better.
@Marko
I hear you. Re my previous post about wearing a helmet – it was one way to get out the door (and past my mother) without getting the lecture on why helmets were good. Crashing off a steep descent on the Glennifer Braes (sans helmet, of course) and coming home with a scratched up face didn’t help my cause either. I did draw the line when I came to the States in 1990 and my college room-mates parents suggested I wear an open face motorbike helmet when I went out riding. In southern Indiana in late summer. Not gonna happen.
@Oli
Hot damn, did I actually get it right?!? Thanks!
+1 to @ChrisO for an intelligently worded post against the grain of the discussion to that point and +1 to @frank for maintaining a neutral stance.
I recently read an article that suggested that research showed drivers were more likely exercise great caution passing a helmet-less rider. it seems to me either case can be argued. My kids see me coming and going for most of my rides which is probably my primary reason for wearing a helmet.
Personally, I’m not entirely convinced about the amount of protection afforded by road helmets, I think you’d need a good dose of luck to go with it especially at the sort of speeds that are achievable even on the flat. Mountain bike helmets such as the Bell Variant, Fox Flux and Giro Hex that extend lower round the back of the head would seem to offer more protection but even then I’m not convinced.
I wear a full face moto cross helmet of the time on my mountain bike although I might strap it onto the back of my camel back for longer climbs. I wouldn’t be without it though any more than I’d be without armour having destroyed a couple when landing on my head/shoulder after an extended period of time in the air.
@sgt spot on, if you believe your kids should be wearing a helmet it’s a pretty poor exampled to them if you don’t join them. My boys both wear full face helmets – one of them has removed significant amounts of skin crashing at the skate with a regular lid and it could have been worse if his head hadn’t narrowly missed the edge of the ramp.
@frank:
spot on, the Sub-6 was the reason I started wearing helmets, they added a cool factor to riding, because helmets up to then were gaudaweful, to the point i would crash just to get rid of the thing.
they have come a long way
i have to admit: on a pretty fall day, for a slow post season ride, there is nothing like heading out for an easy quiet ride w/the vermarc cycling cap, brim down just over the low setting sun, glasses parked outside the cap. Its like a slow sip on good espresso.
@ChrisO
The suggestion of the a new rule was in fact mine.. Said more in jest than ever expecting it to see added to the near biblical set of rules; I am a firm believer in the helmet. Working as a Paramedic Fireman long enough to be completely burnt out, you see a few things. It seems to me that a bike helmet’s real job is to prevent many a minor injury from becoming a catastrophic one much like a construction worker’s ‘bump’ cap. Years ago our Fire Department began to require those of us wearing old leather firefighting helmets to upgrade them to one with a heavy impact liner. An impact liner?? Think about that one.. If anything heavy enough is going to come crashing down on my head where I need an impact liner my neck will break first. Yet, they require them and I wear the 2kg beast on my head.. A quality lightweight foam and plastic bicycle lid is a dream.. and may simply keep you out of an ER for stitches or laying on the couch with a massive headache and able to ride on.. No judgement hear folks but, I find the modern lid to have purpose and also be a ‘time stamp’ as the styles and models change over the years.
@heinous
THAT PICTURE KICKS ASS.
@Nate, @Oli
T-A being Tirenno Adriatico? If so, I believe you’re mistaken, as it’s Amstel Gold. But I only know its that race because I scanned it from the book, so I’m cheating.
I view a helmet in the same category as a fire extinguisher: I’d rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
@Chris
I’ve read that too Chris (drivers give cyclists with no helmet more room) and that cyclists with helmets on take more risks. I wear one on the road but I rarely wear one when I’m skating at the concrete skatepark. What I think has always stood me in good stead was years of Ju Jitsu as a youth. We practised break falls at the start of every session until it just happened by reflex, were taught how to roll out of a fall and never put out your hands to stop yourself, wrists are very easily broken.
@ Souleur
Good timing.Believe it or not just before I logged in I was looking at the exactly same photo of Bartali in a Campagnolo book.
@Frank
So can we expect a nod from a Nod Snob even when riding without a helmet?
http://www.velominati.com/etiquette/nod-snob/
@frank
I wasn’t making a call on the race, just the riders.
Headgear doesn’t protect players from concussion.
@frank
I was suggesting Tirreno-Adriatico, based on Joop wearing #1 as he won the previous year. But the fact that they were wearing hairnets suggested they were in the Low Countries, not Italy — I always associate hairnets with northern racing as I understand (please correct me if I am wrong) there was a period when Belgium and the Netherlands required headgear
@Nate
Gerrie Knetemann won Amstel in 1985; perhaps he wasn’t able defend his title so the Number 1 dossard went to the World Champion?
You’re right about the helmet rules, certainly in the case of Belgium (can’t recall about the Netherlands).
Just read that Greame Obree is gonna have a go at the human powered vehicle record and is hoping to achieve a speed of 160kph (100mph). Current record is 83mph. I hope he does it he’s got plenty of awesome running through his veins.
The key to getting people to wear helmets is to buy them a Lazer with the Rollsys adjustment. When I did my best astro-boy impersonation after being T-boned by a taxi and landed on my face, mine didn’t move a millimeter. I happily bought another one as you might imagine.
I don’t get mad when I see others without helmets. Not my head really.
I told my mom to “Rule 5” yesterday.
@Oli
Dutchland had the same regulation, as far as I know. That pic is one of my favorites, and I believe Joop was pulling upwards of 40 years old at that point. Rooks was another favorite. Loved those guys. Long live the Queen!
@snoov
Absolutely love Graeme. One of my all-time favorite riders! He was fixing to go after the Hour again as well, but I think he abandoned his plans.
Class act, that.
@rhys
+1 – I had a Lazer and loved it. My only issue with it was it wouldn’t take my shades in the helmet vents. Show stopper for me. Super comfortable, though. Glad you’re OK.
@snoov
@frank
I love Obree. He is a genius – I see that he’s just released his training manual: “The Obree Way”. I think I’ve left it too late to expect it for Christmas but it might be the very thing to transform me into a lean grimpeur in the new year. I shall read it whilst drinking beer and eating pies.
After making that post about Obree I picked up Flying Scotsman The Graeme Obree Story just to read the Moser foreword. Apart from stopping for food, although I had it in my hand while cooking, I haven’t been able to put it down yet! Unbelievable man, dare I say Hardman!
@frank
@ChrisO Really? Really? I just had a big off… overlapping wheels at 50kmh and Boom! Roadslave… Tarmac. Tarmac… Roadslave. Introductions a little too brief for my liking. I have road rash all over my face, knees, elbows, and MY HELMET IS CRACKED IN TWO. Yes, my head was what my body saw fit to use as a brake. I never read the health and safety spiel, I have no idea what crash test limit my helmet is tested to, but I know two things: 1. I’m writing this post right now (which I wouldn’t’ve been had I not been wearing a helmet); and 2. I have exactly the same helmet as the one that cracked in two as my new helmet… because I know it works. Don’t understand why you’d never wear one. No matter what the physics says. If I’ve misunderstood your post, apologies, but really? really?
@frank
Yup just got a Lazer 02 for my birthday & while it is as comfortable as all get out I’m struggling for a good spot for my Radars to sit. There is one pair of vents that nearly works but it also feels like I’m stretching the arms too much.
Whilst the photo quality is a little poor, the two images below are the reason I always wear a helmet. January 2004 – went over the high side of my Baum Espresso at 95kph (turns out the bike gets speed wobbles at 94kph – a better rider might have recovered it, but a better rider wasn’t on board).
I was immediately knocked out, mangled my hands (including grinding of the top of my middle finger), busted a collarbone and lost much skin on legs, arms, back, etc. Not a mark on my head or face.
The Baum survived!
No doubt good luck was heavily in play. Leaving aside the probability that the helmet saved me from potential brain damage, I KNOW that if it was my head making contact with the road instead of my helmet – well there would have been lots more very important bits of me left on the road…
But each to their own in the world of helmet choice…
Rudy Project Sterling is tits. Looks very very pro and fits awesome. Plus they seem to be rare around here so it’s unique.
@Marcus
Wow. Looks like you wore it to a house fire!
Hey ChrisO…you can come back now. No one’s calling you reckless, stupid or ignorant. Sure, the weight of opinion is against you but the reaction seems to be surprise rather than scorn.
But why? Helmets are comfortable, look cool and might help your head in a crash? What’s the downside?
We like you, ChrisO, and we like your brain.
And if you reconsider, we’ll still respect you (in the morning…).
@ChrisO
Based on the above, presuming the helmeted rider in your avatar isn’t you, who is it? He looks PRO.
@Marcus
Speaking of avatars, I’ll be darned (Landised?) if I can figure out how to set a custom pic as my avatar on the site. Do I need to hack into the LNDD computers or something?
@Eightzero
You use Gravatar. I would have never figured that out if I didn’t ask.
The arrogant, patronising and condescending airs of those who are pro-helmet are akin at times to those rabid bible-thumpers who think nothing of foisting their narrow world view on others, whether they want to hear it or not. Usually not.
The beauty of being a rational, thinking adult is that one can disseminate information and arrive at one’s own conclusion, and just because it may not agree with your own doesn’t mean they are wrong.
@Oli
Indeed. Although I would contend that the suggestion that a study regarding the efficacy of “soft” helmets in rugby has some relevance to today’s bike helmets is flawed…
This is a discussion for someplace else. Swap email addresses. It never ends well.
@minion
For once I think u may be right!
@Oli
Agreed. I’m a big fan of helmets, but not a big fan of helmet laws or otherwise telling people what to do. I’d say let the insurers and actuaries decide whether they want to cover someone who won’t bucket up, or let people live with the consequences. And remember, arguing on the Internet is like running in the Special Olympics…
@Oli
Amen to that Oli… that’s why I used the term ‘believers’ and have stayed away.
But Marcus just for you because you said I look PRO :-x , I should have said I don’t wear a helmet when I have a choice. Obviously in races and events I am forced to wear one.
A few people in my local club group have been pressuring me to wear one lately – it’s this automatic assumption that pisses me off and the shocked surprise that I would disagree. Like Oli said, it’s as if they had offered me the chance of heavenly paradise and I said No Thanks, Eternal Damnation is fine.
Anyway, I see we have a new article so … move along, nothing to see here.
You don’t wear a helmet for yourself. You wear it for your family. You wear it b/c the squirrel who took you out in the crit will feel bad enough with you bandaged head-to-toe, much less you in an ICU. You wear it so that I and the rest of the people in your health insurance plan don’t have to bear the premium increase b/c of your redneck, Harley-driving helmetless style insistence on “being free” or some such crap. You wear it b/c you understand that arguments about seeing a study once that drivers are more careful with helmetless riders is complete wishful thinking at best. You wear it so that your teammates who are unfortunate enough to have such an inconsiderate friend won’t have to wear black armbands. This is not hyperbole. This is not some “narrow world view” being foisted upon fun-loving lefties. This is reality.
Anytime a guy shows up for our standing team ride with no helmet (and it’s ALWAYS a guy), they are not allowed to start with us. No exceptions. I don’t want to have to call some stranger’s wife.
@Otoman
Arrogant, patronising and condescending. Perfect.
My Radars fit perfectly.
PS, I don’t always sit at the computer with my helmet and glasses on. Sometimes I just wear my helmet.
@rhys
Are those Spinx bars? They seem really neat to me.
@DerHoggz
Just the road bars that came on the AR in the picture mate. Sphinx are quite dear and not for my style of riding, but they are quite good.
@rhys
I’m talking about the bike behind the AR, that is a track bike, no?
this argument that its a choice about the helmet- plain bullshit. All these various risk taking activities without the customary precautions- under the pretense that “no one can prove its safer” is mostly selfish, really. @otoman summed it up- others pick up the pieces. Personally I can speak to the discomfort of trying to put these people back together ( it’s like the other type of dad paradigm- first being te awesome quote “if you’re not wearing it you don’t need it”; second one is “we didn’t need any of this crap and everyone was ok(the guy they threw away the mold afterwards…) as they’re trying to die. @scaler911 can tell you all about it.
I’m not advocating for new rules or customs etc; just don’t say that it’s an equivalently responsible choice based on the lack of absolute proof. On the same line of reasoning- the fancy little device that measures oxygen in the blood from beat to beat- no study has proven conclusively a survival benefit after millions of patients. But no one- stupid, cavalier, curmudgeon or profoundly stubborn old school would dare do surgery without.
At some point society will either remove the option of the activity or refuse to fix(pay, really) for the result of failure to take reasonable precaution. Then it will be a real choice.
Oh dear I thought it had stopped… getting rid of Mormons was never this hard.
@ChrisO
It was largely about hairnets till you lobbed your post in. Pull your head in, it sounds like you’ve had this coversation before and THIS IS NOT THE PLACE to make your point.
@DerHoggz
Yeah it is. The bars on the track bike (Tk2) are the road bars that originally came on the AR that is also in the picture. Sorry, should have been more clear in my previous statement.
@ChrisO
We may disagree but that’s pretty damn funny. I’ve moved on, my rant was enough for me.
An acceptable post about helmets:
I was wearing a helmet today while on a four lane street with a median. Two gauchos were riding down the median on their horses. We proceeded to have an impromptu sprint.
I dropped them.