Safety is Sexy
Thread started by
stevo4 at 01.7.08 - 8:16 am
This Thread has nothing to do with 'Our' Sexy unless he happens to hijack it.
Found this on another site:
Safety is Sexy
Their Mission is: Mission:
To erase the stigma that wearing a helmet is dorky or uncool and to encourage the idea that wearing a helmet is attractive, cool and smart.
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while in Amsterdam, I saw endless thousands of cyclists who were not wearing helmets
spiraldemon01.7.08 - 8:59 am
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"while in Amsterdam, I saw endless thousands of cyclists who were not wearing helmets"
you also saw wonderful comprehensive bicycle infrastructure, seprated bicycle highways that lead to every city and educated docile drivers in small feul efficient vehicles, themselves likely also being cyclists.... making it a pretty good bet that riding there is somewhere in the range of 10000% safer than here.
Roadblock01.7.08 - 10:26 am
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I often hear about the same debate with Motorcycles. That first link was from 2001. I'm curious if a more recent study has been completed and if the data has changed. I think that all will agree that in a head injury you have a better chance of survival with a helmet than without but again, i think it should be a personal choice whether you want to wear one or not. I don't think government should be dictating how we should live our lives. But people do need to take responsibility for their own actions and stop blaming the other guy (unless justified)
On the other hand, for minors/young people, i don't have a problem with a helmet law.
stevo401.7.08 - 11:09 am
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"I think that all will agree that in a head injury you have a better chance of survival with a helmet than without but again".
Personally I don't after reading helmet testing specs and how brain injuries occur. It's physically impossible for the limited amount of padding in a bicycle helmet to reduce g-forces enough to prevent fatal or life-threatening brain injuries. Motorists have suffered serious brain injury just from severe whiplash. It's all about the how much the brain sloshes around in the skull, and bicycle helmets do nothing to prevent that.
toweliesbong01.7.08 - 11:20 am
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which is why we should all be wearing motorcycle helmets while riding our bicycles
spiraldemon01.7.08 - 11:22 am
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I bet Richie think's Helmets are AOK...
stevo401.7.08 - 11:24 am
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You may be correct Towlie but (and this is where i'm weak in debating cuz i don't have the proof in data to supply here) but common sense to me says i'd rather have some protection than none. Maybe the helmet doesn't come into play in most incidents, but that one time it does, it could save my life or at least costly hospital bills. But everyone has their own comfort levels.
stevo401.7.08 - 11:30 am
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Fluffer is the Poster Child for Helmet Use.
Joe Borfo01.7.08 - 12:07 pm
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it's not the amount of "padding" in a helmet that can help to prevent injuries - it's the fact that the foam is designed to internally crumple, spreading the force of the impact outward from the initial point of contact, reducing the chances of injury resulting from focused force.
that's the way it works w/ motorcycle helmets anyway, so i'd assume that bicycle helmets are designed similarly. also, if you ever drop a helmet or crash with it, chances are the foam will be damaged or weakened, making it less effective, so even if the helmet looks ok from the outside, it is a good idea to replace it.
i'm with stevo - it's a personal decision, not one the government or anyone else should be making for you. i also agree that any protection is better than no protection, especially when spending a night w/ fluffa's mom.
trekkie01.7.08 - 12:17 pm
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I know one guy who ended up having a year long recovery for a head injury that a helmet would have seriously helped with according to the doctors who treated him.
another girl who ended up with staples in her head - doctor said a helmet would have helped.
I used to not wear a helmet for years, until I realized I'm not invincible, and that even though it's rare I hit my head when I fall, my head is too important not to give itt that extra inch of foam and plastic padding if/when it does hit the pacement.
to each their own and I've heard the arguments for not wearing helmets for years, but with the amount of shit that happens on roads - honestly, I think it's stupid.
redridinghood01.7.08 - 12:30 pm
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"it's not the amount of "padding" in a helmet that can help to prevent injuries - it's the fact that the foam is designed to internally crumple, spreading the force of the impact outward from the initial point of contact, reducing the chances of injury resulting from focused force. "
Understood, but:
1) There is so little foam in a bicycle helmet there is only an infinitesimal chance that the crumpling of it will slow the deceleration of the brain enough to prevent serious injury.
2) Reducing focused force only prevents superficial wounds. As noted before the G-forces involved in the sudden deceleration of the brain can cause fatal brain injury without so much as a scratch on the head.
toweliesbong01.7.08 - 12:31 pm
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"another girl who ended up with staples in her head - doctor said a helmet would have helped. "
Absolutely no question about that.
toweliesbong01.7.08 - 12:32 pm
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Towliesbong.... You look Marvelous.. Absolutely Mah-Velous.
Joe Borfo01.7.08 - 12:39 pm
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I didn't start wearing a helmet until just over a year ago; heck, when I was growing up back in the 20th century bicycle helmets didn't exist! I was pretty reluctant at first, figuring I'd gone all those years without one and my head was still relatively intact. When I started riding more & more I often saw a look of concern pass across my wife's face as I was going out the door with my bare head (you learn to read those looks after 30 years or so). So I figured even if I wasn't convinced about wearing a helmet for my own safety, or thinking it made me look even dorkier, or not wanting the inconvenience, I owed it to my loved ones for their peace of mind.
It took me a while, but I got into the habit and finally I'm glad I did. I had a crash (witnessed by some of the ridazz here) that wouldn't have killed me or probably even put me in the hospital, but it would have been enough to give my a nasty bump and maybe a concussion.
I'm sold on the idea of wearing my helmet now, but it's not something that I'd try to force on anyone; it's something you should come to for your own reasons when you're good & ready.
mr rollers01.7.08 - 1:41 pm
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I don't value my life.
kyber01.7.08 - 1:45 pm
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I think wearing helmets should be voluntary, just like I believe that seat belts should be voluntary as well. I wear a helmet, because it reduces the risk of head injury. Just like wearing a condom reduces the risk of STD infection or unwanted pregnancy. Nothing is 100%, it is all about reducing the risk.
Look, if people want to risk having their gray matter splattered all over the asphalt, that is their choice. It's Darwinian. The smart will survive.
No law or government should mandate your existence...you are responsible for your own survival.
skd01.7.08 - 1:55 pm
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I don't think the amount of g-forces are infintesimally small in comparing a crash with and without a helmet. Test it if you have no regard for your life. Put a helmet on, drop a cider block from say one-two feet. Now try it without a helmet. You honestly think that the helmet isn't distributing the mass of the block? Again, neither of us have data, but there are a lot more reasons to wear one then not I think.
Besides preventing head injury, I can see it helping prevent neck injury by stopping your neck from whipping around even further on a crash. Also, ppl have already mentioned loss of skin, adding staples, ect.
Totally personal choice and I chose to not always wear one, especially if I'm only riding up to the store or something (just one more thing to carry around). But when I'm putting myself into uncontrolled circumstances like riding with traffic, I will almost always wear one. I don't care if it's not stylish - as bikers, we're know for wearing spandex anyways. If you care, then why not rock a tux? Maybe a top hat? I heard monocles are making a comeback too...
DetroitRider01.7.08 - 2:05 pm
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Focusing on helmets distracts people from what's more likely to actually save their lives: Learning how to ride safely.
bicyclesafe.com
thinkpeace01.7.08 - 2:58 pm
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I must say, when I flew thru that motherfuckers windshield back in August I wasnt wearing my helmet like a complete dumbass. I was pulling glass out of my head for 3 days. I feel lucky that i didnt end up more fucked up than I already am.
I wear my helmet 95% of the time to help reduce my risk of contracting STD's and unwanted pregnancies.
jchungerford01.7.08 - 3:06 pm
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"I wear my helmet 95% of the time to help reduce my risk of contracting STD's and unwanted pregnancies."
Finally some common sense!
Joe Borfo01.7.08 - 3:07 pm
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makes a lot of since, watch out and you don't crash, simple
eddieboyinla01.7.08 - 4:52 pm
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Also in Amsterdam, it's totally flat and most people only ride 8-10 mph and with tons of other cyclists around.
Here you ride alone a lot and faster. I bet most of you average around 12-15 mph. Going to work on Silver Lake I go about 25-30 on the slight downhill without much effort. At those speeds I want a helmet.
cabhauler01.7.08 - 4:59 pm
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thinkpeace,
i totally agree w/ putting a focus on riding safely, but that doesn't at all logically detract from the
recommendation to wear a helmet. the two are totally separate recommendations.
nobody is saying, "it's ok to ride like an ass as long as you have a helmet on," and i don't think the majority of riders feels like they don't have to focus more on safety if they are wearing a helmet.
trekkie01.7.08 - 5:00 pm
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Yeah, who focuses on a helmet?
While riding: *wow...this helmet is great...I'm invincible....and the chicks dig it....yeah, she looked at me.....sweet.....all because this helmet....hmm, it's kinda riding a little high on my head.....gotta let go of the bar and move it down.....there we go.....yeeea, now the ladies will really dig me....*
Gotta say, that only happens to me every OTHER time I ride.
I think everyone should read up on biking safety and rules and realize that we share the road, as much as we want to own the hell out of it. And I highly doubt most sensible people would do something with a helmet on the road they wouldn't normally do without one. Cept when drinking or when someone dares me to.
Double Dog Dares get me every time....
DetroitRider01.7.08 - 5:27 pm
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I think it does detract from conversations on safety when 90% of the bike safety discussion is about helmets.
People may disagree on the value of helmets, but the evidence is clear, learning safe cycling techniques is far more important.
What about discussing the methods of avoiding getting doored, or avoiding the 'Right-hook' - some of the more common ways to get hit by a car?
thinkpeace01.7.08 - 5:32 pm
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I personally don't know anyone or have ever met anyone who takes a safety conversation away from
riding safely and points it toward
just wear a helmet.
i get your point but i don't think the two topics are mutually exclusive.
trekkie01.7.08 - 5:41 pm
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That may be true, but on this "Safety is Sexy" thread, helmet discussion seems to dominate.
thinkpeace01.7.08 - 6:12 pm
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that's because that is what the safety is sexy campaign is all about. But being a better defensive biker is something everyone should strive to be.
stevo401.7.08 - 6:22 pm
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Your right, the campaign is about wearing a helmet. They should've made the campaign called Biking Safe is Sexy.
For me, ladies on bikes are hot, especially when they take the lane when it's the safe thing to do!
thinkpeace01.7.08 - 6:37 pm
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"Ladies on bikes are hot,"
true dat!
Joe Borfo01.7.08 - 10:16 pm
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what is this thread about? I just smashed my head on the pavement and can't really read anymore. It does have my name in it.
it does say Sexy right?
sexy01.8.08 - 5:22 am
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Oh where, Oh Where is Borfo with his 'end of thread' post when its finally needed?
stevo401.8.08 - 8:16 am
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http://www.bicycle.net/2007/giro-helmet-helps-saves-man-head-when-he-gets-run-over-by-truck/
adrian01.8.08 - 1:37 pm
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-->
Ridazz Roulette!
wish I was wearing a helmet when I crashed
Unless of course.....