Helmets

[horserider]

Hi,

I ride horses, but a lot (not all) people who ride horses wear equestrain safety helmets. I always wear a helmet whenever I ride a horse. I was wondering do you guys always wear a helmet whenever you bike? If you pay more do you get more in a bike helmet? If you bought a bike helmet that made you look "cool" would you be more inclined to wear it? Also are there any standards that helmets need to be certified by? I am just wondering these things since horse riding and bike riding both involve wearing helmets.



horserider

[makbike]

Horserider, I never get on my bike without my helmet properly placed and secured on my head just as I never drive my car without my seatbelt buckled. Both devices are designed to save my life in the event of an accident and therefore I use them to the best of my abilities. When I first started riding back in the 1980's I remember visiting a bike shop. The owner, a gentle man, asked me if I had a helmet. I honestly replied "no." He asked me if I liked my brain and I replied "yes." He then went on to say - if you have a wreck I can fix anything that gets bent or broken on your bike but if you don't wear a helmet the doctors won't be able to do the same for your brain. I purchased a helmet and the rest is history.

Fast forward to two years ago, a student in my school was out riding her ATV she took her eyes off the road, went down a ravine, hit a rock and drove her head into a tree. She suffered major brain injuries and though she has made amazing progress she will never be the same and her future has forever been changed. Why take the chance? I can't help but wonder if her injuries would have been far less severe had she had a helmet on her head. It is a question that can't be answered but in my heart I feel I know the answer and it is simply "yes."

Okay, I'll get off my soap box.

[horserider]

i will never ever ride any horse without a helmet. for my birthday i got a pretty serious helmet, i look cool in it so that will be more of a incentive for me to wear it. it does fit properly. i don't ride bikes but if i ever do i will wear a helmet.



horserider

[KnottedYet]

I wear a helmet every time and for every ride.

I've had one accident (involving a car) without a helmet, and never want to do that again. Ever.

[Zen]

Don't get us started on helmets again:eek:

Try a search on this forum for helmets, see what you come up with.

Everyone wears a helmet, helmets have to pass safety standards, and you don't necessarily get a more protective helmet just because you paid more for it.

[rij73]

I took a little fall last weekend that could have been worse had it not been for my helmet. Wear one every time you go out... period.

All helmets on the market are certified. Spending more gets you lighter weight and more ventilation - not more safety.

[bmccasland]

Since we're on the subject of helmets.... Do they have a life span? A "use by" date? Not that I'm looking to spend more money at my LBS ;)

I prefer to keep my brain safely tucked under my skull, and unscrambled.

[KnottedYet]

I've heard lots of "use by" dates, most often I hear 3 years.

[Zen]

If it has a Perot for President sticker on it you can buy a new one.

[TrekJeni]

I've heard lots of "use by" dates, most often I hear 3 years.

KnottedYet is right. The League of American Bicylists recommends a new helmet every three years. Funny, I'm a LAB certified instructor and one of my fellow classmates called all the manufactures to get the "real scoop". Seems they all have different opinions. Some said the materials would break down if left in a hot car, others not. Some said the three years starts the day it's made, others said the day someone buys it. Regardless, the rule of thumb is 3 years.

More importantly, a crash over 18 miles an hour will likely cause head trama if not protected. Well, some people don't have to worry right, cause they're on the trail noodling along at 8-10 mph. WRONG. The speed at which your head hits the ground from STANDING still from a fall is approx 18 mph! So, you are at a stop, you clip out, you lean to the wrong side, you hit your head on the curb, you have successfully had an 18 mph crash. Get a new helmet!!!!!!!!!!

Besides they come in such great colors!

Oh, and I also wear my Troxel helmet while horseback riding EVERY time I ride. I've been to the hospital once for a fall, that was enough for me!

Jeni

[indysteel]

Don't get us started on helmets again:eek:


Yes, let's not get into that debate again.

In addition to the three-year general rule for replacing helmets, I'd add that you should get a new one if your helmet sustains an impact during a crash. Even if it looks "fine" to your naked eye, I've been repeatedly told that it should be replaced.

[ehirsch83]

hey horserider!
I also ride horses,h/j, and I will admit that I pick my helmets for both sports on how they look.
For the horses I have a GPA because it looks the best in the show ring, it is an older one(probably 4 years now) and then for the bike I have a giro(which is like the bikers equivalent to the gpa). They all provide the same safety, but I prefer to spend a little more and look better.

[bmccasland]

Looks like I need to make my LBS happy and get a new helmet - the 3 year mark, NOT because of a crash.

um... last year I did do a face plant on the concrete steps at the office. Being a klutz, waiting to start a ride. But I did have on my helmet. Maybe my face plant would have been worse. Did sustain a broken nose. :rolleyes:

[brok]

Helmet everytime, always, no exceptions!! Reason - I had a friend who crashed at a slow 10 mph on a casual ride through a park. She hit her head on the curb so hard she cracked her helmet in 3 places. Had she not had it on she is convinced she would be dead. Like others have said, no sense taking a chance.

[horserider]

i do not want to get into a debate on helmets, i searched the form but i did not find what i was looking for



horserider

[Fredwina]

Hi,

I ride horses, but a lot (not all) people who ride horses wear equestrain safety helmets. I always wear a helmet whenever I ride a horse. I was wondering do you guys always wear a helmet whenever you bike? If you pay more do you get more in a bike helmet? If you bought a bike helmet that made you look "cool" would you be more inclined to wear it? Also are there any standards that helmets need to be certified by? I am just wondering these things since horse riding and bike riding both involve wearing helmets.

horserider
let's see if i can answer your questions:
1. always, religiously. I feel weird without one on.
2. A very good question! The answer is....
Maybe:o Generally, the more you pay, the more vents, pretty colors, and other nifty stuff you get. However with less vents, you get less foam, which is what actually does the impact protection. Consumer Reports did a test a few years back and a $30 Trek came out #1 in impact protection, beating out $150 ones - I usually go for $100 one, but I live on the edge of the California desert ( we got 40+ day of 100+ temps a year)
4. Cool? i'm Fredwina! "cool" escapes me! I usually go for one that look Cool tempurate wise (see my answer to your last question).
3. All Helmets sold in the US must pass CPSC(Consumer Products Safety Commission, aka your tax dollars at work) Not sure about outside of the US. CPSC certs started around y2k, so some people may talk about some "outdated" standards"

[horserider]

thanks everyone for answering my questions


horserider