I don't get people's resistance to helmets!

[mimitabby]

Shawn, unfortunately, we DO pay. Everytime a motorcyclist (or bicyclist)
exercises his freedom and liberty by getting maimed in an accident by not wearing a helmet, WE pay because once they can't take care of themselves, the government writes them a disability check and WE pay for that.

[bmccasland]

I also got a Buff and use that every day.... Going home I just put my hair back in a ponytail and put the whole lot in the Buff under my helmet.

slight thread hijack...

Python,
How does the buff fit under your helmet? Does it make things too tight? Or am I going to have to reajust the straps?

Right now my hair is long enough to wear in a pony tail, but when I go get it trimmed, there are these little whispy bits that drive me crazy, sneaking out from under the helmet.

and back on topic....

Yes, I wear mine when I ride my road bike. Got to admit I've been bad when I ride my cruser in the neighborhood and not wear it then. Louisiana state law require kids to wear helmets all the time (not sure of the age cut off) while biking.

[missymaya]

My buff works pretty well for me and keeps it all in place, but this is coming from a woman with short hair.
As for helmets, I think they rock

[LadyinWhite]

I have shoulder length very thick hair. I hated tying it up in a ponytail and trying to get it to work with the helmet. The buff works perfectly, I don't even feel it.

On mother's day I was toodling around the neighborhood street testing out my new Sidi's. I had no helmet on. My neighbor's were all heading out for a family ride - only the littlest one was wearing a helmet. I said to their teenage son "Where is your helmet!!"

He just laughed and said "Where is yours??"



I ~always~ wear a helmet and had, in fact, worn it earlier that day while testing the sidis. Here was the ONE time I had it off and it came back to haunt me.

Sheesh.

[Python]

slight thread hijack...

Python,
How does the buff fit under your helmet? Does it make things too tight? Or am I going to have to reajust the straps?

The Buff's so thin you don't have to adjust your helmet straps at all. My ears suffer badly with the sun and itch terribly no matter how much sun-block I put on. The Buff has helped to stop that. There are many ways you can wear it - and it takes care of the wispy bits of hair (I have a lot of wispy bits). You can also wet it and wring it out to help keep your head cool.

Have a look at their site and the video. Probably the most useful item of clothing you could have in your wardrobe. Here's me with mine (and helmet).







And if it's cold and you don't want to breathe in cold air...



Have a look at "The Original Buff Video". Shows you how to wear it (and it's quite amusing)

http://www.buffwear.com/waystowear.html

Sorry about the further thread hijack

[mimitabby]

great pictures, Python!

[Python]

Thanks Mimi Sometimes it's easier to show someone how something works than try to explain it.

[RoadRaven]

Kit and Python... I agree - so easy to "sort" one's hair out once at work.
If I don't have time for a shower when I get there, I have "fudge" which I scooch through my hair after I have wet it from water in the bathroom.
Easy. (Actually, just talking about 'products' - I have just bought one called 'CurlzRok' and thats neat - wipe is thinly through my longer locks and my hair goes wild and unruly - love it!)

Veronica, absolutely in agreement with you about helmet choice. The wearing of a helmet does not change or alter the cyclists ability or reality of being a cyclist. And I think of Le tour, and the hill climbs, where the lads have been allowed to throw their helmets away because it gets so hot... does that mean those in the Tour are not real cyclists...?
We have a cyclist here in the Bay who never wears a helmet - he's an older guy, probably into retirement now. He bikes long distances, though he does not come to our club (he would have to wear a helmet). If he had to wear a helmet, he would not ride. I understand he is claustrophobic... I'd rather see him ride than not at all.

Mimi, I also agree with you in that it costs us - and more than in just a crash and the attendant health/rehab costs. Children model themselves on adult behaviour and this is how I approach the topic with non-helmet wearing cyclists. You see, it is law here to wear helmets and I suggest that these people are modeling illegal behaviour to children. And also modeling to children that to break the law is ok when it suits you.
So it costs us in social attitude and 'un-awareness'.

We have many rights taken away from us in my country, and sometimes a government actually work FOR the people...

We must wear seatbelts in cars
We must travel our children in the rear seat of a vehicle unless there is no seat belt available there
We must not drink alcohol above the 'legal limit' and then drive a vehicle
We must never smoke cigarettes inside in public areas/facilities
We must wear helmets - on motorised and human-powered bicylces

[indysteel]

Let me again clarify that I don't think and haven't said that wearing a helmet is a reflection of a cyclist's ability or legitimacy. However, I think most of us can agree that for the vast majority of cyclists (who are not on Le Tour btw) under the vast majority of conditions, helmets are a smart choice. Not the only choice, but a smart one. I barely notice my own helmet, so it's hard for me to contemplate a situation where I wouldn't just wear it. I'm not a fate tempter by nature though.

Veronica, I'm sorry that you've taken offense to my comments. I meant no disrespect to your friends. For those cyclists out there who choose to forego a helmet, either generally or under specific conditions, then that is their prerogative. While I do not agree with their decision, I do agree, that short of a law requiring helmets, it's their decision to make. I also think, however, as RoadRaven and others have pointed out, that there are legitimate concerns beyond personal choice that should be considered.

I stand by my mantra to new/inexperienced cyclists regarding the importance of wearing a helmet. I feel some "responsibility" as a more experienced cyclist to disabuse them of their notions that accidents can't unless they're on the road in thick traffic. And more than anything I would like to encourage them to prioritize their health and safety over their hair. The minute they offer a better reasoned argument than flat bangs, I'll shut the hell up.

[farrellcollie]

I generally wear a helmet. I do not care if others do or not. I feel the same way about other things I do not do such as smoking, motorcycle riding, bungee jumping, sky diving, and running with scissors. I do think that there is a rush to over-protect ourselves and children these days (and less chance that natural selection will work). Generally I believe that life is not safe and no one gets out of it alive so take responsibility for one's own self based on the risks you find acceptable and go on. I, for example, tend to eat anything in the refridgerator that is not furry, green, or really stinky - expiration dates be damned. (I live on the edge)

[Veronica]

I wasn't offended.

There are so many threads here on TE where someone is "ranting"about feeling like others have judged them. I simply wanted to point out that helmet usage is not an indicator of cycling ability and don't use the lack of a helmet to judge someone.

I'm also not saying cyclists shouldn't wear helmets.

V.

[Jolt]

The Buff's so thin you don't have to adjust your helmet straps at all. My ears suffer badly with the sun and itch terribly no matter how much sun-block I put on. The Buff has helped to stop that. There are many ways you can wear it - and it takes care of the wispy bits of hair (I have a lot of wispy bits). You can also wet it and wring it out to help keep your head cool.

That Buff looks like a good idea--where do you get them? And can it be worn like you had yours but with the ears out? I'm not crazy about having my ears covered unless it's really cold out. Another thing that works decently for the wispy bits (I have a lot of them too, and it drives me nuts!) is a bandanna. I've tried that and it doesn't seem to affect the fit of the helmet.

[Python]

You can get Buffs through the Buffs website (I put the link in my previous post). They're also sold at most motorbike shops and some camping shops too. I've only got the one at the moment but am going to add a few more to my wardrobe as they're so good.

[Eden]

go to the dentist, don't exercise, etc.?

I have a great deal of respect for the cyclists I was riding with. They are not stupid or irrespsonsible people. They have incredible bike handling skills. They have evaluated the risks and decided that they don't always need helmets. It has nothing to do with being "cool" either for these people.

Personally my reasons for wearing a helmet are not because I consider myself to be a poor bike handler or accident prone, nor do I wear a seat belt because I am a poor driver. I do both of these to protect myself from *other* people and from the completely unexpected that can happen no matter how good you think you are.
If you have decided that risking a greater chance of death or life long disability is better than wearing a helmet so be it. If you honestly think that you are accident proof because you are a good cyclist then I think you are deluding yourself. Yes, you can still be killed or injured when wearing a helmet, but I prefer to protect myself as best as is possible. Even if helmets aren't perfect they are better than nothing - and wearing one does not make me any less cautious, as I really like the rest of my body parts in their current configuration too...

[Veronica]

Ahhh... the joys of the Internet.

My point...

Don't judge someone as a cyclist based on what they wear. That's all. My only issue was with the comment about a helmet making you a legitimate rider.

To be honest... the holier than attitude bugs me too. Personal responsibility, I like to make own informed choices rather than have a nanny state.

BTW if you look at the hundreds of pictures of me on our website, please take note of the bright pink helmet.

Although when I am climbing Mount Diablo and it's 85+ degrees I do take off my helmet. For the record there have been no bicycle accidents while climbing Mount Diablo. The Park Service keeps the statistics of bicycle accidents on the mountain.

V.