helmets

[Eden]

try this web site
http://www.helmets.org/stats.htm

personally I think the table with the number of deaths for helmet wearing riders v/s non-helmet wearing riders speaks volumes. In all of the years no more than 10% of deaths were helmeted riders, in many it was fewer than 5%.

[smilingcat]

Wear ANSI/SNELL approved helmet. They have several test criteria before any new helmet is approved. And yes it has save my life on two separate occasions.

Orange County Classic. Hot summer day and got dropped when I developed a stich in my calf. So turned it into a "fun" ride. Flew over my handlebar from inattention to the road around 30MPH (bit of downhill) Shattered my right collar bone and concussion. Helmet was totally crushed. The hard plastic outer layer was gouged and foam core was crushed and cracked. 20 years ago?? thereabouts.

Second one was about 8 years ago now. Bad training day. have ZERO memory of the day or the week afterward. And sketchy for month afterwards. I was told that I was having a bad day and called it quits early. One of the male rider accompanied me back to the car. I didn't make it. They said I hit a block of black top protruding on the road. They said I was only doing 25-27MPH (bit of downhill again). After 8 years, I still have no memory or how long I stayed at the hospital. I have some recollection of beeping sound when the room was dark and people fussing with me. Neurosurgeon told me to hang up my cleats for good cause no next time for me.

I'm stupid so I still ride. I love my brain bucket!! Will not leave house without one!!

The helmet standards were developed carfully and checked to make sure your head is protected.

I know of several others who are still alive today because their helmet protected them. They were all going near 30MPH when they crashed.

wear an ANSI/SNELL approved helmet. It saves lives. And wear them properly!!

smilingcat

[wolfak]

Am I just not looking in the right places? With horses, I was able to check out quite a lot of very interesting research into riding accidents and brain injuries; I don't seem to find that sort of thing with bicycles.

A lot of bike accidents where the rider is helmeted, but uninjured are simply not reported. No data often means less conclusive evidence. The materials testing that is done during manufacture, is quite interesting. Generally, they place a helmet on a swinging orb, and smash it against flat and angular (curbed) concrete forms - the description makes me think of the contraptions that are built on MythBusters on Discovery Channel.