Occasional or regular non-bike helmet cyclist?

[OakLeaf]

A friend of mine broke his ankle because he couldn't unclip while mountain biking - the bike went one way into a boulder; his foot was attached to the pedal, and ankle went a different way. OUCH!

I guess back in the days of toe clips, CX was almost unknown in the USA, and early mountain bikes used flat pedals. So there aren't too many off-road cyclists here who ever had to deal with toe clips.

If your friend had been using toe clips, would he have had time to reach down and loosen the strap? The procedure for getting out of a clipless pedal is ALWAYS quicker and safer than getting out of a toe clip, simply because it doesn't involve your hands! Obviously with either system, there are times when someone doesn't or can't get their foot out fast enough, but being able to keep both hands on the bars to brake and steer makes clipless a whole lot safer.

IAE, it sounds like he didn't land on his head at all, and I'm glad for that. Hope his ankle is healing/has healed well!

[shootingstar]

emilync: When we are in Belize, do I wear a helmet and thus immediately put a label on myself of "different", "outsider", "ex-pat", "gringo", and, quite possibly "rich"; or do I do ride sans helmet in order to fit in and live as the locals and not appear ostentatious? For safety purposes, a helmet is obviously the way to go; but there are cultural issues at play that are very different from those where I live now.

Emily you will be noticeable as a non-local --no matter what you wear....how you walk, your skin colour, your speech, etc.

A rule of thumb: If you were moderately injured does your health care insurance cover yourself? Is there excellent, comprehensive medical care in Belize for significant injuries, surgeries or would you have to be flown back to the U.S. My siser, ER doctor worked in the tiny Carribbean island of Dominica for 4 months as part of program for medical care in daveloping countries, where it's very rugged and local medical care very sparse. Not enough good road access.

Then I would wear my helmet if I knew I could not get the same level of comprehensive care as I would get in a major city in Canada.

If people think I sound whatever...this what I personally know:
a cousin, a strong swimmer who drowned off the coast of California at age 18 yrs.
a sister of a close, long-time friend who drowned by a beach in Acapulco --a rip tide pulled her out as she walked along a beach
her 55 yr. mother hit and died in car accident as a pedestrian

and so on. Of course I hear some stories from ER sister-doctor.


I don't get paranoid but I value my life and its quality long-term.

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks to everyone who posted about my helmet dilemma. Many good points were raised and some I had not really considered before. To clarify, this would be riding a beach cruiser bike, single speed, slowly, mostly on unpaved roads or beaches, totally flat. But I could certainly be hit by a car when riding on the road, even though there are many fewer of them than on the US roads I ride.

I've actually been on web sites looking at urban helmets, which I think would be less conspicuous, but the problem that a couple folks alluded to is that they are barely vented, and Belize is hot and sunny. The ideal helmet would probably have many vents and be white, but also have a brim to help with the sunshine.

I agree with those who say that I should not attempt to convert the locals, and I won't. That's not my style, and attempting to bring in or import a boatload of helmets would be difficult in a third-world country as well. We'll be on an island, and helmets aren't even sold in stores there. I also think, like crankin's experience, that the locals might reject them out of course. It's just not part of their culture.

Yes, I know I'll look different even without a helmet, but wearing one just increases the level of perceived difference.

Shootingstar's point about medical care in case of an accident is a very important one. The medical care in Belize is fairly basic, and serious injuries could require a trip to Mexico or even back to the US. That might be reason enough to override all else and wear a helmet no matter what the down side.

Thank you all!

[blackhillsbiker]

In all my crashes, I've noticed that my neck is not strong enough to keep the side of my head from hitting the pavement. I've cracked 2 helmets and dented a third. One crash was for no good reason (I'm still not sure what happened), one was cornering too quickly on ice, and one was being hit by a turning truck. I don't want to decide anything for anyone else, but I won't ride without a helmet. I know they can't prevent any injury, but I also am glad that the crack was in my helmet and not my skull.

I just bought my daughter a new bike, and a very cute new helmet. It's one of the retro-rounded ones. Goes well with her Townie. She's seen my cracked ones. She didn't want to leave the LBS without a helmet.

Just my .02¢

Deb

[chicago]

Never wore a helmet as a kid, noone did... born in 1962... a kid in the 70's, wearning helmets was just not the thing to do...

As an adult, I do wear a helmet when I ride... however my fiance does not. His choice. There are people who get really upset about it, I tell them he's an adult and can make his own choices. They ask what kind of example is he setting for others... I tell them "I can only do my best to set a good example for me... what my fiance does is his choice, I have no control over that". He's a good man... I don't like the fact that he doesn't wear a helmet, but it's not a deal breaker for me. Some people get really upset about that, and that's their choice too.