The whole helmet issue is not one on which I have strong opinions either way, sometimes I wear one, sometimes i don't. However, that is not to say I don't have a view on the compulsion issue to which I am strongly opposed.
I do however believe helmets can do more good than harm, a 40mm thick lump of polystyrene foam will crush and absorb considerable energy that may otherwise be absorbed by the skull in the event of a blow to the head, maybe only in certain circumstances and maybe only at low speed but I would rather be wearing one if I hit my head.
I don't think anyone can seriously argue that the weight presents a whiplash hazard, my fairly cheap helmet weighs under 200g, only 50g more than my non-protective waxed cotton hat. Even my ordinary woolly hat weighs 100g!
Likewise I don't think there is a serious argument that the helmet could catch things in the event of a slide, if it did, in many cases chunks of the helmet would simply break away. Cycle helmets are very weak other than in compression, it's very easy to rip one to pieces with ones fingers.
There is also the question of why professional racers wear helmets, they don't normally carry anything that serves no purpose and would jump at the chance to save a couple of hundred grams, some of it may be aerodynamics and some of it may be a place to stick the sponsors name, but surely that could be achieved with just the outer shell at a fraction of the weight.
Finally there is the fact that a helmet can help keep ones head warm, which is my main reason for wearing one in winter, and the reason I don't usually wear one in summer.
I'm certainly not advocating that people should wear helmets, merely stating that I feel that some of the arguments against are a bit flimsy. To me the fact that a helmet may be uncomfortable or may otherwise detract from the pleasure of cycling is a perfectly good reason for not wearing one.
I do however believe helmets can do more good than harm, a 40mm thick lump of polystyrene foam will crush and absorb considerable energy that may otherwise be absorbed by the skull in the event of a blow to the head, maybe only in certain circumstances and maybe only at low speed but I would rather be wearing one if I hit my head.
I don't think anyone can seriously argue that the weight presents a whiplash hazard, my fairly cheap helmet weighs under 200g, only 50g more than my non-protective waxed cotton hat. Even my ordinary woolly hat weighs 100g!
Likewise I don't think there is a serious argument that the helmet could catch things in the event of a slide, if it did, in many cases chunks of the helmet would simply break away. Cycle helmets are very weak other than in compression, it's very easy to rip one to pieces with ones fingers.
There is also the question of why professional racers wear helmets, they don't normally carry anything that serves no purpose and would jump at the chance to save a couple of hundred grams, some of it may be aerodynamics and some of it may be a place to stick the sponsors name, but surely that could be achieved with just the outer shell at a fraction of the weight.
Finally there is the fact that a helmet can help keep ones head warm, which is my main reason for wearing one in winter, and the reason I don't usually wear one in summer.
I'm certainly not advocating that people should wear helmets, merely stating that I feel that some of the arguments against are a bit flimsy. To me the fact that a helmet may be uncomfortable or may otherwise detract from the pleasure of cycling is a perfectly good reason for not wearing one.
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