I am mainly concerned about head injuries on bikes because of gettin hit by cars. What is the way to properly wear a helmet and the way to keep your head cool? I dont wear a helmet cause it is hot here in Texas. And they way they show you to wear it it highly uncomfortable. I tend to ride not to fast to avoid falling too hard.
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Re: Wearing a helmet
Sat, March 8, 2008 - 1:46 PMYeah, is is hot down that way. Coolness comes from having enough vents so that the air stream flows over your head. Hopefully, those vents will be built so that the sun overhead will not also hit your cranium. Check for that. A visor might help a bit, too. You should be wearing the helmet far forward - further forward than you'd think at first. A couple three links:
Iwww.wellmark.com/health_im...sition.htm
www.pamf.org/health/spec...helmets.html
www.cbcef.org/pdf/helmet_brochure.pdf
From my own experience, my helmet was the difference between having my head kissing the concrete, being out for some number of seconds but later being able to relate "i've been there" and something far more serious. **it happens, no matter how hard you try, and you never know when.
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Re: Wearing a helmet
Sat, March 8, 2008 - 6:50 PM"I tend to ride not to fast to avoid falling too hard."
I understand the desire here, but I don't think it works that way. I had a friend fall and hit his head simply by twisting his ankle standing on a curb while hailing a cab. Falling from his 5'10" +/- height and hitting his head on the curb just right was enough to cause severe brain damage and, after a few days, death. The doctor said falling from a chair (just that height!) would have been enough force to kill him, too. It really matters where and what the head hits. That accident made me want to wear my bike helmet everywhere all the time! Obviously that was a freak accident, the kind of thing that doesn't happen every day. But people fall from bikes all the time. I'm glad you are considering wearing a helmet. -
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Re: Wearing a helmet
Sat, March 8, 2008 - 8:41 PMcan't wait till the weather clears up for bike riding
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Wearing a helmet
Sat, March 8, 2008 - 8:56 PMI'm not one for wearing a piss-bucket.
But one day, my chiropractor and massage therapist ganged-up on me and insisted I start wearing a helmet.
So I bought one.
The day after I bought the helmet, I had a crash that left lots of road rash on my skin....
My helmet hit the ground, but my head remained safe.
I bicycle nearly every day, but do not always wear a helmet.
It is great for safety. In reality, not all that uncomfortable compared to a disabling head injury. -
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Re: Wearing a helmet
Sun, March 9, 2008 - 1:25 PMKeep in mind you could be stopped at a light, or riding slowly, and an irresponsible driver can come barreling out of nowhere, take a sharp turn without looking and hit you. So even if you are not moving very fast, a car could be and send you flying. Heck, I almost got nailed the other day crossing a street with the walk signal by a very crazy woman making a turn who came within inches of hitting me. She thought it was funny. So if this is the attitude some drivers have towards pedestrians, imagine the callousness some have towards bicyclists with whom they are being asked to share the road.
I've had a couple of incidents over the years where my helmet saved me from a concussion. One involved a driver taking a left turn (with no signal on of course) and claimed not to see me at 9 am. Another involved a nasty run in with some train tracks (whose warning sign was obstructed by overgrown trees). In the second case I was going fast but in the first case I was not but the driver was.
If you're worried about keeping your head cool, try getting a bandana or head wrap/do-rag and soak it in really cold water before putting it on. If you don't soak it, a moisture-wicking do-rag is great for keeping sweat out of your eyes.
Plus, there are some nicer ones out there with great ventilation - the more racing styles are fairly well ventilated. It's worth the investment.
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Re: Wearing a helmet
Sun, March 9, 2008 - 8:55 PMBetter helmets tend to have more vents and will keep your head cooler. They also have adjustable headbands to keep the fit right. -
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Re: Wearing a helmet
Sun, March 9, 2008 - 9:31 PMFor Winter riding bike helmets tend to be problematic. Mine won't fit over most of my arctic type hats. Perhaps there are covers available for helmets for cold weather use. I had a motorcycle helmet, but never used it when riding the bike. I suppose one of those snow boarding helmets would do the job.
In the Summer my helmet doesn't provide enough sun protection for my neck, so I have to rely on SPF45 or attach a piece of cotton or linen around the edge. What I really need is a bike helmet with a brim. -
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Re: Wearing a helmet
Mon, March 10, 2008 - 8:36 AMI got a balaclava for cheap at a Performance shop right before the New Year. It works perfectly with a helmet on a cold day, especially covering the ears. And you can roll it up if it's not *that* cold but you still want something under the helmet.
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Re: Wearing a helmet
Mon, March 10, 2008 - 2:27 PMThe late Sheldon Brown had a system where he taped over the vents on his helmet in the winter. Just cutting the wind made it warmer. Of course, here in Florida we don't have that much of a problem with cold weather riding. -
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What! No Helmet?
Mon, March 10, 2008 - 4:21 PMCover that precious noggin silly!
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Re: Wearing a helmet
Mon, March 10, 2008 - 6:16 PMHey Jim ...
I use a stretch skull cap thing - same thing I use for winter running, actually. It' soo thin that you don't even have to readjust, and comes down low enough to cover your ears, but being thin and all, I can still hear !!!
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Re: Wearing a helmet
Sun, March 9, 2008 - 10:48 PMEveryone's already done a good job of pointing out WHY you should wear a helmet. I won't reiterate.
All you have to do is go to a large bike shop. Normally, I prefer smaller, mom and pop shops. But go to a Performance Bikes or some such, and check out the helmets. Lightweight, well vented, and not wallet-busting.
In this day and age, there's no reason you can't get a good helmet that is comfortable and functional.
As to the other questions: Yes, you can get a cover for your helmet while riding in winter. And you also can by a skull cap that is thin enough and breathable enough to wear under a helmet in summer to keep the sun off your scalp and neck. -
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Re: Wearing a helmet
Mon, March 10, 2008 - 1:54 PMIt's the never ending re-occuring topic of all bicycle tribes. Here's the link to our last thread on this subject:
tribes.tribe.net/fddabbea-...c477be540e
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Re: Wearing a helmet
Sat, May 10, 2008 - 9:32 PMYesterday I was saved from a very serious head injury and maybe even death because I was wearing my Giro Atmos. I am not in the habit of wearing my helmet...that's all changed now. I was moving at about 15 to 20 MPH on a sidewalk toward a corner. As I flew off the curb I slightly lifted my front wheel but when I landed my front wheel was a little crossed-up and I was off balance...I lost control and veered to the right. By this time I was already across the street and the next curb was on my right, I completely lost control and was thrown from my bike. At that moment I realized I was in deep shit because I was flying head-first toward a concrete bus-stop bench. I slammed into the corner of that concrete bench first with my head and then my body. I was momentarily stunned and scared knowing that I must have suffered serious injuries. I was wrong. I stood up, picked up my bike and then sat on that bench for about 10 minutes. I realized that I was OK , I mean totally OK. I was sore and had a few scrapes on my hand, knee and back but that was all. I started laughing out of sheer joy, knowing that the helmet I was now holding in my hands had just saved my life. It's an amazing experience and I am so glad to live to tell. You never know when you may be involved in an accident.....it's freaky. Be prepared. Wear your helmet friends. -
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Re: Wearing a helmet
Sun, May 11, 2008 - 5:38 AMThis page has a timeline and chart of helmet laws in America.
www.helmets.org/mandator.htm
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Re: Wearing a helmet
Sun, May 11, 2008 - 4:21 PMAnother lives to ride again. Blessings!
Seriously, this sounds like it could have been a nasty one. What's the helmet like? Pic?
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Re: Wearing a helmet
Sun, May 11, 2008 - 6:36 PMI love my Nutcase helmet. Very comfortable (and looks cute too!)
This one's mine: www.nutcasehelmets.com/popups...st.html
I'm saving up for a RetroVelo bike in pastel green to match! retrovelo.de/
Clever Cycles, here in Portland sells them.
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Re: Wearing a helmet
Thu, May 15, 2008 - 6:35 PMits a challenge. even the nicest helmet is hotter than no helmet. being, like many posters, a member of the " it saved my brain" club, i never ride anywhere without my helmet. you cant plan your accident, and when it happens, many are over in one second. no time to plan your landing..
so... dont scrimp on your helmet. My sister and I both had saved by helmet accidents within 6 months of each other. I would wear a full face one if i could find one that doesnt obstruct visibility for me. . The best helmets have the adjustable headband, the best venting. and look the hottest..dont fool yourself, you WANT to look good...
After a while, you will feel naked riding without your helmet.You will get used to it, and it will become part of the uniform of the safe rider. I wont even leave it off for the World Naked Bike Ride..
