MSN News - Cycling helmets are useless says neurosurgeon
Discussion
Hey Festival speakers do like a bit of controversy - another claimed last week that within a few years Britainwill return to a nation of a few Lords owning all the land / houses and the rest of us living in servitude.
I'm not a neuroscienst, but I met one after my big off a few years ago and the first thing he asked was "were you wearing a helmet?" And reckoned the difference between people who crash with, or without one was huge for head injuries - although it won't help you much if a car hits you at 40mph.
I'm not a neuroscienst, but I met one after my big off a few years ago and the first thing he asked was "were you wearing a helmet?" And reckoned the difference between people who crash with, or without one was huge for head injuries - although it won't help you much if a car hits you at 40mph.
They might not make much difference if a car hits you, but most of my crashes are when I'm either racing XC or cyclocross, and while my helmet might not have saved my life it has absorbed many a small incident that would have left me with a headache. Our youth went one better when he was run over by the lad following him, his helmet had an imprint of a chainring in the side of it, saving him a few stitches.
For road riding the benefits might be less defined.
For road riding the benefits might be less defined.
Its worrying when general statistics become the method of determining whether a specific safety device is worthless or useful.
I like my helmet. It protected my head when hit by a car head on (at low speed before it sounds too dramatic). It didnt help my shoulder which was painful for about 8 months. I still suffered injuries though my head happily bounced off the bonnet with no issue at all.
I'll continue to wear a helmet thanks as my brain is rather important to me.
I like my helmet. It protected my head when hit by a car head on (at low speed before it sounds too dramatic). It didnt help my shoulder which was painful for about 8 months. I still suffered injuries though my head happily bounced off the bonnet with no issue at all.
I'll continue to wear a helmet thanks as my brain is rather important to me.
Batfink said:
Its worrying when general statistics become the method of determining whether a specific safety device is worthless or useful.
I like my helmet. It protected my head when hit by a car head on (at low speed before it sounds too dramatic). It didnt help my shoulder which was painful for about 8 months. I still suffered injuries though my head happily bounced off the bonnet with no issue at all.
I'll continue to wear a helmet thanks as my brain is rather important to me.
I'm hoping you've changed it since that I like my helmet. It protected my head when hit by a car head on (at low speed before it sounds too dramatic). It didnt help my shoulder which was painful for about 8 months. I still suffered injuries though my head happily bounced off the bonnet with no issue at all.
I'll continue to wear a helmet thanks as my brain is rather important to me.
I think it's more a feeling of protection more than anything. I feel quite exposed when I don't wear one.AyBee said:
I'm hoping you've changed it since that I think it's more a feeling of protection more than anything. I feel quite exposed when I don't wear one.
Indeed I did. Not a cheap helmet either. Shame the expensive one was the most comfortable fit lol I think it's more a feeling of protection more than anything. I feel quite exposed when I don't wear one.I certainly was a reluctant user of a bike helmet. I bought one to stop the missus worrying/moaning but it soon became habit. I certainly feel quite vulnerable not wearing one now.
Its personal choice as its not yet mandatory (which some may read into as "well the government don't see the benefit in making me wear one").
Personally I like wearing a lid, tree branches can scalp you - they dont hurt as much with a lid on.
My kids have both banged their heads on the floor falling off their bikes, both of them wear helmets - no injuries and back on their bikes in seconds afterwards.
Without a lid it would have been A&E.
Like I say, its personal choice live and let live.
Personally I like wearing a lid, tree branches can scalp you - they dont hurt as much with a lid on.
My kids have both banged their heads on the floor falling off their bikes, both of them wear helmets - no injuries and back on their bikes in seconds afterwards.
Without a lid it would have been A&E.
Like I say, its personal choice live and let live.
There's a certain large demographic that populate cycling forums that think helmets are useless and will cause more injuries in a crash than they prevent? Having seen the state of my 'flimsy' helmet after I came off a few years ago, I don't think I'd take the risk not wearing one. You only have one head and one chance at life so I'm not sure why there is so much hostility, I'd have thought it would be common sense but one can never underestimate stupidity.
I came off (big crash, MTB, off road) many years ago, and damaged my C6/C7 vertebrae.
A&E consultant asked "were you wearing a helmet?". I wasn't.
He said that it was highly likely that the damage was limited by NOT wearing a helmet on this particular occasion, and that the added depth of the helmet might have pushed my neck further, and I could have ended up quadriplegic. He then went on to say that he definitely wouldn't routinely advise against wearing a cycle helmet.
These days I always wear a helmet, glasses, and gloves as a minimum. I value my eyesight, hence the glasses. I don't relish the prospect of trying to ride with palms full of gravel if I do 'off', hence the gloves. The helmet? I've been clouted on the bonce too many times by branches, and once ignored a 'dismount' sign under a canal bridge that really did need a dismount. My helmet(/s) has(/have) saved me from many cuts, bruises and abrasions, so I continue to wear one. I try not to let my ambition exceed my ability, because I don't regard a helmet as a miraculous defence against serious head injuries, although I do believe they are likely to do more good than harm in a collision.
More than anything else, I'm very happy that I'm still allowed to choose for myself whether to wear one or not, although I am concerned that a certain element of 'contributory negligence' argument is slipping into court cases, and this might effectively end up as a 'compulsory helmet law' by stealth.
A&E consultant asked "were you wearing a helmet?". I wasn't.
He said that it was highly likely that the damage was limited by NOT wearing a helmet on this particular occasion, and that the added depth of the helmet might have pushed my neck further, and I could have ended up quadriplegic. He then went on to say that he definitely wouldn't routinely advise against wearing a cycle helmet.
These days I always wear a helmet, glasses, and gloves as a minimum. I value my eyesight, hence the glasses. I don't relish the prospect of trying to ride with palms full of gravel if I do 'off', hence the gloves. The helmet? I've been clouted on the bonce too many times by branches, and once ignored a 'dismount' sign under a canal bridge that really did need a dismount. My helmet(/s) has(/have) saved me from many cuts, bruises and abrasions, so I continue to wear one. I try not to let my ambition exceed my ability, because I don't regard a helmet as a miraculous defence against serious head injuries, although I do believe they are likely to do more good than harm in a collision.
More than anything else, I'm very happy that I'm still allowed to choose for myself whether to wear one or not, although I am concerned that a certain element of 'contributory negligence' argument is slipping into court cases, and this might effectively end up as a 'compulsory helmet law' by stealth.
I would hope this Neurosurgeon get suspended or fired, what a massive co*k!
We all know helmets are not intended to protect your head being run over by a bus, their point (which they are good at) it giving your brain a little extra padding after you've been knocked or fallen off as you bounce along the road/trail.
I also think they are excellent from a drivers perspective at differentiating between a pedestrian and cyclist at a distance behind parked cars- if I see a head with a foam mushroom attached I know its a bike and potentially doing 25-30mph not a person crossing the road.
Irrespective its not law so we can choose, but to actively discourage their use it pretty poor form IMO.
We all know helmets are not intended to protect your head being run over by a bus, their point (which they are good at) it giving your brain a little extra padding after you've been knocked or fallen off as you bounce along the road/trail.
I also think they are excellent from a drivers perspective at differentiating between a pedestrian and cyclist at a distance behind parked cars- if I see a head with a foam mushroom attached I know its a bike and potentially doing 25-30mph not a person crossing the road.
Irrespective its not law so we can choose, but to actively discourage their use it pretty poor form IMO.
scubadude said:
I would hope this Neurosurgeon get suspended or fired, what a massive co*k!
but to actively discourage their use it pretty poor form IMO.
Firstly, he is retiring, so used his retirement speech to make these comments, probably since sadly he didn't feel he could say it when he still needed a job... but to actively discourage their use it pretty poor form IMO.
He is a senior consultant neurosurgeon, I am guessing he knows a fair bit about brain injuries, surely his opinion is a valid as yours. You feel able to insult the guy and call him a cock, for what ? Saying what he thinks.
He actually said they were too flimsy to be of much use. Read the whole articule before throwing insults around.
Finally, many on here recognise that what he says is true, but wear them to provent minor injuries, cuts and so on, which helmets are ideal for.
We all know helmets have many vehement supporters, but I would prefer it to remain a personal choice.
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