Why have people stopped wearing helmets?
Discussion
This summer I've noticed a lot of people road cycling without helmets.
These are not commuters (I think) but people on NSL country roads on a mix of hybrid or road cycling bikes. Every single one of them have been older men.
Has something happened in the cycling world for people to now denounce wearing a helmet? Maybe a conspiracy on TikTok?
Genuinely curious
These are not commuters (I think) but people on NSL country roads on a mix of hybrid or road cycling bikes. Every single one of them have been older men.
Has something happened in the cycling world for people to now denounce wearing a helmet? Maybe a conspiracy on TikTok?
Genuinely curious
I'm not going fast on my old mountain bike on my way to work, I am on lanes and minor roads and I don't wear one at all.
I might if i was on a trail a mountain downhill or something challenging but never seen the need when I'm just bimbling about in my workboots, jeans and t shirt.
No interest in lycra or strava times.
I might if i was on a trail a mountain downhill or something challenging but never seen the need when I'm just bimbling about in my workboots, jeans and t shirt.
No interest in lycra or strava times.
I see lots of people riding, enthusiasts, leisure riders, deliveroos - the whole gamut. In cities, countryside, etc. (central scotland)
Virtually every single helmetless rider is a deliveroo guy. The number others without a helmet is vanishingly small. Maybe it’s different where you are located, though I frankly doubt it.
Virtually every single helmetless rider is a deliveroo guy. The number others without a helmet is vanishingly small. Maybe it’s different where you are located, though I frankly doubt it.
Edited by ZetecTDCI on Sunday 21st September 23:42
Regularly see cyclists without helmets here. Sat/Sun for example, 2 lads with golf clubs on their backs heading to the golf course, an older couple on sit up and beg e-bikes on the old railway line, a chap on a road bike in front of me at the lights with a rucksack that looked full ...shopping maybe....with joggers and a hoody on, then myself yesterday morning going down to my local cafe for a coffee and black pudding and egg roll. I was going to walk down but wanted to get back quicker so I took the bike and rode down in my normal clothes without a helmet on.
Edited by Pablo16v on Monday 22 September 09:01
Maybe it's this train of thought, the reason I don't wear one.....
Ask many motorists "is a cyclist protected by a helmet?" Most (although stats don't show one way or other) would say..... Yes, it's on the head so must protect you.
My logic...... I'd like any motorist about to overtake me thinks " He's got no helmet on, If I go too close I'll hurt him and end up in Jail"
Ask many motorists "is a cyclist protected by a helmet?" Most (although stats don't show one way or other) would say..... Yes, it's on the head so must protect you.
My logic...... I'd like any motorist about to overtake me thinks " He's got no helmet on, If I go too close I'll hurt him and end up in Jail"
In addition to my above note, a helmet doesn't make anyone invincible......
Last year I was just a mile from home in a country lane. A group of 8 cyclists came towards me at probably around 20MPH (that's my usual speed along that slight downhill,) and they were riding 2-abreast. That's legal, no problem usually with it..... however they were approaching a very narrow part of the lane with 2 bends. One of them shouted to me "where's your hat".
What's more sensible along that part of the road? Maybe a lower speed in a group in case of an unexpected vehicle approaching, even better temporarily going single, but hey we have helmets! we're protected.
Last year I was just a mile from home in a country lane. A group of 8 cyclists came towards me at probably around 20MPH (that's my usual speed along that slight downhill,) and they were riding 2-abreast. That's legal, no problem usually with it..... however they were approaching a very narrow part of the lane with 2 bends. One of them shouted to me "where's your hat".
What's more sensible along that part of the road? Maybe a lower speed in a group in case of an unexpected vehicle approaching, even better temporarily going single, but hey we have helmets! we're protected.
Getragdogleg said:
I'm not going fast on my old mountain bike on my way to work, I am on lanes and minor roads and I don't wear one at all.
I might if i was on a trail a mountain downhill or something challenging but never seen the need when I'm just bimbling about in my workboots, jeans and t shirt.
No interest in lycra or strava times.
Why does this mean you don't wear a helmet? I might if i was on a trail a mountain downhill or something challenging but never seen the need when I'm just bimbling about in my workboots, jeans and t shirt.
No interest in lycra or strava times.
I can only assume that bimbling about means, no accidents? Fantastic.
Fastpedeller said:
In addition to my above note, a helmet doesn't make anyone invincible......
Last year I was just a mile from home in a country lane. A group of 8 cyclists came towards me at probably around 20MPH (that's my usual speed along that slight downhill,) and they were riding 2-abreast. That's legal, no problem usually with it..... however they were approaching a very narrow part of the lane with 2 bends. One of them shouted to me "where's your hat".
What's more sensible along that part of the road? Maybe a lower speed in a group in case of an unexpected vehicle approaching, even better temporarily going single, but hey we have helmets! we're protected.
'but hey we have helmets! we're protected'....... should read..... 'but hey we are helmets! we're protected'Last year I was just a mile from home in a country lane. A group of 8 cyclists came towards me at probably around 20MPH (that's my usual speed along that slight downhill,) and they were riding 2-abreast. That's legal, no problem usually with it..... however they were approaching a very narrow part of the lane with 2 bends. One of them shouted to me "where's your hat".
What's more sensible along that part of the road? Maybe a lower speed in a group in case of an unexpected vehicle approaching, even better temporarily going single, but hey we have helmets! we're protected.
SV_WDC said:
This summer I've noticed a lot of people road cycling without helmets.
These are not commuters (I think) but people on NSL country roads on a mix of hybrid or road cycling bikes. Every single one of them have been older men.
Has something happened in the cycling world for people to now denounce wearing a helmet? Maybe a conspiracy on TikTok?
Genuinely curious
Older men were brought up riding Raleigh Striker's, Grifter's and Arena's. We didn't have helmets back then, and we had some pretty spectacular crashes and are still alive.These are not commuters (I think) but people on NSL country roads on a mix of hybrid or road cycling bikes. Every single one of them have been older men.
Has something happened in the cycling world for people to now denounce wearing a helmet? Maybe a conspiracy on TikTok?
Genuinely curious
I get that modern day safety and risk assessment has everyone having to wear protective clothing every minute of the day to ensure we protect ourselves from ourselves and to ensure we don't hurt ourselves, but sometimes we just assess the risk different to younger groups.
If you want to criticise someone from assessing Risk in a different way to you that's fine, but don't insist that everyone has to follow levels and just accept that everyone is different. We're grown ups and don't need a nanny.... (well some do but thats individual choice as well!!)
super7 said:
SV_WDC said:
This summer I've noticed a lot of people road cycling without helmets.
These are not commuters (I think) but people on NSL country roads on a mix of hybrid or road cycling bikes. Every single one of them have been older men.
Has something happened in the cycling world for people to now denounce wearing a helmet? Maybe a conspiracy on TikTok?
Genuinely curious
Older men were brought up riding Raleigh Striker's, Grifter's and Arena's. We didn't have helmets back then, and we had some pretty spectacular crashes and are still alive.These are not commuters (I think) but people on NSL country roads on a mix of hybrid or road cycling bikes. Every single one of them have been older men.
Has something happened in the cycling world for people to now denounce wearing a helmet? Maybe a conspiracy on TikTok?
Genuinely curious
I get that modern day safety and risk assessment has everyone having to wear protective clothing every minute of the day to ensure we protect ourselves from ourselves and to ensure we don't hurt ourselves, but sometimes we just assess the risk different to younger groups.
If you want to criticise someone from assessing Risk in a different way to you that's fine, but don't insist that everyone has to follow levels and just accept that everyone is different. We're grown ups and don't need a nanny.... (well some do but thats individual choice as well!!)
When I visited the Netherlands it opened my eyes a bit. The vast majority didn't bother with helmets and cyclists were everywhere.
It's quite liberating and makes cycling more enjoyable for me and hence I'm doing it a lot more.
Would still chuck one on for a long road cycle but often I'm doing that in organised events where they're mandatory anyway.
It's quite liberating and makes cycling more enjoyable for me and hence I'm doing it a lot more.
Would still chuck one on for a long road cycle but often I'm doing that in organised events where they're mandatory anyway.
Getragdogleg said:
I'm not going fast on my old mountain bike on my way to work, I am on lanes and minor roads and I don't wear one at all.
I might if i was on a trail a mountain downhill or something challenging but never seen the need when I'm just bimbling about in my workboots, jeans and t shirt.
No interest in lycra or strava times.
I know someone who got hit by a car, he spent months in intensive care. He wasn't going fast, just on a quick trip out so didn't bother with his usual helmet...I might if i was on a trail a mountain downhill or something challenging but never seen the need when I'm just bimbling about in my workboots, jeans and t shirt.
No interest in lycra or strava times.
I always wear a helmet when I'm out on a ride on my road bike (complete with Lycra and Strava), and when I am mountain biking I'd feel very vulnerable without one.
But if I ride into town to go to the shops/gym/pub then I don't wear a helmet. I justify it to myself with the low speeds, mostly on urban cycle paths, and the fact that carrying a helmet around in town is a colossal PITA and if you leave it on the bike it won't be there when i get back.
I'm old enough to have been trying to emulate Kickstart on a variety of Grifters, Burners and other made-from-scaffolding BSOs in my youth, with numerous helmet-free crashes attesting to the strength of my skull.
But if I ride into town to go to the shops/gym/pub then I don't wear a helmet. I justify it to myself with the low speeds, mostly on urban cycle paths, and the fact that carrying a helmet around in town is a colossal PITA and if you leave it on the bike it won't be there when i get back.
I'm old enough to have been trying to emulate Kickstart on a variety of Grifters, Burners and other made-from-scaffolding BSOs in my youth, with numerous helmet-free crashes attesting to the strength of my skull.
Fastpedeller said:
Maybe it's this train of thought, the reason I don't wear one.....
Ask many motorists "is a cyclist protected by a helmet?" Most (although stats don't show one way or other) would say..... Yes, it's on the head so must protect you.
My logic...... I'd like any motorist about to overtake me thinks " He's got no helmet on, If I go too close I'll hurt him and end up in Jail"
I fear you're giving the general motoring public rather more credit than they deserve. Ask many motorists "is a cyclist protected by a helmet?" Most (although stats don't show one way or other) would say..... Yes, it's on the head so must protect you.
My logic...... I'd like any motorist about to overtake me thinks " He's got no helmet on, If I go too close I'll hurt him and end up in Jail"
bakerstreet said:
Getragdogleg said:
I'm not going fast on my old mountain bike on my way to work, I am on lanes and minor roads and I don't wear one at all.
I might if i was on a trail a mountain downhill or something challenging but never seen the need when I'm just bimbling about in my workboots, jeans and t shirt.
No interest in lycra or strava times.
Why does this mean you don't wear a helmet? I might if i was on a trail a mountain downhill or something challenging but never seen the need when I'm just bimbling about in my workboots, jeans and t shirt.
No interest in lycra or strava times.
I can only assume that bimbling about means, no accidents? Fantastic.
Its not a legal requirement and i dont feel like it would offer any benefit or real protection for me.
I do however wear gloves most of the time because every accident i have ever had over 40 years of riding ive landed on my hands and scuffed them up.
NH-0 said:
Getragdogleg said:
I'm not going fast on my old mountain bike on my way to work, I am on lanes and minor roads and I don't wear one at all.
I might if i was on a trail a mountain downhill or something challenging but never seen the need when I'm just bimbling about in my workboots, jeans and t shirt.
No interest in lycra or strava times.
I know someone who got hit by a car, he spent months in intensive care. He wasn't going fast, just on a quick trip out so didn't bother with his usual helmet...I might if i was on a trail a mountain downhill or something challenging but never seen the need when I'm just bimbling about in my workboots, jeans and t shirt.
No interest in lycra or strava times.
Luck and chance plays a huge part in life, most of what people do to "stay safe" is placebo at best.
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