bike helmets

[brianf7]

Look out here comes a new helmet design to try to force more money out of uc

FRESH doubts have been cast about how useful helmets are in preventing head injuries to cyclists.

An analysis by Norwegian researchers of existing studies has suggested previous scrutiny was biased towards helmets and relied too heavily on research into 1980s ''stack-hat'' style hard-shell helmets. They argued that today's ''soft-shell'' helmets were less effective at reducing brain injuries.

read full story here http://www.theage.com.au/national/nagging-doubts-raised-over-helmet-safety-20110402-1csgq.html

 

[M Sport]

I would take that article with a grain of salt until you actually analyse the study for yourself.

The reporter is a well known member of the anti-helmet brigade, for reasons as meaningful as 'they mess up your hair'.

 

[woodie]

I've landed on my head twice now within the last 6 months and both times I was wearing a new 'soft shell' helmet and walked away with little more than a mild concussion. I don't even need to read this article to know it's bull. I'd rather have a helmet on my head to contact with the ground instead of my skull contacting the ground.

 

[nowhereman]

I've landed on my head twice now within the last 6 months and both times I was wearing a new 'soft shell' helmet and walked away with little more than a mild concussion. I don't even need to read this article to know it's bull. I'd rather have a helmet on my head to contact with the ground instead of my skull contacting the ground.

Here, Here! I'm glad you're OK, and I'll drink to that! I'm with you on this matter.....hic....!

 

[brianf7]

We got used to the helmet now and wouldnt ride without one but to enforce solid shell is it going overboard.

My helmet has saved me twice so it has earned its keep has anyone found it didnt work? I know one guy but as his head went under a truck rear wheel I dont think anything would have saved him.
he isnt here to tell us about it.

 

[woodie]

The other thing about the soft shells is that they crush and absord the impact as opposed to the hard shells which is just another hard surface for your head to hit. Correct me if i'm wrong but is't having something that crushes and obsorbs better?? like the way cars are made.....

I get so annoyed at these anti helmet people lol

 

[Stingray34]

My soft shell helmet most prob saved my life in June 1993. I pulled my foot at 55km/h and landed on my head. The helmet was smashed to pieces and I was out for a few minutes and apparently a blabbering mess for 20 minutes. No matter where I am in the world and what the law is there, I always wear a helmet. Of course, I don't have much hair to mess up these days.

 

[JA.Tri]

Soft shell> hard shell>>>> no helmet (IMHO)

Woodie +1

I am sure there are circumstances where a "Stackhat" may provide greater protection, however for the most part a "softshell" will be preferable.

In any case, in addition to protection; helmet needs to be comfortable, light, well balanced, provide good outlook, provide adequate cooling. That's a huge design profile to cover!

 

[forty four]

helmets are like crumple zones in cars meant to give and break absorb some impact and yes they work a lot better than nothing i know of a few who have been saved by them. i also know plenty of 'cool' idiot riders who dont where them they remind me of high school kids with there attitudes. the asphalt does not care how tough or cool you think you are lol. its nice to ride helmet less but i dont do it anymore for the sake of my loved ones.


the specialized s-works helmet is wonderful

 

[usedtobefast]

I would take that article with a grain of salt until you actually analyse the study for yourself.

The reporter is a well known member of the anti-helmet brigade, for reasons as meaningful as 'they mess up your hair'.

he is from the "live fast,die young,leave a good looking corpse" crowd.
although, a crushed skull might not look so good.

 

[Boeing]

Some might argue that condoms can't protect you from HIV 100%. If that the case then why use them?

 

[Sanjūrō]

I've landed on my head twice now within the last 6 months and both times I was wearing a new 'soft shell' helmet and walked away with little more than a mild concussion. I don't even need to read this article to know it's bull. I'd rather have a helmet on my head to contact with the ground instead of my skull contacting the ground.

Seconded! Same exact thing for me. Mild concussion but otherwise totally fine. Happy to have on what I did and wouldnt want to think what would have been the case otherwise.

 

[Marva32]

Helmets have saved me a couple of times as well. One question though, what's the difference between a 'stackhat' and 'softshell'?

 

[Oldman]

I've landed on my head twice now within the last 6 months and both times I was wearing a new 'soft shell' helmet and walked away with little more than a mild concussion. I don't even need to read this article to know it's bull. I'd rather have a helmet on my head to contact with the ground instead of my skull contacting the ground.

I hate wearing a helmet but the voices in my head tell me I had better do it.

 

[JayKosta]

Helmets have saved me a couple of times as well. One question though, what's the difference between a 'stackhat' and 'softshell'?

=============================================
I wear my old MSR yellow hardshell 'bumble bee' helmet.
The shell is tough, hard, smooth plastic, and the lining is crushable styrofoam.

I suspect that in case of a 'sliding fall', the hardshell helmet would be more likely to skid and to not grab on the ground. I think that the worry about softshell helmets is that they might grab and twist the neck.

The modern softshells certainly weigh less and have better ventilation, but I don't whether they give better protection.

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

 

[Archibald]

I would take that article with a grain of salt until you actually analyse the study for yourself.

The reporter is a well known member of the anti-helmet brigade, for reasons as meaningful as 'they mess up your hair'.

it's in the Age - nuff said...


love some of it's content though;

The paper, by Norway's Institute of Transport Economics, found that hard-shell helmets protected against neck injuries but that the modern soft-shell helmets preferred by most riders today may cause neck injuries.

The group argues that there is evidence to suggest helmets may cause the brain to rotate in an accident.

and just how the f*ck do they protect against neck injuries?? there's no neck bracing of any sort... I'm pretty sure it would be the actual impact direction that would cause any and all neck injuries...

I guess the brain rotation is somehow a worse affliction than to have your head cracked open and an non-rotated brain splattered across the tarmac?

the sh*t journos come up with at times...

 

[GreasyMonkey]

Head-butts.

In 2003 I had a taxi cut across me in Brisbane on a downhill @ 60+ km/h, went head-first into the side pillar at the front of the cabin area. Helmet had 12 major fractures between the vents, and was caved in at the left-fore quarter.

Got out of it with no concussion or detectable brain injury - without a helmet, I guess at best I would be drooling in a brain-injury care centre.

Had multiple other crashes where my head was saved by helmets in races.

There was some evidence from the early helmet days in Australia that indicated an increase in neck injuries from the older heavy hard-shell helmets (think of late 1980's Rosebank "Stackhats"), particularly amongst pre-teen children. Not suprising, as they were so heavy.
Also they contributed to an increase in fall incidences & hospitalisation due to dehydration and heat-stroke from the lack of ventilation, noted during the summer months.

 

[ksmith]

I got hit by a hit and run last August, got a busted leg, ribs, damaged a shoulder, tore the ligaments in my knees. I'm now on a return to work schedule. If I wasn't wearing a helmet which was busted up badly all over, I probally wouldn't have met my new granddaughter. Didn't even get a headache.

Thank God for helmets.

 

[DirtyWorks]

i
and just how the f*ck do they protect against neck injuries?? there's no neck bracing of any sort... I'm pretty sure it would be the actual impact direction that would cause any and all neck injuries...

This looks to me like another case of science artfully interpreted by the media to grab a few eyeballs. Dumb.

If you are looking for a neck brace, Leat makes them. http://www.leatt-brace.com/index.php/choose-your-sport/mountain-biking No road biking version and they aren't for walking around either.

If I was doing downhilling, I'd have one.

 

[JA.Tri]

neck protection????

Is it neck protection or simply reduced neck trauma relative to soft shell helmets.

I recon it is possible (possible), that there may be a differential in the incidence of neck injury/severity.

If there is any differential: this may be due to exposed foam from soft shell "catching/gripping" the bitumen. This action thereby restricts the head from rotating in concert with the body.

Pure speculation on my part!

 

[rickshaw]

There is a name for it

A nurse friend of mine says they have a name for motorcyclists who don't wear helmets and the same applies to cyclists. They're called "Organ Donors".

 

[TigerFish]

Get a new helmet

A few of the early posters seem to indicate that they took more than one blow to a single helmet. If a helmet has a significant impact, whether it looks damaged or not, you should probably replace it. As a friend of mine frequently says "Is your head worth more than the cost of a helmet".

 

[Fourier]

after certain experiences early in my cycling life I've decided always to wear a helmet. Once I flew over the handelbars and down a steep drop-off, finally I stopped only to see my bike flying towards me, I closed my eyes and got hit in the head by the top tube.
Since I was wearing a helmet I only lost a couple of phone numbers but I didn't crack my skull.