Should the riders be allowed to ride without helmets on the MTFs?

[BroDeal]

Should be able to take off helmets because it looks much cooler imo!

With helmets and sunglasses the riders look less human.

Yes, I now it's only cosmetic, but given the whole sport is an exercise in marketing I think looks should count.

This

Riders should be allowed when and where they wear their helmets.

And this.

Aero helmets with integrated visors and skinsuits with sleeves that end at the wrists dehumanizes the sport. Pictures from the mid 00's and back look so much better. You can see the riders' hair and sweat.

Riding uphill without a helmet is about as dangerous as walking around the block without one. The manufacturing cost of helmets is so cheap that riders could just throw them to the side of the road. Even if it was just the guys in contention that did it then it would still be good. Plus, most pros train without helmets anyway.

 

[Parrulo]

i am of the opinion that watching the riders riding without their helmets is much cooler but looking at the big picture here imo helmets should remain mandatory, this way young kids will also use them because their heroes do it too and if that can avoid a few deaths and serious injuries every year then its worth it. i also doubt the helmets brands like to see their equipment being thrown to the side of the road just before most people tune in to watch.

 

[BroDeal]

i also doubt the helmets brands like to see their equipment being thrown to the side of the road just before most people tune in to watch.

So what? Should that be how the rules are made, by whether it will affect the business of companies selling a couple of bucks of styrofoam, nylon, and plastic for two hundred dollars?

 

[gilbertador]

No but yes on mountain tts only so long as there is no flat, therefore no on nevegal in the giro this year but yes in 2010 on kronplatz, on something like that it is fair it adds to the spectacle and they never break 15 mph, every now and then its quite a spectacle on an mtt

 

[gregod]

So what? Should that be how the rules are made, by whether it will affect the business of companies selling a couple of bucks of styrofoam, nylon, and plastic for two hundred dollars?

does it really take away that much from the enjoyment of cycling to see them riding with helmets? personally, i have no trouble recognizing the riders and think the added safety and example that they set are worth it.

why should sponsors' opinions not also be considered? after all, without them there would be no professional road cycling. i am not saying they should be the main or only consideration, but they do deserve some say, particularly in how their equipment is handled. in addition, the mandated full-time use of helmets encourages the makers to take the pros opinions about helmets seriously in order to spur innovation that benefits the casual rider.

as for your implied criticism about the cost of helmets; like pharmaceuticals, while the cost to make one unit of a particular item may be low, when R&D, advertising and sponsorship are factored in the cost of a helmet suddenly doesn't look so rapacious.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I vote yes. On MTF's only though. However, I do agree that having riders take them back to the team car is absurd. They should either just toss them to the fans, or they can have a designated area leading into the first 1km of the last climb similar to a feed zone where there's a really large bin where they can toss them. Put a few race stewards there to pick up the helmets that miss the bin as riders toss them.

As to the danger, I'm sure it's far more likely that riders will get seriously injured or killed riding downhill or in the flats with the helmets, than going uphill at a relatively slow speed without them.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I voted hell yeah yesterday ..the reason?.. already mentioned by brodeal.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

It may be chaotic to eject the helmet, but riding MTFs without helmets been done in the past without serious mishap. I think there could be some improvements on how and where riders would be allowed to get rid of their helmet to make it less chaotic.

 

[ElChingon]

I've yet to read any viable reason they should wear or be forced to wear belmets.

The its too difficult/unsafe to get them back to the team car/personnel reason is bogus, because if it were true they'd have the same issue with leg warmers/shoe covers/jackets/cleaning sunglasses/feed bag. Do any of you even ride? Dumping a helmet is probably one of the easiest to do and you can hang them on your bars with its straps.

A kid might not wear one if they see a pro without one? What do kids do now when they see the riders hanging on to cars, ride over the posted speed limit on descents, ride on the wrong side of the road, not stop at posted stop signs during a race, ride hands free, throw water bottles or food wrapers out on the road?

Safety, how many more times have we seen a rider in a what looked like a fatal accident get a new bike and ride on and finish the race? Why are those incidents ignored? How about riding around on 22 mm wide tires on rough, wet, slippery, pot holed roads.

They should be allowed to race without them or with them if all the other obvious safety concerns are tossed out the window.

 

[jens_attacks]

I've yet to read any viable reason they should wear or be forced to wear belmets.

The its too difficult/unsafe to get them back to the team car/personnel reason is bogus, because if it were true they'd have the same issue with leg warmers/shoe covers/jackets/cleaning sunglasses/feed bag. Do any of you even ride? Dumping a helmet is probably one of the easiest to do and you can hang them on your bars with its straps.

A kid might not wear one if they see a pro without one? What do kids do now when they see the riders hanging on to cars, ride over the posted speed limit on descents, ride on the wrong side of the road, not stop at posted stop signs during a race, ride hands free, throw water bottles or food wrapers out on the road?

Safety, how many more times have we seen a rider in a what looked like a fatal accident get a new bike and ride on and finish the race? Why are those incidents ignored? How about riding around on 22 mm wide tires on rough, wet, slippery, pot holed roads.

They should be allowed to race without them or with them if all the other obvious safety concerns are tossed out the window.

exactly

again unbelievable how many no's but how few arguments for that .people ,let me get it how the hell is dangerous riding uphill without a helmet at 20-25 km/h(or contador at max 30 km/h lol)
also i want to hear how many of you wear a helmet when climbing a mountain?
i put the "let them to car too dangerous" as sarcasm,how the hell is that dangerous?one-two guys from a team will be dropped anyway after 1 km of climbing.in a race,there are hundreds more dangerous moves than this one.

about the coolness aspect,of course you are right.now they all look the same,freaking robotization

 

[movingtarget]

I'd rather see them keep designing better helmets. It's possible to crash and still get hurt going uphill especially with all the loonies running on the road even if the riders are going much slower. A rider could still hit his head on the kerb etc.......

 

[Eshnar]

I voted "no" yesterday but had no time to explain.
Simply put, MTFs are perhaps the most viewed races in the world of cycling. This kind of races usually attract viewers that know little of this sport. It would be a really bad example for a kid who casually watch a race to see professionals riding without helmets. Helmets are (or should be) compulsory for everyone and I can't see why riders should be allowed to put them off. If they really are hot or heavy, well they are like that for everyone, so no one is disadvantaged

 

[hrotha]

So what? Should that be how the rules are made, by whether it will affect the business of companies selling a couple of bucks of styrofoam, nylon, and plastic for two hundred dollars?

Didn't you just agree to a post that said cycling is largely about marketing?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Should be able to take off helmets because it looks much cooler imo!

With helmets and sunglasses the riders look less human.

Yes, I now it's only cosmetic, but given the whole sport is an exercise in marketing I think looks should count.

How dare those scum wear sunglasses to protect their eyes or helmets to protect their heads? Those evil parasites!

I am sorry but that post is plain absurd.

 

[craig1985]

And for the fairer skinned people wearing sun glasses while riding during a sunny day is actually a very good idea.

 

[jens_attacks]

How dare those scum wear sunglasses to protect their eyes or helmets to protect their heads? Those evil parasites!

I am sorry but that post is plain absurd.

nobody said to ban helmets on the mtfs.just to let the riders choose

 

[Thomsena]

Aha. So how about those mountains with downhil or small plateau on the way to the top where the riders increase the speed significantly?

We all heard how chaotic it was when they had to collect all the helmets before the finish. I hear no moaning from the riders so why would you want to change it? Even after a year with tragic accidents. To be able to recognise the riders better..? 'They look cooler'... ****ing hell.. Crashing with 20km/h can be just as dangerous as on flat road.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I can't believe people are against this. to em cycling lost part of it's beauty with the goddamn helmets. we will never have teh magnitude of another pantani with this helmets and while climbing mountains it's even more ridiculous

 

[jens_attacks]

I can't believe people are against this. to em cycling lost part of it's beauty with the goddamn helmets. we will never have teh magnitude of another pantani with this helmets and while climbing mountains it's even more ridiculous

they even use the wouter(rest in peace...) argument...

tragic accidents riding uphill at 20 km/h ok.it's your argument so now we have three:because the riders are used to it,because riding up a mountain without a helmet is bad mmm'kay kids? and because of tragic accidents.
the chaotic movement to the cars sorry can't take it seriously

 

[Thomsena]

they even use the wouter(rest in peace...) argument...

tragic accidents riding uphill at 20 km/h ok.it's your argument so now we have three:because the riders are used to it,because riding up a mountain without a helmet is bad mmm'kay kids? and because of tragic accidents.
the chaotic movement to the cars sorry can't take it seriously

Yeah, it's confusing, right?

Helmets, accidents.. Helmets...accidents.. Helmets and accidents.. What is the connec.. No, no I can't figure it out...

 

[Nick C.]

When did they change the rule? I know after Kivilev in '03 they made helmets mandatory except on MTFs but somewhere along the way it seems there is no more helmets coming off at the base of the final climb.

 

[SirLes]

How dare those scum wear sunglasses to protect their eyes or helmets to protect their heads? Those evil parasites!

I am sorry but that post is plain absurd.

I am tempted to make a childish joke about how in Cadel's case it is in everyone's interest for him to cover up as much as possible but that would be a silly and an uncalled for response.

Given how eager the riders used to be to get rid of their helmets at first opportunity I'm not quite sure why my original post was so silly. They also often remove sunglasses as well on climbs. I am not advocating the forced removal of safety equipment just a little bit of choice. Very un Henri Degrange I know.

I suspect the group who are most in favour of the current ruling would be cycle helmet manufacturers. I wouldn't be suprised to find they did extensive lobbying to have the rule imposed. Doesn't look good to have all your sponsored riders binning your lids at the first opportunity.

 

[veganrob]

So what? Should that be how the rules are made, by whether it will affect the business of companies selling a couple of bucks of styrofoam, nylon, and plastic for two hundred dollars?

When they are paying your salary, uh, yes.

 

[Escarabajo]

what about letting them at a soigneur after 1-2 km of climb then?you know,like trowing them away without making any dangerous moves on the bike...

jeebuz people you are following a tough sport,not a sissies sport.when the hell leaving the helmets at a collegue become too dangerous?now you are also having a nice route of tour de france.

At the speed that your Avatar was riding Hautacam you'll need helmets.

Very few times the speeds are really low (Angliru, Zoncolan) where you might not need a helmet. Even there, a small crash can crack your head open.

In my mountain bike I crashed at low speed, and still cracked my helmet real good.

Now if they don't want to wear their helmet properly, then it is their problem. They are professionals like you said. They don't need to be watched like little kids, but at least the safety equipment is there. They have no excuse.

 

[Magnus]

I don't think that's the case, correct me if I'm wrong. I think the ban for MTTs came in after the ban for all MTFs, but I do believe you have to wear a helmet for every road stage now.

You're wrong.

UCI Cycling regulations 1.3.031 (version 01.10.11)


"2. During competitions on the road, a rigid safety helmet shall be worn.
Except where legal provisions determine otherwise, riders taking part in UCI WorldTour events
may, at their own risk, refrain from wearing a helmet during individual time trial races taking
place entirely on a mountainous course. Every discussion regarding the qualification «entirely on
a mountainous course» will be decided by the commissaires’ panel"