[Workaccount2]

+1 for wearing a helmet. I see so many people riding (both bicycles and even motorcycles) without one. Totally insane since even a minor accident can turn you into a drooling blob with an otherwise minor bump on the head.

[hwbehrens]

Like the GP (and most people, I assume) I really value my mental faculties, but more relevant in my opinion is that in terms of time and often money, your collective knowledge and education is probably the most expensive thing you've invested in. To not do the bare minimum to protect that investment is incomprehensible to me.

My friends will buy ergonomic keyboards, standing desks, monitor arms, etc. to keep them healthy and productive (which is important), but not wear a helmet because "they look dumb". Without a working brain, none of that other stuff will matter! I always ask them, 'Are you expecting to find a partner while you're on the bike? Who are you trying to impress?'

[sfn42]

Do you really want a partner whose criteria is doing dumb shit? I mean if a woman doesn't want me because I wear a helmet I figure that's me dodging a bullet

[anal_reactor]

> but not wear a helmet because "they look dumb"

It's not about looking dumb. It's about ergonomics. Sure, helmets make cycling marginally safer, but they also make it considerably more tedious, which results in people simply deciding not to cycle at all, which results in decrease of both public health, and safety of cyclists.

https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/26subr/til_t...

[D-Coder]

"There are only two kinds of paranoia: Total... and _insufficient_."

[tim333]

There are a number of factors with cycle safety. Going slowly can have a similar risk level to going faster with a helmet. You can wear a helmet and still end up like Schumacher.

I just got off my bike in London, no helmet but typical speeds of 10 mph or so. Most cycle deaths here are crushed by trucks where a helmet doesn't help much.

[cowthulhu]

I'm not arguing that speed plays a factor, but you should still wear a helmet.

I know two people who had brain damage (like, serious damage that persists years later) from low speed falls - one was literally standing still, and the fall sent them to the hospital for a week. The other one was low speed, just starting off after stopping at the bottom of an uphill section. Not sure the exact details of what happened, but same story - fall -> hospital -> permanent loss of cognitive abilities and some change to personality.

Totally agree that if a truck runs you over, helmet probably won't do much. But a helmet will totally be the difference between an embarassing fall with a few minor scrapes, and one of the most (negatively) impactful moments of your life.

[tmnvix]

Would you argue that the woman in the article should have worn a helmet?

[cowthulhu]

The woman in the article was driving a car, so no?