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Re: head injuries in unicycling

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01 / Original postRe: head injuries in unicyclingU-Turn · 6 Apr 2004 02 / This pagePosts 1–14Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #14nutwheel · 5 Nov 2004

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rec.sport.unicycling
Published
6 April 2004
Last activity
5 November 2004
Original author
U-Turn
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14
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Public discussion
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482
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Topics
Concussion and head injury

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  1. Original post
    U-Turn
    Archived post
    #1

    The thing about helmets is that they protect you during -unexpected-
    crashes. So saying you are skilled, and therefore not expecting a
    crash, is misplaced reasoning. The valid reason to wear a helmet is
    that one is riding under circumstances in which an unexpected crash
    could lead to serious head trauma. This covers nearly every riding
    situation, save perhaps riding in soft grass. As the circumstances
    change so that the likelihood of an unexpected crash increases, the
    power of the reasoning increases. Stairs are a good example of this.

    Some circumstances should be avoided no matter what the skill of the
    rider is. One example that comes quickly to mind is jumping from a
    height over children.

    The shape of a sport-specific helmet is partly determined by the need
    for hearing and for the ability to see one's environment, not just crash
    protection. It's a reality (like the motorcycle helmet) that if the
    protection interferes with the sport, it won't be worn. Climbing
    helmets have to be suitable for use with cold- and wet-weather clothing
    and close proximity to a rock face, not just the types of impacts a
    climber would "expect".

    I changed to a skateboarding type helmet when I wacked the back of my
    head really really hard working on backwards one-foot. My neck still
    gives me troubles nearly a year later. I figure the point on the back
    of the bike helmet didn't help. However, the sun is now in my eyes, so
    I wouldn't use the skateboard style helmet for trails where I don't have
    control of my orientation to the sun. The bike helmet has a really nice
    visor that shields my eyes.

    --
    U-Turn - Member of Generation XO

    Weep in the dojo... laugh on the battlefield.

    '29er Tire Study' (http://u-turn.unicyclist.com/29erTireStudy/)

    'Strongest Coker Wheel in the World'
    (http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery/albup39)

    'New York Unicycle Club' (http://www.newyorkunicycle.com)

    -- Dave Stockton
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  2. Ken Cline
    Archived post
    #2
    U-Turn said:

    I changed to a skateboarding type helmet when I wacked the back of my
    head really really hard working on backwards one-foot. My neck still
    gives me troubles nearly a year later. I figure the point on the back
    of the bike helmet didn't help.

    Do you think the pointed back made your impact worse?

    I've been wondering about that goofy design for a while and recently
    speculated that the pointed shape might actually offer a crushable
    element to protect against backwards falls. It also might reduce
    forward bending pressure in rolling falls.

    Just thinking out loud...

    Ken

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  3. U-Turn
    Archived post
    #3
    Ken Cline said:

    *Do you think the pointed back made your impact worse?
    *


    I'm thinking the longer arm increased the leverage on my neck.

    Quoted message said:

    *wear both. I often do (for the reasons described and
    more)*


    I sunburned the top of my (no hair) head in little spots at last year's
    Unithon... is this what you were thinking, David? 😉

    --
    U-Turn - Member of Generation XO

    Weep in the dojo... laugh on the battlefield.

    '29er Tire Study' (http://u-turn.unicyclist.com/29erTireStudy/)

    'Strongest Coker Wheel in the World'
    (http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery/albup39)

    'New York Unicycle Club' (http://www.newyorkunicycle.com)

    -- Dave Stockton
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  4. gerblefranklin
    Archived post
    #4

    I ride a semi, and i'm satisfied. I don't care about vents. If I'm gonna
    ride a trail, I'm gonna sweat ethier way, so why care if I sweat a bit
    extra because my helmet has few holes. I ride the non-visor one, but
    it's all good. Where the visor would be there's a spiffy thedan.com
    sticker. Also, I've had falls where a normal bike helmet wouldn't work,
    but the semi saved me. I still ride the slightly dented helmet, because
    the dent's in a non-vital spot.

    --
    gerblefranklin - Trials Unicyclist

    Don't you think it's a cruel irony that acting like a G.I. Joe in the
    army can get you a Medal, while playing with one can get you thrown out?
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  5. gerblefranklin
    Archived post
    #5

    I ride a semi, and i'm satisfied. I don't care about vents. If I'm gonna
    ride a trail, I'm gonna sweat ethier way, so why care if I sweat a bit
    extra because my helmet has few holes. I ride the non-visor one, but
    it's all good. Where the visor would be there's a spiffy thedan.com
    sticker. Also, I've had falls where a normal bike helmet wouldn't work,
    but the semi saved me. I still ride the slightly dented helmet, because
    the dent's in a non-vital spot.

    --
    gerblefranklin - Trials Unicyclist

    Don't you think it's a cruel irony that acting like a G.I. Joe in the
    army can get you a Medal, while playing with one can get you thrown out?
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  6. gerblefranklin
    Archived post
    #6

    I ride a semi, and i'm satisfied. I don't care about vents. If I'm gonna
    ride a trail, I'm gonna sweat ethier way, so why care if I sweat a bit
    extra because my helmet has few holes. I ride the non-visor one, but
    it's all good. Where the visor would be there's a spiffy thedan.com
    sticker. Also, I've had falls where a normal bike helmet wouldn't work,
    but the semi saved me. I still ride the slightly dented helmet, because
    the dent's in a non-vital spot.

    --
    gerblefranklin - Trials Unicyclist

    Don't you think it's a cruel irony that acting like a G.I. Joe in the
    army can get you a Medal, while playing with one can get you thrown out?
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  7. gerblefranklin
    Archived post
    #7

    I ride a semi, and i'm satisfied. I don't care about vents. If I'm gonna
    ride a trail, I'm gonna sweat ethier way, so why care if I sweat a bit
    extra because my helmet has few holes. I ride the non-visor one, but
    it's all good. Where the visor would be there's a spiffy thedan.com
    sticker. Also, I've had falls where a normal bike helmet wouldn't work,
    but the semi saved me. I still ride the slightly dented helmet, because
    the dent's in a non-vital spot.

    --
    gerblefranklin - Trials Unicyclist

    Don't you think it's a cruel irony that acting like a G.I. Joe in the
    army can get you a Medal, while playing with one can get you thrown out?
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  8. thinuniking
    Archived post
    #8

    I always where a helmet when riding trials and muni, i don't where it
    much when doing freestyle and when riding 2 the shops.It does scare me
    what injurys i could of got before i got one!
    Ben

    --
    thinuniking - muni person.(muddy)

    My girlfriend's mum calls me circus boy!
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  9. weeble
    Archived post
    #9

    =======================
    It is your feeble minded government, not mine, who participated in the
    war which has not yet been justified.
    =======================

    Hey, don't blame us. Most of us voted for the other guy.

    Anyway I have a helmet but have only worn it once, for the St. Paul Bike
    Classic where it was required. It's one of those things that I support
    as a really good idea, but don't do myself, sort of like what flossing
    one's teeth, not eating Double Quarter Pounders, or quitting smoking
    might be for others. If I were doing muni or trials or playing uni polo
    or something, I would definitely helm up. I'm confident enough in
    "normal" riding, though, that I feel that the chances of my falling and
    bashing my head on something while riding are not terribly much greater
    than my chances of doing the same thing while climbing the stairs with a
    load of laundry, stepping into the shower, running to catch one of the
    buses that our city used to have, walking on an icy sidewalk, or any of
    the other hazardous things that I do without a helmet. I would be safer
    riding with the helmet, but then I'd be safer wearing it 24 hours a day
    too, so I leave it off, as do all of the skiers, rugby players,
    figure-skaters and horseback riders that I've seen. But that's my
    choice, however unsound my logic may be. To everyone else I say, wear
    the helmet!

    As a side note... I assume there is some aerodynamic reason for the
    goofy teardrop shape of bike helmets, with the pointy bit sticking out
    the back like the tail end of a duck decoy, or some tiny alien
    spacecraft that has just landed on your head. A backward fall is the
    type most likely to result in injury, I would think, and unless there's
    some other reason for this shape, I think I'd like a helmet that had the
    back end rounded off the same as the front and sides, so the helmet -
    with my head strapped into it - wouldn't be wrenched to one side or the
    other when it hits the ground. The helmets that I've seen with such a
    shape have all been small sizes for kids, though.

    --
    weeble - There can be only one... wheel

    ==============
    Another Joe in MN
    Level 2 and holding
    ==============

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  10. john_childs
    Archived post
    #10
    weeble said:

    *As a side note... I assume there is some aerodynamic reason for the
    goofy teardrop shape of bike helmets, with the pointy bit sticking out
    the back like the tail end of a duck decoy, or some tiny alien
    spacecraft that has just landed on your head. A backward fall is the
    type most likely to result in injury, I would think, and unless
    there's some other reason for this shape, I think I'd like a helmet
    that had the back end rounded off the same as the front and sides, so
    the helmet - with my head strapped into it - wouldn't be wrenched to
    one side or the other when it hits the ground. The helmets that I've
    seen with such a shape have all been small sizes for kids, though. *

    The Giro Semi and Giro Xen have a rounded shape on the back of the
    helmet with no pointy duck tail bit.

    The 'Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute' (http://www.bhsi.org/) addresses
    the helmet shape issue about the pointy bits in back and in some cases
    on the sides. For unicycling we don't need to worry about the
    aerodynamics of a helmet. A helmet with a smooth round shape with no
    pointy bits or angled bits that can snag on the ground or twist your
    head during a crash would be better for unicycling use.

    --
    john_childs - Guinness Mojo

    john_childs (at) hotmail (dot) com
    Gallery: '' (http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery/john_childs)
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  11. UniBrier
    Archived post
    #11
    john_childs said:

    *the pointy bits in back*


    They are also handy when you wear it backwards and want to look like a
    Rhinoceros. (Of course, I've never done that 😉 )

    --
    UniBrier - Its Time to Ride

    Steve De Cuckoo

    The Roadrunner or Ground Cuckoo can run at speeds of up to 15 miles per
    hour (24 km per hour). It rarely flies and does not migrate. When it is
    in danger, it runs or crouches to hide.

    The RoadUnier or Cuckoo Cokier can ride at speeds of up to 15 miles per
    hour (24 km per hour). It rarely flies and does not migrate. When it is
    in danger it UPDs and slides.

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  12. johnfoss
    Archived post
    #12

    I'm just guessing here, but for the most part I'm pretty sure the pointy
    bit on the back of the helmet is to make it look cool. There is only a
    measureable aerodynamic effect if you're a racer. The rest of the market
    just wants to look like the racers.

    As for us, not only are we slower, we sit in a different position.
    Though a similar "tuck" position will probaby be acheived in the future
    by road riders, that's still in the future at this point. The safest
    helmets for us should probably be head-shaped.

    --
    johnfoss - Walkin' on the edge

    John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
    "jfoss" at "unicycling.com"
    www.unicycling.com

    "Hey, could I have some of that spinach? I need to get this pork rind
    taste out of my mouth." -- Ryan Atkins to Kris Holm, on the way back
    from Moab after sampling some of my pork rinds. They grossed out the
    whole van!
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  13. joemarshall
    Archived post
    #13
    johnfoss said:

    I'M JUST GUESSING HERE, BUT FOR THE MOST PART I'M PRETTY SURE THE
    POINTY BIT ON THE BACK OF THE HELMET IS TO MAKE IT LOOK COOL. THERE IS
    ONLY A MEASUREABLE AERODYNAMIC EFFECT IF YOU'RE A RACER. THE REST OF
    THE MARKET JUST WANTS TO LOOK LIKE THE RACERS.

    It's supposedly for road racing, which is why the road helmets are much
    more pointy than mountain bike helmets, many of which don't have points
    at all. Apparently it doesn't make any difference below about 25mph and
    not very much then, so you're right that we don't want pointy bits.

    Joe

    --
    joemarshall - dumb blonde
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  14. nutwheel
    Archived post
    #14
    Rowan said:

    *Maybe some people crash accidentally on purpose to justify the
    amount of money they spend on safety gear.*

    accidentally on purpose? huh? lol

    --
    nutwheel - Unicycler lvl 4
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