Speed vs. need for helmet?

Duke of Hazard said:

I mostly average 10 mph , do I still need to wear a helmet ? I can
understand if you average 15+mph, but are helmets neccessary at slower
speeds? Energy is proportional to the square of the velocity so the
slower you travel the far less you should need one, no?

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! HELMET THREAD!!!

Foam bicycle hats really only offer "bump and scrape" protection in low
speed falls, so they are not really necessary during riding. The main
place where they would be useful is off-road, where they do help spread
out the impact from point loads such as rocks. Do not expect the foam
bicycle hat to reduce the risk of serious head injury or death by any
significant extent.

The primary benefit of wearing a foam bicycle hat would be to prevent
jury prejudice if you are injured by another party and are suing for
damages, since the average juror will have likely swallowed the helmet
propaganda whole without question.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"Localized intense suction such as tornadoes is created when temperature
differences are high enough between meeting air masses, and can impart
excessive energy onto a cyclist." - Randy Schlitter

In article
<[email hidden]>,

Duke of Hazard said:

I mostly average 10 mph , do I still need to wear a helmet ? I can
understand if you average 15+mph, but are helmets neccessary at slower
speeds? Energy is proportional to the square of the velocity so the
slower you travel the far less you should need one, no?

Further research is indicated; have a friend poke a stick through your
spokes and let us know what happens.

--
The part of betatron @ earthlink . net was played by a garden gnome

Duke of Hazard said:

I mostly average 10 mph , do I still need to wear a helmet ? I can
understand if you average 15+mph, but are helmets neccessary at slower
speeds? Energy is proportional to the square of the velocity so the
slower you travel the far less you should need one, no?

Try doing a track stand and fall over, hitting your head on a squared-off
curb. Approximate speed at time of "incident": zero.

HTH!

Bill "and away we go" S.

Duke of Hazard said:

I mostly average 10 mph , do I still need to wear a helmet ?

Hazardous Duke,
Don't listen to these guys, amusing though they may be, you should
wear a helmet because bike helmets look cool, just think, does Levi
Leipheimer
look more cool with or without a bike helmet? How about Chris Horner?
I rest my case.
ABS

On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:46:39 -0800 (PST) in rec.bicycles.misc,

Duke of Hazard said:

I mostly average 10 mph , do I still need to wear a helmet ?

you'll be glad you have one when the drunk hits you going 35 mph
and your head hits the asphalt at 20.

anything you can do to reduce impact will help to reduce
concussion problems. imho folks that don't wear helmets don't
have much to protect.

"Duke of Hazard"

Quoted message said:

I mostly average 10 mph , do I still need to wear a helmet ? I can
understand if you average 15+mph, but are helmets neccessary at slower
speeds? Energy is proportional to the square of the velocity so the
slower you travel the far less you should need one, no?

It depends on if you bang your head on the pavement when you fall off your
bike.

"Tom Sherman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Duke of Hazard said:

I mostly average 10 mph , do I still need to wear a helmet ? I can
understand if you average 15+mph, but are helmets neccessary at slower
speeds? Energy is proportional to the square of the velocity so the
slower you travel the far less you should need one, no?

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! HELMET THREAD!!!

Foam bicycle hats really only offer "bump and scrape" protection in low
speed falls, so they are not really necessary during riding. The main
place where they would be useful is off-road, where they do help spread
out the impact from point loads such as rocks. Do not expect the foam
bicycle hat to reduce the risk of serious head injury or death by any
significant extent.

The primary benefit of wearing a foam bicycle hat would be to prevent jury
prejudice if you are injured by another party and are suing for damages,
since the average juror will have likely swallowed the helmet propaganda
whole without question.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"Localized intense suction such as tornadoes is created when temperature
differences are high enough between meeting air masses, and can impart
excessive energy onto a cyclist." - Randy Schlitter

Only "bump and scrape" protection? You can crack your skull open by
falling standing still if you hit it right, or wrong. Helmets are not total
protection by any means but valuable insurance any time you ride. Of
course, helmets in cars would most likely save lives as well but who does
that other than race car drivers?

Tim McTeague

Tim McTeague said:

"Tom Sherman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Duke of Hazard said:

I mostly average 10 mph , do I still need to wear a helmet ? I can
understand if you average 15+mph, but are helmets neccessary at slower
speeds? Energy is proportional to the square of the velocity so the
slower you travel the far less you should need one, no?

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! HELMET THREAD!!!

Foam bicycle hats really only offer "bump and scrape" protection in low
speed falls, so they are not really necessary during riding. The main
place where they would be useful is off-road, where they do help spread
out the impact from point loads such as rocks. Do not expect the foam
bicycle hat to reduce the risk of serious head injury or death by any
significant extent.

The primary benefit of wearing a foam bicycle hat would be to prevent jury
prejudice if you are injured by another party and are suing for damages,
since the average juror will have likely swallowed the helmet propaganda
whole without question.

Only "bump and scrape" protection? You can crack your skull open by
falling standing still if you hit it right, or wrong. Helmets are not total
protection by any means but valuable insurance any time you ride.

Really? All the credible population studies show no reduction in serious
head injuries or deaths when bicycle helmet use increases.

Quoted message said:

Of
course, helmets in cars would most likely save lives as well but who does
that other than race car drivers?

What does that have to do with bicycle foam hats?

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"Localized intense suction such as tornadoes is created when temperature
differences are high enough between meeting air masses, and can impart
excessive energy onto a cyclist." - Randy Schlitter

Dennis P. Harris said:

On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:46:39 -0800 (PST) in rec.bicycles.misc,

Duke of Hazard said:

I mostly average 10 mph , do I still need to wear a helmet ?

you'll be glad you have one when the drunk hits you going 35 mph
and your head hits the asphalt at 20.

anything you can do to reduce impact will help to reduce
concussion problems. imho folks that don't wear helmets don't
have much to protect.

The people who believe that bicycle foam hats offer some mystical
protection that is not backed up by either engineering mechanics (the
relatively small amount of energy a light foam hat can absorb) or
statistics (credible population studies show no statistically
significant benefit from foam bicycle hat use) would seem to be the ones
who do not have much to protect.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"Localized intense suction such as tornadoes is created when temperature
differences are high enough between meeting air masses, and can impart
excessive energy onto a cyclist." - Randy Schlitter

Roger Zoul said:

"Duke of Hazard"

Quoted message said:

I mostly average 10 mph , do I still need to wear a helmet ? I can
understand if you average 15+mph, but are helmets neccessary at slower
speeds? Energy is proportional to the square of the velocity so the
slower you travel the far less you should need one, no?

It depends on if you bang your head on the pavement when you fall off your
bike.

The more laid back one is, the less likely the head will be at the point
of impact.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"Localized intense suction such as tornadoes is created when temperature
differences are high enough between meeting air masses, and can impart
excessive energy onto a cyclist." - Randy Schlitter

Tim McTeague said:

"Tom Sherman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Duke of Hazard said:

I mostly average 10 mph , do I still need to wear a helmet ? I can
understand if you average 15+mph, but are helmets neccessary at slower
speeds? Energy is proportional to the square of the velocity so the
slower you travel the far less you should need one, no?

Quoted message said:

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! HELMET THREAD!!!

Quoted message said:

Foam bicycle hats really only offer "bump and scrape" protection in low
speed falls, so they are not really necessary during riding. The main
place where they would be useful is off-road, where they do help spread
out the impact from point loads such as rocks. Do not expect the foam
bicycle hat to reduce the risk of serious head injury or death by any
significant extent.

Quoted message said:

The primary benefit of wearing a foam bicycle hat would be to prevent jury
prejudice if you are injured by another party and are suing for damages,
since the average juror will have likely swallowed the helmet propaganda
whole without question.

Quoted message said:

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"Localized intense suction such as tornadoes is created when temperature
differences are high enough between meeting air masses, and can impart
excessive energy onto a cyclist." - Randy Schlitter

Only "bump and scrape" protection? You can crack your skull open by
falling standing still if you hit it right, or wrong. Helmets are not total
protection by any means

As Peter Chisholm puts it: "Can't hurt, might help".

Quoted message said:

but valuable insurance any time you ride.

How "valuable" is open to debate. But, see above.

Whether or not to wear a helmet (always/sometimes/never) is a
*personal decision*. Zealots and psychotics on either side of the
question, pro or con, tend to irritate me.

Tim McTeague said:

"Tom Sherman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Duke of Hazard said:

I mostly average 10 mph , do I still need to wear a helmet ? I can
understand if you average 15+mph, but are helmets neccessary at slower
speeds? Energy is proportional to the square of the velocity so the
slower you travel the far less you should need one, no?

Quoted message said:

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! HELMET THREAD!!!

Quoted message said:

Foam bicycle hats really only offer "bump and scrape" protection in low
speed falls, so they are not really necessary during riding. The main
place where they would be useful is off-road, where they do help spread
out the impact from point loads such as rocks. Do not expect the foam
bicycle hat to reduce the risk of serious head injury or death by any
significant extent.

Quoted message said:

The primary benefit of wearing a foam bicycle hat would be to prevent jury
prejudice if you are injured by another party and are suing for damages,
since the average juror will have likely swallowed the helmet propaganda
whole without question.

Quoted message said:

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"Localized intense suction such as tornadoes is created when temperature
differences are high enough between meeting air masses, and can impart
excessive energy onto a cyclist." - Randy Schlitter

Only "bump and scrape" protection? You can crack your skull open by
falling standing still if you hit it right, or wrong. Helmets are not total
protection by any means

As Peter Chisholm puts it: "Can't hurt, might help".

Quoted message said:

but valuable insurance any time you ride.

How "valuable" is open to debate. But, see above.

Whether or not to wear a helmet (always/sometimes/never) is a
*personal decision*. Zealots and psychotics on either side of the
question, pro or con, tend to irritate me.

On Nov 27, 10:46 pm, Duke of Hazard <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I mostly average 10 mph , do I still need to wear a helmet ? I can
understand if you average 15+mph, but are helmets neccessary at slower
speeds? Energy is proportional to the square of the velocity so the
slower you travel the far less you should need one, no?

Since we are on the HELMET topic, here is my opinion.

There are only 2 good reasons to NOT wear one:-

A ) You don't have a brain.

B ) You have a spare head.

Hope this helps.

Lewis.

*****

On Nov 27, 11:46 pm, Duke of Hazard <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I mostly average 10 mph , do I still need to wear a helmet ? I can
understand if you average 15+mph, but are helmets neccessary at slower
speeds? Energy is proportional to the square of the velocity so the
slower you travel the far less you should need one, no?

there was study made in the uk that proved that motorist are more
aggressive when they see a rider wearing a helmet. so i have to agree,
helmets are really not necessary at low speed
carlos
www.bikingthings.com

On Nov 28, 1:17 pm, Tom Sherman <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Dennis P. Harris said:

On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:46:39 -0800 (PST) in rec.bicycles.misc,
Duke of Hazard <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I mostly average 10 mph , do I still need to wear a helmet ?

Quoted message said:

you'll be glad you have one when the drunk hits you going 35 mph
and your head hits the asphalt at 20.

Quoted message said:

anything you can do to reduce impact will help to reduce
concussion problems. imho folks that don't wear helmets don't
have much to protect.

The people who believe that bicycle foam hats offer some mystical
protection that is not backed up by either engineering mechanics (the
relatively small amount of energy a light foam hat can absorb) or
statistics (credible population studies show no statistically
significant benefit from foam bicycle hat use) would seem to be the ones
who do not have much to protect.

Today I did it. I left the hat at home. In no small part due to the
information presented in earlier threads.

Joseph

On Nov 27, 10:46 pm, Duke of Hazard <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I mostly average 10 mph , do I still need to wear a helmet ? I can
understand if you average 15+mph, but are helmets neccessary at slower
speeds? Energy is proportional to the square of the velocity so the
slower you travel the far less you should need one, no?

Blah blah blah [insert physics [censored] here].

Do you: ride on the proper side of the road? Do you obey traffic laws?
Wear visible clothing? Have lights and reflectors? All of these things
are far more important to discuss than the reductionist panacea of the
Tibetan magic helmet.

On Nov 27, 11:46�pm, Duke of Hazard <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I mostly average 10 mph , do I still need to wear a helmet ? I can
understand if you average 15+mph, but are helmets neccessary at slower
speeds? Energy is proportional to the square of the velocity so the
slower you travel the far less you should need one, no?

Like chicken soup: Couldn't hurt. BTW, ever notice that no women
ever participate in the Great Helmet Debate?

"Tom Sherman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dennis P. Harris wrote:

Quoted message said:

(credible population studies show no statistically significant benefit
from foam bicycle hat use)

To those who cite studies or other literature (on either side of the
question):
Your arguments would be MUCH more pusuasive if you cited your source for the
information.
Until you identify who you are quoting and in what context, everything you
say is nothing more than your (possibly biased) OPINION. Nothing more.

It is okay to have an opinion. But when you claim "fact" please support the
ability to check.
Otherwise label your reply as "opinion" and not "fact".

In the interest if discussion, note that I personally have a strong opinion
on this topic. I believe that it is strongly supported by facts. (and if
you guess my opinion from my message and/or my phrasing, you have a 50% or
better chance of guessing wrong)

The purpose of this note is to ask for factual information to support
"factual" claims -- so I am NOT expressing my personal opinion in this
reply.

- Skip

"Tom Sherman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The more laid back one is, the less likely the head will be at the point
of impact.

A good argument for riding a recumbant :-) <note smiley>

- Skip