Wear that Helmet!!

[Ken Pisichko]

I just returned from a trip to the local ER at the hospital via
ambulance.

I was pedaling along and a fellow did not watch where he was going and
drove into my path. Came out from behind a bush and noticed me at the
last minute. I didn't turn left for that was the front of his car.
Instead I swerved left and hit his car at the front passenger windshield
with my bike taking out the passenger mirror and the bike sliding along
the passenger side of the sub-compact. I hit the car with my right rib
cage and fell onto the hood as I slid off the windshield.

Really sore right side. Turned out I just pulled some muscles. The ER
attending physician sent me for x-rays and after his examination he said
I was lucky. Amen to that! It could have been worse. While I don't
recall hitting my head the outer plastic helmet shell has a couple of
little pieces missing. I will replace the helmet just as a precaution.

Fortunately it was my $20 Chinese MTB. Maybe the car insurance company
will allow for a check-up/repair. Time will tell tomorrow. The local
police did not bother attending. The 10 speed Peugeot has it's panniers
ready and I will commute into the city tomorrow - with a spare helmet
that I bought last summer.

Ken
Winnipeg, Canada

[LioNiNoiL_a t_N e t s c a p E_D 0 T_N e T]

> I hit the car with my right rib cage and fell onto the hood
> as I slid off the windshield.

So how did the helmet contribute?

> While I don't recall hitting my head the outer plastic helmet
> shell has a couple of little pieces missing.

I'm not seeing the connection between this tale and the
double-exclamation Subject line.

--
Robots don't kill people -- people kill people.
http://www.irobotmovie.com/

[JimLane]

LioNiNoiL_a t_N e t s c a p E_D 0 T_N e T wrote:
>> I hit the car with my right rib cage and fell onto the hood
>> as I slid off the windshield.
>
>
> So how did the helmet contribute?
>
>> While I don't recall hitting my head the outer plastic helmet
>> shell has a couple of little pieces missing.
>
>
> I'm not seeing the connection between this tale and the
> double-exclamation Subject line.
>

Obviously you are blind. Pity. Although, the double !! may be a bit much
for those who were not there, I can agree that they might be used
because of the closeness to the poster. Like a gun shot down the road
and one right out your door are very different things.


jim



jim

[Benjamin Lewis]

wrote:

> LioNiNoiL_a t_N e t s c a p E_D 0 T_N e T wrote:
>>> I hit the car with my right rib cage and fell onto the hood
>>> as I slid off the windshield.
>> So how did the helmet contribute?
>>
>>> While I don't recall hitting my head the outer plastic helmet
>>> shell has a couple of little pieces missing.
>> I'm not seeing the connection between this tale and the
>> double-exclamation Subject line.
>
> Obviously you are blind. Pity.

Apparently I'm blind too, then.

> Although, the double !! may be a bit much for those who were not there, I
> can agree that they might be used because of the closeness to the
> poster. Like a gun shot down the road and one right out your door are
> very different things.

Does the gun shot outside your door allow you to view the situation more
rationally?

--
Benjamin Lewis

Hey! I'm only fourteen, sickly 'n' thin
Tried all of my life just to grow me a chin
It popped out once, but my dad pushed it in. -- FZ

[Ken Pisichko]

All the best guys. Today I was back at cycling with another bike and another
(unbashed) helmet. Take care out there :-)

Benjamin Lewis wrote:

> wrote:
>
> >... snip...

[R.White]

Benjamin Lewis > wrote in message >...
> wrote:
>
> > LioNiNoiL_a t_N e t s c a p E_D 0 T_N e T wrote:
> >>> I hit the car with my right rib cage and fell onto the hood
> >>> as I slid off the windshield.
> >> So how did the helmet contribute?
> >>
> >>> While I don't recall hitting my head the outer plastic helmet
> >>> shell has a couple of little pieces missing.
> >> I'm not seeing the connection between this tale and the
> >> double-exclamation Subject line.
> >
> > Obviously you are blind. Pity.
>
> Apparently I'm blind too, then.
>
> > Although, the double !! may be a bit much for those who were not there, I
> > can agree that they might be used because of the closeness to the
> > poster. Like a gun shot down the road and one right out your door are
> > very different things.
>
> Does the gun shot outside your door allow you to view the situation more
> rationally?

Depends on which side of the gun you're on.

[Chalo]

Ken Pisichko > wrote:
>
> the passenger side of the sub-compact. I hit the car with my right rib
> cage and fell onto the hood as I slid off the windshield.
> ...
> While I don't
> recall hitting my head the outer plastic helmet shell has a couple of
> little pieces missing.

Sounds like you'd have done better to wear a chest protector.

I was riding around last night when I stopped and chatted briefly with
another rider about our LED lights. He volunteered, without context,
that I needed a helmet. I just laughed at his presumptuous and
unsolicited advice.

I considered, but refrained from, telling him that he should wear a
cup if he makes a habit of prescribing helmets to others. But it
would probably do him more good than his foam hat!

Chalo Colina

[JimLane]

Benjamin Lewis wrote:
> wrote:
>
>
>>LioNiNoiL_a t_N e t s c a p E_D 0 T_N e T wrote:
>>
>>>>I hit the car with my right rib cage and fell onto the hood
>>>>as I slid off the windshield.
>>>
>>>So how did the helmet contribute?
>>>
>>>
>>>>While I don't recall hitting my head the outer plastic helmet
>>>>shell has a couple of little pieces missing.
>>>
>>>I'm not seeing the connection between this tale and the
>>>double-exclamation Subject line.
>>
>>Obviously you are blind. Pity.
>
>
> Apparently I'm blind too, then.
>
>
>>Although, the double !! may be a bit much for those who were not there, I
>>can agree that they might be used because of the closeness to the
>>poster. Like a gun shot down the road and one right out your door are
>>very different things.
>
>
> Does the gun shot outside your door allow you to view the situation more
> rationally?
>

Probably less, but stop and think for a second. Some of us, perhaps you,
have heard a gunshot go off somewhere in the neighborhood. It may be
startling or no great shakes depending on how often this happens. One
immediately outside your door is another matter. Wanna bet which one has
the greatest impact on you? which causes the strongest adrenaline jump?

Well, that6 helmet impact is like the shot outside your front door when
the helmet is on your head and it is the first time this happens to you.

Light shining somewhere in that darkness yet?


jim

[Benjamin Lewis]

wrote:

> Benjamin Lewis wrote:
>> wrote:
>>
>>> LioNiNoiL_a t_N e t s c a p E_D 0 T_N e T wrote:
>>>
>>>>> I hit the car with my right rib cage and fell onto the hood
>>>>> as I slid off the windshield.
>>>>
>>>> So how did the helmet contribute?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> While I don't recall hitting my head the outer plastic helmet
>>>>> shell has a couple of little pieces missing.
>>>>
>>>> I'm not seeing the connection between this tale and the
>>>> double-exclamation Subject line.
>>>
>>> Obviously you are blind. Pity.
>> Apparently I'm blind too, then.
>>
>>> Although, the double !! may be a bit much for those who were not there,
>>> I can agree that they might be used because of the closeness to the
>>> poster. Like a gun shot down the road and one right out your door are
>>> very different things.
>> Does the gun shot outside your door allow you to view the situation more
>> rationally?
>
> Probably less, but stop and think for a second. Some of us, perhaps you,
> have heard a gunshot go off somewhere in the neighborhood. It may be
> startling or no great shakes depending on how often this happens. One
> immediately outside your door is another matter. Wanna bet which one has
> the greatest impact on you? which causes the strongest adrenaline jump?

The latter, of course. I'm sure in that case my reaction would be
emotional rather than reasoned.

> Well, that6 helmet impact is like the shot outside your front door when
> the helmet is on your head and it is the first time this happens to you.
>
> Light shining somewhere in that darkness yet?

Yes, I think you've emphasized my point very nicely. Thank you.

--
Benjamin Lewis

TO ARMS! TO ARMS! Hooray! That's great
Two legs ain't bad unless there's a crate
They ship the parts to mama in. -- FZ

[Doug Huffman]

Let's not stop at a 'cup'! Full BMX (is it?) body armor! Were such legally
mandated, I'll bet we'd see a reduction in bicycle injuries just as when
hell-mutts are mandated. Ciao Chalo


"Chalo" > wrote in message
om...
| Ken Pisichko > wrote:
| >
| > the passenger side of the sub-compact. I hit the car with my right rib
| > cage and fell onto the hood as I slid off the windshield.
| > ...
| > While I don't
| > recall hitting my head the outer plastic helmet shell has a couple of
| > little pieces missing.
|
| Sounds like you'd have done better to wear a chest protector.
|
| I was riding around last night when I stopped and chatted briefly with
| another rider about our LED lights. He volunteered, without context,
| that I needed a helmet. I just laughed at his presumptuous and
| unsolicited advice.
|
| I considered, but refrained from, telling him that he should wear a
| cup if he makes a habit of prescribing helmets to others. But it
| would probably do him more good than his foam hat!
|
| Chalo Colina

[Menno]

Here are two interesting articles about wearing helmets.

http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dgnc2004/04dgnc0134.shtml#Text
http://agbu.une.edu.au/~drobinso/velo1/velo.html

It shows that helmets are not really the life savers that some people think
they are. It's more about using what's inside the helmet; your brain. In
this case the car driver did not use his brain.

Menno
wears a helmet when appropriate.

[Menno]

Here are two interesting articles about wearing helmets.

http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dgnc2004/04dgnc0134.shtml#Text
http://agbu.une.edu.au/~drobinso/velo1/velo.html

It shows that helmets are not really the life savers that some people think
they are. It's more about using what's inside the helmet; your brain. In
this case the car driver did not use his brain.

Menno
wears a helmet when appropriate.

[Art M]

"Menno" > wrote in message
. ..
> Here are two interesting articles about wearing helmets.
>
> http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dgnc2004/04dgnc0134.shtml#Text
> http://agbu.une.edu.au/~drobinso/velo1/velo.html
>
> It shows that helmets are not really the life savers that some people
think
> they are. It's more about using what's inside the helmet; your brain. In
> this case the car driver did not use his brain.
>
> Menno
> wears a helmet when appropriate.

Well, you'll change your tune the first time you shatter a helmet and come
out of the wreck with at least your head unscathed. I hit my head in a race
at 30mph hard enough that I didn't even feel my collarbone break. I guess
that suggests that we should wear shoulder pads too, but then we'd be big
wusses like football players.

For anyone who races or rides in competitive group rides the benefits
provided by wearing a helmet are probably much greater than those for casual
riders whose main threat is from intense impact with a car.

--Art

[Tim McNamara]

JimLane > writes:

> Some of us, perhaps you, have heard a gunshot go off somewhere in
> the neighborhood. It may be startling or no great shakes depending
> on how often this happens. One immediately outside your door is
> another matter. Wanna bet which one has the greatest impact on you?
> which causes the strongest adrenaline jump?
>
> Well, that helmet impact is like the shot outside your front door
> when the helmet is on your head and it is the first time this
> happens to you. Light shining somewhere in that darkness yet?

You mean the shining light that I should never leave home without a
styrofoam beer cooler on my head, whether I am riding my bike, walking
or driving? Of that I should probably wear it in the shower too,
since more head injuries occur there than on the bike?

Man, if I was as risk-averse as some folks I'd never get out of bed,
let alone go on a bike ride.

[Tim McNamara]

"Art M" > writes:

> "Menno" > wrote in message
> . ..
>> Here are two interesting articles about wearing helmets.
>>
>> http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dgnc2004/04dgnc0134.shtml#Text
>> http://agbu.une.edu.au/~drobinso/velo1/velo.html
>>
>> It shows that helmets are not really the life savers that some
>> people think they are. It's more about using what's inside the
>> helmet; your brain. In this case the car driver did not use his
>> brain.
>
> Well, you'll change your tune the first time you shatter a helmet
> and come out of the wreck with at least your head unscathed.

Ooh, is that a threat? Are you gonna *make* me change my tune?

> I hit my head in a race at 30mph hard enough that I didn't even feel
> my collarbone break. I guess that suggests that we should wear
> shoulder pads too, but then we'd be big wusses like football
> players.

No, it just means one should learn how to avoid crashing in a race.
It was a lesson I took to heart, crashing once on the road and twice
in the velodrome in the 10 years I raced and avoiding many others.
The safest place is a solo breakaway, but I was never strong enough
to pull that off.

> For anyone who races or rides in competitive group rides the
> benefits provided by wearing a helmet are probably much greater than
> those for casual riders whose main threat is from intense impact
> with a car.

The fact of the matter is that precisely the opposite is true. The
faster you're going, the more forceful the impact, the less helpful a
bicycle helmet is. It's designed to absorb the impact of falling over
while stationary and hitting your head, not a 30 mph impact. Of
course, most crashes involve a glancing impact with the pavement.

I've been in crashes with and without a helmet. The helmet was
useful in preventing road rash on my head. That's about it. OTOH a
little over a year ago I was knocked off my bike and assaulted by
four "youths" and my helmet was helpful for that.

[Chalo]

"Doug Huffman" > wrote:

> Let's not stop at a 'cup'! Full BMX (is it?) body armor! Were such legally
> mandated, I'll bet we'd see a reduction in bicycle injuries just as when
> hell-mutts are mandated.

Aye Doug, coming soon to a nanny state near you.

But I was thinking that sooner or later someone might bounce his
marbles in return for his presumptuous "advice".

Chalo

[Ritch]

"Menno" > wrote in message >...
> Here are two interesting articles about wearing helmets.
>
> http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dgnc2004/04dgnc0134.shtml#Text
> http://agbu.une.edu.au/~drobinso/velo1/velo.html
>
> It shows that helmets are not really the life savers that some people think
> they are. It's more about using what's inside the helmet; your brain. In
> this case the car driver did not use his brain.
>
> Menno
> wears a helmet when appropriate.

The article by Dorothy Robinson attempts to measure the efficacy (or
not) of mandatory helmet laws. It says nothing about the reduction in
risk of head injury given that an accident has occurred. These are
separate issues.

FWIW, the study showed no significant (or any at all, really)
improvement in head injury statistics after the introduction of MHL in
Australia.

Ritch

[NobodyMan]

On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 15:39:57 -0500, Tim McNamara
> wrote:

>> For anyone who races or rides in competitive group rides the
>> benefits provided by wearing a helmet are probably much greater than
>> those for casual riders whose main threat is from intense impact
>> with a car.
>
>The fact of the matter is that precisely the opposite is true. The
>faster you're going, the more forceful the impact, the less helpful a
>bicycle helmet is. It's designed to absorb the impact of falling over
>while stationary and hitting your head, not a 30 mph impact. Of
>course, most crashes involve a glancing impact with the pavement.
>
>I've been in crashes with and without a helmet. The helmet was
>useful in preventing road rash on my head. That's about it. OTOH a
>little over a year ago I was knocked off my bike and assaulted by
>four "youths" and my helmet was helpful for that.

Oh boy, do you need to do some research. Look at the medical data on
the subject of head trauma in bicycle accidents, both with and without
a helmet.

The chances of fatality in a "head hitting hard object" drop
significantly when wearing a helmet. They do so much more than just
protect your head from road rash.

For those naysayers who say "after my accidents, I didn't see any
damage to the helmet so it's useless," that's how the helmets are
supposed to work. They absorb some of the impact - and the damage to
the helmet starts on the inside. The damage is rarely visible from
the outside.

I'm not advocating mandatory helmet laws. If you don't want to wear a
helment, then don't. Just don't coming knocking on my door when you
need help paying for the respirator after your unhelmeted head hit the
pavement and now has massive brain trauma. Society shouldn't have to
pay for that.

[mrbubl]

NobodyMan wrote:
> On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 15:39:57 -0500, Tim McNamara
> > wrote:
>
>
>>>For anyone who races or rides in competitive group rides the
>>>benefits provided by wearing a helmet are probably much greater than
>>>those for casual riders whose main threat is from intense impact
>>>with a car.
>>
>>The fact of the matter is that precisely the opposite is true. The
>>faster you're going, the more forceful the impact, the less helpful a
>>bicycle helmet is. It's designed to absorb the impact of falling over
>>while stationary and hitting your head, not a 30 mph impact. Of
>>course, most crashes involve a glancing impact with the pavement.
>>
>>I've been in crashes with and without a helmet. The helmet was
>>useful in preventing road rash on my head. That's about it. OTOH a
>>little over a year ago I was knocked off my bike and assaulted by
>>four "youths" and my helmet was helpful for that.
>
>
> Oh boy, do you need to do some research. Look at the medical data on
> the subject of head trauma in bicycle accidents, both with and without
> a helmet.
>
> The chances of fatality in a "head hitting hard object" drop
> significantly when wearing a helmet. They do so much more than just
> protect your head from road rash.
>
> For those naysayers who say "after my accidents, I didn't see any
> damage to the helmet so it's useless," that's how the helmets are
> supposed to work. They absorb some of the impact - and the damage to
> the helmet starts on the inside. The damage is rarely visible from
> the outside.
>
> I'm not advocating mandatory helmet laws. If you don't want to wear a
> helment, then don't. Just don't coming knocking on my door when you
> need help paying for the respirator after your unhelmeted head hit the
> pavement and now has massive brain trauma. Society shouldn't have to
> pay for that.
>
If you choose to not wear an approved helmet you should be mandated to
be an organ donor. Organ donation needs more visionaries.

[Doug Huffman]

Ahhh, so! Another wannabe tyrant. Which is worse, one tyrant a thousand
miles away or a thousand neighbor-tyrants that are one mile away?


"mrbubl" > wrote in message
ink.net...
|| If you choose to not wear an approved helmet you should be mandated to
| be an organ donor. Organ donation needs more visionaries.

[Tim McNamara]

(Ritch) writes:

> The article by Dorothy Robinson attempts to measure the efficacy (or
> not) of mandatory helmet laws. It says nothing about the reduction
> in risk of head injury given that an accident has occurred. These
> are separate issues.
>
> FWIW, the study showed no significant (or any at all, really)
> improvement in head injury statistics after the introduction of MHL
> in Australia.

Actually, the result was a increase in the risk of head injuries
because people stopped cycling in droves, which in turn made the roads
a more dangerous place to be. This has all been discussed ad
infinitum before and the archives are at Google.

[AustinMN]

NobodyMan wrote:
> Oh boy, do you need to do some research. Look at the medical data on
> the subject of head trauma in bicycle accidents, both with and without
> a helmet.

I have, and obviously you haven't.

>
> The chances of fatality in a "head hitting hard object" drop
> significantly when wearing a helmet. They do so much more than just
> protect your head from road rash.
>

Proof of my previous statement. I used to believe the hype about bicycle
helmets, but the more studies I read, including those supposedly supporting
the premise that "bicycle helmets save lives," the more obvious the truth
became, that helmets are great at preventing road rash and bruises, and that
they rapidly become less effective at preventing other injuries, and have
probably never prevented a fatal head injury that wasn't offset by a fatal
head injury that was either caused by or worsened by the helmet. Oh, and
there are probably more serious neck injuries bike helmets.

This is actually what one would expect from the standards. Bike helmet
standards are designed for a 14 MPH fall (Note: NOT a crash -- the standard
is for a fall from a stationary bike) to a head that does not have the mass
of a body connected to it. 14 MPH is the speed your head would be moving if
you dropped it from the height of your bike.

Of course, if you never bike at speeds above 0 MPH (0 KPH) and only fall
with your head detached from your body, then perhaps bicycle helmets will
work for you.

Austin

[Robert Broughton]

Menno wrote:

>
> Menno
> wears a helmet when appropriate.

Interesting. Do you check your horoscope before you go on a ride to
determine whether you're likely to have a head-over-handlebars spill?

--
Bob Broughton
http://broughton.ca/
Vancouver, BC, Canada
"Watch your mouth, if you ever want to cross the border. Bad things
can happen to Canadians who use foul language in the US."
, Nov. 30, 2003

[Ken Pisichko]

A friend of mine was injured badly in a head on collision a year ago. He
was in "the right". Big Deal!!

He is still in rehab with significant damage to the grey matter. This is a
YEAR LATER!!!

My neighbour across the street ( Emergency Medicine specialist) I/C local
ER in local big-city hospital) mused out loud when I spoke about my
friend's situation. My neighbour wondered how the grey matter would have
"been saved' IF my friend was wearing a helmet (of ANY SORT) inside his
vehicle prior to the head-on collision.

Tim McNamara wrote:

> You mean the shining light that I should never leave home without a
> styrofoam beer cooler on my head, whether I am riding my bike, walking
> or driving? Of that I should probably wear it in the shower too,
> since more head injuries occur there than on the bike?
>
> Man, if I was as risk-averse as some folks I'd never get out of bed,
> let alone go on a bike ride.

[Ken Pisichko]

Tim McNamara wrote:

> "Ooh, is that a threat? Are you gonna *make* me change my tune?
>

Give yourself a rest! NO ONE is obligated to MAKE you do anything remember
that the GRIM Reaper WILL harvest you (and me and...) no matter what you
scribble here.

[Ken Pisichko]

Are you suggesting an end to life as "we" know it?

Joe wrote:

Basically if we follow your argument then we should make all activities
which have a risk illegal.

[John Forrest Tomlinson]

On Thu, 15 Jul 2004 22:08:35 -0500, Ken Pisichko > wrote:


>Give yourself a rest! NO ONE is obligated to MAKE you do anything remember
>that the GRIM Reaper WILL harvest you (and me and...) no matter what you
>scribble here.

Right! Be careful out there or the reaper will get you! Read the note
from by friend Alouischious about this. He KNOWS.
>
> Three years ago I was riding my bike to the store, and little dog ran
> out in front of me. I endoed and went over the bars. The impact with
> the ground crushed both my shoulders, which are still in plaster
> casts. My left leg was also broken in 18 places. My helmet was
> broken too, and without it I am certain I would be dead, or would at
> least have had a bruised brain. It's not how fast you are going but
> how fast your head hits the ground. Never ever leave the house
> without a helmet on your head.
>
> The year before that I was on my bike with some groceries in a back
> pack. When I got off the bike, I took my helmet off and when I
> reached up to take off my backpack, a can of tomatoes fell out of the
> pack onto my helmet, which shattered. I am sure if the can had fallen
> on my head without the helmet I would be dead, or at least still have
> ringing in my ears. Whatever you do, don't ride ever without a
> helmet. It's not how light your bike is, but how heavy the object
> hitting your head is. Don't risk it!
>
> A friend of mine was riding his bike slowly on the bike path near his
> house. Some kids put a rope across the path and jerked it up when he
> went by. They were just fooling around, but it caught his neck and
> gave him severe rope burns. Luckily he was wearing a helmet, so when
> he crashed he hit that and not his hear. Without the helmet I am sure
> he wouldbe dead. Now he also wears a cravat. The kids keep trying
> that trick on him, and though they take him down every couple of weeks
> with the rope, it would be much worse if wasn't wearing a helmet.
> Never ride on the bike path without a helmet! There could be kids in
> your neighborhood who may crash you with a rope. It can happen
> anytime.
>
> If your head is not worth anything to you, don't wear anything on it.
> How much is your head worth to you? Nashbar has the latest Giro for
> $169 and my head is worth that much. Or $99 sometimes, but that's on
> closeout.
> My uncle was showing my nephew how to ride a bike last week.
> So the nephew went out into traffic without his training wheels with his
> helmet. But he didn't strap it on right, and it fell in the street in
> front of his wheel and he crashed on his head. He got a consussion.
> Luckily his bike was really little, so his head didn't fall so far,
> but it still was a concussion. It would have been much worse if he
> was taller or his seat was higher. Now my uncle makes sure my nephew
> always has a helmet on this head strapped on tight, plus another one
> loose that he can crash on. The first helment will protect him.
>
> Always have at least one helmet on tight, even if you have others on
> very loose. This is the most important thing about bicycling safety.
>
> It can happen anytime.
>
> Thanks, -- Big Al

[Tim McNamara]

Ken Pisichko > top-posts:

> A friend of mine was injured badly in a head on collision a year
> ago. He was in "the right". Big Deal!!

Right or wrong makes no difference as to the injuries you receive in
an accident.

> He is still in rehab with significant damage to the grey
> matter. This is a YEAR LATER!!!

Recovery from brain injury is somewhat unpredictable. In general, one
tends to recover most of what they are going to recover in the first
year after the injury. Improvements are generally incremental after
that.

I have worked with hundreds of brain-injured people in the past 14
years; the vast majority sustained their injuries in what seem like
simple situations- falling down stairs, for example, or falling in the
bathroom. A rather high percentage of my clients sustained these
brain injuries when drunk or high. Other common causes are being an
occupant of a motor vehicle in an accident, being a pedestrian struck
by a motor vehicle, and assault (including the "sport" of boxing). I
have seen two people with brain injuries sustained while cycling and
know of one other case because it happened locally at the velodrome at
the Olympic qualifiers in, what 1990 or something like that.

> My neighbour across the street ( Emergency Medicine specialist) I/C
> local ER in local big-city hospital) mused out loud when I spoke
> about my friend's situation. My neighbour wondered how the grey
> matter would have "been saved' IF my friend was wearing a helmet (of
> ANY SORT) inside his vehicle prior to the head-on collision.

It's not at all clear what your- or your neighbor's- point is.
However, you can fairly easily sustain brain damage without ever
hitting your head on something; a helmet can provide no protection
from this.

> Tim McNamara wrote:
>
>> You mean the shining light that I should never leave home without a
>> styrofoam beer cooler on my head, whether I am riding my bike,
>> walking or driving? Of that I should probably wear it in the
>> shower too, since more head injuries occur there than on the bike?
>>
>> Man, if I was as risk-averse as some folks I'd never get out of
>> bed, let alone go on a bike ride.

[Tim McNamara]

Ken Pisichko > writes:

> Tim McNamara wrote:
>
>> "Ooh, is that a threat? Are you gonna *make* me change my tune?
>
> Give yourself a rest! NO ONE is obligated to MAKE you do anything

Who said anything about "obligation?" Read a bit more attentively,
and think a bit more clearly, and write a bit more coherently. It
will help.

> remember that the GRIM Reaper WILL harvest you (and me and...) no
> matter what you scribble here.

Nothing grim about dying, IMHO. I see people dying every day in my
job, and am well aware that it is unavoidable for all of us. In fact,
it is very often a blessing.

[Tim McNamara]

John Forrest Tomlinson > writes:

> On Thu, 15 Jul 2004 22:08:35 -0500, Ken Pisichko > wrote:
>
>
>>Give yourself a rest! NO ONE is obligated to MAKE you do anything
>>remember that the GRIM Reaper WILL harvest you (and me and...) no
>>matter what you scribble here.
>
> Right! Be careful out there or the reaper will get you! Read the
> note from by friend Alouischious about this. He KNOWS.

And indeed has some wise things to say.

>> Three years ago I was riding my bike to the store, and little dog
>> ran out in front of me. I endoed and went over the bars. The
>> impact with the ground crushed both my shoulders, which are still
>> in plaster casts. My left leg was also broken in 18 places. My
>> helmet was broken too, and without it I am certain I would be dead,
>> or would at least have had a bruised brain.

For the sake of illustration, note that this is a belief not a fact.
The helmet factions often conflate facts and beliefs (much like all
other activists).

>> It's not how fast you are going but how fast your head hits the
>> ground. Never ever leave the house without a helmet on your head.

Especially if you're walking, as pedestrians account for many more
brian injuries than bicyclists.

<snipped the rest of Al's wisdom>

[AustinMN]

Ken Pisichko wrote:
> Give yourself a rest! NO ONE is obligated to MAKE you do anything remember
> that the GRIM Reaper WILL harvest you (and me and...) no matter what you
> scribble here.

Not me. I'm going to be the first person to never die.

Austin (in a temporary fit of immortality)
--
I'm pedaling as fast as I durn well please!
There are no X characters in my address

[Ken Pisichko]

Tim McNamara wrote:

> It's not at all clear what your- or your neighbor's- point is.
> However, you can fairly easily sustain brain damage without ever
> hitting your head on something; a helmet can provide no protection
> from this.

After that particular comment I did state to my neighbour ( ER specialist)
that Formula-1 racers wore helmets for a reason.

Yes, I agree that there is no 100% prevention of anything. I got a tiny
blister infected with two anti-biotic resistant bacteria that resulted in
a trip to the ER and OR. Fortunately it was not the necrotising fascitis
types of bacteria. Close, but not resultant in an amputation... Lots of
tissue damage and the time to re-grow it took unproductive time too.

[LioNiNoiL_a t_N e t s c a p E_D 0 T_N e T]

>>> I hit the car with my right rib cage and fell onto
>>> the hood as I slid off the windshield.
>>
>> So how did the helmet contribute?
>>
>>> While I don't recall hitting my head the outer plastic
>>> helmet shell has a couple of little pieces missing.
>>
>> I'm not seeing the connection between this tale and the
>> double-exclamation Subject line.
>
> Obviously you are blind.

I do have some difficulty seeing what isn't there.

--
Robots don't kill people -- people kill people.
http://www.irobotmovie.com/

[rc5]

I always wear the helmet while biking. But I landed on my face when I
crashed my bicycle last time. The helmet didn't help in that situation.
"LioNiNoiL_a t_N e t s c a p E_D 0 T_N e T" >
wrote in message news:9zoIc.1874$Wu.227@fed1read03...
> > I hit the car with my right rib cage and fell onto the hood
> > as I slid off the windshield.
>
> So how did the helmet contribute?
>
> > While I don't recall hitting my head the outer plastic helmet
> > shell has a couple of little pieces missing.
>
> I'm not seeing the connection between this tale and the
> double-exclamation Subject line.
>
> --
> Robots don't kill people -- people kill people.
> http://www.irobotmovie.com/
>

[Curtis L. Russell]

On Fri, 30 Jul 2004 14:38:27 -0400, "rc5" >
wrote:

>I always wear the helmet while biking. But I landed on my face when I
>crashed my bicycle last time. The helmet didn't help in that situation.

Try snapping the straps behind your neck. What the hell you think all
those cutouts were for?

The first Bell was deadly - you couldn't hardly see. Had a hell of a
trip down Spyglass in Monterey one day. But it came with a snap-on
chin protector or something...

Curtis L. Russell
Odenton, MD (USA)
Just someone on two wheels...