Cycling Helmets

So, obviously I always wear a helmet when cycling? Erm, only sometimes. My head overheats when I am wearing a helmet due to my oversized boy-brain (sorry to any females reading) and it is so much more fun cycling with the wind whistling through one's locks. Plus, I tend to cycle the same route, which is almost flat, where I am more likely to be clipped by a car and crushed. A helmet would be of little use then. These two adverts are quite thought provoking, even though I suspect they are posed by models.




This letter in the BMJ states my opinion pretty well. I do feel safer wearing a helmet, but I do notice that I cycle more quickly which presumably negates part of the protection. Being a scientist I looked on Medline for any relevant studies on which to make an informed decision. Approximately half said that helmets prevented brain injuries and half said they did not. Hmm. Also, most of the studies were either very small, of poor quality, paid for by helmet manufacturers, or sponsored by road-safety charities with a vested interested.

What makes me laugh is seeing a gaggle of children helmeted-up on their bikes even though they have stabilisers and are moving at approximately two miles per hour. These tend to be followed by a "Yummy mummy" sans helmet. After all, a helmet would mess up her hair, wouldn't it? I'm not sure how that parent/child conversation would go,- "I do not want you to be brain-damaged, but I am older so I will risk it."