It's Not Really About Helmets

Each time I write about helmets, I think it will be my last post, but it seems to be a matter that continues to pop up in various situations and I find myself typing again about a topic that can not only be controversial, but is one that I would often prefer not to bring up at all. Just recently though, I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with friends and soon-to-be-open local bike shop owners for an interview (I'm still filtering through pages of notes and audio, but I'm excited to post about all of that soon) and the matter of helmets came up in conversation.

As we neared the end of our interview, Paul looked over and said, "You know, it really upset me that day you rode Sam over here and you weren't wearing your helmet." Paul and Sam had been preparing to go out for a ride and I had meandered over to their house to drop Sam off for no real reason other than to be out for a few minutes. Riding over, Sam had commented that Paul would likely be worked up that I wasn't wearing a helmet. It's not the first time this subject has come up when Paul has spotted me somewhere in town without a helmet (which, I will admit, has happened on multiple occasions), but I laughed it off as I usually do and attempted to move on.

Paul continued though, "So, what is it you have against helmets?" In the moment I replied briefly, "I don't have anything against helmets, and I do wear them sometimes. More often when it's a ride around town though, I simply forget to put one on."

*Image found here

We continued to talk a bit about the matter and then moved on to other topics. The reality is, however, there is something a bit more that goes on in my mind when it comes to helmets. What I said in reply was the truth for me - when I'm riding around town, I do often forget as I'm leaving to grab a helmet, so I wasn't trying to get out of anything. I am well aware that a fall could happen at any time and that there is always the possibility of an injury when this happens, but I trust myself and am willing to take whatever minimal risk there is for me to ride helmet-less. In my estimation, there is also the possibility that I could trip crossing the street while walking and get injured, or that getting in a motorized vehicle could result in injury or death.

Some may view my lack of helmet as risky behavior and others would argue that it isn't. Obviously, to date it has worked out fine for me, which is not to say by any means that I believe nothing could ever happen that results in injury or worse, but simply that I have not had problems or injuries due to my choices.

Sometimes my decision is conscious. If the roads are slick outside, I will likely put a helmet on my head. Not because I think it will save me in the event that I'm struck by a motorist, but I find that the odds of slipping under my own power are more likely in these situations. I'm also more likely to put on a helmet when it's dark out - simply because I cannot see the roads as well, and I am more likely to hit debris in the road.

If I'm going out on a long ride, I'm also more likely to strap on my helmet, but those rides seem to be more of an unconscious decision. For some reason if I'm geared up in padded shorts and such, the helmet seems to be an auto-response. If I'm just riding a mile to the grocery store, it just hasn't been a habit I've developed.

The more important issue for me with helmets though has little to do with my personal choice to wear or not wear a helmet, nor anyone else's decision to don a helmet or not. What concerns me more is the level of fear that resides in so many people about riding a bicycle at all and what the topic of helmets can mean in these situations.

For example, let's say I was someone who was considering starting to ride a bike. I've been looking at bikes and trying to figure out if my distance to work (or school, or wherever) is doable by bike. I have seen other people in spandex out riding on local roadways and have noticed that cars seem to travel very close to cyclists. I'm not sure I am comfortable with being so close to motorized traffic while on a bicycle. I also have just read about someone who was hit by a car while on a bicycle last week. When I went to my bike shop, the salesperson told me my first purchase should be a helmet for my safety. I don't like the look or weight of the helmets I've tried on, but I don't want to get hurt while I'm out riding either.

This may not be the exact scenario for every person who is looking to ride, but ask anyone who is considering riding or who has tried briefly and given up what is keeping them from getting on a bike and their reason(s) are frequently to do with fear of injury or death. Certainly, this has been my experience in talking with people.

Driving in a motorized vehicle isn't exactly the safest thing we can do. There are accidents every single day, yet most people continue to get in their cars on a daily basis. During my recent trip to Georgia, there were highway signs announcing the number of crash fatalities overhead to everyone on the road. Not exactly the most comforting thought as the number increased from one day to the next. However, there is social and community support for driving, so we continue to get in our vehicles and drive. No one thinks we are "crazy" for getting in a car to go to work, the grocery store, or wherever our day takes us. We know there's risk of injury or death while driving, but it doesn't stop us from racking up the miles on our cars.

Cycling simply does not have the same community or numbers that help encourage people to continue to use their bicycles for errands, commuting, and so on. Looking up the statistics for the US or Canada, it's easy to see that riding a bike is still very unpopular with the majority of the population. Some cities have better numbers than others, but there isn't the infrastructure to support mass bike riding in North America. So, our community often tells us that we are absolutely nuts to be out on two wheels, risking life and limb. It doesn't help that when a person gets out on the road with motorized traffic it can be highly intimidating, particularly to someone new to riding, and when there isn't reinforced support from community to ride, it's easy to understand why numbers are so low.

*Image found here

When there's already a high level of concern or fear and it is being reinforced by the notion that wearing a helmet is a necessity for personal safety, I believe it creates an environment of fear-mongering and potentially puts a new rider off from riding at all. I'm not at all saying that our friend is trying to encourage fear among riders by any means, but I find that when someone is told repeatedly that a helmet is a necessity for safety, it can cause the individual to have additional or increased anxiety about getting on the road with his/her bicycle.

There are advocates of the Mary Poppins effect who believe that if one is in every day clothes, specifically a skirt or dress, cars are more aware of the rider and collision is less likely. There are also studies of actual impacts and the statistics of head trauma and brain damage after a crash and research that investigates whether wearing a helmet makes the rider safer.

I am not trying to debate the merits of wearing a helmet though. In a no-to-low speed situation (such as tipping over, slipping on a slick surface, and so on) a helmet could very well keep a person's head from injury if there is impact with a hard surface. It may also offer protection in a higher speed impact crash with a motorized vehicle. There are tons of places to find statistics and research being done on whether helmets are actually protecting the rider or not, but again, that isn't really the focus today.

My attempt is not to debate whether or not one should wear a helmet as there are plenty of places for that discussion and research; however, I do think telling a person s/he will be injured if s/he chooses not to wear a helmet is a bit irresponsible and more importantly it may be a factor keeping someone who doesn't ride a bike from getting on one.

*Image found here

Wouldn't it make more sense to encourage non-riders to simply get out and ride, however they are comfortable? Promoting safety and awareness is reasonable when the time is appropriate, and there may be individuals who need this reminder right off the bat (young children, accident prone individuals, unsteady riders, etc), but allowing an individual to see how enjoyable and free the experience can feel seems like a better way to promote riding a bike - at least to me.

While I understand that for many people the discussion of helmet use comes from a good place of wanting to protect others from injury, I continually question whether this conversation is good for the overall encouragement of a community of people riding bikes. I want to see more people out riding because I think that will have a much larger impact on cycling as a whole. It has the potential to change the way roads are used, to provide better infrastructure (and/or physically separated paths), and to change the way communities view riding a bike as a whole. We may still need or want the use of helmets, but I don't think pushing helmets is necessarily the best way to get others to ride.

I am curious what others think about the way the cycling community as a whole views and promotes helmet use or any safety equipment for that matter? When someone is new to riding, do you insist that s/he wear a helmet right off the bat, or do you let the person feel their way through? Do you inadvertently (or even intentionally) scare people new to riding with stories of those who have been injured in order to encourage the use of a helmet? Whatever your thoughts, I'd be interested to hear from you.

Choosing a Casual Bicycle Helmet

Whether you are a person who rides a bicycle with or without a helmet, you may have found yourself trying to figure out the best protection for your noggin on at least one occasion or another. There is so much that goes into choosing a helmet - even more than I initially believed - and everything from aesthetics to fit to type-of-use seems to come into play. Some people have a wardrobe of helmets to choose from, while others prefer the one-and-only-for-all-rides option.

I freely admit that I am very likely to be found helmetless when riding around town, but almost never go on a road/sport ride without one. How that tradition started, I'm not entirely sure, but I struggle for some reason to remember or care about using one on short trips around the city. I do know that it upsets a certain segment of the cycling community to see (or hear about) me wandering about town on a daily basis without a helmet, but I am still of the belief that this is (unless required by law) entirely my choice.

But (as per my usual digressions), this is not intended as a time to argue the merits (or not) of donning a helmet, but rather, I am curious as to how others go about making a decision about a type or style of helmet, and even whether or not the looks of the helmet matter to you personally?

As I've found myself riding in the dark more frequently over the years, I've thought it might behoove me to wear a helmet around town on occasion (I am naturally clumsy and riding at night just adds to the potential for hitting unseen items in the road), and thus started my search for a helmet that wasn't too sporty-looking, that fits properly, isn't weighty, looks good (or at least acceptable), and that isn't boring. I have to admit, it hasn't been a very fruitful search.

Throughout this multi-year hunt, I've tried on, purchased and borrowed a variety of styles, and I have yet to find one that seems to check all the boxes.

Nutcase has been making helmets for a number of years now. It's easy to spot them in retail establishments because they are more than likely one of the more colorful and aesthetically creative designs one will see. Their rounded shape, unlike most of the more oblong road and mountain bike helmets is yet another easy way to spot them. Not to mention that they're placed strategically in magazines, often times when not even advertising for the Nutcase brand.

*Image from Nutcase helmets

Personally, I'm frequently drawn to this maker because of the colorful designs. I lean toward more subdued and neutral choices for clothing, but I've found the opposite to be true when it comes to bicycles and accessories. For some reason, the brighter the colors the more I seem to find myself picking up and trying a particular item. I can recall the day when I spotted "Phoebe," my former Amsterdam, in a local shop. I tried to convince the owner that I am more of a wallflower, to which he replied, "Anyone drawn to that bike is not a wallflower!"

However, I know there are those who prefer just the opposite and who seek out more subdued choices for helmets or even bicycle colors (which are also available from Nutcase). I don't necessarily object to a neutral helmet either, but it needs to tick all of the other boxes, and at about $60-70 USD, they are one of the less expensive options available.

My biggest issue with Nutcase helmets (and those of similar shape, such as Bern) is that they are on the heavy side. If I wear them for any length of time (more than a few minutes), I find that I have a strained neck for days afterward. I haven't quite decided if it's the fact that these helmets ride so low on the back of my head, or if it's the weight itself, but strained neck muscles are something I'd rather avoid.

Additionally, I also prefer more venting in a helmet, so the minimal hole design of these helmets doesn't particularly appeal to me. They seem to work fine in cool or cold months, but when the temperatures rise, I find it difficult to continue wearing this style of helmet.

*Image from Bell (Solara helmet pictured) Approx. $40 USD

Other options that I've perused and tried are the more commonly spotted helmets in shops such as sporting goods stores and include those from Bell, Giro, Specialized, and so on. They often look similar in style and shape to the one pictured just above, and come in a variety of color choices and slightly different shapes.

For me, finding the right shape for my head seems to be challenging. I own one in particular that fits well overall, has a lower profile (which I prefer), has lots of large vent holes, and is lightweight; however, I end up with painful dents in my forehead every time I wear it due to the shape of my head - which seems to be in opposition to the shape of the helmet - despite the fact that it fits better than most helmets I've tried. I've been told in the past that people have either a Specialized shape head or a Giro shaped head, but I seem to have difficulty with both brands, depending on the particular model.

*Image from POC (model is Trabec)

I spot a lot of the POC helmets (and Smith Optics are a close second) on the roads these days too. The style (at least to me) seems to meet somewhere in between the super-round helmet and the space-looking helmets. Venting seems adequate (though I still prefer more/larger venting), and I like the variety of color options ranging from neutral to more stand-out colors. At $150 USD, this one starts to tug more at the purse strings than I'd prefer. Still, it isn't the most expensive helmet available, and perhaps this could serve as both a sport helmet and casual helmet for many riders.

Helmets have such a huge range in price, and (at least in the U.S.) they all must meet Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requirements in order to be sold on shelves. In my experience though, it seems as though the more a person is willing to spend, the lighter the weight becomes and often, though not always, they seem to look better. Is it some kind of trick to attempt to get me to spend more money on a bike helmet? Perhaps. But, I suppose the more accurate answer is that the higher the price tag, the lighter the materials the company can use to manufacture the product and still meet safety needs.

After years of looking for the near-perfect, more casual, everyday type of helmet, I still have nothing definitive to point to. There are a lot of options to choose from, but it can be challenging to know which way to go - even when able to try them all on in person. Sometimes, I find the most information when actually using the helmet on a ride, and at that point it's too late to return the one selected.

How do you go about choosing your helmet(s)? Do you prefer to have just one helmet for all different types of riding and or bicycles, or do you like to have options to choose from? If you've had problems selecting based on your head shape, what have you found to be successful? Do you care about looks more than fit, or perhaps the opposite?

The Helmet Debate (No, Not That One)

Today, we debate not the importance (or lack thereof) of helmets, but rather to ask for some opinions on which helmet to wear.  If you have thoughts that are beneficial, I would love to hear 'em.  During the upcoming ride I'm participating in, it is required that all cyclists wear a helmet. The question has become which helmet to wear. I don't really want to go out and purchase yet another, so I've narrowed it down to two choices I have here at home, and thought I would lay it out to see what makes the most sense.

Option #1: Lazer helmet

The Pros -
It's cuter than the other option
Since I will be riding a non-typical "race" bike, this helmet might fit with the bike better

The Cons -
It's heavier than the alternative (enough to notice)
It doesn't have many air vents (potentially making it hotter - though there are more vents than shown here)
I look like I have a mushroom head

Option #2: Bell helmet

The Pros -
It has more vent holes throughout, likely making it cooler for the ride
It's lighter weight than the alternative

The Cons -
I look like a space freak (with a visor, no less - though this is removable)
It looks more like a helmet for a "real" road bike (perhaps it doesn't fit with what I'll be riding)
It's not particularly attractive

I'm certain there are other things that I could take in to consideration, but I'm wondering what you would do - or rather, which one you would wear if given the choice? Putting aside the idiotic looks on my face in the photos, and instead focusing on what makes the most sense, do you have a favorite based on the functionality of the two? Thoughts and opinions are welcomed!

Finding Small Planet E Vehicles of Longmont

Often, Longmontians bemoan the reality that there are no good bicycle shops in town. We do have bike shops, but for various reasons they aren't what is typically thought of as the places to go to buy parts, accessories or even bikes, so many of us travel to other destinations (such as Boulder, Fort Collins, or Denver) to find what we need. This weekend, we happened upon a shop that I think could actually keep some bike business here in Longmont.

I have often passed Small Planet E Vehicles on the east side of Main Street between Longs Peak and 8th, but honestly have never stepped foot in the shop - or really even considered doing so - that is, until today. We happened in because Sam had discovered that the shop has Public Bikes in stock, and we thought we'd stop in to check things out. If you're a local and you've been searching for a place to find this brand, Small Planet E Bikes is the place to go. Although Public was what brought us in initially, little did we realize there were so many other fun things inside. I was like a kid in a candy shop and kept finding new fun items. They have the most amazingly fun Lazer helmets. I fell in love with the one pictured below... and for me, a generally helmetless riding individual, it was pretty incredible to find one that I might actually wear. It was cute (but not "cutsie"), simple, and actually didn't look or feel like a huge, bulbous mound on top of my already not-so-tiny head. Could it convert me to a helmet wearing gal? Possibly.

*Image from Lazer Helmets
Street Cycle Chic helmet - I think I'm in love!

Beyond my infatuation with the helmets, there were other wonderful discoveries such as a variety of tools and small items such as bells, bike tools, racks and tires/tubes. They also have a decent selection of baskets and bags/panniers for bicycles.

A small section of the available items at Small Planet E Vehicles
(Apologies for the bad photo, but you can get a small glimpse of what is in stock)

My favorites were handmade/woven selections from the African continent - Ghana, a bit more specifically. Although I prefer to buy local or at least nationally produced products when I can, I thought these were very interesting, especially the story behind how the baskets for bikes came to be. You can read about the story or view some of the available baskets online, if interested. Because the baskets are hand-woven from a type of elephant grass, there will never be two exactly the same... pretty cool, especially if you like some individuality on your ride (and of course, I personally do). The baskets even come with a small, handwritten name tag of the individual who made the specific basket. A nice touch, I thought.

*Image from Small Planet E Vehicles
The Yuba Mundo (non-electric version)

The shop also carries Yuba's longtail bikes - both an electric-assist model as well as a pedal-powered version. The stock photo of the Mundo above doesn't do the blue justice - it's a far richer color than is shown. While I didn't actually take up the accommodating and friendly owner Tom's suggestion to take the Yuba for a ride, I may just have to do so at some point in the future, as I've honestly been curious about these for quite some time.  Of course, in addition to all that has been stated, the shop is full of electric-assisted bicycles galore, and I think they are definitely worth a look as well.

I appreciated that they were so willing to allow me to test ride, and just wander around the store. We felt welcomed, but not annoyed by a pushy sales person, and I know we will be back in the future when we're looking for odds and ends... and who knows? Maybe a Yuba is in the future.

Helmets, Why Do You Torment Me?

Putting up a post that I thought had little to do with bicycle helmets actually spurred a bit of a reaction more specifically relevant to helmet use then I believed it would. While I had no intention of discussing helmets, nor whether or not one should use them, I was recently trying to find a good one, so it seems like as good a time as any to delve in.  Personally, I've read entirely too much regarding both pro-helmet use and about those who oppose it, but it's always fascinating to me to hear why people wear or don't wear one. As a brief background, I'm sharing my story about helmets and their (lack of) use in my life. It shouldn't be construed as either an argument for or against helmets, but rather just as one persons story.

As a kid, I never wore a helmet. Of course, we also didn't have to wear seat belts in the car because it wasn't the law, so I never wore that either (for the record, I do wear a seat belt now when in a car). I believe there was a helmet law at the time for kids under 12 or so (which changed in the mid-90s in California to anyone under the age of 18, but I had already reached adulthood at that juncture). Apparently it never phased anyone in my family enough to make me wear a helmet. I rode my bicycle up until I was about 15, or so, and never recall actually owning a helmet, let alone wearing one. When I started riding a bike again in adulthood, I felt this sort of peer pressure to get a helmet and use it. I hated wearing it, and most of the time didn't wear it, but I had one and if I needed it, it was available. A couple of years passed and I thought perhaps the reason I wasn't wearing the helmet was because I didn't like the helmet, so I got a different one. Honestly, it did little to improve my use, and if anything, I found I didn't want to wear it because it had few vent holes (or not large enough venting areas) and I was always dripping with sweaty hair when I arrived wherever I was headed (particularly in summer months, but it happened year round). It felt confining and even though I had (have) fallen off a bicycle more than once in adulthood (I'm klutzy, what can I say), I have never hit my head on anything and decided that wearing a helmet wasn't a necessity as long as I feel safe.

The Bern helmet, while comfortable, is extremely hot in summer months

Over the past several weeks, I've been riding more long-distance hauls, and somewhat frequently on busy streets and highways. Speed has increased fairly significantly from my normal "watch the grass grow" pace, and the helmet thoughts have returned to the forefront of my mind (particularly since I will have to wear one in an upcoming organized ride). I've also heard more than my fair share of stories in every day life recently about people who either crashed hard, weren't wearing a helmet and barely survived, or people who say that a helmet absolutely saved their life in a bike crash. I believe that things happen for a reason, so when all of a sudden these people are entering my life, I can't help but wonder if there's a message for me in all of it.

I still believe there are times when it's perfectly acceptable not to wear a helmet, and for some people in some places, maybe that is every day in every situation. For others, it may mean that they wear a helmet every time they roll out on their two wheels. However, I do not believe in fear-mongering, and I do not think that a helmet will save anyone from stupidity, nor will it somehow miraculously make an individual a safer cyclist.  A helmet doesn't make the rider safer, it's simply a safety precaution in case of an unforeseen event. You may, or may not agree with me - and that's completely okay.

As for me, I know I will have to wear one soon and want to get used to it before the ride at the end of the month, so I've been using it on my training rides to get used to the feel. I'm not thrilled about it, but maybe there's a reason that I should be wearing the helmet. I recently picked up a new one with larger vent holes, but I'm still not in love with it (but perhaps that's just the relationship I have with helmets). Do you have a favorite helmet? How do you choose from the masses of options out there? Is price the only factor, or are looks a part of your decision?

Bicycle Advocacy: Where's the Line Between 'Supporting' and 'Scaring' New Cyclists?

Over the weekend, I ended up in a relatively short conversation about helmets with a cycling advocate {before anyone gets too heated, I will say that the point of this post has little to do with helmets themselves}. The whole conversation was rather accidental, actually. I made mention briefly of something in regard to a helmet, and the gentleman I was speaking with began a story about how he'd been traveling at high speeds down the side of a local mountain on his bicycle and flipped/skidded over his bike, wasn't wearing a helmet, and walked away with out a concussion or any damage to his head, and that therefore he doesn't wear a helmet when he rides. He continued by discussing statistics that he views to be flawed that show the number of head injuries to non-helmeted riders. By the time the brief story was over, I got the impression that he was advocating for people not to wear helmets, and that in fact that they could potentially cause more harm than good.

A local ride with helmeted cyclists

My personal choice is generally not to wear a helmet, unless I'm participating in an organized ride that requires me to wear one. I live in a relatively small town (population under 100,000), with fairly slow moving traffic (most traffic streets are 45 mph or less), multiple miles of greenway/multi-use paths, and several streets with bike lanes. I don't feel unsafe by making the decision to go helmet-less. If, however, I lived in a higher traffic area, with faster moving or more erratic vehicles, perhaps my choice would be different. It's no bicycle utopia, but I am comfortable with my choice, and believe that it is each individuals decision to make for themselves.

Although I have the utmost respect and admiration for the work this gentleman does for local bicycle advocacy and setting an example by riding his bike daily, I have to wonder if the way bicyclists approach non-cyclists or new cyclists could potentially ruin them from ever wanting to ride again? When we approach someone with such vehemence for or against something, I think it can further the idea that cycling is a fringe or outsider "sport," and that only extremists participate in this mode of transportation. While I agreed with his opinions on wearing helmets, I would find it difficult to tell someone they shouldn't wear a helmet, and would instead offer what I see as the pros and cons of helmet use. Then, the new cyclist could make their own decision as to whether or not they want to wear one. 

I love to see someone who is so pro-bicycles, but I have to wonder where the line between advocating and scaring someone exists. What do you think? Have you ever been intimidated by the way another cyclist broached a topic, or by someone who's been riding longer than you have? Did it put you off the idea of cycling, or were you able to dismiss the ideas and move on with life and riding your bike? Feel free to take the poll or leave comments.