I've ridden in city races, city traffic, trails, rural roads, down the CA coast, in groups and solo.... I've crashed a few times. Great anecdotes, horror stories, etc. We've all got them. I'm also an engineer with significant experience in mechanics and materials. I've supervised projects investigating / improving properties of sports helmets. My opinion, based on my riding and engineering experience, is that styrofoam cycling helmets sold today *can mitigate certain kinds* of injuries. But also there are some crash modalities where current helmet designs worsen the injuries. I've seen very little evidence to convince me of claims like "see the crack in this helmet – it saved my life" being scientifically valid.
If you read the fine print on helmet manufacturers' websites, you'll see them being extremely cagey about their testing protocols, guarantees of any kind, etc. There *are* standardized testing protocols they have to follow, but carefully examining in detail the testing protocols and what they require of the materials and construction suggest to me two main things: 1) the test protocol is not representative of the vast majority of crash modalities that I am likely to encounter, and 2) the styrofoam material is about one to two orders of magnitude stiffer than it should be to properly cushion the skull upon impact. There *are* better materials, and they're being applied in football helmets, for example. But their applicability to cycling is much more limited on account of greater weight, duration of activity, and sustained high level of aerobic load. Now, I'm not trying to say that wearing helmets is stupid, or that not wearing helmets is just as safe or safer than wearing one. Part of what I'm saying is that we get more of what I would call "safety theater" – much like "security theater" we've all experienced in airports – than actual safety. And the margins on the product are good enough as is! And it is against this backdrop that the thing irritating me the most about the helmet conversation is the collective admonishment that many (most?) cyclists – and celebrities like Gordon Ramsey – bring to the issue. It only worsen the victim-blaming that still plagues our culture. And, as many have already pointed out, it is the culture and customs <https://youtu.be/NpVncWxyMJw> that are the biggest risk factors. - Max "stop staring at your smartphone and pay attention" in A2 On Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 5:07:35 PM UTC-4 George Schick wrote: > Good points, John. But when I read one of Grant's blagh posts I often see > a point/counterpoint narrative of what he feels "may" be a correct view vs. > what the general biking industry tries to hawk as "the only correct view." > I neither agree nor disagree with most of his posts. And, yes, there are > crash survivors who probably only lived (or at least survived in a less > than functionally cognitive state). Personally, I came across a group of > cyclists on an organized ride who were gathered around a young lady who had > apparently been riding in a group and was either inadvertently or purposely > been run off the road and into a mailbox post...and not an average mailbox > post, but a railroad tie that people in rural areas often set in the ground > to prevent mischievous adolescents from whacking them down for a "prank". > Her helmet lay on the ground split completely split in half and she was > unconscious. I learned later that she died from a severe concussion. Would > a helmet with different design than the compacted foam have saved her life? > Maybe not. There are different kinds of accidents with different kinds of > injuries and outcomes. But I'll stand by Grant's remarks if they are read > carefully. He's not saying that they don't completely prevent serious > injuries, he's saying that they're not constructed in a way that "could" > prevent more serious injuries because that can get by with the current > designs. > > On Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 1:46:42 PM UTC-5 John Hawrylak, Woodstown NJ > wrote: > >> George Schick wrote: " Grant posted a lengthy article in his December, >> '23 Blahg issue. His points revolved more around the way modern helmets >> are constructed, using styrofoam-like material that won't compress during >> an impact,.......it's a worthwhile read. He covers various tests used to >> measure the integrity of each helmet......:" >> >> George, with all due respect, this thread contains 2 to 3 instances of >> folks reporting the helmet *did it's jo*b, not including Gordo's >> crash.. And there are no instances where folks complained the helmet did >> *not* do it's job, despite what Paterson claims is incorrectly testing. >> >> I read his Blahg when it came out & I was disturbed about his POV. I >> think it shows his false logic about wearing a helmet, It is worthwhile >> only because it is a POV of an influential person. >> >> Grant could be wrong, >> >> John Hawrylak >> Woodstown, NJ >> On Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 12:56:53 PM UTC-4 George Schick wrote: >> >>> FWIW concerning this discussion, Grant posted a lengthy article in his >>> December, '23 Blahg issue. His points revolved more around the way modern >>> helmets are constructed, using styrofoam-like material that won't compress >>> during an impact, than it did wearing vs. not wearing one. At one time or >>> another I've owned each of the helmets from the past that he highlights - >>> Skid Lid, Kucharik "hair net," etc. Whether you are pro or con helmet >>> wearing while cycling, it's a worthwhile read. He covers various tests >>> used to measure the integrity of each helmet, how it does or doesn't do >>> what it is supposed to do (or at least "hyped" to do), modifications made >>> to existing models, and other things. >>> >>> On Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 4:27:36 PM UTC-5 Matthew Williams wrote: >>> >>>> [image: >>>> oMe3QaPR4E9b7DDpDnQFwbXwIfYum0EBKDB8bA~tplv-photomode-video-share-card:1200:630:20.jpeg] >>>> >>>> 1.1M likes, 21.3K comments. “Sound ON for this one…with #FathersDay >>>> tomorrow I have very important message for all the dads out there…WEAR A >>>> HELMET ! This week I had a really bad accident while riding my bike in >>>> Connecticut. I'm doing ok and did not break any bones or suffer any major >>>> injuries but I am a bit bruised up looking like a purple potato. I’m >>>> thankful for all the doctors, nurses and staff at Lawerence + Memorial >>>> Hospital in New London who looked after me and checked me out, but most >>>> thankful for my helmet that saved my life. Have a great Father’s Day and >>>> be >>>> safe Gx” >>>> <https://www.tiktok.com/@gordonramsayofficial/video/7380749671632882977> >>>> TikTok · Gordon Ramsay >>>> <https://www.tiktok.com/@gordonramsayofficial/video/7380749671632882977> >>>> tiktok.com >>>> <https://www.tiktok.com/@gordonramsayofficial/video/7380749671632882977> >>>> <https://www.tiktok.com/@gordonramsayofficial/video/7380749671632882977> >>>> >>>> Also: “I Love Helmets!” >>>> >>>> [image: maxresdefault.jpg] >>>> >>>> Prescott Highside (I Love Helmets) >>>> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qus2wiRUVBw> >>>> youtube.com <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qus2wiRUVBw> >>>> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qus2wiRUVBw> >>>> >>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. 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