Sorry, but there is absolutely NO excuse for not riding with a helmet.
Having been in the health care field for over 35 years I have seen way too many traumatic brain injuries (and deaths) from not wearing helmets, both bicycles and motorcycles.? You better hope you die when you crash?because a severe?TBI where you have absolutely no clue where you are, or ability to do anything on your own is not somewhere where any of us wants to be.
For those that say with due caution you can avoid accidents; well I can think of several professional riders who died due to not wearing a helmet either during a race or training and I doubt if any of us on this string are more skill full on a bike then they were., yet they are?dead or several compromised. ?In addition, as we know many accidents happen because of someone else's mistake; car through an intersection, a crash while in a group, dog?or some other animal darts out in front of you,?on and on, ?where no matter how good you are you go down - bet most of us have been there.?I wonder what Saul Raisin would say about this?
And for those that state a "freedom of choice" for?using a helmet:?What choice do I have as a taxpayer (or for that matter society)?when I'm paying for you in a long term care facility at potentially a million $ a year or more, ?because you did not wear a helmet?and do not have, or have exhausted, your insurance?
And for those with a family think about the consequences of your actions should something serious happen and you can no longer provide for the, or become a burden? Did they have a choice in this matter?
And finally, do you put a seatbelt on when you drive? The difference is?
Sure, the odds are in your favor you will not crash when riding, or if you do it won't be severe, but do you want to take a chance that the odds are up?
Rex Gilmore Vienna, VA
-----Original Message----- From: Harry Schwartzman <harryschwartzman@yahoo.com> To: Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 10:19 am Subject: [CR] Helmets - Please
Listers, Peter,
I'm sitting here reading Classics Rendevouz all day because I just cracked my Femur. Can't move.
Peter, i hear what you're saying, and I know that the Cannibal didn't wear helmets, Coppi didn't, Reg McNamara didn't. I know.
HOWEVER, Three years ago I spent three days in Intensive Care after my OT clipless pedal failed. I wasn't wearing a helmet. I wouldn't have been in intensive care if I was. The stupidest, and I really mean that, thing was that my helmet sat at home that day, and when I got out of the hospital I saw it as I painfully hobbled into my house. I am man enough to admit that seeing it sitting there made me cry. I mean it. Really.
I was generally OK, but I had two skull fractures and I had fractured a part of my vertebrae. These things happen. Especially if you ride hard and especially if you idolize and try to emulate the greats whenever you ride. As you said, in the past riders were hard men, but they did all kinds of stupid things when they rode. Amphetamines, no helmets, etc. etc.No need to emulate that behavior.
Safety is paramount. What the point of having beautiful bikes if you're in a casket? I know you probably don't care what i think and you'r not going to take advice from a 32 year old upstart like myself, but if there is no greater tragdy than one that could have been averted.
Safely, and bored outta my gourd,
Harry Schwartzman
Long Island City, NY