Farewell to an old friend

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I'm a bit of a retro-grouch and as a result have been wearing the same
helmet since May '99 :-) I'm aware of all the arguments against
keeping them and starting that debate is not the purpose of this post.

I just thought that the way it failed was pretty dramatic and you
might be interested to see the photo :-)

http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l239/fixedbrian/Bicycles/?action=view&current=DSCF0412.jpg

I went over a very small jump that I am familiar with, but today I was
feeling good and hit it much faster than normal. I messed up the
launch and landed into a tree. My head hit hard and I was dazed for a
bit but there does not seem to be any real damage. I think the helmet
performed very well!

I almost bought a new one on Monday - so glad I didn't :-)

Brian

On Apr 4, 1:57 pm, Brian Watson <Brian.S.Wat...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm a bit of a retro-grouch and as a result have been wearing the same
> helmet since May '99 :-) I'm aware of all the arguments against
> keeping them and starting that debate is not the purpose of this post.
>
> I just thought that the way it failed was pretty dramatic and you
> might be interested to see the photo :-)
>
> http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l239/fixedbrian/Bicycles/?action=vi...
>
> I went over a very small jump that I am familiar with, but today I was
> feeling good and hit it much faster than normal. I messed up the
> launch and landed into a tree. My head hit hard and I was dazed for a
> bit but there does not seem to be any real damage. I think the helmet
> performed very well!
>
> I almost bought a new one on Monday - so glad I didn't :-)
>
> Brian

At least it went out with a bang!

Get a Giro helmet to replace it. I had a helmet that fitted the same
way as your old one but the Giros have an adjustable framework inside
them that fits very comfortably on your head, the difference is
amazing.

Brian Watson wrote:
> I'm a bit of a retro-grouch and as a result have been wearing the same
> helmet since May '99 :-) I'm aware of all the arguments against
> keeping them and starting that debate is not the purpose of this post.
>
> I just thought that the way it failed was pretty dramatic and you
> might be interested to see the photo :-)
>
> http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l239/fixedbrian/Bicycles/?action=view&current=DSCF0412.jpg
>
> I went over a very small jump that I am familiar with, but today I was
> feeling good and hit it much faster than normal. I messed up the
> launch and landed into a tree. My head hit hard and I was dazed for a
> bit but there does not seem to be any real damage. I think the helmet
> performed very well!
>
> I almost bought a new one on Monday - so glad I didn't :-)
>
> Brian

Nice work. Have you seen the article in the Australian newspaper
today about compulsory helmets and helmet wearing in general? I
don't want to start a debate about helmet law (sh*t, I think I
might have already). It looks to me that in this case the helmet
saved you from a potentially nasty head injury. The life of one
of my helmets ended saving my head although the damage was less
dramatic. I only realised the helmet was broken by inspecting it
closely sometime after the off.

DeF

--
e-mail: d.farrow@your finger.murdoch.edu.au
To reply, you'll have to remove your finger.

On Apr 4, 2:32 pm, DeF <""d.farrow\"@your finger.murdoch.edu.au">
wrote:
> Nice work. Have you seen the article in the Australian newspaper
> today about compulsory helmets and helmet wearing in general? I
> don't want to start a debate about helmet law (sh*t, I think I
> might have already). It looks to me that in this case the helmet
> saved you from a potentially nasty head injury. The life of one
> of my helmets ended saving my head although the damage was less
> dramatic. I only realised the helmet was broken by inspecting it
> closely sometime after the off.
>
> DeF
>
> --
> e-mail: d.farrow@your finger.murdoch.edu.au
> To reply, you'll have to remove your finger.

Sometimes I forget to put my helmet on if it's not dangling from the
'bars which can happen when I change bikes. I kind of like riding
without it, though I'm conditioned so that it feels weird once I
notice (or I notice because it feels weird). I still need to wear a
hat instead because I need *some* sun protection. I made a conscious
choice not to wear a helmet the other day while heading off for a
relaxed, slow trundle along the off road bike path, felt good.

Let the flame war commence :-)

On Apr 4, 1:32 pm, DeF <""d.farrow\"@your finger.murdoch.edu.au">
wrote:
....
> The life of one
> of my helmets ended saving my head although the damage was less
> dramatic. I only realised the helmet was broken by inspecting it
> closely sometime after the off.

Ditto here.

I had a front washout on an off-camber corner in the wet.. smacked
down on my left shoulder and head. Helmet saved the side of my head
from a very nasty whack into the asphalt.

duncan

lemmiwinks.au@gmail.com wrote:

> Let the flame war commence :-)

ooooh! You''re askin' for it! Hehe :-)

On 2008-04-04, Brian Watson (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
> I'm a bit of a retro-grouch and as a result have been wearing the same
> helmet since May '99 :-) I'm aware of all the arguments against
> keeping them and starting that debate is not the purpose of this post.
>
> I just thought that the way it failed was pretty dramatic and you
> might be interested to see the photo :-)
>
> http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l239/fixedbrian/Bicycles/?action=view&current=DSCF0412.jpg

'sok! You can glue it back together! Good as new!

--
TimC
When the revolution comes, we'll need a longer wall. -- Tom De Mulder

On Apr 4, 2:32 pm, DeF <""d.farrow\"@your finger.murdoch.edu.au">
wrote:

..snip.. Have you seen the article in the Australian newspaper
> today about compulsory helmets and helmet wearing in general?

Do you mean this one?

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23481766-30417,00.html

I hadn't, but have now. I know one case does not affect the science,
but I'm glad I was wearing mine today.

Brian

On Apr 4, 2:32 pm, DeF <""d.farrow\"@your finger.murdoch.edu.au">
wrote:

..snip.. Have you seen the article in the Australian newspaper
> today about compulsory helmets and helmet wearing in general?

Do you mean this one?

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23481766-30417,00.html

I hadn't, but have now. I know one case does not affect the science,
but I'm glad I was wearing mine today.

Brian

Brian Watson wrote:
> On Apr 4, 2:32 pm, DeF <""d.farrow\"@your finger.murdoch.edu.au">
> wrote:
>
> ..snip.. Have you seen the article in the Australian newspaper
>> today about compulsory helmets and helmet wearing in general?
>
> Do you mean this one?
>
> http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23481766-30417,00.html
>
> I hadn't, but have now. I know one case does not affect the science,
> but I'm glad I was wearing mine today.
>
> Brian

Yep, that's the one. This is a hoary old chestnut that comes out
every now and again. Both sides to the argument point to the same
data and say it supports their position. Having not seen the data
I wouldn't like to comment.

--
e-mail: d.farrow@your finger.murdoch.edu.au
To reply, you'll have to remove your finger.

"Brian Watson" <Brian.S.Watson@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:5de702c6-f363-4837-bb7c-5bfd3e12c54a@x41g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
> I'm a bit of a retro-grouch and as a result have been wearing the same
> helmet since May '99 :-) I'm aware of all the arguments against
> keeping them and starting that debate is not the purpose of this post.
>
> I just thought that the way it failed was pretty dramatic and you
> might be interested to see the photo :-)
>
>
http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l239/fixedbrian/Bicycles/?action=view&current=DSCF0412.jpg

Brian; that's the best argument for wearing a helmet I've ever seen -
imagine how you'd look if you hadn't been wearing it - you'd look like the
helmet!

It died doing what it loved.... that's the main thing.


"Brian Watson" <Brian.S.Watson@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:5de702c6-f363-4837-bb7c-5bfd3e12c54a@x41g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
> I'm a bit of a retro-grouch and as a result have been wearing the same
> helmet since May '99 :-) I'm aware of all the arguments against
> keeping them and starting that debate is not the purpose of this post.
>
> I just thought that the way it failed was pretty dramatic and you
> might be interested to see the photo :-)
>
> http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l239/fixedbrian/Bicycles/?action=view&current=DSCF0412.jpg
>
> I went over a very small jump that I am familiar with, but today I was
> feeling good and hit it much faster than normal. I messed up the
> launch and landed into a tree. My head hit hard and I was dazed for a
> bit but there does not seem to be any real damage. I think the helmet
> performed very well!
>
> I almost bought a new one on Monday - so glad I didn't :-)
>
> Brian

"Brian Watson" wrote:

> I messed up the launch and landed into a tree. My head hit hard and
> I was dazed for a bit but there does not seem to be any real damage.
> I think the helmet performed very well!

You are very lucky! The helemt failed and you could have suffered serious
injury if your speed had been a bit higher.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_helmet
"Anecdotal evidence
A common misunderstanding is to assume that a broken helmet has prevented
some serious injury. "the main impact was to my head. So much so, that my
helmet broke in two (as it is designed to do). Without the helmet, it would
have been my head that was broken and I wouldn't be writing this blog entry!
I'd be dead..."[47] Helmets are designed to crush without breaking; expanded
polystyrene absorbs little energy in brittle failure and once it fails no
further energy is absorbed. To prevent overt fragmentation, the foam in most
helmets is reinforced inside with plastic netting to keep the foam
together."


--
Cheers
Peter

~~~ ~ _@
~~ ~ _- \,
~~ (*)/ (*)

PeteSig wrote:
> "Brian Watson" wrote:
>
>> I messed up the launch and landed into a tree. My head hit hard and
>> I was dazed for a bit but there does not seem to be any real damage.
>> I think the helmet performed very well!
>
> You are very lucky! The helemt failed and you could have suffered serious
> injury if your speed had been a bit higher.
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_helmet
> "Anecdotal evidence
> A common misunderstanding is to assume that a broken helmet has prevented
> some serious injury. "the main impact was to my head. So much so, that my
> helmet broke in two (as it is designed to do). Without the helmet, it would
> have been my head that was broken and I wouldn't be writing this blog entry!
> I'd be dead..."[47] Helmets are designed to crush without breaking; expanded
> polystyrene absorbs little energy in brittle failure and once it fails no
> further energy is absorbed. To prevent overt fragmentation, the foam in most
> helmets is reinforced inside with plastic netting to keep the foam
> together."
>
>

So did it save his head or didn't it?

Was he "lucky", or has he "prevented serious injury" due to a concious
decision to wear a helmet?

Has he been reported in any statistical evidence demonstrating the
effectiveness of helmets, or is it just "anecdotal" evidence that can be
disregarded?

Davo wrote:
> PeteSig wrote:

>> You are very lucky! The helemt failed and you could have suffered
>> serious injury if your speed had been a bit higher.
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_helmet
>> "Anecdotal evidence
>> A common misunderstanding is to assume that a broken helmet has
>> prevented some serious injury. Helmets are
>> designed to crush without breaking; expanded polystyrene absorbs
>> little energy in brittle failure and once it fails no further energy
>> is absorbed. To prevent overt fragmentation, the foam in most
>> helmets is reinforced inside with plastic netting to keep the foam
>> together."

> So did it save his head or didn't it?
>
> Was he "lucky", or has he "prevented serious injury" due to a concious
> decision to wear a helmet?

Who kows? Would he have been doing such a risky thing if he didn't have a
helmet to rely on?

I'm with Pete on this. A helmet in pieces, failed, and you are lucky to be
alive.

Theo

On Apr 7, 9:12 am, "Theo Bekkers" <tbekk...@bekkers.com.au> wrote:

> > Was he "lucky", or has he "prevented serious injury" due to a concious
> > decision to wear a helmet?
>
> Who kows? Would he have been doing such a risky thing if he didn't have a
> helmet to rely on?

No, I probably wouldn't have.

> I'm with Pete on this. A helmet in pieces, failed, and you are lucky to be
> alive.

I know the helmet was old and I am lucky. But, there also has to be
some level of impact (and angle and lots of other variables) that will
cause pretty much any helmet to fail similar to the way mine did. I
hit the tree very hard and you can see (I can try to take better
photos if you are really interested) an area where the polystyrene has
significantly compressed and has stayed compressed. I am pretty sure
that this compression of the polystyrene is what absorbed most of the
impact and what minimised my head injuries. I am guessing that it
worked as designed and I just pushed it beyond the design (and age!)
limit.

Brian

Brian Watson wrote:
> Theo Bekkers wrote:

>> Who kows? Would he have been doing such a risky thing if he didn't
>> have a helmet to rely on?
>
> No, I probably wouldn't have.

Then was it your helmet that put you in this danger or your helmet that
saved you?

>> I'm with Pete on this. A helmet in pieces, failed, and you are lucky
>> to be alive.
>
> I know the helmet was old and I am lucky. But, there also has to be
> some level of impact (and angle and lots of other variables) that will
> cause pretty much any helmet to fail similar to the way mine did.

Sure.

Theo

On Apr 7, 1:10 pm, "Theo Bekkers" <tbekk...@bekkers.com.au> wrote:
> Brian Watson wrote:
> > Theo Bekkers wrote:
> >> Who kows? Would he have been doing such a risky thing if he didn't
> >> have a helmet to rely on?
>
> > No, I probably wouldn't have.
>
> Then was it your helmet that put you in this danger or your helmet that
> saved you?

I suspect you are asking that with half a tongue in your cheek, but I
will bite anyway...

When I was a kid and there was no such thing as bicycle helmets I did
this sort of thing with no helmet all the time. If there was still no
such thing as bicycle helmets I would still be doing it with no
helmet. But, there _are_ now helmets, I am used to wearing one and I
do wear one for all but the the gentlest ride up and down the street
to try out a new modification or adjustment etc.

The helmet did not put me in danger, it allowed me to be safer doing
what I would have done anyway.

Brian

"Brian Watson" wrote:
>
> I know the helmet was old and I am lucky. But, there also has to be
> some level of impact (and angle and lots of other variables) that will
> cause pretty much any helmet to fail similar to the way mine did.

It is quite likely that this level of impact would be the one where the
wearer would be killed.

Some years ago I had an OTB on my MTB and the impact for me was to be
unconscious for 10 minutes, pretty badly concussed, but luckily no permanent
damages. The helmet was sunstantially undamaged; the only thing that
disturbed my riding mates was a moderate piece of blue metal lodged in the
front helmet vent. No obvious compression, no cracking. I discarded it of
course.

The major reason for your helmet failure was probably age. Helmet
manufacturers and standards authorities recommend replacing a helmet every 3
years, as the polystyrene and other plastics deteriorate with UV exposure,
age and other chemical contact. 9 years is well over the odds!

I'm onto my fifth helmet now in that time period.

--
Cheers
Peter

~~~ ~ _@
~~ ~ _- \,
~~ (*)/ (*)

On Apr 4, 12:32 pm, Duncan <duncanmc...@my-dejanews.com> wrote:

> I had a front washout on an off-camber corner in the wet.. smacked
> down on my left shoulder and head. Helmet saved the side of my head
> from a very nasty whack into the asphalt.

And last friday night my helmet absorbed most of the impact of
something which was thrown at me by a carload of idiots (it also
struck me in the cheek, though the helmet took the worst of it). I
don't know what it was, it was massive enough to give my helmet a
really solid whack but instead of sticking around to find out what it
was I rode off after them hoping to get the license plate at the next
lights. (I didn't).

Chalk up another reason for wearing a helmet.

Travis