[archerlc]

I see people riding without helmets around TV. I assume since they are going slow they think they are OK.
Some things to think about:
I have seen seats snap off for no apparent reason. Bolts fail, posts fail. If it happens you are going down. If you happen to hit on your shoulder you head will then slap onto the pavement.
I have seen handle bars snap off.
Chains break.
My sister ran over a groundhog in PA. No injury to either.
I have seen snakes at the very last second. It shakes me to all get out but I have to say I have not crashed due to that.
I'm sure some safety commission has a list of crazy, unexpected things that have caused riders to fall.
Bike helmets: All are covered by CPSC since 1999. If it's $35 or $250 they all meet the same standard.
Just something to think about.

[Jim 9922]

I see motorcycle riders without helmets, smokers puffing like chimneys, drinkers on the Squares, resturants and bars hopping into their carts and cars and driving home, sun bathers and pool people frying their skin, fat people eating more junk food, neighbors climbing on their roofs to clean gutters, people mowing lawns and using blowers without eye, foot and hearing protection, people in carts driving 21 MPH or even faster, people working on or crossing "active" golf fairways without hard hats, walkers at night without reflective clothing or lights, etc, etc, etc.
The point is, at our age if we want to bubble wrap ourselves, we probably know where to find the stuff. If not that's where survival of the fittest takes over.
Just my opinion

[cappyjon431]

Darwin's theory solves most of these types of problems.

[NotGolfer]

I rode bikes all my life w/o a helmut. That is until a handful of years ago when my kids got wind of this and told me "if" I should wipe out and get a head-injury they weren't going to be doing the nursing care for me. This was "up north"! Back then too there was an ad that would be run (locally) on t.v. with an orthopedic doctor or some such specialist who also rode bikes. That ad would tell about the horrible possible head injuries that could happen (just from hitting gravel or whatever)...not to say broken bones etc. I've had bone-breaks not from this sport and have to say if I can do anything to not have others I'll wear the helmut and to heck with having a "bad hair day" afterwards. JMHO

[vclaes]

Any time I see any type of biker without a helmet, I think "mensa candidate."

[AJ32162]

Originally Posted by vclaes

Any time I see any type of biker without a helmet, I think "mensa candidate."

I think the same thing every time I see a fat person in the buffet line at the Golden Corral.

[KEVIN & JOSIE]

It's great to be free to make your own choices in life. Had an uncle smoke cigars until he died at 92 years. Had another friend die at 48 years from flesh eating virus. Had another friend at 46 die from blood clot. Had a work associate, worked out, was a vegitarian die from brain cancer at 54 years. Make your choices, live your life, ultimately you have no control over the outcome.

[Posh 08]

Originally Posted by cappyjon431

Darwin's theory solves most of these types of problems.

[Boudicca]

You all are tooooo funnneeeee (mensa - golden corral).....

[tainsley]

Originally Posted by archerlc

I see people riding without helmets around TV. I assume since they are going slow they think they are OK.
Some things to think about:
I have seen seats snap off for no apparent reason. Bolts fail, posts fail. If it happens you are going down. If you happen to hit on your shoulder you head will then slap onto the pavement.
I have seen handle bars snap off.
Chains break.
My sister ran over a groundhog in PA. No injury to either.
I have seen snakes at the very last second. It shakes me to all get out but I have to say I have not crashed due to that.
I'm sure some safety commission has a list of crazy, unexpected things that have caused riders to fall.
Bike helmets: All are covered by CPSC since 1999. If it's $35 or $250 they all meet the same standard.
Just something to think about.

I know what you are saying and I agree with you. When I was young and carefree the thought of wearing a helmet never occurred to me even after my sister's head split opened when she hit the ground after flying off a motorcycle! Don't smoke anymore but I did for many years...I am sure my lung capacity would be much greater now if I hadn't smoked all those years! My point is now that I have found this wonderful paradise I want to live at least another 30 years! I am still carefree but not as young and I do wear a helmet when I ride my bike because I would just hate it if I fell off and landed on my head!

[anlashokna]

Now don't get me wrong, know the benefits of helmets And if I ride in or near traffic I will wear one. But just to play a devils advocate here...how many of you rode bikes for umpteem number of years without? I know when I was a kid, a helmet? Huh?? What are you talking about. Had plenty of skinned knees from wiping out on gravel roads...yep...before they paved our roads...LOL.

Basically people will wear them or not. If its not hte law then there is no requirement. I myself will likely invest in one just because I've already seen the crazy drivers both vehicle and cart down there and I assume riding on sidewalk is a no no.

Used to bike around the bicycle capital (shout out to sparta, wi) and would ride on the sidewalks on the busy streets, other streets I felt fine doing it. But people were heavily aware of bicyclists and weren't out to run them off the road either.

[Advogado]

Originally Posted by cappyjon431

Darwin's theory solves most of these types of problems.

In other places, I would agree with you.

The problem here is that the idiots you see in The Villages riding without a helmet have already procreated.

[JoeC1947]

It's called thinning of the heard.

[cappyjon431]

Originally Posted by Advogado

In other places, I would agree with you.

The problem here is that the idiots you see in The Villages riding without a helmet have already procreated.

Very good point, but in the "big picture" they have passed on the genes so it is a problem that will eventually solve itself. One of the reasons the dinosaurs died out was they had brains the size of walnuts--see the parallel?

[MrMark]

Originally Posted by archerlc

I see people riding without helmets around TV. I assume since they are going slow they think they are OK.
Some things to think about:
I have seen seats snap off for no apparent reason. Bolts fail, posts fail. If it happens you are going down. If you happen to hit on your shoulder you head will then slap onto the pavement.
I have seen handle bars snap off.
Chains break.
My sister ran over a groundhog in PA. No injury to either.
I have seen snakes at the very last second. It shakes me to all get out but I have to say I have not crashed due to that.
I'm sure some safety commission has a list of crazy, unexpected things that have caused riders to fall.
Bike helmets: All are covered by CPSC since 1999. If it's $35 or $250 they all meet the same standard.
Just something to think about.

Don't be so critical. How else would you know they are brain dead.