Saturday, October 2, 2010

Cycling International: Helmets: Do they really save lives?




     


    



Between You and Julian Warmington
Julian Warmington October 3 at 9:00am Report
Hey Brian,
Thanks for your liking of those two notes there.
I just want to enquire: what is it that you did actually like about it? Was it the waiving of the helmets demand, or the warning of the rain, or just the expression of hope to see people out there?
I notice you always wear helmets. I have seen before, last year or at least several months ago, the study available online that shows that the introduction of the compulsory helmets law in Australia and NZ has supposedly done nothing to protect people, and that it is generally healthier for people just to be on bikes and out and about than it is to be at home and sedentary because of lack of access to or interest in wearing a helmet.
I noticed that in most if not all your pictures you wear a helmet. I have stayed in hospital in Korea, and i have been in Korean courts following proceedings after a foreigner had 'an accident' (and died) in this land, so i know first hand the extent of the lack of sympathy that can be extended in either situation. I also notice that now everyone on the major races such as the Tour du France wears helmets. I also know that just because some study is available online does not automatically mean it is valid and legitimate.
The reasons this whole issue is a cause of concern for me are immediate and at least two or three-fold: I wanted to promote a trip locally to celebrate the local bike paths and mark the 350.org date of world action on climate change on 10.10.2010. I have some friends who live near where we went yesterday who have gotten themselves bicycles and have started getting out but they are severely overweight and so i wanted to provide them with a challenge or goal. And finally the course we actually did yesterday on the distant bike paths did follow a busy road much further than i was initially led to believe by the guy whose idea it was to go there, so i'm hesitant to suggest again that people recommend coming even without a helmet next weekend, when he wants to revisit there with the group when i'm away (at my brother's competition in the world 24-hour mountain bike championships...).
Any ideas? What would you do? What do you recommend? (I would not hold you responsible for any consequences. I make my own decisions and accept my own consequences. I'm just looking for feedback and ideas from people whose opinions i respect on this issue 'cos they are serious road riders and appreciate both the danger and legality of the situation as it applies to themselves and others.)
Hope you're having a good weekend. See you 'round!
j.
Brian Perich Bikes October 3 at 3:04pm
Hi Julian,

I have always had helmets in my cycling career, albeit the early years when I rode BMX and other fake-motorcycle types in the 1980's. Canada never had an enforced helmet law, but I know a club rider that died on the race track in the 1990's. Given the evidence to support the high-fatality rate for cyclists (urban riding perhaps is the most dangerous form), there remains enough evidence for me that quite simply says, bicycle helmets do save lives. Some call it a "brain bucket" -whatever it is, it's well worth  the price in foam (and good for years of use without a crash necessitating it's replacement I might add here). There are a variety available on Gmarket.co.kr and my wife recently purchased a nice Giro for around 45,000 won. I think it's good you're just advocating for Cycling in Korea, nothing better than that in itself! Once a rider falls hard, they begin to believe in the purpose of helmets: to protect the valuable contents inside your head, not to mention the outward appearance following the crash.

With or without, that is the question- many expedition riders go without them around-the-world, see Nicholai Baangsgaard's informative site, he rode mainly without a helmet around the world 2006-2010. (Except OZ) http://worldtravellers.dk/

Peace, Brian P





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