[Closed] Wiggo on helmets

Pretty disappointing Wiggo

+1

Olympic medal winner in "Having a different opinion to yours" shocker.

Vive la difference!

(But yes, getting to the point of the OP's post, helmets alone are not the solution to making bikes and traffic play nicely. Wiggo didn't even mention RLJ's).

"There's scant evidence they will avoid serious injury, and certainly, with the majority of deaths in London involving lorries or busses, I would expect them to do nothing. "

i can think of several ways in which they would help.

I'm not sure he's right on helmets (I never get on a bike without one FWIW) but I'm sure he's just about my favourite human being alive.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/aug/01/bradley-wiggins-cycling-gold-reaction

But there is too much thrill in the air to worry about the view or the narrative – and nobody had to wonder who was winning because, obviously, Bradley Wiggins was. "The great thing about cycling", Wiggins said afterwards (brace yourself, he is about to become more likeable still) "is that anyone can watch it. We all know about the Olympic ticketing – inside here, it can all become a bit of a prawn sandwich fest. Ultimately, all the real fans are outside the gates."

I was hit by a lorry and the helmet saved my head for what its worth

You can't blame him for that can you. First his a dad, and I would bet a coffee that he makes his children ride with helmets.
Second he has probably crash quite a few of helmets himself and therefore save himself some injuries (small or big ones). Plus as far as I know they are compulsory for racing, so he may even use them quite a bit ;).
It's good to see a star take a stance on that. Whether it's towards your own opinion or not.

I don't see how wrapping your head in what is effectively a crumple zone can not be a good thing? Ok, it might not help in every situation, but it's simple physics that it's going to be a damn slight better than your bare head hitting a bus/pavement/whatever.

his supreme awesomeness should not be tainted just because he has an opinion on helmet wearing.
helmets might not stop you getting crushed under a tipper truck, but they will save you from a bazillion other injuries.

On his other note. Idiots wearing headphones in traffic - yes! Stop it.

You can't blame him for that can you. First his a dad, and I would bet a coffee that he makes his children ride with helmets.

[img] [/img]

I'll have a double espresso please.

There was a study which showed motorists treat cyclists differently if they are wearing a helmet, they drive closer. Certainly they help, but they are definitely not the answer to road safety. Driving and cycling safely are the answer, helmets should not come into that equation and are the last line of defence.

I always wear a helmet and always will, that is my decision though and should not be enforced.

I think it's a bit rich to advocate compulsory helmet laws when he was filmed riding to his family just after the race without one.

I was hit by a lorry and the helmet saved my head for what its worth

It might have saved you from injury or lessened any injury you sustained, but it didn't save your life. If a truck is gonna kill you, a bit of polystyrene isn't going to stop it.

But he does have hold of him
Edit: referring to pic above

I went to amsterdam yesterday and only saw one person the entire day with a helmet and that was a little kid riding with parents. The cycle lanes were everywhere and motorists mostly respected them (although, ironically not the footpaths). I also never saw anyone on a bike in full on TdF sprint finish mode like you do in London so often. As such, in my well researched opinion, the problem is our cities are not catering too well for cyclists with lanes that vanish and put riders at risk, everyone is in too much of a rush, cars are ignoring people etc.

Generally then, the problem is people. If we get people out of cars, cities and cycling there will be fewer injuries, scratched cars and hissy fits.

But he does have hold of him

He's barging him so he can win. Competitive dad.

It might have saved you from injury or lessened any injury you sustained, but it didn't save your life. If a truck is gonna kill you, a bit of polystyrene isn't going to stop it.

But how can you say it didn't Dave your life? If you are in a crash and come out alive then, in whatever way, your life was saved. You don't have to be hit hard to sustain a life threatening head injury - even having an 'SPD moment' could mean you hit your head hard on a kerb which could potentially cause massive injury. A helmet in that situation would probably do a massive amount to lessen that. Having the logic of "if it's going to kill you it will kill you', then why wear seatbelts in a car? Why have airbags.? Why give soldiers body armour? None of those things can guarantee to save your life, but they will damn well do a better job than not having them!

It's a marketing strategy.. have you not seen the new strapless Wiggo helmets held on by mutton chop velcro

well said speed12, it's common sense.

Deleted. Cba.

I think it's a bit rich to advocate compulsory helmet laws when he was filmed riding to his family just after the race without one.

On a closed road... I'd like to see him riding with his family on open road

This comes up every few weeks on here. The naysayers say that studies show they dont help, the rest of us bang on that you are a cretin not to war one, regardless of the evidence. Certainly the guy who left a fair portion of his scalp on The Stang descent in Arkengarthdale during the recent Richmond Sportive, and not wearing a helmet, would have [i]probably[/i] benefited from it, like all the other heroes who are too tough to wear one. I can tell you the Air Ambulance and land ambulance Paramedics who were called to him were not best impressed, nor were the 60 or so guys who couldnt get by when we shut the road so i could spend the best of an hour trying to stop the bleeding and keep him concious until the Paramedics arrived (the road was wide enough for one car only..or one guy sprawled across it, depending on how you want to measure it). Ive also had a few offs where a cracked helmet has been the result, not a cracked skull...my own personal study.

This will descend into the usual bitching blah blah, but thats my two pence spent...im off for a coffee.

More Peds killed by cars than cyclists but no-one advocates helmets/lights/highviz/headphones for them.

Wear a helmet by all means. Just don't claim it makes the roads safer. Infrastructure not victim blaming.

We did quite a bit of cycling in france on holiday without a helmet (always wear one over here) and they have such a lot of cycle paths it's so much safer than this country, even big cities seem to have safe ways around them for cyclists, and even when we were on the road which was rare drivers were a lot more courteous and gave lots of room. Perhaps attitudes to cyclists in this country need to change, stop people getting hit so often. Friend of mine got knocked off when someone swerved into her and she went over the bonet, silly bint in the car didn't even ask of she was ok, just started ranting about 'bloody cyclists' shouldn't be on the road. I'm not sure on whether people should wear helmets as compulsory but I do think we need more cycle paths and a better attitude to cyclists in this poxy country.

The memory of Bradley's big day may be tainted by the unnecessary death of a cyclist so close. But starting a thread critisising his comments on helmets is just ****ing retarded!

But how can you say it didn't Dave your life? If you are in a crash and come out alive then, in whatever way, your life was saved. You don't have to be hit hard to sustain a life threatening head injury - even having an 'SPD moment' could mean you hit your head hard on a kerb which could potentially cause massive injury. A helmet in that situation would probably do a massive amount to lessen that. Having the logic of "if it's going to kill you it will kill you', then why wear seatbelts in a car? Why have airbags.? Why give soldiers body armour? None of those things can guarantee to save your life, but they will damn well do a better job than not having them!

So, so many assumptions and half truths in that it's difficult to know where to start.

But basically, it can't be PROVEN that cycle helmets save lives and when someone trots out the old line 'if it saves one life it's worth it' you have to remember that is IS proveable that a healthy and active lifestyle does save lives and that forcing people to wear helmets stops them cycling to some extent.

Generally, I wear one. But I'd fight tooth and nail to keep them optional.

Impossible to police anyway, so it's a mute point.

And I seriously doubt it'll ever happen anyway.

Wear a helmet by all means. Just don't claim it makes the roads safer. Infrastructure not victim blaming.

lived in holland for 6 months with a bike last year

the roads are not safer - drivers are just as impatient

but it is very very very rare you need to use a road.

cycle paths are segregated from the road. If we had infrastructure like that id bet alot more folk would use the roads.

the ammount of folk in my office who have been put off cycling by having to negotiate the haudagain round about in aberdeen ....

Wot Emma said. Spot on. 🙂

So, so many assumptions and half truths in that it's difficult to know where to start.

Impossible to police anyway, so it's a mute point.

Tell you what, wear a helmet if you want. Or hey, don't wear a helmet if you don't want to. I wear one for proper roadie-ing or mtb-ing but don't for a quick pootle into town. Don't ask me why, it's just what I do to make me feel better - all the googled & quoted research on here probably isn't going to make change what I do. Nor am I going to try and force someone else to do what I do either.

But let's all stand together in demanding that roads are made safer for cyclists. Arguing amongst ourselves will just distract from the real issues.

Shame many can't see beyond "what harm can compulsory helmet wearing do" and that old classic "bike helmet saved my live because I crashed with one on and lived".

I disagree with him, (given time to think he might disagree with himself, especially given the picture above) but the most retarded thing about this is the fact that the question was asked at all.

They don't ask the rowers and swimmers what they think about the latest child drowned at the beach, they don't ask F1 drivers about accidents on the A9 at post race interviews.

He looked ambushed and confused, and gave a poorly worded off the cuff answer. Sadly its now being played endlessly alongside news of this incident where a bus has killed someone.

If it transpires that the cyclist wasn't wearing a helmet people are going to start heaping blame on the victim.

Thats very unfair to Wiggins (based on an off the cuff remark), and more importantly enormously unfair to the victim.

He's not wrong about everything

Wiggins said afterwards "is that anyone can watch it. We all know about the Olympic ticketing – inside here, it can all become a bit of a prawn sandwich fest. Ultimately, all the real fans are outside the gates."

Just seen the interview and it looked like a clear example of a guy who's on the crest of a wave being pushed into the spotlight in front of the press to say something without preparation.
I'm not sure how much mileage we'll get out of the "legalise helmets" campaign, I believe they're already legal, no?
A little more time, a little more thought and a little more preparation and I'm sure we'll see his true feelings on the matter.

One hundred cyclists died on UK roads last year; if wearing helmets had been compulsory and had saved even five percent of them, that would have been five lives saved, five families not bereaved and five lots of cost to the country's services saved.

Drivers wear seatbelts; why shouldn't cyclists wear helmets?

I am pro wearing helmets but anti-compulsion. So do not agree with part of his comment, if OP is correct. But lets be realistic here, in the context of the good and bad that has happened here in the past 24 hours, it would be pretty silly for him to say, "nah, helmets are a waste of time because....cue stw BS on pros and cons. " Imaging the negative reaction and no, the general public and 24 media are unlikely to want a rational debate on the issue. We can't even have it here on a cycling forum!

Plus sensible comments on joy of watching cycling being free and without the rest of the Olympic vulgarity.

Special Olympic update!
A slight downward trend compared to last month, to dip below 300,000:
[IMG] [/IMG]
But that could all be about to change:
[IMG] [/IMG]
Let the games commence!

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/wiggo-on-helmets

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/how-do-you-deal-with-folk-not-wearing-a-helmet

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/bike-helmet-for-kids

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/the-helmet-debate-rumbles-on-in-the-mainstream-media

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/would-you-helmet-nazi-content#post-3139927

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/psa-another-study-on-the-efficacy-of-bike-helmets#post-3128520

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/thank-god-for-helmets#post-3071801

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/so-i-decided-to-write-off-my-helmet-today#post-3015561

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/will-the-uk-every-be-like-this#post-3001646

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/no-helmet#post-2983986

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/my-helmet-is-very-deformed-graphic-photo-content#post-2963127

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/the-woman-who-tragically-died-in-dent-on-the-letjog-ride#post-2956453

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/helmets-2#post-2941835

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/cyclist-hit-15-times-with-hammer-by-driverfor-riding-too-slow-up-a-hill#post-2943106

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/this-really-makes-you-want-to-wear-a-lid#post-2919841

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/good-or-bad-advert#post-2894537

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/james-cracknell-wear-a-helmet-video#post-2783611

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/bmxers-idiots#post-2758996

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/motorcyclist-protesting-helmet-laws-dies-in-bike-crash-while-not-wearing-helmet/page/3

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/wear-a-helmet-kids#post-2705179

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/psa-helmet-debate-on-radio-2-now#post-2584202

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/if-helmets-were-to-be-made-compulsory#post-2573922

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/helmet-on-your-child-always#post-2482018

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/some-very-sad-news#post-2476001

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/the-great-helmet-debate#post-2432920

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/kids-cycling-to-school-without-helmets-is-it-me-or#post-2368335

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/compulsory-helmet-law-in-ni#post-2236497

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/how-smug-will-tj-be

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/helmets-possibly-the-last-word

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/anyone-else-hear-peter-thatchel-on-jeremy-vine-calling-for-compulsary-helmets/page/2

So, the way I read it, Bradley has said that making helmets compulsory and passing laws restricting cyclists from listening to music would [b]enable cyclists to say that they had done as much as they could[/b] and therefore the responsibility must now rest with motorists.

#Bloodywelldonemate!

My point has been missed by some - forget the helmets or not, we need to make the roads safer, saying cyclists should wear helmets is putting all blame squarely on cyclists and missing the point completely that we need to design roads safer, not be completely car-centric, and use the roads and cycle lanes safely.

The fact that a cyclist suggested helmets were the answer angered me somewhat.

Yeah I agree with the thing about cyclists saying they had done as much as they could, but that is 100% their choice

The full quote had him saying that if the whole community did this, then when someone was killed we could turn round and ask just what the chuf else we can do etc. Which to my mind is a valid point. But woefully unrealistic, what about knees out seat down scally who zig zag their way about the place, they aren't part of the community in the first place.

I'm also disappointed in him for reinforcing the earphone perception as well. Does his team radio stop him hearing things going on about him (i know race events have closed roads but I bet they use it in practice too).

If I don't hear a car it's because of the wind in my ears, and even that doesn't happen very often. FWIW I don't hear much of my music as I don't have very loud, I get the best out of it when off road and going slower.

I always wear a helmet, It doesn't save my life, not riding like a dick does that. But its a good bit of protection that has in the past had me land on my head, and just get up and carry on with my day.

But fair enough, BW has his point of view and he won't change what he says just because everyone loves him now. But I would have liked to have heard stronger words against certain driving mentalities from someone in his position.

Someone point a mic at Froome lets see what he says...

EDIT: sorry you've covered that now, it took a while to type that, other stuff going on...

Sorry but good on him!

How difficult can it be......????

1. Buy correct fitting helmet.
2. Put on head.
3. Ride.

Why make such a big deal out of 'not wearing a helmet'....not all accidents are big and spectacular.... I rode with someone 3 years ago....

They pulled up at a quiet junction, lost balance, tipped over sideways in to a hedge, broke a finger and banged their head on a sign post...

How hard can it be to put a helmet................REALLY?

But basically, it can't be PROVEN that cycle helmets save lives

Excellent.

Another helmet fight.

🙄

Only on STW !!! 😉

More Peds killed by cars than cyclists but no-one advocates helmets/lights/highviz/headphones for them.

Numbers fail!!!

How hard can it be to put a helmet................REALLY?

Well considering the ego of some people on here, it's your point number 1 that is very difficult.

How hard can it be to put a helmet................REALLY

How hard can it be to drive considerately ....... REALLY

How hard can it be to drive considerately ....... REALLY

Can we please just stop debating helmets,

sometimes they help, sometimes they don't.
enforce helmets and watch cycling drop.
FFS the police can't even stop motorists usign mobile phones, applying makeup, speeding, dangerous parking/driving, RLJ by cars and bikes, etc etc. does anyone think any compulsary helmet law is going to be enforceable?

So what do you want? more cyclists or more drivers?

Educate drivers, educate cyclists, but don't assume a bit of polystyrene is some kind of panacea.

I'd say wear a helmet as it seems on the balance of probabilities a sensible thing to do but it is not a solution to the situation on our roads.

Deaths on the road will not be stopped if everyone wears a helmet they will stop when people stop hitting bikes with vehicles, helmet or not.

I'm really hoping that Wiggins get invovled in some road safety campaigns and that his historic winning streak can make the roads safer for all of his and the guy who will come along and break his records...

They don't ask the rowers and swimmers what they think about the latest child drowned at the beach, they don't ask F1 drivers about accidents on the A9 at post race interviews.

Does anyone actually know that the cyclist wasn't wearing a helmet? I haven't seen anything in the reports one way or the other.

[img] http://i3.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article1154796.ece/ALTERNATES/s2197/Bradley+Wiggins [/img]

When motor cars were first introduced speed limits were deemed to be unnecessary as motorists could be trusted to drive at a safe speed.

Wiggins is right, helmets should be compulsory on public roads.

All these pictures of Wiggins are of him riding on a closed road.

Rubbish

"[i]The 1865 act required all road locomotives, which included automobiles, to travel at a maximum of 4 mph (6 km/h) in the country and 2 mph (3 km/h) in towns and have a crew of three travel, one of whom should carry a red flag walking 60 yards (55 m) ahead of each vehicle. The 1896 Act removed the need for the crew of three and raised the speed to 14 mph (23 km/h).[/i]"

It's pretty irresponsible to go around saying that helmets are going to do you any good in a collision. Just gives drivers the idea that it's OK to take more risks with cyclists lives.

Me not wearing a helmet doesn't affect your safety. You going around telling drivers that a helmet might make the slightest bit of difference in a collision affects my safety. Stop doing it please.

Let people have a choice of wearing an helmet or not. They will still have accidents regardless of the helmet or not. Some will die due to head injuries whilst overs live, those that go under the wheels of a truck will most likely be crushed to death with or without an helmet. When it all goes to court those that wore Hi-Vis jackets and helmets to try and ensure they couldn't be missed on the road and provide themselves with some form of proection in the event of an accident will be able to prove the driver at fault easier and claim (their family) damages. Those that had freedom not to wear one may have it ruled as an accidental death.
I wear an helmet, I did on my motorbike too and motorcyclists agrued about compulasory helmets too and no one see that as a stupid idea now.

Threads like this make we want to kill myself. Will a helmet save my life in that situation?

I’m not going to comment on what Wiggins said, because I haven’t heard the full quote, only the clip about helmets. But quite frankly I think it’s pretty bad that he was ambushed with such a serious topic when he was probably just expecting to talk about his Olympic performance, and in pretty bad taste that one quote has been parroted about by the media in connection with SOMEONE WHO DIED, especially when a driver has been arrested for dangerous driving, and especially as it’s rumoured that the poor sod suffered crush injuries to his body.

I always wear a helmet, and I wouldn’t be upset if they were made mandatory, but I think the bigger issue to address is how to stop drivers treating cyclists as an annoying hazard (when they even acknowledge them at all) and start treating them as other road users and, well, [i]people[/i].

lived in holland for 6 months with a bike last year
the roads are not safer - drivers are just as impatient

lived in holland for 4 years with a bike.
the ones I'd call impatient (and often also complete loonies) were the bromfiets (moped) riders. full wide-open throttle, riding totally blinkered, as if invincible because the law was on their side.

only driver impatience I saw was when lights start to turn red, drivers put foot down to sneak through. this is probably why NL has way more RLJ cameras than even UK, and a speed hump at a significant portion of traffic lights.

but it is very very very rare you need to use a road.

Asked for his views on cycling safety in the capital, Bradley Wiggins said:

"I haven't lived in London for 10 to 15 years now and it's got a lot busier since I was riding a bike as a kid round here, and I got knocked off several times.

"But I think things are improving to a degree: there are organisations out there who are attempting to make the roads safer for both parties.

"But at the end of the day we've all got to co-exist on the roads. Cyclists are not ever going to go away, as much as drivers moan, and as much as cyclists maybe moan about certain drivers they are never going to go away, so there's got to be a bit of give and take."

Four teenagers drowned last week, is anyone going to ask Rebecca Adlington to wear a life jacket?

Just in case CallMeDave or Bo-Jo pick up on this and run with it, anybody know how to avoid "helmet hair"?

[img] [/img]

Easy, don't wear a helmet. Or be bald, like most of us, we can't all be TJ! 😥

[i]Four teenagers drowned last week, is anyone going to ask Rebecca Adlington to wear a life jacket? [/i]

eh ? Bradley wears a helmet when he races 😕

Just in case CallMeDave or Bo-Jo pick up on this and run with it, anybody know how to avoid "helmet hair"?

Pretty disappointing Wiggo.

Really? The bloke is a competitive cyclist, not the Minister for health and safety. He races push bikes and is pretty good at it going off recent results. I don't much care about his views about wearing a helmet, nor what his favourite cereal is or whether he listens to the Archers or not. If you can't make your own decision up about wearing a helmet without guidance from some bloke you don't know and you've never met, then you need to have a word with yourself.

This hero worshipping is pathetic. 2009 when he took fourth, would anyone have really cared what his views were on road safety? Seriously, a brilliant result and I'm thoroughly pleased for him. But I don't care if he wins sports personality of the year, gets a Knighthood or what his views are on something that I can make my own mind up on.

As for the helmet debate, no - I don't think they should be compulsory. Only because I don't want a nanny state telling me what I should and shouldn't do. I always wear my helmet and I'd insist that my children (if I had any) would also wear one. I don't need fining or getting nasty letters or whatever because I've made the decision to not wear a helmet and consequently suffered an injury that might have been prevented.

Airbags, anyone?

[img] [/img]

Already got a number 1. Still get "HH" with a helmet...

Well Wiggo, you blew it! There you were at the pinnacle of your career, people may have taken notice of what you say, yet when it came to the moment all you did was reinforce the popular prejudices against cyclists and give the Clarksons of the world yet more ammo to shoot at us. If this is what we can expect from our 'ambassador' then I hope you get an @rse full of saddle sores and your races are plagued with punctures.

If you really think that helmet is going to be any effin' use against crush injuries from a forty ton truck then I invite you offer yourself as a practical test subject.

Not so much the "HH" but the annoying pink forehead stripe from the padding. The more important the task that you need to do immediately after, the pinker and more obvious the stripe is, and the longer takes to fade. And why does that padding soak up so much sweat anyway?

Couldn't give a toss whether his opinions are "right" in my view or anyone else's (let's face it, there haven't been enough studies done to conclusively prove anything either way, hence the endless circular arguments here and elsewhere).

What I am ecstatically pleased about is that he's said something on the subject and with his current high profile, it's putting the whole issue of cyclists safety on the road, helmets, high viz, ipods et al on the front pages and on the radio phone-ins, tv news etc. This can only be a good thing.

Might end up like a Belgian roadie with a peaked hat underneath. The Horror, The Horror...

Me not wearing a helmet doesn't affect your safety.