Having a helmet when you are riding protects your head from injuries and trauma especially if you are riding at a high speed. With the many myths about bicycle helmets, it can be difficult to differentiate the truth from the false information. The truth is, a bicycle helmet is equally important just like a motorcycle helmet. Find out the true and false myths about bicycle helmets here.rn1. With more people dying in car accidents than bicycle accidents, why wear a helmet after all?rnBicycles are used to cover short distances technically compared to vehicles but poses greater risks even with the short distance. Research carried out showed that cycling has three times injury and fatality rate compared to driving.rn2. No studies have so far shown a direct benefit of helmet usage as a reduction in head injuries. rnA study might not have been done but a sound person would attest that helmet usage reduces head injury. Even with its less cushy feel, a bicycle helmet would take the direct impact leaving and so relieve the head of some pain, to say the least.rn3. Motorists don't wear helmets, why should cyclist?rnA vehicle has got a metallic outer which is designed to reduce the impact on the motorist in case of an accident. Coupled with that it possesses passive and active safety devices that reduce the impact of an accident and reduce the chances of an accident occurring.rnCyclists should, therefore, ensure they have their helmets on coupled with other safety gears to lower the risks that underlie.rn4. Wearing helmets gives a cyclist a false sense of safety and security encouraging them to take more risks knowingly.rnThe risk compensation theory insinuates that when we put our helmets on and set off for cycling we tend to feel more protected and that sense somehow ignites the adventurous side of us.rnA reduction in head injuries associated with cycling simply proves the fallacy in the theory. The helmets have helped in reducing fatalities and not increase risky behavior amongst cyclist age notwithstanding.rn5. Do not wear a helmet as it does little or nothing to prevent accidents.
You never set out to cycle with the fear of an accident occurring, we all set out to have fun, don't we? Wear your helmet on your head, heart on your sleeves and cycle like you own the world.rn6. Promoting cycling and helmets are a contradicting venture.rnCritics claim that when one sees a cyclist clad in a helmet, it makes them fear to engage in the act reducing the number of cyclists. Reason? For someone to be wearing a helmet the activity must be dangerous.rnDon't you even for once fancy the brightly colored helmets the cyclist parade? Isn't it enough motivation to set you rolling? For me, that is a major plus that made me engage in the monthly cycling in my townrn7. A helmet prevents you from hearing cars coming up from behind.rnThe bicycle helmet does not cover up the ears and so does not impair your hearing ability at any point.rn8. The high cost of good quality helmets discourages cycling. rnHelmets go at affordable prices even with the least desirable material delivering the same protective feature. rnWith some being provided for free on a bicycle purchase or by organizations, there is no much financial value attached to the helmets rn9. The helmet is too heavy on the head when worn.rnWhoa! Some myths though get me wondering. Compared to a motorcycle helmet; the bicycle helmet is a feather weight. It neither weighs down the cyclist nor increases severity of the injuries.rn10. Poor materials used make breaking apart the bicycle helmet with bare hands a walk in the park.rnRipping apart and hitting against an object has two different impacts on the helmet.rnYes, I wouldn't argue that one without a hard shell does not rip apart since the aim at the moment is to destroy the helmet.rnPractically, it is close to impossible to break a helmet being worn with it hitting the ground with a considerable amount of force.rn11. Ensuring your child dutifully wears a helmet will turn them into a non-cycling adult
Parents we need to talk!rnEnsuring our children are safe is our primary duty and we do all we can to do it to the latter. So, let them wear the helmets before jumping onto their bicycles amidst the rants.rnUpon adulthood, their decision to engage in cycling will totally be entitled to them, until then buckle up my child.rn12. Bicycle helmets are foam hats that do not offer protectionrnThe Expanded Polystyrene Foam used in making the helmets is specially designed for cushioning, a role it effectively plays.rn13. Helmets enlarge the size of the head hence one can be hit by objects close while cycling.rnA bicycle helmet only adds close to an inch to one's head size and not an abnormal margin that would make one look like they are carrying a load on their heads.rn14. A bicycle helmet doesn't protect when one is hit by large-sized vehicles on high speed like trucks, so why wear one anyway.
Rarely do such scenarios occur and when they do even the hard-shelled motorcycle helmets crush on such an impact. Most bicycle accidents are caused by a cyclist crisscrossing lanes or a vehicle turning right in front of you.
15. Real helmets are worn by hockey players, motor racers and horseback riders.rnDifferent types of helmets are used in various sports depending on the intensity of the anticipated impact. Helmet standards vary in activities like
• Motorcyclingrn• Skiingrn• KartingrnEach parades a differently structured helmet that uniquely identifies the sportrnConclusionrnFeeling safe is not being safe. Over time, it has been seen that even clumsy motorists shift blame to a cyclist in case of a car-bike collision. A motorcycle helmet and the bicycle helmet are both meant to protect users from injuries on occurrence.