# Does wearing a bicycle helmet really not effect the head?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-wearing-a-bicycle-helmet-really-not-effect-the-head/774366>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 10, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-wearing-a-bicycle-helmet-really-not-effect-the-head/774366 "2016-12-10T18:18:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 6

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-wearing-a-bicycle-helmet-really-not-effect-the-head/774366/101 "2016-12-16T02:02:49Z")

</div>

> [@DSeid](#):
>
> Again, personal experience has never been feeling too hot in a helmet, but then lots of insulating hair is … um … not a problem for me. 🙂

Yeah, duh. Baldies are stuck behind the cue ball. Having luxuriant locks means that I have never even noticed that a bike helmet made me hotter, though it made me look dorkier. Which I suspect is the primary objection, down deep. 😉

> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> [Helmets.org](http://www.helmets.org/limits.htm)
> 
> Unfortunately, there’s no source for their information.

Probably Harry Hurt’s study (still looking). Dude’s the god of motorcycle helmets (can anyone not brain-damaged argue against motorcycle helmet laws?) and he found that the lateral fall with the head higher than a biker’s left one with as much damage with less velocity. My fall was from a near stop (on a sidewalk–it was it or an off-ramp).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-wearing-a-bicycle-helmet-really-not-effect-the-head/774366/102 "2016-12-16T14:08:23Z")

</div>

> [@dropzone](#):
>
> … argue against motorcycle helmet laws?..

Well the logical extension of the arguments above would apply to motorcycle helmets the same - including the same claim that unless running into a wall the force of impact is no more than gravity’s effect - roughly same height on each sort of bike so same roughly 10 mph no matter how fast the motorcycle is travelling at, 80 mph or at a full stop.

But more importantly there are lots of people waiting for organs … why cut off such a major source? 🙂 in case needed.

Back to bike helmets - that fall from 3 feet with head as first contact, hypothetically the force of impact at any travel speed - **eschereal** ’s point is a good one. Accidents at lower speeds (and in recumbents) at less likely to result in head first contact than those at higher speeds. 'Bents though make me nervous as I think they are less visible in traffic, even with flag sticking up.

**dropzone** besides my baseline looks there is also the fact that I am often riding in my Bert and Ernie cycling jersey … it may not be possible for me to look any dorkier!

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-wearing-a-bicycle-helmet-really-not-effect-the-head/774366.md?page=5)