I ride mainly on the sidewalk. Here in Florida, not all roads have bike lanes. Cars drive 50-80 mph (100 km) on the streets. The only time I’m in danger is crossing the streets. Floriduh doesn’t have a helmet law so even motorcyclists don’t need to wear a helmet.
Do I really need to wear a bike helmet?
If so, which budget helmet should I buy?
by Typical-Violinist-49
27 Comments
You can crash just by yourself and hit your head. If you commute daily, the risk of eventually falling onto your head is guaranteed. Every helmet is cheaper than a hospital bill or dying.
yes.
also you’re about twice as likely to be hit on the sidewalk .
Bro, start wearing a helmet yesterday! 100! A MIPS rated helmet is best, EPS is better than not, and any helmet with save your life.
IMO, riding on the sidewalk puts you in the most danger for getting t-boned. I used to live in Florida, understand that there often isn’t a better option, and have gotten hit by a car who didn’t stop before the stop sign. I constantly see people rolling way past the stop lines.
Be careful out there!
Yes, you should wear a helmet. Brain damage and concussions are nothing to mess around with. Even if you think the risk is low, it only takes one unlucky fall to cause permanent damage. It doesn’t matter how “safe” your route is, there can always be a piece of trash you run over, rain, bike malfunctions, etc. etc. before you even think about traffic hitting you or anything else.
As for what helmet, one that fits is the most important. After all, if it falls off your head when you fall it won’t help much. Beyond that, for a commuting helmet I like one with more ventilation to help avoid getting sweaty. There’s a standard for helmets called CPSC that is the basic safety requirement for bike helmets sold in the US.
Beyond that, you obviously want nicer helmets if you’re doing more extreme activities like mountain biking or if your commute is particularly risky. For commuting mostly on bike trails, get a helmet that fits and meets basic safety standards.
I wear a Smith something or another I got at REI for $60, I’ve only crashed once in the last two years with it, but I was very glad I had it on.
Yes. Wear a helmet. Also riding on the sidewalk is not great though I understand Florida hates everything, cyclists included.
I always tell people they only need to wear a helmet if they’re down to their last brain. 😉
the answer is always going to be… YES.
and were it me, with experience in the kitty, i’d also include a helmet with a chin bar. [motocross or full-face.](https://demon-united.com/collections/mtb-bmx-helmets-goggles) but regardless having MIPS is a plus… this isn’t the place to save a few bucks. fwiw, something like half of all impacts include the face or chin.
A helmet isn’t going to save you from a crash with a high speed vehicle…
But low speed crashes or even just falling badly at low speed can (if you’re unlucky) cause permanent brain damage (I knew someone this happened to).
Wear a helmet. The good ones (I think it’s MIPS) allow the helmet to twist in a crash without twisting your neck (which is an increased risk with cheap helmets or ones more than a decade or so old).
If you like your brain intact or inside your head, yes you should wear a helmet
It’s personal preference. If you think you should then do. If you think you needn’t then don’t.
yes
Dunno about you, but my skull is worth more to me than $30.
Helmets have already saved me from life altering injuries more than once, in situations where I didn’t think I was “in danger”.
Your mileage may vary, but without a helmet that variance may be real short.
VA Tech has a helmet testing lab that rates a lot of helmets. You should use their website to decide on a helmet: [https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicycle-helmet-ratings.html](https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicycle-helmet-ratings.html)
A mountain bike helmet is probably fine as long as it is a quality helmet.
Yes, you’re one accident away from just getting a headache to becoming a vegetable or dead. That Lazer is a good enough if you really don’t want to spend much or on a budget.
My brother hit his head 3 months ago and the nurse was glad he wore a helmet, have some scrapes on his face but his skull is intact!
You only have one brain and it’s priceless.
Yes. Even if you go for the most expensive helmet you can find, your life is worth more than $300
I have never heard of bikeroo but Smith and Lazer are solid brands. Specialized Align II is another helmet in similar price range that gets excellent independent crash test results https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicycle-helmet-ratings.html#16
My uncle died from injuries he sustained while riding his bike helmet less on a Florida sidewalk.
Car turned into him pulling in a driveway.
[I love helmets!](https://youtu.be/b9yL5usLFgY?si=uQamMIWyMGk8OdaJ)
You should wear a helmet and stop riding on the sidewalk.
Please! Yes protect yourself. Manes me cringe when I see people riding around my city without them.
If you have a brain. Yes
Try headbutting concrete to see how it feels then add 10-20mph speed impact onto that then add maybe a kerb or car or any number of a hundred different things that might damage you permanently or kill you.
A helmet is like insurance you hope you’ll never need it.
http://www.cycle-helmets.com/helmet_statistics.html
Get off the sidewalk, wear a real helmet with the blue snell sticker. The ER estimated my speed at 50+, I joined the collarbone club.
If you don’t have a really good reason not to wear a helmet, then you should wear a helmet. Florida is the Netherlands.
I’m not going to tell you not to ride on the sidewalk because I have no idea how dangerous the roads are in your area.
If you have anything worth protecting.
Absolutely. Make sure to get one that fits and looks good. If you like the helmet you will wear it. 😎
Get a helmet. The one in the photo is fine. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET! I might ride down the block and back and the put on my helmet. I know it feel great without but not worth it. I have had 6 concussions, not one from bikes. I ebike, 20mph max. That is fast enough for me at night I am lit up with headlamps tail lamps helmet led, reflectors on spokes, reflective tape and more. In the daytime I feel invisible to cars at night they slow the f down.