Helmets are for assholes

A few months back I went on a bicycle trip. It was on a very long, very flat road. Where we were isn’t that important, because what happened at that start happens at any start. It has happened to me in a bunch of different starts. We all show up, meet the pals, do final gear checks, pack food, and then, finally, throw a leg over the saddle and take off down whatever road or trail we’re riding. On trips like these, in recent years, at least one of my compatriots is without a helmet. It’s not as if they forgot it, they didn’t bring it. On this trip, four of seven riders went without head protection. 

Look, I am not here to talk about safety, really. I ride without a helmet sometimes. I’ll forget it on my way to work or even leave the garage without it on purpose sometimes. I even did a trip on the White Rim and I wore a helmet on parts of the trail, and went helmetless on other parts for some reason. Shit happens. And most of the time, shit doesn’t happen. Generally, it all turns out fine. That said, my position is moving around a bit and I am getting more serious about helmets. Especially on big adventures. In the middle of nowhere, with little access to outside help, I think the impacts to your friends on the trip would ring louder than the potential impact to your own head. If I, or one on my pals, crashed and hit a helmetless head it could create complications that far outweigh the benefits of the cool breeze blowing through helmetless hair. 

Whatever, accidents happen, people crash, and evacuations need to be done on the fly. Collarbones get broken, shoulders dislocated, massive gashes get cut into hips and people get concussed while on adventures. But, if you crash and concuss yourself and then somebody has to carry you out because you couldn’t be bothered to wear a helmet, maybe you should rethink your pre-ride checklist. I am not saying we should all ride in bubble wrap. I am saying that in times like these, on the adventures like we want to take, everyone should consider the larger group when putting their gear choices together. 

Whatever, that’s it. Stay well.