I’m a grown man and I do not need a nanny State or person that think they know what’s best for me to tell me what to do. You need to worry about yourself and your own damn family. This is coming from someone that always wears a helmet. The only person it hurts is the rider not wearing the helmet! People need to mind their own focking business!

 

We have a choice here,, I choice not to...most of the time.

 

I got hit on the freeway doing 50+mph. Car changed lanes and sideswiped me basically. I was only wearing a DOT half helmet. Came away with a broken tooth, a fractured cheekbone, and a concussion plus some slight road rash. A week later the broken tooth was my only "major" damage. So, they do work. Not saying you need to change your mind but am saying I'd hate to think how much worse it would have been sans helmet YET I still ride with a half. LOL

To the O.P., if they addressed you in the manner like I just did...sharing a story about what happened and saying "Hey, you're probably better off with a DOT helmet because I'd hate to see you hurt." then left it at that, I wouldn't be mad at the guy. After all, his motivation is a concern for your well being. Now if after you explain yourself he keeps riding you, now it goes from looking out for your well being to trying to guilt or bully you into changing your mind and that's no longer out of concern for you. I don't deal well with folks that do this.

Case in point. I was on a college archery team and we went to Vegas for a big tournament. We went out to dinner one night and I proceeded to order a big T-bone steak for like $2. Across from me is setting one of my team mates, a girl, and I can't see her as I order because I have the menu up in front of me. As I order I can hear suppressed laughter and giggles coming from the rest of my team. I look at the guy next to me wondering WTF? Attempting to contain his laughter he can only point to my team member across the table from me.

I lower the menu and look over at her. She is SCOWLING at me over the top of her menu. The proverbial "if looks could kill..."

"What!?" I ask her.

"You ordered MEAT!" she spits back as she lowers her menu. "That's MURDER! What did that poor cow ever do to you? We don't HAVE to eat meat, you know!" Now I knew she was the tree hugger type but for the most part we got along well. However, I didn't like someone acting like they're my parent about what I choose to eat.

Before I start to say anytying, I notice her purse sitting on the table. That made me think of her boots, which I stole another glance of quickly to confirm what I thought I knew about them. I look back up at her and raise and eyebrow in her direction.

"So..." I began "I'm getting a lecture about how I shouldn't eat meat because it's cruel to kill an animal from a woman who's toating a LEATHER purse and wearing LEATHER boots?" Her mouth dropped and her eyes quickly darted to the now offensive leather purse seated on the table in front of her where everyone could see. But I wasn't going to let it go with that.

"What you're saying is that it's FINE to KILL an animal to use it's hide to form decerative and fasionable accessories because they go well with our outfits but heaven FORBID we should actually use the meat from them to nourish our bodies in order to sustain OUR lives, right? I just want to make sure I have this argument VERY clear." By this time she had snatched her purse off the table shoving it under the table in her lap removing it from sight and was trying her best to hide behind her menu thinking, naively, that it would shield her from my retort. She sank lower and lower in her seat with every word that left my mouth. The rest of the team was about falling out of their chairs by this point in laughter as she turned a number of shades of red.

I finally decide to let off and turn my attention back to the waitress who was now doing her best to contain her laughter and maintain professionalism.

"Oh, and I'll have my leather 'leftover' medium-rare please." I said as I handed her the menu. Needless to say I never heard another word about meat after that.

 

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The only person it hurts is the rider not wearing the helmet!

Well, and your family, but it shouldn't be someone else's job to protect your family from your choices either...

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a fractured cheekbone, and a concussion

do you think it would have been worse if you were wearing no helmet?

I guess you can't really say.

 

You're going to find lots of opinions IRT helmet wear (yes/no) and to each their own. I didn't wear one much when I was younger w/no family, but always wear FF now that I've got people @ home to support. Not saying it'll help in a crash, but makes wife feel better so if she's happy...I'm happy. Discovered long ago to not preach this type of subject to anyone - especially when you live your own life. I wouldn't sweat it & OP can always go back to this bicycle rider & let them know it's all personal choice...to each their own.

 

I just got a Harley after 20 years with no bike, and everyone is telling me to make sure I wear the proper boots, jacket, gloves and helmet. And don't ride in traffic. And always use your highbeams, and on and on.

I don't believe they give a damn about my well being, and I'm really getting sick of it.

 

I love these threads....people telling others what to do or not to do.
Let me tell you what to do......
Do what you want to do...as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else and if it doesn't involve me in any way. If it impacts me, then it becomes my problem...and I will deal with it in the appropriate manner...Probably by telling you what to do or not to do.

 

I used to volunteer at a community bicycle repair shop helping folks get their old bicycles road worthy. The main reason I stopped was I got sick of the self-righteousness of the group of volunteers that were predominantly hard-core bicycle commuters.

I have never met a group of people more rabid about telling other people what they need to do.

Well, until I signed on to here for the first time...

 

Yup, have had that talk. I just smile at 'em and say 'oh well', then ride away.

I do choose to wear a DOT helmet now though. I just don't want my family to go thru any insurance hassles should I pass. But that's my choice and I don't see the need to ask others to do the same.

 

Bicycle helmets sit on top of the head and are very light. Motorcycle helmets (even half helmets) come down the back of the head and put you at risk of damaging the neck, and they are heavy. I have some pretty serious neck issues (have had surgery to remove disks and fuse vertibrae, and am facing more in the next month or two). I cannot wear a heavy helmet and I would rather risk crushing my cranium than busting my neck. When I ride a bicycle, I sometimes wear one of those silly little helmets. When I ride a motorcycle, I do not wear any helmet. My head - my choice. I ain't going to give up riding and I cannot ride with a helmet. My wife wants to move to Tennessee as soon as she retires. I will not move there unless they repeal the helmet law. I may be looking for yet another wife soon. LOL