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From: ian@cbosgd.UUCP (Neil Kirby)
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Helmets
Message-ID: <2366@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 4-Aug-86 14:21:03 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.2366
Posted: Mon Aug  4 14:21:03 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 6-Aug-86 01:12:02 EDT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus, Oh
Lines: 27


	While I don't want to be TOLD by the state to wear a helmet, I
always wear one.  There is this curious little tag in the inside that says
".. not protect you from all foreseeable impacts..".  This tag sits
next to the Snell '75 tag (it's an old helmet) that assure you that 
it will protect you from a great number of forseeable impacts.  This helmet
replaces the one that I wore when my bike was swept out from under me by
a cross wind.  That helmet didn't fit anymore, the padding in the back
got alot smaller from where it crushed down.  In other words in this case
the helemt did its job.  It took about five minutes for my vision to uncross
and my doctor said that the helmet most likely saved me a fractured skull.
	There are many other types of accidents where a helmet can save
you some hurt.  There are a few where it can get you killed (the two nasty
one that I know of are if you land in water or if any projection on the 
helmet digs in and provides torque).  
	So that question you gotta ask yourself is, do you feel lucky today?
Is the accident that you might have one of the few where not having a helmet 
will help?  
	Ah but you say that they restrict vision and hearing.  On my bikes,
having a helmet on imporves my ability to hear over not.  Restricted vision?
Ha! I wear glasses (and have good vision with them) and so I turn my head
to see sideways, and so my full face helmet restricts my vision not a bit.
	I hope some of you out there who don't wear helmets will, and those
who won't will not use my insurance company.

		Neil Kirby
		...cbosgd!ian