Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Every now and then there are furious dicsussions about helmets: some claim that they don't protect against the sort of injuries most likely to be suffered by cyclists.

Well: two days ago I was heading downhill (pretty fast) towards a roundabout; a car was coming towards the roundabout on my left. So I had right of way. It was a fairly bright afternoon (in Melbourne), I was wearing light colours, and was perfectly visible. The car did not stop, and by the time I realized this I was already in the roundabout and going too fast to stop quickly. So I swerved to avoid the car, hit the traffic island on the other side of the roundabout, was launched out of my bike and into a tree. The helmet broke apart - but my skull didn't!

Here's the helmet:



Here's me in hospital: battered and grazed, but with no broken bones:



I will come out of this fine. However, if I had not been wearing a helmet, I would not be writing this today. I would either be far more severely injured, or dead.

Just a heads up, folks.

-A.

Hi amca01,
A nasty hit and hope you are not seriously hurt, although by the look of the helmet that would be a miracle.
The thing with roundabouts is and I am sure many will tell you; it is the first in that has right of enter and there is no such thing as give way to the right.You mast give way to any one in the roundabout.
Any way it sure pays to enter as if they will not stop any way or at a speed that you can stop. If its a race to get to the roundabout the bigger vehicle will try to push you out every time.
The main thing is that you get well, and I am not being a smart arse here. just saying that is how it is in Vic at least.

Any yet millions of dutch ride everyday of the year without a problem. One could suggest that those who risk in a risky manner prove to themselves that a helmet is needed. (Don't ask me about my mountain biking crash last year. )


Glad you are ok. I'm not glad that you are using this incident as a superficial argument for helmets.