Chris Akrigg And His Helmet

[CalopS]

http://www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/Chris-Akriggs-Mongoose-Slayton,2955/Slideshow,0/sspomer,2

While were on Akrigg this came up on the Five Ten FB feed the other day.

[bikeperson45]

Cutting your shin doesn't lead to brain damage though, or death.

[chris4stars]

I do see where both sides come from, the helmet police can come across as pretty harsh and the vast majority of the time it has no effect on the guys riding with them

its still not the nicest of sights to see anyone with a cracked head, or your mate suffereing with the severe effects it can cause after...also, its really not nice seeing the family/close friends of said person if they were to come to quite an abrupt end

to me...yes, its completely the riders own risk and its not my worry, but any negative thoughts/worries from myself generally come from how it can effect those close to them if the worse does happen

guess it just depends on our experiences on such things huh?

Edited November 30, 2011 by chris4stars

[MonsieurMonkey]

I don't ride with people who don't wear shin guards for the simple fact that I don't want to pick up pieces of their shins when they slip a pedal or have to clean up blood. It's just irresponsible to not wear proper protection at all times.

"Oh shit man, my shin brain is bleeding, good job it doesn't exist so I won't be permanently FUBAR'd."

Anyway, it's purely a social psychology thing, the majority wear helmets in trials, so we think it's more acceptable. Think fashion within overall culture, skinny jeans seem to be pretty cool at the moment, plus some atrocious colours (Think mustards and burgundy....) 15 years ago, you would have had the shit stomped out of you for that sort of thing. In trials, helmets are cool.

But for me, you need that shit in trials more than other sports, skateboarders fall, they have their arms free, same with fruit booters. BMXers, yeah they need that shit, but how long do they spend on the back wheel? Plus the huge amount of bar space they can grip. Whereas trials riders, a lot of back wheel action (Easier to get the bike to slip out) and a lot of static movement up high, which means your falling backwards with your hands holding something, or forwards with your hands holding something. That's my opinion on it anyway, I just feel there's a lot more chance of caving your skull in during trials, doing something that is seen as a basic skill.

[Greetings]

Trials riders really need to get over the whole helmet obsession.

Hypothetically, if you had a passenger with you in the car who didn't buckle his seatbelt, wouldn't you point it out to him? Or would you just carry on onto the motorway thinking that if he wants to be ejected through the front windscreen in the unlikely event of an accident, it's his problem.

Personally I don't like to see people get hurt. That's why it makes me slightly annoyed when I see a rider without a helmet.

[Sam Nichols]

If I'm driving my car and the passenger refuses to wear his seatbelt then he will have to get out because it's my legal duty to enforce it.

If I see a video and the dudes not wearing a lid it's got f**k all to do with me. Also, me telling him to wear one isn't going to change anything, I can't enforce it, can I?

Just get over it.

[Mark W]

That's my opinion on it anyway, I just feel there's a lot more chance of caving your skull in during trials, doing something that is seen as a basic skill.

The dynamics of a crash on a BMX compared to a trials bike totally differ. To use a totally shit example, if you look at that classic video of Liam Norwood somehow managing to do a front flip and land on his head trying that gap in his garden it's a totally different type of fall compared to any BMX video crash you'll see. From personal experience, every serious crash I had on my trials bike generally involved me pretty much going straight down onto stuff pretty hard (e.g. when I broke my face, or just messing up gaps in general when you get a chance snap, wheelspin or whatever), but every crash I had on my BMX generally just involved sliding/rolling because you're going 'along' more. EDIT: Or to put it a simpler way, BMXers have more momentum going forwards, whereas trials rider's momentum is usually down more.

[Muel]

I understand why people don't like them sometimes. Personally I can't ride a bike without one, it just feels wrong. But, I can't stand them when climbing, and I've come closer to hitting my head when climbing than I ever did riding trials.

It's completely and utterly stupid, but then so is soloing and I do that too...

[Ali C]

I don't mind if people wear a helmet or not, I don't always but I usually do if I am trying new stuff where the chances of completely messing up is high, or if I am riding rocks.

[MonsieurMonkey]

/Edit.

That was kinda my point, if you fall from a static position, you're either going over the bars face first, or the bikes coming from under you and the back of your skull is going down. Whereas on a BMX, like you said, there's more forward movement, meaning you're more likely to shred your skin off. Full body kevlar suit for BMX, helmet for trials.

[Azarathal]

I absolutely hate wearing a helmet, I'm always aware of it being there and it puts my off.

I will however wear one if needed to (e.g Barrow farm) or if I'm trying something new and sketchy.

[Luke Rainbird]

Full body kevlar suit for BMX, helmet for trials.

Too restrictive. What you need to do is just drop your coefficient of friction and be done with it. Strip off and roll with the baby oil for sure.

[trialsbeginner]

At least it's a good obsession to have.

Personally I can't ride without one, I just feel like something's going to go wrong, considering I land on my head enough when I do wear a helmet. Also I don't really like riding with riders that don't wear helmets just in case I might have to pick their brains off the floor. I know it's their decision so I don't go on about it or anything. Also, for me, watching videos wear people don't wear helmets gives the video a shift from skill to needlessly dangerous.

i agree and also when i wear my helmet i always seem to fall but when i dont have it on i dont fall as much i just think its when i wear my helmet im not as scared to do tricks and things

[kevind]

Better watch guys where you go with this. HSE monitor all Forums and grapevine says that the first comp of the year on April 1st you will have to wear, Hi Viz suit with full body armour, steel toecap Ribos, goggles and approved gloves, ear defenders and a BS approved Hard hat. Any sections that leave the ground you will need to put on a fall arrest system or have a scaffold built with kick boards and tagged. Method statement and risk assesment for every section and Public liability insurance and Employers Liability if you have a minder/dad with you. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Now you know what to ask santa for!!

[rupintart]

But is it really anybody's place to tell them to wear a helmet or not? You're not their mom or dad. Also, if a person wants to not wear one, it's their risk. If they get hurt or die, well, they shoulda wore a helmet then. It's kinda f**ked up to say that, but sometimes it takes a serious injury for a person to listen to others. If you told them once and they don't listen, well, sleep well in knowing you did your part in letting them know the risk and weren't an overbearing asshole that oppresses your opinions on everybody else.