Compensate means “To offset; counterbalance” So helmet wearers lack of common sense is offset by their protective gear. They make up for their lack in foot landing ability by head mounted crash pads.
Good on you for burning your helmets- although there must be more environmentally friendly ways to dispose of them.
Re: Helmets: Do you wear one? Why? When?
On Thu, 7 Aug 2008, maestro8 <> wrote:
>
> Ian Smith wrote:
> > No, because it comes from the opposite direction -
> > The statistics show that helmets don’t reduce head injury rates.
>
> Statistics can be manipulated to “prove” anything you like, and
> correlation does not imply causation. Stop thumping on the numbers and
> give us something meaningful, why don’t you?
I’m not saying anything about causation - in fact, that’s precisely
the point I keep making - there are numerous possible explanations, I
offered just one possible (note: POSSIBLE) explanation that is
coherent.
> > Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.
>
> Are you saying you haven’t learned anything since age eighteen? Your
> behavior here gives me reason to believe so…
Oh look, another personal insult. It wasn’t me that coined that, it
was a quotation. Are you suggesting he didn’t learn anything past
eighteen?
> > Common sense is notoriously bad at all sorts of things - at one time
> > it was common sense that a ship made of iron could not float.
>
> ..and at one time people believed the Earth was flat. Unless we still
> live in those times, there’s no reason to introduce such facts into this
> discussion… unless you’re trying to bury me in irrelevance.
No , merely demonstrate that common sense is a very poor justification
for an opinion. It often means the person holding the opinion
actually has no good reasons and can’t think of any either.
> > Ah yes. You believe your argument is so convincing that personal
> > insults strengthen it. Why does it always come to this?
>
> You’re assuming I believe in anything. For a troll, you’re quite
> naive.
And again.
Since you are apparently incapable of discussion the issue without
descending to ad-hominem attacks, I will now stop talking to you.
I always wear my helmet because people always look at me when I am riding and I want to set a good example especially for younger children.
I never ride with a helmet on… I don’t have one. I’m considering getting one one day, but not soon 
I wear helmets about 50% of the time. The harder time. Harder is just grinding and stuff like riding stairs. Also I wear it whenever i feel like it or don’t want to hold it. my helmet is a blue and black sk8er helmet so it goes well with my torker dx.
You’re so quick to presume… perhaps common sense is the simplest explanation.
No, you’re going to stop talking to me 'cause you’d rather address my ad hominem than the fact that I’m calling you out on all your logical fallacies (red herrings, non sequiturs, false dichotomies, loaded questions).
Just goes to show your case against helmets is weaker than your self-confidence… which seems mighty thin here. They’re just words on a computer screen, Ian, no need to shy away…
Re: Helmets: Do you wear one? Why? When?
On Fri, 8 Aug 2008, maestro8 <> wrote:
>
> Ian Smith wrote:
>
> > Since you are apparently incapable of discussion the issue without
> > descending to ad-hominem attacks, I will now stop talking to you.
>
> No, you’re going to stop talking to me 'cause you’d rather address my
> ad hominem than the fact that I’m calling you out on all your logical
> fallacies (red herrings, non sequiturs, false dichotomies, loaded
> questions).
I don’t think you’ve thought that claim out - if I’d rather deal with
you being abusive than talk about helmets why would I stop talking to
you when you get abusive?
I observe that you acknowledge that you are being personally abusive.
> Just goes to show your case against helmets is weaker than your
> self-confidence… which seems mighty thin here. They’re just
> words on a computer screen, Ian, no need to shy away…
I am not discussing anything further with maestro8 - he/she will
presumably now claim this as a great victory, which proves how clever
he/she is.
However, for avoidance of doubt - I am very happy to continue
discussing helmet wearing with anyone other than maestro8, provided
they are capable of remaining civil and do not descend to deliberate
ad hoinem personal abuse.
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Hmm, the pot calling the kettle black!
But you’ve yet to pay one word of regard to defend your argument in the face of my claims… that your argument contains a myriad of logical fallacies.
So… by referring to me in the third person, but still quoting my posts, are you actually not “talking” to me?
I can’t decide if this is silly or insane.
Again with the presumption. How is that supposed to get you anywhere?
FTFY.
Re: Helmets: Do you wear one? Why? When?
On Sat, 9 Aug 2008, maestro8 <> wrote:
> Ian Smith wrote:
> > However, for avoidance of doubt - I can’t help but continue
> > discussing helmet wearing with anyone other than maestro8, provided
> > they are capable of understanding my twisted logic and do not descend
> > to pointing out the fallacies in my argument.
I did not write that.
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I now…
I now have given up my hat, and now have a realiance with my new
helmet and full legging guards. I am still waiting for my Nimbus hub,
so I can get rid of my JuggleBug.
I wear my helmet at unicycling nearly always. But not at freestyling 
This was a good topic…
I stopped wearing one for muni recently. I wore it in the winter in the dark as I kept hitting my head on trees and my head torch attaches to it. I stopped because I kept hitting my helmet on trees when it got lighter…
While I’m firmly on Boardman’s side of this argument for Mr Joe Average and getting the country out of their cars and onto bikes, extreme cycling such as MUni is a totally different question.
To answer OP: I wear one when I’m doing anything where I’ll be intentionally pushing myself past my comfort zone - ie. racing. Most of my riding outside of this is either the work commute, or a leisurely spin around the countryside, so no point wearing a helmet for this - my only danger is cars, and I’m a lot more worried about them breaking my legs and crushing my chest than somehow bumping my head.
I wear a helmet: Muni,Trial,36"
No Helmet: When I go shopping in the small town.
Helmet? Always!
I always wear a helmet because unicycling is never completely predictable. Neither are the other people in command of vehicles and/or animals. As I have only one head with a satisfyingly functioning brain, I don’t want to risk anything.
I can’t remember if I’ve replied before. This thread has been going since 2008 so I probably have.
Unicycling is generally a sport for individuals who make their own decisions and who take responsibility for their own level of risk. We need to respect each other’s decisions about helmets.
In 30 years of riding, I can think of no UPDs where a helmet would have made a difference - except one where a full face helmet may have saved me a lacerated chin and broken tooth.
However I wear a helmet on more or less every ride unless I am performing (which is rare).
I find it is no trouble to wear it.
I think that on average it reduces my risk of a head injury.
Most of all, I have this theory that if you want to be treated like a cyclist, rather than a clown, look like a cyclist. If you want to share the road with others, look like you’re a responsible road user. I have more than once been run off the road by aggressive drivers. However, in my regular road riding kit (cycle longs, cycle shirt, helmet)I have never had a problem of this kind. Out in the woods, or on the river bank or (for the last two days) on a municipal BMX course, I generally find that looking the part gets me less hassle.
I do not support compulsory helmet usage although I can see some merit in a few of arguments in favour.
I do recommend that you assess the risk and make a considered choice, and accept the consequences, whether they be criticism or head injury (if you decide against) or mild discomfort and inconvenience (if you decide in favour).
I wear a helmet for unicycling, but not for cycling. The way a uni can whip out from under you means hitting your head is much more likely, at least while I am still learning anyway. I have always had the thought that if i am hit by a car while cycling then I would rather just die than live with potentially life changing Injuries anyway. I am more worried about what a car will do to the rest of me rather than my head hitting anything. I still recommend for everyone else to wear a helmet though, it is just my weird thinking. I am not bothered about what I look like wearing one so vanity definitely doesn’t come in to it for me.
I always wore a helmet for the past 8 years, recently I stopped wearing it. Mostly road riding and easy trail riding. I’m still considering wearing one again, it’s a strange concept… Should I wear it for the one in a million chance some freak accident happens and I hit my head?
I think if you talked to a person who has had such an injury if they could go back in time and put on a helmet, they probably would answer yes. Maybe I’ll start wearing my helmet again.
I look good in mine, bike shorts too. 
LOL