Put a Lid On It

Hannah Britten

27th October 2009 05:59pm

Well put Joe!

Brent McLarty

27th October 2009 08:03pm

A responsible company would not promote cycling helmet-less. You want cyclists to respect your business, then don't use photos of riders without helmets. There's plenty of good riders out there that want to keep their brains inside their skulls.

Jon Moss

27th October 2009 08:15pm

Hmmmm… I'm not sure about this. Sitting on the fence is an easy thing to do. Yes, we are all adults, and can make our own choices….

But frankly, not wearing a helmet is putting your life at risk, putting your future at risk. Imagine, if the worst happened, what your family, children and friends would think, how they would feel.

I've been cycling seriously for only months, but skiing seriously for 35 years. I would never consider not wearing a lid. You can crack your skull falling over from a stationary position, never mind at 40+ mph.

Ride safe, wear a lid.

Paul Glazowski

27th October 2009 10:34pm

I'd make one overarching exception. In autumn, also known as "fall" to some, things do tend to "fall" from places which hang over the roadways of the civilized world, so, while I'd say to each his own, I'd rather see to it that any foliage heavier than the average airborne leaf have the potential to hit a barrier before any shock of impact be transferred to my own physical exterior. Walnuts are terrorists this time of year.

Otherwise, I'd say the need of helmets or lids is 1) dependent on the scenario, i.e., if you're traveling on lanes expressly reserved for bicycle traffic, and 2) dependent on the whim of the rider.

Derek Johnson

28th October 2009 12:52am

The wonderful photography on this site serves to promote the Rapha brand. A part of that brand is the Rapha "look" which takes its design queues from classic cycling clothing. The vast majority of the photography seems to include riders without helmets, as do old photographs from which Rapha designers draw their inspiration. However, I think it is a bit of an anachronism to almost exclusively feature helmet-less riders, I cannot think of a single serious cyclist in my area, including pros, who doesn't wear a helmet at all times.

Also, Rapha hats are very comfortable under a helmet, and wick sweat very nicely, which is not a message you would get from all of the hatted heads sans helmets featured here.

Andrew Massey

28th October 2009 09:32am

Each to there own. It's a calculated risk.

Tim Bishop

28th October 2009 11:07am

Didn't that helmet feature in an episode of Buck Rogers?

Gem Atkinson

28th October 2009 11:44am

couldnt agree more.
Its a personal choice and the ultimate responsibility resides with the rider.

also, that gold helmet is the pimp-biznizz

Tim Bishop

28th October 2009 11:51am

Recently, I got knocked off my bike by a coach passing a stationary bus. I was in front of the bus 2-3 feet from the curb when the coach appeared like Jenson button attempting to pass a lapped car! I still have what remains of my Specialised S1 helmet, which serves as a timely reminder when I am preparing for a Saturday morning training ride.
As a compromise, I take my cap either to be worn under my helmet or at the cafe when enjoying an espresso before the return leg.
As Nick Hewer said in an episode of the latest Apprentice series, "I'll leave that with you".

Stefan Rohner

28th October 2009 12:39pm

here in Spain you have to wear helmet by law. still, I am leaving home many times without..

worst case, I dont come back home. dont you think we also have a responsibility to the ones who love us, our wife's and children?

steven marsh

28th October 2009 07:28pm

Lets be honest….If helmets made you look good then Rapha riders would wear them.
But sometimes style and fashion outweigh safety and common sense.
On a warm summers day a Rapha cap cries out to be worn alone! We all know helmets save lives," make the choice"….Keep those great photo shots coming!!

Paul Martin

28th October 2009 09:57pm

I used get thrown into the back of my dad's car with no seat belt, but my own kids have car seats that cost more than a cross bundle. Yes, there's a something classic about the aesthetics of a cycling cap that we all love, but check out the rapha continental riders - they all wear helmets, and they all look pretty good to me.

Chris Tree

29th October 2009 10:26am

I wear a helmet because I choose to, others don't, their choice is not my concern.

If someone can catagorically show that wearing a helmet makes a considerable impact on rider safety and injury prevention then it should even be up for debate or possible legislation.

And as it is not law that it is compulsory for riders to wear a helmet why should a clothing company be 'chastised' for photographing riders not breaking the law to showcase their clothing.

… possible caption…

Model: IRA wears cross jersey, cross 3/4 bib shorts and Merino hat, helmet model's own (the hat is lovely but unfortunately obscured by the riders helmet)

Stefan Rohner

29th October 2009 12:27pm

""Lets be honest….If helmets made you look good then Rapha riders would wear them.""


so so…. mama mia…

john bailey

29th October 2009 01:08pm

Helmets are an attachment to 'The Man' - ditch them and ride free.

Steve Blake

29th October 2009 01:11pm

We all have our story, i have mine. We all have the capability to make informed, justifiable decisions. I'm as inspired by photos of riders climbing in extreme heat in caps and helmets as I am by riders decending bare-headed. I'm inspired by the essence rather than the headwear. This is not a debate for the public domain, instead one has with oneself and settles alone.

john bailey

29th October 2009 01:45pm

I mean yes I do wear a helmet to and from work in the london traffic in winter - but riding (not racing) at a leisurable pace on a summers day in the Alps I choose not to wear one. As a kid in the 70s/80s we never wore them - nowadays I think people are so hooked up on the trauma of vehicles hitting us - Sadly I think a lot of UK vehicle drivers do not think of cyclists like they seem to do in Germany, Holland & Switzerland… mind you there are loads of idiots on cycles too.

Mike Ile

29th October 2009 03:47pm

Unless the law says otherwise, of course adults have the right not to wear helmets. The question is whether Rapha should implicitly support the idea that not wearing a helmet is a responsible thing to do. It is not. Refusing to wear a helmet is not a "calculated" risk. It is a real and unnecessary risk, just as riding through stop signs and red lights without looking would be. In other words, stupid behavior. And I think Rapha should come down on the side of sanity.

tyler whelan

29th October 2009 04:18pm

I'm sure the number of photos of riders without helmets has nothing to do with all the nice caps you sell. People should realize that the photos are advertisements not commentary on cycling with or without a helmet.

Russell Cameron

30th October 2009 12:27am

The answer is simple. Please design a rapha helmet.

Kevin Bennett

30th October 2009 10:50am

Firstly, I agree with Russell…

"The answer is simple. Please design a rapha helmet"

…then we'd all be happy.

Secondly, I think we're all big enough to make our own minds up, just because you see a photo of a rider without a lid doesn't mean you can't make you're own mind up. The pictures from Rapha to me simply evoke the love we all have for 'the open road' and a simply a good ride. Keep the pics coming, lid or no-lid!

Jason Arthur

31st October 2009 01:47am

I knew this was coming when I saw these great ads. Blah! All you Politically Correct lawyer types make me want to puke. I wear a helmet every time I ride. But I wouldn't say a word to someone who wasn't. If it's your kids you're worried about, then be a parent. Don't try to shape the world into your views.

Simon Hartwell

31st October 2009 08:12pm

Apart from the obligatory anecdotal evidence of riders whose life was definitely saved by their helmet, the scientific evidence is far from convincing that cycle helmets provide any substantial protection.

There is still free choice in the UK, and as long as that continues, I will continue not to wear a helmet on the road.

To the people who insist that you are taking your life in your hands riding sans helmet,do you wear head protection for walking, descending stairs, or even driving your car? All these are statistically much more likely to result in head injury that cycling, so why single out this one relatively safe pursuit.

I think too many fall for the hype put out by the manufacturers of these pieces of cheap expanded polystyrene, which sell for insanely inflated prices.

Rapha's point that they photo these riders how they choose to ride is the relevant point here, these riders made their own choice, a completely legal and legitimate choice at that. Any one looking at those pictures is free to make their own choice.

I will never understand the desire of so many riders who wear helmets, to try and insist that all riders do the same, it's like some sort of religious conversion campaign; do your thing, and let me do mine!

Dave Wyman

2nd November 2009 05:31pm

The five Rapha riders I cycled with in Arizona all used helmets. They wore some great Rapha cycling clothes, too; some of them wore caps on the road, but under their helmets.

http://www.pbase.com/davewyman/rapha

Personally, I choose to wear a helmet when I ride a bike my road bike, I think in large part because it's the fashion for most serious road cyclists. It's the same with shaved legs - it's the fashion.

Here in Los Angeles, not everyone on a road bike shaves his - or even her - legs, its rare to see someone on a geared road bike without a helmet. They wear helmets because of peer pressure and marketing.

On the other hand, I know cyclists who are passionate about their fixed gear bikes, and most of them don't bother with helmets - it's not the fashion.

What we think about anything is based on our perception of reality, but not necessarily on reality; after all, perception is often manipulated by clever ads. So it's difficult for me to become exercised over the helmet issue.

Life would be boring, though, wouldn't it, without choice, without ways to distinguish ourselves both as individuals, and as part of a select group of our own choosing?

Tim Bishop

2nd November 2009 06:50pm

Helmets are an innovation, which have evolved from what looked like strapping several sausages across your head to what we see today.

Given the way many uneducated drivers behave in the UK, I feel safer wearing a helmet on what can be dangerous roads.

I toy with the idea of 'softshell madness', but I don't want to end-up eating my meals through a strawer and doing a good impression of a cabbage.

Its something to give you a better chance of survival so why not use it?

From what I've read above, its about cyclists looking out for one another. If some perceive that as a public safety announcement and an extension of the Nanny State, its a shame.

Great blog guys, lively.

Doug Peterson

4th November 2009 07:51pm

Simon Hartwell's got it. Why is that only cyclists are called fools for not wearing helmets, when the vast majority of deaths in car crashes are from head injuries? If you are afraid to ride your bike without a helmet, then why don't you wear one in the car? Aren't you concerned about your future and your family?

I've read that helmets are only required to provide protection at speeds up to 14 miles per hour, if it's a glancing impact. Direct impacts are less, something like seven or eight MPH.

So what we have is a helmet that protects you if you fall off your bike while stopped at a stoplight. Worth something, I suppose. To bad that when a car hits you (a situation that causes most cycle deaths, unfortunately) what exactly is that helmet doing for you? You along are probably going faster than 14mph. It gets worse when the car's velocity is added. Ouch.

And then what about other injuries? Face injuries? Neck injuries? Broken bones? Are you going to wear a full face downhill helmet to prevent facial injuries, such as broken teeth? Or is that much safety simply too much?

Sounds to me if you feel a helmet is required to be safe on the bike, you shouldn't actually be riding a bike because a helmet doesn't really add much "safety" to the endeavor.

Either wear a helmet or don't. But don't act like they are a talisman of magical safety. The only thing that makes you safer out there is being a better rider. Use your head and pay attention, because that piece of foam on your head ain't gonna do it for you.

Mike Ile

5th November 2009 03:45pm

I for one never denied that adults have the right to make their own choice about whether to wear a helmet while riding, in accordance with applicable laws of course. In fact, I affirmed that they do have such a right. The question I posed was whether it was responsible for Rapha to implicitly endorse such a choice. In my view it is not; riding without a helmet is less safe. Those who contend otherwise simply do not understand the facts. One may choose to ride without a helmet, but that choice cannot be made on the basis that it is more or even equally safe to do so. It is not.

I too rode with a Rapha team this summer and all of them sensibly wore helemts. The only injury incurred on the day was a bee sting to my tongue, which confirms that helmets do not protect us from everything.

Simon Hartwell

6th November 2009 12:45pm

Mike Ile - I think my problem is the vitriol that tends to come from many pro-helmet cyclists, toward those of us that choose otherwise. Words like irresponsible, stupid behaviour, and calling into question my sanity…

As I, and others have asked, why do you choose this one activity to single out for special attention? It is statistically safer (especially as an adult cyclist), than being a pedestrian, car driver or even doing many home maintenance tasks, but no-one seems to call into question a car drivers or pedestrians sanity for not choosing to wear head protection.

That is the point I don't understand, many are willing to take those risks, amongst many others, but consider it insane to not wear a cycle helmet.

Mike Ile

6th November 2009 01:59pm

Simon: my apologies if my words offended. Not my intent. The fact that there are activities riskier than bike riding does not diminish the risk of riding. And unlike many other activities you mention, the severity risk of a single adverse incident of bike riding is quite high. I firmly accept the right of any adult to choose not to wear a helmet. But I do not accept that riding without a helmet is as safe as riding with one. Because it isn't. And it is for that reason that I do not think Rapha should take the position that wearing a helmet is a valueless proposition.

Not that you and I will ever agree on this, but thanks for the dialogue. Be safe.

Steven Green

10th November 2009 11:38am

Never mind helmets.

Where's their mudguards? It looks awfully wet.

Carl Glenn

10th November 2009 04:00pm

I wear a helmet on group rides where it is convention, but that is a rare occurence. I wear a helmet at organized races as it is required, but this is an even rarer occurence. Most days, I grab the bike ands go. I commute to work. I ride to the store. I mash through traffic. I blow redlights and stopsigns alike. I swallow up entire pacelines of helmet clad spandex warriors on their "grueling" training rides. Their overpriced machines are my workaday to-do list. The corners of their smiles weighed down with the burden of acoutrement, until only a grimace remains. I am fixed, freed, off-road and, multi-speed. I am rough and tumble asphalt eater amidst autos and the rumble. I am free. And I will not smother that freedom under a false sense of foam security. I love the classic stripped down element of these riders and their machines photographed in the elements. I applaud Rapha for it's photography as well as it's products. Helmetless riders were the first thing that drew me in to check out the brand. I have not been dissapointed.