>>I've heard people speculate wearing helmets actually costs us money because they do save lives and medical bills are more expensive than funerals. the other night someone told me research was recently done that proves this to be true. <<
When I was younger, and it was legal to ride in CA without a helmet, my usual joke when someone would give me a bad time for not wearing a helmet was "The only difference between wearing a helmet and not wearing a helmet, is an open casket or a closed casket."
I know better now.
Even though my helmet was fractured from my recent get-off, I really don't think I would have died without it. But, as but the helmet was also scraped up pretty good...from ear-to-ear...on-the-front...it would probably be more a question of nose no nose, teeth no teeth, chin no chin, mirror no mirror, girlfriend no girlfriend...
>>After crashing my bicycle at about 25mph w/o gloves, my hands looked like hamburger for weeks, I have no interest in reliving that agony thanks. <<
A number of years ago on my road bicycle, I hit the opening door of a BMW sedan. I was doing about 25 with a drafter. I had no helmet, and no shirt. After the BMW's insurance adjuster had me list all my expenses, she wanted to know what the waxpaper was for...
It's what I slept on for three weeks.
I honestly don't think too much about the squids or crusiers riding around half-naked...but what about their passenger???