Ok, you know the old adage, never criticize a man unless you have walked a mile in their shoes? Well, I have always worn helmets. Always. maybe on a rare occasion for a VERY short distance, but for the most part, you might as well say I have never NOT worn one.
Given the nature of my work for the past 30 years (Paramedic) I have seen the end result of NOT wearing helmets. I have heard the arguments for not wearing them, and they don't hold water. I hear the same lame excuses and dang it this is what this little story is about lame reasons for not doing most anything that is deemed safe, and that is being honest about situations. But I'll more into that so bear with me.
I went for two long highway rides. Don't know why, but I just felt like taking off my helmet and seeing what this not wearing a helmet thing was all about. Now pay attention, here; I get it! It was the most awesome experience on a motorcycle that I have ever had. The ride was enhanced in every sensual way that I could imagine! The sights, the sound, the feel, it was incredible! I had no idea that a ride could be enhanced any more than what I already knew!
There were draw backs however. Noise, ear plugs were not an option if you value your hearing as decibel levels were clearly over 110 from the wind. Easy to overcome with ear plugs. But the bugs! Getting smacked in the face with small through large size bugs of who knows what variety as they became one with my flesh, that just plain sucked! Debris from vehicles, sand particles, and where is the "water" coming from when the sky is blue? Is it what I think it is from that camper up a head of me? And what is leaking from that truck up ahead, is it toxic?!?! One thing to get it on my face shield, but another to feel it on my face! Less than desirable.
So, over all, it remained, and incredible experience, so much so I repeated it! I have come to this conclusion. It is about something I had no understanding of prior to this. It is about a definite feeling that is lost when you wear a helmet, at least a full face helmet, and that being an incredible connection with my world!
But what remains? I still kept thinking about my head smacking the pavement if some thing went wrong. And I know what that looks like. The conclusion I can't get past, is that it is a risk. Riding a motorcycle is a risk, period. But yet we who ride, know that, or in short order find out and either quit riding or adapt to the activity we participate in accordingly.
I say; be honest with yourself and others when it comes to wearing a helmet or not. You do so because you choose to take the risk for the "benefits" you gain. Nothing more. I don't want to hear about the lame justifications of why. "If my friend had been wearing a helmet he would have died because....", If I would have been wearing a helmet my neck would have been broken because ...", it's all crap. If you hadn't been riding a motorcycle you wouldn't get in an accident. If you hadn't gotten out of bed, you wouldn't have got in an accident.
It's about time we quit trying to justify what we do and simply call it like it really is. I choose to take a risk, and I know what the risk is. When I got on my bike without my helmet, I did so knowing the risk and not making any pretence about it or effort to justify what I was doing.
So what am I going to do next? I am buying a Skid Lid. I want to try and have that experience that I found and still maintain for my own peace of mind, the ability to minimize my risk factor for head injury.
So here is another risk I am being honest about concerning this issue and I am telling you like it is, no excuse or justification. I am not telling my wife I did this because I would die! Right there on the spot she would beat me with a bat for not wearing a helmet. So I CHOOSE to NOT tell her because the risk out weighs the benefit!
