As an avid racer and bike mechanic, Ryan always helped his friends with bike maintenance and encouraged safe riding. A year and a half ago Ryan was competing in a road race and during the last half mile of the competition, some handlebars became hooked on a steep downhill and a dozen riders were thrown from their bikes.

Ryan was knocked unconscious by the impact and was life-flighted to the hospital where he immediately underwent surgery to alleviate severe hemorrhaging and swelling in his brain. For weeks he couldn’t recognize his wife, and several months passed before he relearned how to walk and perform physical chores. Fortunately, Ryan was young, fit, determined, and had the support of family and friends in order to recover much quicker than his therapists originally thought possible. Doctors concluded that he would have been dead on impact had he not been wearing a helmet. Since his accident the excuses for not wearing a helmet don’t hold any weight for me anymore

California law requires children less than 18 years of age to wear a helmet while bicycling or skating; however, my hope is that people of all ages can understand how easy and beneficial wearing a helmet can be. Even if you consider yourself a safe biker, road situations can often be out of your control as many motorists are unaware of bicyclists or don’t give bicyclists enough space. I have been pleased to learn some bike shops around Humboldt County include a free helmet with a new bike purchase. Helmets are cheap (down to $19.99 at some stores), especially considering the hundreds of dollars of medical bills if you suffer even a minor concussion in an accident and need medical attention.

I believe time and energy should be spent to break down this barrier between fashion and bike safety. If you are concerned about looks check out hip skater helmets or customize your helmet with stickers or designs. Some companies are even starting to make helmets disguised with covers that look like hats. Many of my bicycling friends are big gear-heads who are always upgrading to the latest lightweight components, so why can’t the latest helmet designs be a part of these fashionable bicycle accessories? If you are already a helmet proponent, encourage your friends to challenge their biking habits. A well-fitting helmet may not save you from injury in the most severe bike collision, especially those involving motor vehicles, but it certainly gives the rider a fighting chance for survival.