RH>  No doubt. I have broken two helmets. One was on the road. Another 
 RH> was on an exposed root. Cracked the first one, DEMOLISHED the second 
 RH> one. My doctor was amazed that my melon didn't suffer any damage. I 
 RH> won't even ride casually without one. One of my buds used the lame 
 RH> "I can't afford one" excuse. Guess what? I could. So I bought him 
 RH> one. Made him feel like crap. I don't care. He wears it, that's all 
 RH> that matters.
Better to break a helmet than its contents. 
I once saw something that drove me absolutely bonkers. It was on a bike 
trail, which I consider about the most the most dangerous place you can 
ride. I saw another rider who did have a helmet--mounted on the rack on 
the back of his bike. 
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 * Freddie 1.2.5 *  PETA - People for Eating Tasty Animals
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