Just yesterday I was nearing the trailhead on one of my favorite training routes. As I rounded a curve there were three people standing over a guy on the ground. He was sitting and rubbing the top of his head. “I’m a good rider. This has never happened before.” He was almost in tears, probably in pain as the police officer approached with the first aid bag. It looked like he didn’t make the turn, caught his front wheel in the dirt, and flipped into a utility pole, head first.

He wasn’t wearing a helmet. If you are reading this, you probably don’t need an admonition to wear your helmet. There are many others who need to be aware of the risks of riding without one. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen a person with a head injury as the result of failing to use a helmet on the trail.

There are too many riders who think that this kind of mishap is a long shot and they are willing to take the risk. I see all kinds of people in very fashionable head gear: colorful knit caps, baseball caps, and sweat bands. On most days my riding clothes don’t even match, but at least I have my helmet.