For anybody who’s bounced off a rock, chinned a tree or slid down the trail with their helmet the only thing stopping them leaving their face in the gravel this won’t be a surprise, but it seems to be for some.

Researchers from Imperial College, London University have published research from 1991 to 1995 in the British Medical Journal. This reveals that although the number of cycling injuries has stayed the same, the number of severe head injuries has fallen by 12%. This correlates very neatly to the increase of helmet sales and wearing among cyclists.

Far prettier and more useful than the head it sits on

ROSPA (Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents) have already commented “We welcome this research. It confirms a lot of other research over the years that shows that wearing a cycle helmet can reduce the risk of receiving head and brain injuries.” Hopefully it will also reduce the stupid argument among non-helmet wearers that those who wear helmets suddenly become convinced of their own invulnerability and hurl themselves at vehicles, lamposts, trees rocks etc.

So if you’re one of the bareheaded BIKEmagic readers, get yourself into a shop this weekend, and get yourself a lid now. With no exaggeration, everyone on BIKEmagic has had their lives saved by hemets (the one in the picture is my 9th – 2 retired, 7 smashed) and they’re the most essential piece of equipment you can own.