Two weeks in the past, I launched into my first offroad experience with my BMW F800GS: 100 miles of combined filth, gravel, pavement, and dirt, stretching from Massachusetts’s southern border to the city of Greenfield. I got here again from that journey a greater rider — one with expertise using in mud, gravel, and with restricted traction. I additionally got here again from that journey concussed.

Slamming your head into pavement at 20 miles per hour is, all issues thought of, not a very unhealthy bike fall — I wasn’t doing freeway speeds, I didn’t collide with any observe limitations, and I’m nonetheless right here to put in writing the entire thing up. In reality, it’s such a light accident that it’s barely even price writing about in any respect, besides as a reminder: Purchase the most effective helmet you’ll be able to afford.

For some background, I’ve been using off highway on bicycles for about so long as I can keep in mind, if not longer. Whereas I’m new to taking a 500-pound bike on trails, I’m used to navigating by timber on two wheels — line choice, weight steadiness, standing on the pedals to make use of your legs as extra suspension, these are all second nature to me.

My concern, apparently, is studying to handle the throttle. After I stared down muddy two-track and determined the answer to my issues was energy — protecting momentum up as mud tried to gradual me down — issues went poorly. The entrance wheel dug into an unexpectedly deep mud patch and turned sideways, stopping the bike in its tracks and sending me flying off the left aspect — head- and shoulder-first into pavement.

That fall was minor sufficient that, after a quick relaxation, I used to be in a position to end the path experience (whether or not or not that was a good suggestion, having now realized of the horror that’s second influence syndrome, is up for debate). My helmet is scratched and scuffed, however I haven’t but had the time (or psychological capability) to examine its EPS foam to test if it truly wants changing. I hope it doesn’t, I don’t need to lose the OHOAT sticker on the again.

However what if I’d left my Arai XD4 at dwelling? What if I’d determined I needed extra contemporary air on my face for the path? Positive, Massachusetts has legal guidelines about that type of factor, however loads of states don’t — even neighboring Connecticut leaves it as much as a rider’s discretion as soon as they flip 18. How would I’ve fared, hitting my naked cranium on pavement?

Because it seems, answering that query is difficult. There are many research to point out how a lot power it takes to present somebody a concussion, all made in makes an attempt to enhance the development of soccer helmets, however figuring out how a lot power is required to really break a cranium is more durable. Numbers range from 73 newtons all the best way as much as 5,400, which is a variety we within the enterprise name “extraordinarily unhelpful.”

Nonetheless, out of curiosity, I calculated out the power my head would’ve obtained and not using a helmet serving to me out. I used to be travelling about 20 mph once I went down, which converts out to about 9 meters per second in communist (metric) models. The common human head weighs about 5 kg, and we will determine it took about three inches of journey for my head to cease — possible an egregious over-estimate, on condition that I didn’t dent myself three inches into the pavement, however that’ll hopefully give us a type of ground to our power numbers. Plug these figures into the formulation for figuring out power from a horizontal influence, and:

Rattling! I’m no big-city lawyer, however that positive looks like lots of power to use to at least one’s treasured, as-yet-unflayed thoughts. A power of two,700 newtons positive is someplace inside that deeply unhelpful vary we discovered earlier, which in all probability means one thing. In the event you’re a mind scientist, please inform me what within the feedback beneath.

The general theme is obvious, although: Even at such gradual speeds, such a small influence can apply main trauma to your head. Had I not been carrying a helmet, my restoration interval from this concussion would possible have been so much longer — and that’s if my cranium didn’t fracture on the cracked, uneven pavement. In the event you’re taking your bike out for some late-summer using, take my recommendation too. Put on a helmet.