Yup... put my "dont wear a helmet" mentality to the test this afternoon.
Riding down nantgarw Hill in Caerphilly, tried to set off a speed camera. Hit 25.4mph according to the speedo and decided to call it at that, tried turning into a bus stop to make the transition from road to bike trail/path thing, wheels hit the kerb and slid for a bit, then the front wheel spun around completely, snapped the speedo cable, and I think the rear brake one is snapped too. Pitched me over the handlebars, I flew over, smashed my right thigh into the barend on the right hand side, and thats now pointing at the ground.
Landed in a heap and slid for a bit (evident by blood trailage! :yuk:).
Was in shock for a bit on the side of the road, hunting for my glasses that flew off of my face.
Ended up in A&E, nothing broken. Ive got grazes and brusing, but the left arm is more like a burn, in that Ive completely removed the skin, so they are worried about infection, so I have a wierd burn dressing thing on it, and theyve splinted it so I cant move my elbow properly. had xrays and stuff, but all is okay.
bike however is in a sorry state, front wheel is buckled. cables are snapped. and neither wheel will turn at all.
main thing gained out of this, even if thrown over your handlebars at nigh on 30mph, hitting your head is bloody difficult.
and a helmet shant be worn in future, because guess what... my arms saved my life, not a piece of expensive polystyrene.