A friend of mine got cut off by a minivan and his head went helmet-first into the side window. It's rare enough, but perhaps worth a little discomfort. On a gr

A friend of mine got cut off by a minivan and his head went helmet-first into the side window. It's rare enough, but perhaps worth a little discomfort. On a group ride, the cyclist in front of me hopped over a pothole and his fork snapped on landing. In addition to getting punctured by one of the pieces, he went helmet-first into the ground. At the hospital, he couldn't remember the accident. I was glad he'd been wearing a helmet. Side note: if you're riding an aluminum bicycle, you should change the fork if it's ever had a strong impact. Hairline fractures are serious. Or just go with a steel frame, since they won't snap.