I started mandatory helmet as soon as my wife was pregnant. If my kid wanted to skate, of course I’d want them to wear one, and I wanted to avoid any hypocrisy (“but Dad doesn’t wear one!”, etc). You get used to it pretty quickly. I got a little ribbing for a bit, but a) growing up a punker/skater/weirdo in upstate NY, I got used to not giving much of a shit what people think, and b) after a bit, people are just used to it. Besides, I’m 47 and still rolling; that counts, pads or not.
My old man addition to this thread: anybody else have big gnarly varicose veins? I work on my feet, and am grossed out by them. Pretty much only on my leading leg thigh. Just me, or can anybody relate?