Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - giro pneumo translated means "freaking waste of $"

so...
aside from the fact that it's light and airy, my pneumo has been a huge let-down.
It's freaking 9 mos old and last week i found a crack through it. It's never been crashed. It just couldn't take the wear and tear of... riding alot?

OK, so it cost some serious coin and lasted about 1/3 as long as other cheapies I've had.

I called Giro. "oh, that's just wear and tear."
grr.

why am i sharing this?
NOT to debate whether or not to wear a helmet, but rather, to warn...
don't waste your $
the people at Giro suck
just get something cheaper that will last.

oh, and i'm sick of how the big air vents resulted in me getting hiit in the head by large bugs all the time. that sucked too.

the p in pneumo isn't silent though.

it's ridic that they called it "wear and tear." helmets shouldn't crack all by themselves. that sucks.

ugh. that's a reminder to me though that i need a new helmet.

I wish it weren't a million freaking degrees nine months out of the year in this ****ing hellhole. Then I could wear a skate bucket, and I wouldn't have caught a bee in one of the big vents on my Giro Transfer the other day. That. Goddamn. Sucked.

That's weak. I'm pretty sure everything is wear and tear on a helmet. Even things like sitting on the shelf in a box.
If I was looking to spend that kind of money on a helmet, I'd find someone in europe to send me a Catlike.

Yeah, but it's the lightest, airiest, best-looking helmet I've ever had. Helmets are a pain to wear, so you might as well get something you like.

Bugs?

::sigh::

You guys realize that $30 helmets and $120 helmets are the same ish with a slightly different shape and a way bigger price tag, right? Buy a decent helmet that fits and forget about it. All the "features" and crap are just to give the roadie mags something to write about.

Oh, and sorry about the bee, but holy **** is that funny

If I was looking to spend that kind of money on a helmet, I'd find someone in europe to send me a Catlike.

Or someone in Canada...

I realize that, but here it hits 100F regularly in the summer. Ventilation and weight are the difference. The $30 helmet turns in to a head mounted easy-bake oven really quick.

When I cracked my E2 in Feb, I contacted Giro about the replacement program. They don't make you send the helmet back to them, but will give you 20% (or maybe it was 30%) off any helmet when you order from them over the phone. You just need to have the serial number inside the helmet. I got the Flak because I wanted to try a different style helmet and it is so-so. The price was right for me at the time, but I have already started thinking about a cooler helmet for summer. Plus that matte finish on the outside scratches way to easy. It is also much heavier then I was used to at first, but now it is not that big of a deal.

Hey, this is Marco at Giro. You obviously don't know anything about helmets. That crack is a 'distressed' effect, and it's for fashion. Duh.

In your face!

I realize that, but here it hits 100F regularly in the summer. Ventilation and weight are the difference. The $30 helmet turns in to a head mounted easy-bake oven really quick.

...which might make you not wear it, which means you might be without a helmet the time you actually need it...the $100 helmet you wear all the time is a better deal than the $30 you wear sometimes.

Of course, there are many, many choices at the three-figure level.

I wish it weren't a million freaking degrees nine months out of the year in this ****ing hellhole. Then I could wear a skate bucket, and I wouldn't have caught a bee in one of the big vents on my Giro Transfer the other day. That. Goddamn. Sucked.

move to boston. its the same way, but with winter.

...which might make you not wear it, which means you might be without a helmet the time you actually need it...the $100 helmet you wear all the time is a better deal than the $30 you wear sometimes.

Of course, there are many, many choices at the three-figure level.

No kidding. Helmets have so drastically improved over the last few years it's not even funny though...

Marketing Department 1, Bikers 0

::sigh::

You guys realize that $30 helmets and $120 helmets are the same ish with a slightly different shape and a way bigger price tag, right? Buy a decent helmet that fits and forget about it. All the "features" and crap are just to give the roadie mags something to write about.

phalse.

"buy something that fits" means that you're gonna want to spend more than $30 (at that price point they're all "universal" size, which doesn't barely fit anybody well).

i mean, i don't give a dern about features like the carbon endoskeleton that the atmos ($190ish) has, but features like a something that's not a piece-of-**** back-closure-that-will-break-after-a-few-months, well-ventilated headholes, non-arse padding, and different sizes are not just crap to give roadie mags something to write about.

i guess the difference between a $30 helmet and a $60 or $70 helmet is pretty significant. maybe the diff between a $70 and $120 helmet, not so significant.

i've personally come to believe that more expensive/lighter helmets are probably less safe. i.e. they're shaving so much size/weight that they probably barely pass the crash testing. but that's just what i think.

i'll probably go back to the eclipse. my eclipse treated me well. unless someone can get me a catlike...

Owned the Pneumo for a couple years now and have had zero problems with it. Never crashed it (yet), but still like new. Very light and airy. Used to have an older bell or something, and it was ugly, heavy, and hot. There are differences in helmets.

so...
aside from the fact that it's light and airy, my pneumo has been a huge let-down.
It's freaking 9 mos old and last week i found a crack through it. It's never been crashed. It just couldn't take the wear and tear of... riding alot?


I had a Pneumo and plastic the straps pulled out of the foam on the inside after about 9 months too. I bought it at REI though, so I returned it for a full refund, no questions asked. Got a less expensive Monza and a truing stand in exchange. That's the big advantage to buying pricey things at REI - the 100% guarantee.

I really liked the Pneumo though - the Monza is heavier and warmer.

After spending my 100 deg. summer days wearing a full face helmet while mountain biking I vowed that I will never ever complain about any road type helmet ever again.

I'm not saying a $30 helmet is going to be the best for everybody, just that the three digit stuff is all marketing. I've got a real monster of a head, so I generally put on the L or XL, then put on the "unversal", and go "**** it, these are the same size."

There are crap helmets out there, no doubt, but there is sooo much good stuff out there in the $50 range.

...which might make you not wear it, which means you might be without a helmet the time you actually need it...the $100 helmet you wear all the time is a better deal than the $30 you wear sometimes.

Of course, there are many, many choices at the three-figure level.

I wear one all the time, $50 was my cut off when I bought it. The $100 might seem like nothing once the heat really kicks in. We'll see how my Bell Slant cuts it then.

i just got my pneumo and so far like it. it's much more low-profile than cheaper cans (i.e. less mongaloid-looking) and so light i hardly know it's on. and i really wanted to support Bell and get their competator (i think it's the Sweep?) but it looks a little too swooshy. although i have heard that
Bell is way better with customer service than Giro.

sorry to hear about your experience. i would slap some tape on the crack and avoid bugs.

(edit) chimbly, what kind of crack does it have? on the outer shell, or the styrofoam?

That sucks dude. The foam in helmets degrade over time and should be replaced every 2 years (or so the helmet makers say) so 9 months is total B.S.

I have a Bell Ghisallo that was I think $100 and so far I like it.

I'm pretty sure Bell actually makes the Giro helmets. I can't remember where I read that. Giro is just a different marketing arm.

(edit) chimbly, what kind of crack does it have? on the outer shell, or the styrofoam?

right in the front. it's a crack in the styrofoam piece that goes right on my forehead, and it goes from the inside pad all the way through to the plastic cover. not good.

also: yes, bell and giro are now the same company.

I have a $30 Bell Ukon- an MTB helmet with attached visor (ugly, but helps with glare). I have a decently large head and the "universal" size still just balloons out around my head in the nastiest way. I have too much respect for my brain not to wear it, but I gotta say I get some serious jealous pangs when I see other strapping bucks zipping around town helmetless (and brakeless, for that matter).

The head-vise mechanism on the Ukon definitely keeps it on solid without undue strap tension, but overall, well, it's a cheapo helmet and the fit and finish is cheap. Then again, a splintered pile of styrofoam after a crash isn't worth $0.01, and I'm going to feel a lot less crappy when I reduce this one to that than if I blew a ben on one..

I'm thinking maybe I'll go on ebay and try and score one of these higher-zoot models on the cheap, though. This thing is making a ****ing silver mushroom out of my head, and that sucks.

right in the front. it's a crack in the styrofoam piece that goes right on my forehead, and it goes from the inside pad all the way through to the plastic cover. not good.

also: yes, bell and giro are now the same company.

jeebus. that sucks. i'll have to keep an eye on mine.

Giro has been run as a subsidary of Bell for the last 8 years. I recently went through much of the BHSI site (http://www.helmets.org) which tells you a lot about how crap a lot of the high end helmets are.

I had a Pneumo whih cracked on me when I separated my collarbone in what I think was a pretty minor bump on left side of my face rather than the helmet. I bought it a week earlier. I opted to replace it with a Giro Monza which has seen much more abuse and less babying, has less venting but more material for when it matters.

After much research I opted to buy another helmet which arrived this week, a Limar F105/705, for $40 from Nashbar. Awesome low-profile helmet, great price (usually $100) and has much nicer features than any of the American helmets (nice soft pad at the chin, buckle on the side rather than under the chin to prevent chafe and irritation) at that price range.

chimbly.... any idea how you managed to crack it?
You have been travelling a lot recently right? maybe you somehow managed to crush it in your suitcase, or maybe it was on the receiving end of some rough treatment by the throwers?

(not trying to argue, just wondering how this is possible)

I think that the problem here is that you were too cheap to buy the Giro Atmos...that would have solved all your problems.

By the way, I have the Limar ansntr mentioned. I have had it for about a year and a half now with no problems. It was (I think) 60 when I bought it. So it is definately a bargain at 40.

chimbly.... any idea how you managed to crack it?
You have been travelling a lot recently right? maybe you somehow managed to crush it in your suitcase, or maybe it was on the receiving end of some rough treatment by the throwers?

(not trying to argue, just wondering how this is possible)

i always carry my helmet on to the plane. sure, it gets put on the floor at bars, but i'm not one to toss it about. beside, if it wasn't an impact at 20mph with (insert my weight here) and it cracked, imagine how un-protective it would be in a real crash.

Does Giro have a crash replacement policy? I have one of the lower-mid model Louis Garneau which is awesome on its own, and, when I wrecked when wearing it, they sent me a replacement for free. Perhaps yours can also meet with an 'unfortunate accident'.

i guess the difference between a $30 helmet and a $60 or $70 helmet is pretty significant. maybe the diff between a $70 and $120 helmet, not so significant.

Exactly. The mid range helmets have a lot better head-fitting system than the cheap ones, and a huge jump in comfort. Further improvements are pretty incremental.

i just got my pneumo and so far like it. it's much more low-profile than cheaper cans (i.e. less mongaloid-looking) and so light i hardly know it's on. and i really wanted to support Bell and get their competator (i think it's the Sweep?) but it looks a little too swooshy. although i have heard that
Bell is way better with customer service than Giro.


You *do* know that Bell and Giro are owned by the same company?

I have a Bell Sweep - bell's top of the line helmet, apparently.

Well, after having it for a month, I found a crack in it. It's just a minor crack in some of the aerodynamic bits that aren't there to take a fall anyway. I'm pretty annoyed about it - technically I could probably use bell's $30 crash replacement program to get a new one, but I'm not going to.

Anyway, expensive helmets may look the same, but the difference is they design the cheaper ones to be incredibly uncomfortable and ill-fitting. Mine was worth the extra $70 just for the fact that it takes all of 2 seconds to adjust it to fit over a thick stocking cap. Not that i'll need to do that for the next several months, but it's nice to know I can. And it's nice to have a helmet I'll happily wear all day long.

i had a pneumo for years.. it serverd well.. but yes..eventually it started to crack..i now have their other fancy one... atmos? and its not nearly as comfy as the pneumo was.. on my head at least... i get them free.. otherwise id prob knock it down a few notches..

i had a pneumo for years.. it serverd well.. but yes..eventually it started to crack..i now have their other fancy one... atmos? and its not nearly as comfy as the pneumo was.. on my head at least... i get them free.. otherwise id prob knock it down a few notches..

i would mess around with the high end helmets in the shop i worked in. the atmos was so uncomfortable on my head. maybe we just have different shapes, the atmos and i, but it felt so boney. barely any padding--but so light weight!

I'll echo the uncomfy-ness of the Atmos.

I tried that on at a store and the top-front section, just after the forehead was harsh! I noticed they don't have any padding there and there are two ridges which dug into my hair/head. I was pretty surprised at how uncomfortable that helmet is.

I think there are better helmets out there made by the Italians and Europeans that are really nice and offer much better features for the price you're paying. Steaktaco's new helmet, the Shain BK100 (available from repartocorse.com) is an impressive helmet for the money allowing for multiple-impacts in the same crash or multiple small impacts.

I still want a Catlike Kompact though, one of these days mcatano, I'm calling in that favour.

all great ideas, but i need a helmet NOW, not like three weeks from now. so, it's to the shop tonight, where hopefully i might still have an employee discount, and getting whatever is there. giro or bell or specalized. i sorta feel like getting the pink Xen or the purple eclipse.

(have you heard my theory about how accessories spelled with "x" make you a faster biker??)

I still want a Catlike Kompact though, one of these days mcatano, I'm calling in that favour.

Let me stay at your place in July and I'll hand deliver one.

The Xen is pretty nice - I like how the shell is all around. Looks and feels tough -- it is an MTB helmetr after all. The eclipse is nice too -- though I do like those Specialized Decibel's or Aurora's. My second helmet was a S1, which I loved until it cracked in two places mysteriously as well.

C'est la vie.

Catano -- sounds like a plan. Drop me a line.

Spiuk and LAS have bug nets built in, and you can get both of 'em stateside these days, if that's a concern. Sadly neither fits too well for me. Otherwise Limar has saved my noggin a couple of times now (Though oddly, a Limar helmet of mine did somehow get cracked under a table at a restaurant from what seemed very little impact -- i guess if you get 'em in exactly the right spot with the right amount of force, they go. On the head in accident situations they do well.) Wearing a Bell Sweep now, just because it fits better than anything else for me, is relatively cheap, and the LBS was out of Limar in my size when I last needed one.

You *do* know that Bell and Giro are owned by the same company?

i think we all know that now, after numerous posts to that effect *after* mine, but thanks for the reiteration.

****.

absntr, i'd like to try on that catlike when you get it.. we go up to canadia often, and i would love to bring one home if this pneumo craps out on me.

we go up to canadia often, and i would love to bring one home if this pneumo craps out on me.

(time for another poutine thread)

(time for another poutine thread)

i think i just felt my stomach cry a little.

I'm a big fan of Louis Garneau after crashing with my Rocket TT helmet (considerably more expensive than the Pneumo, which BTW I wear as my daily trainer), they sent me a brand new replacement helmet at no charge - not even shipping!

I bought a Giro Pneumo last year which I used for around 2 months before I had repeated problems with the back attachment becoming loose after a part continually popped out of the inner foam. I was really disappointed in the craftmanship of a expensive helmet. I had purchased a Giro years ago which I still have that was well-crafted and functional. It was bulkier yet it was very well-made.

I replaced it with a Lazer which I love - http://www.lazerhelmets.com/site/cycling/default2006.asp?cid=146&cat=0&item=0

I'm pretty sure Bell actually makes the Giro helmets. I can't remember where I read that. Giro is just a different marketing arm.

Wrong. Totally different distro lines.


Chimbly, next time you're in NYC hit me up. I'll probably be able to warranty you a new Pneumo fo' free.

Wrong. Totally different distro lines.


Chimbly, next time you're in NYC hit me up. I'll probably be able to warranty you a new Pneumo fo' free.

wrong. Bell has owned Giro since 1995.


About Bell Sports

Bell Sports is the worlds leading designer and marketer of helmets and accessories for bicycling and other active sports. The company markets helmets and accessories under the Bell, Giro, Blackburn, VistaLite, CoPilot, X Games, Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher Price brands. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, the company has operations in Santa Cruz, Calif.; Rantoul, Ill.; York, Penn.; Hong Kong; and Limerick, Ireland. Bell Sports distributes its products in 45 countries. More information is available at www.bellsports.com.

they're now owed by the same company that makes Riddell football helmets.