Helmet

[Larry64]

I've been riding a few years but have just switched to a road bike, and think its time for a helmet. I was looking at a Bell Aquile at Dick's. They are blowing them out, $25.00 and I have a $10.00 cash reward so it would only cost me $15.00. Is it a deal or just discount junk? :)

[AndrewP]

Not all makes and models fit the same. Try on some other models to see how the fit compares. Its a good helmet for protection and ventilation. So if it is comfy, its a steal at that price. For riding a road bike you will probably want to remove the visor.

[KrisPistofferson]

There's a bunch of idiots on here who are vehemently anti-helmet who are about to start posting with stories about Amsterdam and China. Don't listen to them.

[John E]

I just went way over budget on a Giro helmet because it fits me so superbly.

The one rational argument against helmets is that wearing one may make you feel invincible, leading to risk compensation. Therefore, I always wear one while cycling, but ride as though I had left it at home.

[Larry64]

I know about helmets. I have be on motorcycles about 30 years and running into burning houses and scrapping up bikers for 24. Can't do either without a helmet. Just make sense I should have one on my bicycle.:D

[古強者死神]

First helmet was a keeper for me, just asked for a black helmet that was cheap and got the trek vapor 3 seems to fit like a charm and I love the quick fit wheel in the back.

I like the visor part too makes it look better and probably keep some sun burn off my face.

[chipcom]

There's a bunch of idiots on here who are vehemently anti-helmet who are about to start posting with stories about Amsterdam and China. Don't listen to them.

It's been two days since you made this prediction, but nothing you predicted has come to pass. Polish up that crystal ball, Kris, it's getting foggy. :p

[sbhikes]

Probably one of the most useful things I heard about helmets is that by law they all have to meet the same safety standards, so when shopping for a helmet, ask yourself what you're paying for when you buy that more expensive helmet. Doesn't mean you should buy the cheapest one, but just be advised that more money doesn't equal safer or more effective.

[derath]

Probably one of the most useful things I heard about helmets is that by law they all have to meet the same safety standards, so when shopping for a helmet, ask yourself what you're paying for when you buy that more expensive helmet. Doesn't mean you should buy the cheapest one, but just be advised that more money doesn't equal safer or more effective.


Well yes and no. All helmets are required to MEET safety standards. More expensive ones can often EXCEED these standards

Otherwise, what you are usually paying for is a helmet that is just as safe, but is made from lighter materials and larger vents etc. So while it may not be safer, it may be more comfortable to some.

-D

[bbonnn]

What? You mean my $199 helmet that makes me look like a Borg with encepahlitis WON'T make me go any faster? But but -- it has all those speed holes!

[sbhikes]

Certainly the fancy vent holes and whatever may be of value to you. Everyone is free to buy a $200 helmet if they want. Just understand what you are paying for, and what you are not, that's all.

[pedex]

Certainly the fancy vent holes and whatever may be of value to you. Everyone is free to buy a $200 helmet if they want. Just understand what you are paying for, and what you are not, that's all.

a plastic coated styrofoam cup on your head

[nm+]

Well yes and no. All helmets are required to MEET safety standards. More expensive ones can often EXCEED these standards

Otherwise, what you are usually paying for is a helmet that is just as safe, but is made from lighter materials and larger vents etc. So while it may not be safer, it may be more comfortable to some.

-D
Actually, many of the cheaper helmets are actually safer. Because they have a beter more material, they can absorb sharp objects more readlity.
Mountain helmets are also generally safer than road helmets, but sacrafice some cooling and weigh more.
Honestly beyond a point i see no reason for lighter helmets.

[Lameness]

Okay, since someone made a comment about the anti-helmet people, i'll chime in with something that's been on my mind for a while. First of all, I always wear a helmet on my bike (and especially on my motorcycle). I just want to know why so many cyclists feel it is their duty to preach to other grown adults who don't wear a helmet. If one doesn't want to wear a helmet, then so be it. For instance, when we get together for a motorcycle group ride, if some squid shows up without a helmet, no one says anything to the guy. He's a grown man, he can make decisions for himself.

However, I've noticed its very prevalent in the cycling community for the know-it-alls to try and tell someone else, "Hey bro, if you're not wearing a helmet, you're not going to go on our group ride." Last week, some dude who just moved into our city showed up for a group ride without a helmet. The self-proclaimed "group leader" proceeds to tell him that he has to have a helmet to ride with us. Helmet-less rider then proceeds to tell the "group leader" to go **** himself; he will ride on any public road he pleases. The group leader appeared to be extremely shocked, as if no one had ever questioned his "authority."

Anyway, the ride turned out great with the helmetless newbie staying with the front of the pack the whole 40 mile ride.

So, in closing, I wish everyone would wear a helmet, but i'm not going to preach to grown men like i'm their mother. I urge everyone else to mind their own business as well.

[pedex]

^^^its become one of the american rec rider fashion statements and mantras thats why

3 years ago I saw pics of a club ride that had the honor of riding with part of the postal squad, every rec rider had a helmet, every postie was without one.....nobody said a peep, but rec riders will jump all over your case for not having one if your not a race pro LOL.......

honestly, due to lack of exercise from riding my guess is most will fall victims to heart disease if anything, but I guess thats ok cause they will have the false safety assurance of a helmet !!

[KrisPistofferson]

Okay, since someone made a comment about the anti-helmet people, i'll chime in with something that's been on my mind for a while. First of all, I always wear a helmet on my bike (and especially on my motorcycle). I just want to know why so many cyclists feel it is their duty to preach to other grown adults who don't wear a helmet. If one doesn't want to wear a helmet, then so be it. For instance, when we get together for a motorcycle group ride, if some squid shows up without a helmet, no one says anything to the guy. He's a grown man, he can make decisions for himself.

However, I've noticed its very prevalent in the cycling community for the know-it-alls to try and tell someone else, "Hey bro, if you're not wearing a helmet, you're not going to go on our group ride." Last week, some dude who just moved into our city showed up for a group ride without a helmet. The self-proclaimed "group leader" proceeds to tell him that he has to have a helmet to ride with us. Helmet-less rider then proceeds to tell the "group leader" to go **** himself; he will ride on any public road he pleases. The group leader appeared to be extremely shocked, as if no one had ever questioned his "authority."

Anyway, the ride turned out great with the helmetless newbie staying with the front of the pack the whole 40 mile ride.

So, in closing, I wish everyone would wear a helmet, but i'm not going to preach to grown men like i'm their mother. I urge everyone else to mind their own business as well.
Good point, but there are even more ironical and moronical folks than that on these forums who like to preach to other grown adults that wearing a helmet is silly and useless and makes their neck hurt. This is analogous to the guy who brags about not using condoms and calling more responsible folks suckers. For real. ;)

[Bikes-N-Drums]

^^^its become one of the american rec rider fashion statements and mantras thats why

3 years ago I saw pics of a club ride that had the honor of riding with part of the postal squad, every rec rider had a helmet, every postie was without one.....nobody said a peep, but rec riders will jump all over your case for not having one if your not a race pro LOL.......

honestly, due to lack of exercise from riding my guess is most will fall victims to heart disease if anything, but I guess thats ok cause they will have the false safety assurance of a helmet !!

Every time I had a bike wreck I had a helmet on. After the chaos of the wreck was over I inspected my helmet and it was scuffed and dimpled in a few spots. I'm thankful it wasn't my head getting scuffed and dimpled. So, for me, I have no problem wearing one. Others may do better without one but I'll still be wearing mine.

[Tom Stormcrowe]

First helmet was a keeper for me, just asked for a black helmet that was cheap and got the trek vapor 3 seems to fit like a charm and I love the quick fit wheel in the back.

I like the visor part too makes it look better and probably keep some sun burn off my face.
Another advantage to the visor, if it rains, you don't get helmet drip on your glasses!:D

[chipcom]

Actually, many of the cheaper helmets are actually safer.

My $25 Bell Citi is rated as one of the safest helmets by Consumer Reports or someone like that, I believe.

[bbonnn]

But if we haven't scared off Larry64 yet ... just make sure the helmet fits, whatever kind you get. That's the most important thing. Who cares what the brand/model is. It's all marketing and arbitrary price-points anyway.

Also, it doesn't really matter what kind of helmet you get, protection-wise. A snowboarding helmet or rock climbing helmet or a motorcycle helmet would do just as good a job protecting your noggin when it hits something. Probably shouldn't cover your ears, is the only thing, and be comfortable during shoulder-checks. You might look a little weird, but I think bike helmets are weird looking to begin with.

[Carusoswi]

"The self-proclaimed "group leader" proceeds to tell him that he has to have a helmet to ride with us. Helmet-less rider then proceeds to tell the "group leader" to go **** himself; he will ride on any public road he pleases."

That must have been a real hoot. I finally broke down and bought myself a helmet - Bell Venture or something like that - and I've been wearing it most of the time. Once in a while I'll forget to put it on - it sure feels a lot more comfortable when the helmet is at home on the table.

But, for the most part, when I wear it, I forget after a few miles that it is even there.

I've been active in several threads on this board concerning to wear or not to wear. I've seen plenty of indignation from wearers who feel it necessary to insult the non-wearers. I've yet to see anyone try to convince a wearer to leave his helmet at home. Most of us who aren't totally convinced of the claimed measure of safety a helmet provides could care less if the rest of the biking community chooses to go ahead and wear one.

I'm wearing mine because it makes my daughter feel good - that works for me.

Caruso - oh, and someone mentioned that you'd probably want a helmet without a visor for road riding - why would that be? Just curious. I took my visor off, but couldn't find the little badge thingies that the manual said were provided to plug the holes, so I put it back on.

[nm+]

Caruso - oh, and someone mentioned that you'd probably want a helmet without a visor for road riding - why would that be? Just curious. I took my visor off, but couldn't find the little badge thingies that the manual said were provided to plug the holes, so I put it back on.
When i ride on the drops, the visor blocks my view.

[Larry64]

Well I got the helmet and I look like an ass but I don't care. 15 bucks for a piece of mind is a good deal. And no one scared me from anything. If you are over 18 in this country you can do as you please and I don't judge. I have heard the pro and con of helmet laws on motorcycles for years. Everyone wanted me to take a side telling war stories from work to support one side or the other. I don't like goverment telling me to be safe, put on my seat belt, or a helmet. If I want to eat bacon and have a smoke with my morning beer that my buisiness. But if I want to be an adult about things, I will think a little before I act. I just want to know if the bell was a good helmet, not start a riot.:D :D

[sunofsand]

I'll have to take a trip to Dick's and see if my stores are doing anything right now. I've never worn a helmet before but have been thinking about getting one lately. I feel I have enough bodily control/awareness to keep my head up in all but the worst collisions and so far that has been correct. I have even completely avoided terrible spills most others surely would have experienced solely because of my ability to balance myself. It would take something disastrous for the helmet to come into play and in those events a helmet may not be enough to avoid head injury. That's the reason for why I personally have never worn one. Still, might try it out.

[sgtsmile]

Helmets may not help you avoid a head injury, but they might help reduce its severity.

Anyhow, IF you buy a helmet, get one which has the plastic shell laminated to the helmet, not taped to it. Without the shell, the helmet has a tendency to stick to ashphalt and may make an injury significantly worse as the helmetted head stops moving, and the body keeps right on going.... This is not as critical for adults who know to inspect their gear. I have seen children with helmets with no plastic shells on them (they fell off or something - cheap helmets) and with considerable tact mentioned it to attendant parents who were grateful I said something. They were trying to comply with helmet laws, and were trying to keep their kids safe, and did not know that the helmet had become ineffective.

Now before all of you start ranting at me for being interfereing, dont. I believe in the "it takes a village to raise a child" approach, and nothing you can say will convince me otherwise, so dont.

[chipcom]

Now before all of you start ranting at me for being interfereing, dont. I believe in the "it takes a village to raise a child" approach, and nothing you can say will convince me otherwise, so dont.

You just ain't no damn fun. :(