To give you guys/gals a bit of background I am 42 now, but way back when i was in the 4th grade, I decided to ride my 5 speed bannana seat bike up to the local corner store for a candy run.
I had this speedometer that worked by spinning with the front spokes attached to the end of the fork.
The speedo maxed at about 35 or 40 i think, So i decided on my way home that I should try to hit a top speed record. Well I think I managed that and about that time doing 35 I got front end speed wobbles that started as a shimmy, and grew progressively larger until I jackknife and was ejected over the handle bars doing a 3/4 flip and hitting my head first and skidding along on my back. (Yeah we didnt wear helmets back then.) Well an old man was sitting in his front yard witnessed the whole thing, I walked off left my bike in the road and walked home. I "came to" in my back yard, not remembering walking home or anything back to the point of "ejection". I had a huge lump on my head and alot of road rash on my back. Mom took me to the hospital, I was okay, but my head hurt badly for days. The old man told my mom that he asked if i was okay, and i said "yeah". Dont remember a thing.
anyway , like the title says, where can i get the lowest price on a quality bike helmet ?
AlucardZero
07-06-07, 01:48 PM
Local bike shop. I got a Trek Vapor 3 for 30, even though it was priced 40(nice discount :) ) Or you can ebay a Bell helmet or something.
gcl8a
07-06-07, 02:09 PM
Local bike shop. I got a Trek Vapor 3 for 30, even though it was priced 40(nice discount :) ) Or you can ebay a Bell helmet or something.
Naw. You gotta' go to the LBS, try on all the models, get some advice, figure out exactly what you want, and THEN go to the internet to save $3.67.
littlewaywelt
07-09-07, 04:29 AM
nashbar and perfomance routinely have helmets on sale.
sierra trading post has good deals usually too.
pricepoint.com often has great prices on helmets.
geo8rge
07-09-07, 05:14 AM
I suggest a LBS as the fit is determined allot by the shape of the helmet vs your head.
In a styrofoam half helmet.
Look for ease of adjustment. The typical half helmet has to be adjusted so it protects your forehead. Do not spend too much as a helmet only works once as the styro foam breaks. Also the light weight materials do not last that long anyway.
You might also want to consider the more substantial but less ventilated half helmets used by skate boarders. Or even the full face helmets used by BMX/stunt riders (the kind that protect your teeth).
JumboRider
07-09-07, 07:29 AM
I like the Bell Citi. It got high marks from Consumer Reports and has an easy adjustment system. The visor is removable. The price is less than $50.
If you do go to a shop to try on gear or seek advice please don't go to the internet afterwards to save a couple of bucks. The service the shop provides by holding inventory for you to hold and try on is worth a couple of dollars in premium. Now, if the price is out of line that would be another story.
closetbiker
07-09-07, 08:16 AM
To give you guys/gals a bit of background I am 42 now, but way back when i was in the 4th grade, I decided to ride my 5 speed bannana seat bike up to the local corner store for a candy run... was ejected over the handle bars doing a 3/4 flip and hitting my head first and skidding along on my back. (Yeah we didnt wear helmets back then.) ... I had a huge lump on my head and alot of road rash on my back. Mom took me to the hospital, I was okay, but my head hurt badly for days. ...
so let's see if I get this right. You're 42 and feel, even then you were fine, you'll manage to repeat the same thing that you did when you were 9.
I'm not saying accidents don't happen, but do you really think the risks you faced as a child are the same as now and weren't you fine anyway? Do you use shoelaces now, or do you still use velcro so you don't trip? Do you talk to strangers now? I'm not meaning offense, just trying to get you to see the point.
I guess that's not what you're asking about. Big box seems to be the cheapest. WalMart, Costco, but don't dismiss your lbs, the goodwill and relationships developed there are worth lots. Up here in Canada, Costcos magazine for members has waded into the helmet debate in its July/August edition. One can read their presentation of both sides and vote online if you are for or against adults having the right to choose.
It seems to me, manafactures make a killing considering what it costs to make helmets. Check out this link on an educated guess on how much helmets cost to make
http://www.helmets.org/helmcost.htm
What does it cost to make a bike helmet?
The estimates below are guesses. We don't make helmets, and no manufacturer has ever shared their proprietary cost information with us. ..
fixed cost that is spread over the number of that design to be manufactured. Assuming you can sell 250,000 of a design, that might be 50¢...
You have to ship the helmets to Wal-Mart or the Bike store. Another 25 cents.
Now your shareholders expect you to make a profit. Every year, even if sales drop. So add in, say, another 50 cents per helmet. Now you are up to $4.85.
The cheapest helmets in Wal-Mart or Target stores sell for $7.14...And that's about as close as we can come.
I always wondered how someone can pay $200 for things that can be bought for $10, but I'd never tell someone what they should or should not buy. I just don't get it.
Bekologist
07-09-07, 08:39 AM
that's funny, closet biker, you chiming in on a thread about helemts, and claiming you "never telling someone what they should or shouldn't buy"..... :lol:
Bell helmets start at 29.99 at your local bike shop.
bhtooefr
07-09-07, 09:12 AM
My LBS sold me a Specialized Air Force 3 for $30.
I think $30's really the sweet spot for helmets...
closetbiker
07-09-07, 09:38 AM
that's funny, closet biker, you chiming in on a thread about helemts, and claiming you "never telling someone what they should or shouldn't buy"..... :lol:
Bell helmets start at 29.99 at your local bike shop.
show me a post where I've said different
Bekologist
07-09-07, 11:41 AM
you are abundantly and overwhelmingly anti-helmet, dude. you didn't realize that about yourself?
to the original poster, good helmets at your local bike shop, 30-40 bucks.
I like the Bell and Giro brands, but try a few on, they tend to fit differently and one will feel better and fit better than the others.
Mr. Underbridge
07-09-07, 01:08 PM
so let's see if I get this right. You're 42 and feel, even then you were fine, you'll manage to repeat the same thing that you did when you were 9.
.
Statistics show that 83% of people who play Russian Roulette are completely unharmed!
closetbiker
07-09-07, 02:09 PM
you are abundantly and overwhelmingly anti-helmet, dude. you didn't realize that about yourself?
to the original poster, good helmets at your local bike shop, 30-40 bucks.
I like the Bell and Giro brands, but try a few on, they tend to fit differently and one will feel better and fit better than the others.
so I guess that means you couldn't find a post where I said someone shouldn't buy or wear one.
I'll admit I believe it's more important to ride safely than wear a helmet, and I know that runs at cross purposes to the way some people ride. Maybe that's the problem here.
I'll bet I've worn one as long as most have (and paid less for my Bells in the last 20 years).
Bekologist
07-09-07, 03:28 PM
I didn't care to look, honestly. better things to do.
closetbiker
07-09-07, 04:42 PM
At least your honest about your ignorance
Bekologist
07-09-07, 05:03 PM
:lol: ignorant about your anti-helmet stance? hardly.
closetbiker
07-09-07, 05:18 PM
judging buy what I've posted and what you've posted about the posts, I'd say you're just ignorant or have a serious comprehension problem.
That's not too bad, because ignorance and comprehension can be remedied. It is bad when one doesn't want to be bothered to remedy the issue.
It's one thing to be ignorant, it's another to choose to be
Bekologist
07-09-07, 07:03 PM
Wait, wait a second, closetbiker....
YOU think you AREN'T anti-helmet? :roflmao: a quick look at your vociferous, unending posts to the 'helemts cramp my style' thread makes your stance against helmets abundantly clear.
just give it a rest, your purported impartiality doesn't hold up to scrutiny.
to the original poster, inexpensive helmets at your Local Bike Shop. support your local retailer, buy one locally.
All bike helmets sold in the USA are Consumer Product Safety Comission (CPSC) certified; if you are looking for a helmet with a higher degree of protection search for a helemt SNELL certified.
I'm pretty sure all Specialized helemts are SNELL certified, but fit kind of square.
closetbiker
07-09-07, 09:19 PM
Wait, wait a second, closetbiker....
YOU think you AREN'T anti-helmet? .
nope. a helmet-realist. I don't have stars in my eyes and I acknowledge the good they do (if you've bothered to read). you haven't shown anything where i say don't wear one have you? I wear one don't I?
all you're showing is your lack of understanding of posts