Advocacy & Safety - Are All Helmets Created Equal

I know all have to meet certain standards and some look diffrent !BUT are any brand or type considered built better or saffer or any considered built bad? Even thou they all have the same standards .I always wear a helmet and if there is better made ones not for llooks iam old fat fart who could careless what it looks like thou I did buy a new one for the coming year in a brighter color I been wearing black got a orange one with a light on it from Bell . So what is the forums opinion on better or best forget about what they look like .

White shows up best from a distance.
I get all my helmets from Goodwill.

I guess I should a been more clear.The color is not my concern thou it is important I am more concerned of the quality of construction for protection . Personaly I would never buy a used helmet because there is NO way to know if its been in a crash or not forsure and my understanding once one has done its duty 1 time it is pose to be retired and a new one bought ! I had a crash with a car in July wacked my head on the side of the the car that hit and run me and the helmet looked ok but I got a new one the next day . And i also think the best helmet is the one you will wear :)

New, quality helmets (aka, not wally world bought) are very similar- crash protection wise. The more expensive you go, you get more vents and a more customizable fit. Generally, anything over about $70 is just getting you the "bling" factor.

I have been wearing helmets for 44 years.
Helmets need to fit, as your bike needs to fit, so that you can ride 11,000 miles.

New, quality helmets (aka, not wally world bought) are very similar- crash protection wise. The more expensive you go, you get more vents and a more customizable fit. Generally, anything over about $70 is just getting you the "bling" factor.

I buy on sale. Anything over $29 is bling to me. I've never found any difference in fit between a $29 and a $200 helmet. I do find a difference between manufacturers. A Bell universal fits my head the best. I bought a pretty decent one for $36.

Bob

New, quality helmets (aka, not wally world bought) are very similar- crash protection wise. The more expensive you go, you get more vents and a more customizable fit. Generally, anything over about $70 is just getting you the "bling" factor.

But getting directly to the OP's question... yes, as long as they have the CPSC sticker, they all conform to the same standards.

I guess I should a been more clear.The color is not my concern thou it is important I am more concerned of the quality of construction for protection . Personaly I would never buy a used helmet because there is NO way to know if its been in a crash or not forsure and my understanding once one has done its duty 1 time it is pose to be retired and a new one bought ! I had a crash with a car in July wacked my head on the side of the the car that hit and run me and the helmet looked ok but I got a new one the next day . And i also think the best helmet is the one you will wear :)

The Second Time you put on your New Helmet it is now a Used Helmet.
How do you know a New Helemt is Not Defective if you can't tell by Looking?

I buy everything for my bikes from one local LBS Al Petri and Sons Lincoln Park Michigan .They been there since 1946 I think and every bike since i was 5 yrs old has come from them .They treat me very good never have charged me for simple stuff I pay stright retail but i get a lot for it like a bike with NO PROBLEMS . MY Bell helmet i just bought cost me about $60.00 same style I had but has a place for
a light on the back and its not hot to wear .

But if there is a better helmet i would sure want to know about it .

I buy everything for my bikes from one local LBS Al Petri and Sons Lincoln Park Michigan .They been there since 1946 I think and every bike since i was 5 yrs old has come from them .They treat me very good never have charged me for simple stuff I pay stright retail but i get a lot for it like a bike with NO PROBLEMS . MY Bell helmet i just bought cost me about $60.00 same style I had but has a place for
a light on the back and its not hot to wear .

But if there is a better helmet i would sure want to know about it .

Bike riding is fun when you have a Good Bike Shop like yours.

I agree to a point but I personaly feel better knowing it was new in the box when I bought it !And buying it from my LBS I gotta figure it has not been in a crash YET.

Am I wrong are you not supose to replace a helmet once it has been in a crash with a new one ? Thats what I been told anyway its sounds good to me as my wife says not much up there so u need to protect what you have :)

Am I wrong are you not supose to replace a helmet once it has been in a crash with a new one ? Thats what I been told anyway its sounds good to me as my wife says not much up there so u need to protect what you have :)

If you crash, you are to destroy the crashed helmet and get a new one.

How do you know a New Helemt is Not Defective if you can't tell by Looking?

Well sometimes you can tell by looking. :D

I T-boned two of these on my bike last summer at night:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_QpthbE4CW-E/SI3f4zx5LGI/AAAAAAAADkE/WScfqa_08S8/WildBoar.jpg

It did this to the helmet:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_QpthbE4CW-E/SIxlFENBXuI/AAAAAAAADj0/uBmttisywwM/s512/IMG_0120.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_QpthbE4CW-E/SIxlFfhjmiI/AAAAAAAADj4/J2UbAQKN_X4/s512/IMG_0121.JPG

New, quality helmets (aka, not wally world bought) are very similar- crash protection wise. The more expensive you go, you get more vents and a more customizable fit. Generally, anything over about $70 is just getting you the "bling" factor.

In regards to head protection, anything spent over what Walmart charges for their helmets is just getting the "bling" factor. The cheapest helmets on the US market meet the exact same standard of the "not wally world bought" helmet. Presumably the provenance of a helmet somehow adds to its protection properties due to passing some undocumented testing standard known only to Hickeydog.

The guys at the local LBS did say to buy a little better vented one or they can be hot .I will say the Bell I have is very cool in hot weather .

Well sometimes you can tell by looking. :D

I T-boned two of these on my bike last summer at night:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_QpthbE4CW-E/SI3f4zx5LGI/AAAAAAAADkE/WScfqa_08S8/WildBoar.jpg

It did this to the helmet:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_QpthbE4CW-E/SIxlFENBXuI/AAAAAAAADj0/uBmttisywwM/s512/IMG_0120.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_QpthbE4CW-E/SIxlFfhjmiI/AAAAAAAADj4/J2UbAQKN_X4/s512/IMG_0121.JPG

Nice Pics

I know all have to meet certain standards and some look diffrent !BUT are any brand or type considered built better or saffer or any considered built bad? Even thou they all have the same standards .I always wear a helmet and if there is better made ones not for llooks iam old fat fart who could careless what it looks like thou I did buy a new one for the coming year in a brighter color I been wearing black got a orange one with a light on it from Bell . So what is the forums opinion on better or best forget about what they look like .

This is something I have been wondering about myself. I've never liked how cycling helmets often seem to sit only on the very top of your head, and unless you have an old one they almost all seem to have pointy corners that can catch on stuff while sliding on the ground or hitting stuff, possibly twisting your neck around in a bad way. It seems to me that a smooth round lid that actually came down over your ears at least a little, would offer more protection. One of my helmets is an older model (it survived all these years because I never used to wear it) and it is much more round shaped than most of the newer ones.

I was looking at these "multisport" helmets just this morning.

http://www.rei.com/outlet/product/775972

http://www.rei.com/outlet/product/775973

What says the BF helmet experts? (this means you closetbiker!)

Are we saying that the CPSC standards can't be improved upon? I have heard pretty much the same thing, that inexpensive helmets are just as safe as more expensive ones. I bought a 29.95 Giro about 3 years ago. About 2 years ago, I scraped a pedal, landed on my shoulder and my head. My head works about the way it always did, my shoulder is still stiff.

I know all have to meet certain standards and some look diffrent !BUT are any brand or type considered built better or saffer or any considered built bad? Even thou they all have the same standards .I always wear a helmet and if there is better made ones not for llooks iam old fat fart who could careless what it looks like thou I did buy a new one for the coming year in a brighter color I been wearing black got a orange one with a light on it from Bell . So what is the forums opinion on better or best forget about what they look like .

Helmets with taped on shells (or no shells) are substantially less protective than modern helmets with "in-molded" shells. The former will shatter on impact and leave your head exposed after the initial contact. The latter will retain most of its protective capability even if the foam is cracked. Foam never makes an adequate structural material - it should only be used for impact absorption with the shell provided structural integrity to the helmet.

Other than that, go with the "amount of material" standard. If a helmet has more material, it is more effective. Not all helmets are created equal; they are merely designed to meet minimum standards.

If you crash, you are to destroy the crashed helmet and get a new one.

This is true for most helmets. But there are helmets that are multi-crash certified, such as Protec's SXP multi-impact. These are mainly used in sports where if you aren't falling, you simply aren't trying hard enough: (bmx, mountain biking, skating, snowboarding, etc.). I'm not sure if any of these foam constructions have been used in the typical dorky looking road cycling helmet.

I know all have to meet certain standards and some look diffrent !BUT are any brand or type considered built better or saffer...

I've wondered if there is any appreciable difference in safety between a regular bike helmet and the Nutcase (http://www.nutcasehelmets.com/Pages/Street.aspx) helmets such as below. I doubt the Nutcase helmets are any safer because they would probably push that. They look well-built, but with less ventilation. Nutcase markets them for "cycle and skate" use. They have the required CPSC safety rating, as well as the CE EN 1078 Multi Sport Standard Safety rating.


http://www.nutcasehelmets.com/HelmetDetail/Images/Street/caution.jpg


I doubt any Lance-wanna-be roadie would be caught dead in one, but for the rest of us, I think some of the designs are kind of cool. I've seen a couple of people riding with them around here. At $40, they're also a good price.

I've wondered if there is any appreciable difference in safety between a regular bike helmet and the Nutcase (http://www.nutcasehelmets.com/Pages/Street.aspx) helmets such as below. I doubt the Nutcase helmets are any safer because they would probably push that. They look well-built, but with less ventilation. Nutcase markets them for "cycle and skate" use. They have the required CPSC safety rating, as well as the CE EN 1078 Multi Sport Standard Safety rating.


http://www.nutcasehelmets.com/HelmetDetail/Images/Street/caution.jpg


I doubt any Lance-wanna-be roadie would be caught dead in one, but for the rest of us, I think some of the designs are kind of cool. I've seen a couple of people riding with them around here. At $40, they're also a good price.

I have one that I ride in cold temps. Rode full face motorcycle helmets for 28 years.
The nutcase is a better helmet then the common type used by most of us.

Are we saying that the CPSC standards can't be improved upon?
Sure the CPSC standards could be changed; they could be changed to require a product that the manufacturers won't be able to sell because of weight, discomfort, style, cost, etc. But consumers paying more money for a helmet at an LBS for a false sense of security, or for stylin' purposes doesn't change the standard to which that helmet was built. And right now, with a possible few exceptions, all the helmets on the US market, no matter what they cost, are built to meet the CPSC standard, not to exceed it.

If I am a roadie that doesn't want to ride with a skateboard helmet, do I want to be like Lance Armstrong? Is it a bad thing if I do aspire to compete in my races with the same determination that Armstrong did in his races?

I have one that I ride in cold temps. Rode full face motorcycle helmets for 28 years.
The nutcase is a better helmet then the common type used by most of us.

Sounds like it's too hot for summer. Is that so?

If I am a roadie that doesn't want to ride with a skateboard helmet, do I want to be like Lance Armstrong? Is it a bad thing if I do aspire to compete in my races with the same determination that Armstrong did in his races?

Armstrong often rode up mountain stages without a helmet.

Part of helmet wearing is style. Newer models look better than older ones. It's just like the appearance of a 08 Madone versus a 20 year old steel Trek.

If I am a roadie that doesn't want to ride with a skateboard helmet, do I want to be like Lance Armstrong? Is it a bad thing if I do aspire to compete in my races with the same determination that Armstrong did in his races?

Relax. I've got a road bike with kit, though lately most of my riding is for commuting and utility on a Surly Big Dummy. Just pokin' fun at the roadie crew -- which occasionally includes me.

You've reinforced the notion that no roadie would wear a "skateboard" helmet, as you called it, though I know of bike-only shops that sell Nutcase helmets, and I've seen commuters/utility/casual riders wearing them. As I wrote, Nutcase markets them for "cycle and skate" use.

Sure the CPSC standards could be changed; they could be changed to require a product that the manufacturers won't be able to sell because of weight, discomfort, style, cost, etc. But consumers paying more money for a helmet at an LBS for a false sense of security, or for stylin' purposes doesn't change the standard to which that helmet was built. And right now, with a possible few exceptions, all the helmets on the US market, no matter what they cost, are built to meet the CPSC standard, not to exceed it.

It is impossible to design something to meet a standard without designing it to exceed the standard. Lighter weight helmets cut closer to the line because they are trying to minimize material. It is impolitic to say that some helmets protect better than others, but it is undoubtably true.

My $70 Giro helmet is lighter and more ventilated than both my $160 Rudy Project helmet and my $40 Bell. My Rudy project helmet is better ventilated than but heavier and bulkier than my Bell. Ergo, by the "bulk material" standard, order of protection is:

1) Rudy Project
2) Bell
3) Giro

The Rudy Project helmet does indeed protect my head well. I landed on my head in two races at 30mph this year and the RP helmet design (two different helmets, obviously) held up in both with the foam not bottoming out, the helmet staying more or less intact and on my head, and me walking away with only some minor concussions and memory loss. I race (most risky) with the RP, and do general riding (least risky) and commuting (in-between) with the other two depending on the weather.

Armstrong often rode up mountain stages without a helmet.

Part of helmet wearing is style. Newer models look better than older ones. It's just like the appearance of a 08 Madone versus a 20 year old steel Trek.

Not someone who rides a modern bike, obviously. The difference between modern bikes and 20 year old bikes is much more than mere fashion. But I'll leave that for the roadie forum to hash out ;).

More to the point, why is the general consensus regarding helmets is that, simply because the standards don't change, that the design of bike helmets hasn't improved over the years? It most definitely has, from my experience with many different helmets over the last 10 years.

Relax. I've got a road bike with kit, though lately most of my riding is for commuting and utility on a Surly Big Dummy. Just pokin' fun at the roadie crew -- which occasionally includes me.

You've reinforced the notion that no roadie would wear a "skateboard" helmet, as you called it, though I know of bike-only shops that sell Nutcase helmets, and I've seen commuters/utility/casual riders wearing them. As I wrote, Nutcase markets them for "cycle and skate" use.

"Lance-wanna-bes" is old and worn out. Gotta use a different term to poke fun at roadies. Lance has been kicked around too much recently. It's like kicking a puppy by now.

Personally I only wear hard shell skate-style helmets. Firstly because the TSG Evolution I wear covers the back of my head almost as much as a motorbike helmet, so I think it does protect me more than a standard microshell/road-type helmet. Secondly, I like the heavier and stronger feel of having a hard shell.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e293/MMSR/pbpic2440571.jpg

As for all helmets being created equal, I would say not, although no-one can really claim their helmet to be safer than anyone elses becasue they all have to pass the same standards. That said, personally I'm more comfortable wearing a slightly heavier helmet if I think I'm better protected and safer, and I certainly feel as though I am wearing this helmet more than any mircroshell I've ever had. Not only that, it's so comfortable I actually like wearing it.

^ Can you take a side picture of that TSG, DPC? I'm considering one, and would like to see how far it comes down on the sides of the head.

Don't get one with fancy spikes in the back. Those things are fragile. I have a Bell Sweep helmet and dropped it just right and broke one of them spiky fashion things in the back. All I did was drop it. Good thing it was like $50 last year from Nashbar.

Personally I only wear hard shell skate-style helmets. Firstly because the TSG Evolution I wear covers the back of my head almost as much as a motorbike helmet, so I think it does protect me more than a standard microshell/road-type helmet. Secondly, I like the heavier and stronger feel of having a hard shell.


How hot is it in that helmet in the warmer weather? Do you wear that year round?

Part of helmet wearing is style. Newer models look better than older ones.

The OP stated that he does not care about anyone's idea of what is stylish. Saying newer models look better than older ones is a personal opinion, and not even a consideration here.

Personally I only wear hard shell skate-style helmets. Firstly because the TSG Evolution I wear covers the back of my head almost as much as a motorbike helmet, so I think it does protect me more than a standard microshell/road-type helmet. Secondly, I like the heavier and stronger feel of having a hard shell...

Cool looking helmet, DPC. Like AlmostTrick, I'm also interested in how comfortable it is in warmer weather. I'm considering something like it or the Bern Brentwood, though I like the fuller coverage of your TSG Evolution.

Bern Brentwood:


http://secure.rollerwarehouse.com/images/L_155BER8101.jpg



uke, here's a front/side view of the TSG Evolution:


http://z.about.com/d/skateboard/1/0/6/L/TSGEvolution.jpg

^ Can you take a side picture of that TSG, DPC? I'm considering one, and would like to see how far it comes down on the sides of the head.

More of a side view. (I need a haircut and a shave, I know!)

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e293/MMSR/IMG_0403.jpg

It comes down the sides of my head more than my KB Jumper or Bell Faction did, so my temple area is nicely protected. I do wear it all year round and it's certainly warmer than a well vented microshell is in hot weather, but when I weigh that up against the protection I get wearing this helmet, I can cope with the extra heat. It's never been enough of a problem for me to consider going back to a something that's more air holes than actual helmet!

I really would recommend this helmet. I looked around to try find the hard shell helmet that gave me the best coverage I could find and this seemed to be it, and the coverage really is superb. In all truth apart from my full facer I don't ever really want to wear another helmet on my bike, and as I say, it's insanely comfortable to the point where I actually like wearing it; not something you usually say about a helmet!

I can't imagine anyone looking for a slightly chunkier helmet with better coverage than a microshell will be disappointed with the TSG. It's the best I've found yet.

All helmets are by no means created equal. These are the most common safety standards, but bear in mind that independent testing often finds helmets do not conform to the safety standards they claim to:


ANSI Z90.4

American National Standards Institute standard Z90.4. One of the first bicycle helmet standards and the basis for many of the others.

ASTM F1447

ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials). Before the CPSC regulation came into force (see below), more than 70 per cent of the bicycle helmets manufactured were certified to this standard. Very similar to the CPSC regulation. Has a certification procedure similar to the Snell system.

Snell B-90S

Specification from the Snell Memorial Foundation, an American nonprofit body. BS-90 is usually recognised as being a specification leading to high quality helmets. Has a rigid certification procedure.

Snell B-95

Also from the Snell memorial Foundation. More demanding than the B-90S specification; some argue that it is too demanding.

CPSC

Regulation enacted by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1998, coming into force in 1999. All helmets sold in the US have to meet its requirements.

BS 6863: 1989

British Standards Institution specification, published in 1989 and later slightly amended. Withdrawn under CEN rules when the CEN standard EN 1078 (see below) was published in 1997.

EN 1078

Standard used by all members of CEN, the European standards-making body. Published in 1997.

EN 1080

Standard used by all members of CEN, the European standards-making body. Published in 1997 to address problems associated with strangulation of children playing while wearing helmets. Intended for helmets for young children.

AS/NZS 2063

Joint Australian and New Zealand standard published in 1996. Noted as a highly respected specification.

CSA-D113.2-M

Canadian Standards Association specification. One of the very few standards that contains specific requirements for helmets for young children.

The following site has a huge amount of information about bike helmets: http://www.helmets.org/
In short:
- More expensive does not = better protection
- Consumer reports test some helmets a few years ago, the best results were for a $40 and $60 Bell helmet.
- Any rated helmet will provide descent protection
- The only older helmets that are truly bad are the onces with the lycra covers. If you have an older (within the last 10 years) hard shell helmet you'll be fine.
- You don't need to replace your helmet every few years. There have been very few changes in the last decade. One noted exception is the above mentioned lycra covered helmet... those are bad.
- Molded in helmets tend to be better than taped on shell as the shell is not as likely to come off and posibly expose your head as you are bouncing on the pavement during a crash.
- The main difference on the expensive helmets are weight and ventilation.

I personally have a Schwinn helmet that is molded in and bought at Target about 7 years ago. It fits a little on the loose side and the universal adjustment is not fantastic. Ventilation is not terrible, but no where near as cool as I'd like, but that makes it perfect for Winter use. For next Summer I am going to by a more expensive and much better venting helmet to keep my head cool now that I am riding longer distances. On a 5 mile ride to work, it doesn't make much difference. On a century ride, I realy could use more ventilation.

Happy riding,
André

Sure the CPSC standards could be changed; they could be changed to require a product that the manufacturers won't be able to sell because of weight, discomfort, style, cost, etc. But consumers paying more money for a helmet at an LBS for a false sense of security, or for stylin' purposes doesn't change the standard to which that helmet was built. And right now, with a possible few exceptions, all the helmets on the US market, no matter what they cost, are built to meet the CPSC standard, not to exceed it.

There used to be a DOT standard and a SNELL standard... my old Bell V1-Pro has the SNELL sticker in it... but none of the new foam hats has a SNELL sticker. SNELL was a tougher standard than CPSC (the same folks that put reflectors on bikes). It looks like only a handfull of helmets still earn the SNELL standard. And in checking, the SNELL and CPSC standards are nearly the same.

More of a side view. (I need a haircut and a shave, I know!)

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e293/MMSR/IMG_0403.jpg

It comes down the sides of my head more than my KB Jumper or Bell Faction did, so my temple area is nicely protected. I do wear it all year round and it's certainly warmer than a well vented microshell is in hot weather, but when I weigh that up against the protection I get wearing this helmet, I can cope with the extra heat. It's never been enough of a problem for me to consider going back to a something that's more air holes than actual helmet!

I really would recommend this helmet. I looked around to try find the hard shell helmet that gave me the best coverage I could find and this seemed to be it, and the coverage really is superb. In all truth apart from my full facer I don't ever really want to wear another helmet on my bike, and as I say, it's insanely comfortable to the point where I actually like wearing it; not something you usually say about a helmet!

I can't imagine anyone looking for a slightly chunkier helmet with better coverage than a microshell will be disappointed with the TSG. It's the best I've found yet.

Do they make these for women? I really want something that provides more coverage than my Giro and this looks like it could do the trick. But I have a smallish head. Any suggestions?

Helmets of this kind usually come in small/medium and large/x-large and you adjust fit with pads included with the helmet. If the small is still too large on you, many times there is a youth size as well that actually has a smaller shell.

This is something I have been wondering about myself. I've never liked how cycling helmets often seem to sit only on the very top of your head, and unless you have an old one they almost all seem to have pointy corners that can catch on stuff while sliding on the ground or hitting stuff, possibly twisting your neck around in a bad way. It seems to me that a smooth round lid that actually came down over your ears at least a little, would offer more protection. One of my helmets is an older model (it survived all these years because I never used to wear it) and it is much more round shaped than most of the newer ones...

What says the BF helmet experts? (this means you closetbiker!)

More coverage is always better than less and it may be good to know that the director of the BHSI wears a very old helmet because of the round shape and the better coverage.

I too wonder at these helmets that sit so high up on the head

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2302/2138671492_264539c5c1.jpg

Is this coverage ridiculous or what? Just what is the point of this kind of helmet, particularly when helmet standards only require energy absorbsion distribution from about 1 to 2 inches above the bottom portion of the side of the helmet leaving much of the skull exposed.

Here's the line, above which the helmet is tested, from Snells drawings

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1214/590053484_2d7ca6cc62.jpg

and this shows just how much brain is exposed beneath a helmet

http://www.geocities.com/steve_schoner/NOV292004d.jpg

it looks like at least half the brain is unprotected.

A lawsuit was tried in California that involved the death of a cyclist hitting his temple area at a speed of 9-12 mph. He died because helmet standards only require energy absorbsion distribution from about 1 to 2 inches above the bottom portion of the side of the helmet leaving that most vunerable portion of the skull exposed.

The court found, "Satisfaction of minimum standards that are not true performance standards are not sufficient for making a product safe enough for use on the streets."

Maybe one could get better protection through better coverage by using the all-American standard

http://www.bastiancompany.com/crdl/toppings/football_helmet.jpg

Is this coverage ridiculous or what? Just what is the point of this kind of helmet, particularly when helmet standards only require energy absorbsion distribution from about 1 to 2 inches above the bottom portion of the side of the helmet leaving much of the skull exposed.

Exactly! There's absolutely no comparison between the coverage of the helmet in your example and something like my TSG Evolution. I don't doubt wearing such a helmet is better than not wearing one at all, but my brain really is quite important to me so I want to wear a helmet I feel will actually protect it!

... or actually cover it.

More of a side view. (I need a haircut and a shave, I know!)

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e293/MMSR/IMG_0403.jpg

It comes down the sides of my head more than my KB Jumper or Bell Faction did, so my temple area is nicely protected. I do wear it all year round and it's certainly warmer than a well vented microshell is in hot weather, but when I weigh that up against the protection I get wearing this helmet, I can cope with the extra heat. It's never been enough of a problem for me to consider going back to a something that's more air holes than actual helmet!

I really would recommend this helmet. I looked around to try find the hard shell helmet that gave me the best coverage I could find and this seemed to be it, and the coverage really is superb. In all truth apart from my full facer I don't ever really want to wear another helmet on my bike, and as I say, it's insanely comfortable to the point where I actually like wearing it; not something you usually say about a helmet!

I can't imagine anyone looking for a slightly chunkier helmet with better coverage than a microshell will be disappointed with the TSG. It's the best I've found yet.

Thanks for the pic, DPC. That helmet definitely looks more secure than the one I (used to) wear. I've ordered it.

I'm not a helmet designer, but I assume that bike helmets are designed for the types of falls from bikes. Rear of the head strikes are going to be way less common than in a sport like skateboarding where the board can fly out from under you causing you to fall backwards. Side impacts lower than typical bike helmet coverage are also going to be rare because our shoulder is in the way: I.e., lay down on the ground and see what part of your head can actually touch the ground. Of course there may be the odd crash where a curb or piece of vehicle can sneak in there and whack us near the ear, but it's got to be much less common than in skating where the terrain is vertical and curved and jutting out at odd angles.

Thanks for the pic, DPC. That helmet definitely looks more secure than the one I (used to) wear. I've ordered it.

No worries at all! Let me know what you think when it arrives. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Paul

I'm not a helmet designer, but I assume that bike helmets are designed for the types of falls from bikes. Rear of the head strikes are going to be way less comme than in a sport like skateboarding where the board can fly out from under you causing you to fall backwards. Side impacts lower than typical bike helmet coverage are also going to be rare because our shoulder is in the way...

Without digging up the study, I remember that impacts from falls from bicycles are rarely to the top or rear of the head. Most common are impacts to the front and sides. I'll have to look it up but if I remember right the sides are impacted more than the front. Something about an instinctual habit of turning your head away from an impact and offering up the side in place of the front.

Helmets are designed for the vast majority of falls from bikes that are simply falls without any other party involved. They were never meant for impacts with third parties (i.e. something other than you and the ground)

Sounds like it's too hot for summer. Is that so?
Yes, Hot for me is 64* with the sun shining.