Commuting - my helmet needs more cowbell.......ventilation too....

Well, today Idecided to really push myself on the ride home....instead of my usual 12mph, I was pushing over 14...

I wasnt too sweaty when I got home, thanks to the cool night...but my head was in it's own virtual rainforest...

Not to mention my head was warm enough to have been in said rainforest.

This leads to me looking for a low cost (under $50) helmet with better ventilation. My current helmet is an Avenir Sonic.
Nice helmet, but if I feel like the I have my own very very private lake forming around my forehead....it doesnt make well for days when its going to get REAL hot :(

Nashbar (http://www.nashbar.com/results.cfm?subcategory=1045&category=91&browse=&storetype=&estoreid=&brand=&searchbox=&start=1&orderby=price1&pagename=), Performance (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/subcategory.cfm?Cat_ID=11&Sub_ID=4210&Sort=1), or almost any online retailer will have a good selection of well-vented helmets for under $50.
You may even find a few at your LBS.

If it's really hot or humid you could try a bandana or headsweat under the helmet.

[QUOTE=catatonic]Well, today Idecided to really push myself on the ride home....instead of my usual 12mph, I was pushing over 14...

I wasnt too sweaty when I got home, thanks to the cool night...but my head was in it's own virtual rainforest...

Not to mention my head was warm enough to have been in said rainforest.

This leads to me looking for a low cost (under $50) helmet with better ventilation. My current helmet is an Avenir Sonic.
Nice helmet, but if I feel like the I have my own very very private lake forming around my forehead....it doesnt make well for days when its going to get REAL hot :([/QUOTe

When I got my new bike I invested in an inexpensive helmet, a Vigor NOX. It fit well. I really can't tell if it is any better or worse that my 13 year old Bell helmet. The sweat still runs down my face and my hair is sopping wet. The Vigor does have more ventilation holes though. The temps have been in the mid 80's with the humidity at least as high. Ohio in summer!

You mentioned a 14 MPH ride. What kind of bike were you riding? Did you have any headwinds, hills etc? Was that your average? This weekend I had to drop off my miniature horse driving harness at the harness repair shop (also own and show miniature horses as another hobby). I had a tailwind going and a head wind coming home. The wind was about 10-15MPH I would guess. A few little rolling hills, country roads, 2 stops. With the tailwind assisting I was cruising between 22-25MPH. Going home I was about 16 MPH with a drop to about 13MPH as I hit a grade going directly into the wind. The computer said my average was 14MPH with a total time of about 43 minutes. Since I just recently got my new bike, a recumbent, I'm wondering how those speeds would stack up. They seem to be on par, or perhaps better than my old road bike.

'bent Brian

"...more cowbell..." (snicker). Yup, there's another thread here somewhere, pretty recent (last coupla days), that discusses how a head scarf / bandana under the helmet is actually cooler than going without.

Now I must go, and catch my lover, for she is my ride...

Don't worry fellas, I'm just like you's all...I put my helmet on one strap at a time...but when my helmet's on I make gold records.

You mentioned a 14 MPH ride. What kind of bike were you riding? Did you have any headwinds, hills etc? Was that your average? This weekend I had to drop off my miniature horse driving harness at the harness repair shop (also own and show miniature horses as another hobby). I had a tailwind going and a head wind coming home. The wind was about 10-15MPH I would guess. A few little rolling hills, country roads, 2 stops. With the tailwind assisting I was cruising between 22-25MPH. Going home I was about 16 MPH with a drop to about 13MPH as I hit a grade going directly into the wind. The computer said my average was 14MPH with a total time of about 43 minutes. Since I just recently got my new bike, a recumbent, I'm wondering how those speeds would stack up. They seem to be on par, or perhaps better than my old road bike.

'bent Brian

I was riding a diamondback outlook MTB with semi-slicks. My normal avearge is 11.8mph, i was pushing about 14.5 last night. The terrain was low but long inclines and declines...posibly a 5-7degree angle. The bike was also loaded with a rack and about 10 pounds of stuff from work. Usually there I just have crosswind, not much for head or tailwind. I'm not strong enough or light enough to be pushing 25mph yet...once I get about 30 pounds off of me, then that might be a possibility.

I'm not strong enough or light enough to be pushing 25mph yet...once I get about 30 pounds off of me, then that might be a possibility.
Keep at it and you'll get there.
When I was commuting on my old 22 pound road bike with rack, panniers, and headlights I dropped ~20 pounds in 3 months.

I was thinking...could having the helmet adjsuted too tight lead to this kind of heat and sweat issue?

I did have it adjsuted to be rather snug and to not be able to shift around back and forth any.