General Cycling Discussion - How many helmets and shoes do you own?

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Profoxcg
08-06-09, 10:06 PM
I know many cyclist have different jersey and matching bibs. What about helmets and shoes?
How many helmets and pairs of shoes do most people have?
I guess the essence of the question is - do you match your on road clycing clothes?


Profoxcg
08-06-09, 10:07 PM
...... subcribed

bike_boy
08-06-09, 10:27 PM
3 helmets (mtn. & road) - used to have 4. One was destroyed in a crash.
4 pairs of shoes (mtn. & road w/SPD, Look, Speedplay Zero cleats)

...Helmets were Not matched/coordinated with shoes.


prathmann
08-06-09, 10:45 PM
Two helmets: Bell Biker from '75 and some newer Bell model from '93.
Two pairs of shoes: one for winter wear that fits better in booties and one for spring - fall.

Oscuro
08-06-09, 10:47 PM
1 Helmet, and my hiking boots. The only shoes I own, period.

I should learn to ride barefoot.....

Panthers007
08-07-09, 12:03 AM
Bought some innocuous stiff-soled bike-shoes. Not for clips. They gather dust in a corner. Second pair I've ever bought. Second pair to rot in a corner - first being in 1983. I ride in cheap sneakers and would go barefoot if I could.

I have two helmets. Both Trek Vapor. Very comfortable. Cheaper than the one's with the names of bike-racers tattooed on them. Very high ratings. One I wear, and the other is a loaner for guests. I'd sell one to someone who wanted it and show them how to fit the thing. But I'd get another as a loaner.

Proofide
08-07-09, 02:59 AM
No helmets. I've been falling off bikes since the 1950s and landed on everything except my head. Best shoes for cycling IMO are flat-soled canvas yachting shoes.

tsl
08-07-09, 05:30 AM
Four helmets, three of them broken in crashes. Current helmet and two of the broken ones are white.

One pair three-season cycling shoes, (black) and one pair of winter cycling boots (also black).

pgpdlr
08-07-09, 08:13 AM
one helmet(very used) and two shoes(one complete with duct tape)

Condorita
08-07-09, 08:43 AM
One helmet, white, carefully decorated with Washington Capitals stickers to make it bear a resemblance to a hockey helmet, with the number 8 on the back.

Shoes: whichever pair of runners/crosstrainers I choose to put on that morning. Black Adidas trailrunners, white Adidas crosstrainers.

JoelS
08-07-09, 08:50 AM
1 helmet.
3 pair of shoes, one of which is strictly used on the trainer bike as I have Look pedals on it. One is for MTB only (SPD's). One for road and the vast majority of my riding (SpeedPlay Zero's).

Retro Grouch
08-07-09, 08:51 AM
I've got 3 of each.

The helmets are functional because, iif I wear the same one all summer, I get funny tan lines.

I don't really have an excuse for the shoes. They just seem to accumulate.

exchangeandmart
08-07-09, 08:53 AM
Black and red shorts with a caisse espagne jersey, black shoes, spuik white and red helmet. I do like to match!

chevy42083
08-07-09, 08:58 AM
1 helmet, neutral silver
2 pairs of shoes, Both plain black (one roadie, one mountain/street.... both set for crank brothers eggbeaters)

my gloves are red, and match one bike

Only own black shorts, and like 10 jerseys.

DataJunkie
08-07-09, 09:23 AM
3 helmets. 1 I do not wear. 1 I actively wear. 1 that is an old backup that sees occasional use.
3 shoes. 1 sidi road shoe. 1 specialized mtb shoe. 1 shimano sandals.

LesterOfPuppets
08-07-09, 09:33 AM
I have one ancient Giro I wear about 10 days a year. I have about 12 pairs of shoes, none of which are cycling specific, 3 jerseys I rarely wear. 3 pair of black shorts with little Canari prints on 'em, one plain black pair of tights. And to answer the point of the question, black shorts go just fine with my helmet or my bare head, so I match all the time! Well, in the photographic evidence below, the red toque really has to go. My apologies to the style sensitive.

If you're wondering about road cycling clothes, why ask in General?

The Giro in action, Dec 23, 2008:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/3137820900_76b6e1b931.jpg

DataJunkie
08-07-09, 10:52 AM
OooOO!
I missed that portion of the OP.
Of course my cycling clothes match. My regular clothing matches, why not cycling clothes?

RonH
08-07-09, 01:15 PM
I know many cyclist have different jersey and matching bibs. What about helmets and shoes?
How many helmets and pairs of shoes do most people have?
I guess the essence of the question is - do you match your on road clycing clothes?
I just donated my oldest helmet to the shop I work at for the mechanics to wear during test rides. :eek: That means I'm down to two helmets, both Giro -- a red/silver Pneumo and a white/titanium Atmos.
Shoes -- two pairs of mtn bike/commuting shoes (Louis Garneau and Exustar), a pair of Lake cycling sandals, a pair of Sidi Genius 5.0 (black), and a pair of Vittoria CRS shoes.

Nothing matches. Black shoes with black bibs and whichever jersey. :o I'm always looking for a deal on white or mostly white road shoes to see if they're any cooler than the black ones on hot, sunny days.

Booger1
08-07-09, 01:40 PM
No helmet and 2 shoes....1 for each foot.

BengeBoy
08-07-09, 01:44 PM
1 helmet. Any helmet that is "very used" or "knocked around" is thrown away as they aren't safe.

5 pairs of shoes:
- 1 pair, look cleats
- 1 pair, spd cleats
- 1 pair, spd, commuting shoes
- 1 pair, spd, winter boots
- 1 pair, ancient Cannondale touring shoes, for riding on bikes with platform pedals

All my cycling apparel has at least some grease or snot on it, so it all matches.

DX Rider
08-07-09, 02:57 PM
I have one helmet and one pair of cleats.

Some of my stuff matches, some it doesn't.

The other day I realized I was wearing forest green cleats, red full-fingered motocross gloves, and a blue skull cap under my helmet. That wasn't by design. The cleats I've had forever, the gloves are awesome, because the bright red really grabs the drivers attention when I'm using hand signals, and the skull cap is one of many different colors I own.

I didn't realize to this year that my hybrid and my backpack that I use for commuting actually match, they even have the same color trim. That wasn't by design either.



OooOO!
I missed that portion of the OP.
Of course my cycling clothes match. My regular clothing matches, why not cycling clothes?

There is a portion of the biking populace that views anyone who wears all matching colors to be a possuer. As long as you keep it in perspective, it's not a problem for me.

I've actually met a rider who only bought Armadillo tires because the red sidewalls matched the rest of his kit. When fashion outweighs function, you may have an issue.

stevemtbr
08-07-09, 03:16 PM
Two helmets, one for warm rides one for winter. One pair Road shoes Shimano cleats , one pair for mountain biking SPD cleats and one winter pair of mountain bike shoes with SPD that I wear for on and off road winter riding. I don't care of it's color coordinated, I'm a function first type of rider.

caloso
08-07-09, 03:20 PM
Four helmets: 1) Bell Ghisallo; 2) Bell Sweep R (I like this one a lot but it doesn't match my team kit so I bought); 3) Specialized S-Works (kinda ugly but very light and airy); Louis Garneau TT helmet.

Three pairs of shoes: 1) PI Vagabond (spd for CX); 2) Specialized Pro Carbon; 3) Specialize S-Works (spendy, but hands down the best shoes I've ever had).

DataJunkie
08-07-09, 03:52 PM
There is a portion of the biking populace that views anyone who wears all matching colors to be a possuer. As long as you keep it in perspective, it's not a problem for me.

I've actually met a rider who only bought Armadillo tires because the red sidewalls matched the rest of his kit. When fashion outweighs function, you may have an issue.



Black and white match everything. One helmet is black. The other white. All shoes are black.
Perhaps I have color coordination mixed with matching.
I do have a pair of blue gloves I only wear with blue jerseys. :p

BarracksSi
08-07-09, 08:55 PM
Four helmets, not counting a taped-shell model that I bought in '99. First new one was a Giro Xen -- bought it because it was by far the most comfy helmet in the shop. Then got a road bike, and decided to go with a road helmet -- so I got a Giro Pneumo. Fits nicely, better vented than the Xen. Then, my LBS was getting low on its stock of Bell Metros, so I got one with the accessory kit; with its rain cover installed, it's easily my favored bad-weather helmet. Then, this spring, a friend got me a great deal on an S-Works, which is the best-fitting, best-vented helmet I've used.

I could sell the two Giros and not really miss them, but even though none of my helmets have been damaged, I'd be encouraging a potential buyer to go against my own advice: "Never buy a used helmet."

Two pairs of cycling shoes right now -- Sidi Genius 5 road/poser shoes and Specialized Taho MTB shoes. I'm looking to get some SPD sandals, too, as I've finally found some regular sandals that I enjoy wearing in the summer.

travelmama
08-07-09, 09:47 PM
3 helmet and 3 pair of shoes. I don't match anything. I wear whatever I feel depending on the weather.

Panthers007
08-08-09, 12:52 AM
Oh yeah - I had a third helmet from 1983. It was a Bailen from Australia. In 1993, while test-riding a bike, a grip slipped off in my hand. Down I went. The impact landed me on my head and split open the helmet. I was dazed for awhile.

If I wasn't wearing the Bailen - you know.

urban_assault
08-08-09, 03:36 AM
Currently, I have one helmet, two pairs of road shoes, and three pairs of MTB shoes.

The shoes are just because I was trying to find pairs that fit. Once I realized I needed wider shoes and bought them, the old pairs are no longer worn.

I don't try to match anything. Actually I'm very boring and have several identical jerseys and shorts that I wear. Being a big guy, I bought several of Nashbar's XXL jerseys when they went on sale, since finding larger clothes in my LBS is impossible.

wec12
08-08-09, 07:56 AM
One helmet given by my academic advisor + no bike-specific shoes...

Too poor :( .

baldsue
08-08-09, 05:41 PM
I have three helmets and a new yellow Bell Citi on the way from Biketiresdirect. I lent one helmet to a friend, one is coming apart from too many showers, another is my winter helmet--a size too large so hats fit under it. I can't wait to get my new yellow one. Hopefully it will match my Schwinn Madison.:love:

No cycling specific shoes as I use platform pedals.

No, I don't try to match, except I'm trying to match helmet to bike. I usually wear hi-viz yellow or orange power dry t-shirt/tank top and black cycling shorts. Winter/cold weather cycling--hi-viz yellow jacket, black tights.

Robert Foster
08-08-09, 06:30 PM
two helmets two pairs of shoes. Specialized for the road and 661 for the MTB.

powerhouse
08-10-09, 03:12 PM
JERSEYS: Four. Two are club shirts with red, white, medium-blue, and hi-viz yellow colors. One is blaze-orange, and the last is navy blue.

BIBS: Two (black).

BIKE SHOES: One pair.

HELMETS: Three. Two of them are medium-blue Giro Atlas II, one slightly used in good condition, the other new, unused, and in excellent condition. The third is a white used one in good condition which sits unused.

calamarichris
08-10-09, 03:56 PM
Two helmets & two pair of shoes. One set dries as the other is sweated-up.