Helmet visor safety..!

[operator]

Recently stumbled across this link.

http://www.helmets.org/visors.htm

I really like the visor on my helmet now. That article made me really think. Maybe a visor is dangerous?

[CommuterRun]

Hmm, never really gave it much thought. Bet a lot of other people haven't either. I started taking the visors off my helmets just because they don't seem to be good for anything.

[BostonFixed]

Hmm, never really gave it much thought. Bet a lot of other people haven't either. I started taking the visors off my helmets just because they don't seem to be good for anything.
What about looks? Visors are good for looks, aren't they?

[slvoid]

Visors keep the sun out of my eyes for those 4 months a year where the sky transitions from sunset to darkness halfway during my commute. Otherwise, it's useless.

[CommuterRun]

I just wear impact resistant dark glasses for that, since I like to wear eye protection on the bike anyway. Clear lenses at night or heavy overcast conditions.

[slvoid]

I have a pair of rudy project ketyum's that comes with dark and clear lenses.
Only problem is that for the first 1/4 or 1/3rd of my commute between day light savings times during the spring and fall, the sun is just low enough its shining at me and sets after the first 10-15 minutes. So I start my commute with clear lenses and dip my head a little to let the visor do its job.
There are certain situations where you won't see a use for visors unless you've experienced it yourself.

[Brian]

My visor keeps low branches from slapping me in the face. It's attached with velcro, and is very cheap/flexible plastic.

[2manybikes]

I find a good visor keeps most of the rain out of my eyes even in a downpour.

[slvoid]

I find a good visor keeps most of the rain out of my eyes even in a downpour.

Oh yeah, that too.
I commuted through a storm with my pneumo and my glasses were completely coated. I went through another storm with my new e2 with the visor and my glasses stayed pretty clear.

[77Univega]

I really like the visor on my helmet now. That article made me really think. Maybe a visor is dangerous?

- - On my Giro Semi MX, I attached a black visor from a regular ball cap. It blocks the sun during the day, blocks headlight glare at night, keeps my eyeglasses clear in the drizzle, and is an attachment point for my mirror.
It is flexible enough for safety.

[CommuterRun]

I just stop and swap lenses in that situation. I found that when I had my head down low enough for the visor to block the setting sun I wasn't really watching the road far enough ahead. The days are getting long enough now that it's no longer a problem for me unless I leave work unusually late. I am riding right into the rising sun in the morning these days, but that's not a problem even with my clear lenses in.

I like your idea 77Univega, with the ball cap bill. :)

[Raiyn]

Both of my Specialized helmets have rubber edged, single attachment point visors. Thus negating the entire article :p

[Dchiefransom]

Some of the people in my club wear ball caps with visors on them under their helmets. Those should do fine without shattering, and in an accident would bend in front of the fave, possibly helping with road rash. I don't think they'd hold up long in a heavy downpour, though.

[Brian]

In some cities that's illegal because it's counteracts the effectiveness of the helmet.

[slvoid]

If you're really worried, get some clear duct tape and line the top and bottom with it. Or get electrical tape that's the same color and line it. If it does shatter, the tape holds the pieces together, much like the safety glass of the early 1900's.

[Dchiefransom]

In some cities that's illegal because it's counteracts the effectiveness of the helmet.

Wearing a baseball cap under a helmet does that? I wear the skullcaps that wick the sweat away. I've never heard of this. How does it affect the helmet's effectiveness?

[operator]

Wearing a baseball cap under a helmet does that? I wear the skullcaps that wick the sweat away. I've never heard of this. How does it affect the helmet's effectiveness?

The knob in the middle of the cap that holds it together. When you crash, all the force is concentrated through that one tiny spot instead of dispersed.

Baseball caps under helmet = bad.

[DieselDan]

Baseball caps and sun visors aren't made to go unde helmets. Certian skull caps and cycling caps are. I find a helmet visor to be very useful. All the sunglasses in the world won't stop the sun from burning your nose. Some visor attachments are better then others. Helmets themselves can be a problem with overhanging tree limbs catching it and dragging you over backwards.

[qmsdc15]

The visor didn't block the sun much only when it was very high in sky? Seemed kinda useless, got in the way, not for me. Shades for sun, clear lens for snow, no lens for rain.

[CommuterRun]

That's pretty much what I do, dark lenses for sun, medium for cloudy, clear for night or rain, none for night and rain, sunscreen for nose, ears and neck. Pair of pliers to yank the little knob off a ball cap, even though I've never worn one under a helmet. Sounds like a good idea for a softish visor in cool weather. :)

Speaking from experience, sunscreen and long sleeves are a whole hell of a lot less trouble and less painful than skin cancer surgery.

[Brian]

I've also read that San Diego(?) will fine you for wearing a cap under a helmet as it affects fit, and if the visor hits something, it can knock the helmet back or something like that. It seems like a bad idea anyway.

[eubi]

I've also read that San Diego(?) will fine you for wearing a cap under a helmet as it affects fit, and if the visor hits something, it can knock the helmet back or something like that. It seems like a bad idea anyway.

Yes that was me. The reason for that one had me scratching my head for a while. What if you fell down while wearing a baseball cap? Oh my! Better make them illegal before someone gets hurt!

But cigarettes are still legal...

San Diego is notorius for picking at little things. For example, I had a friend get a ticket because the rear lens on his classic Porsche wasn't "red" enough (They were amber, still legal). My wife was pulled over for driving on bald tires (They weren't even to the wear bars yet.). I was once pulled over by CHP, made to wait for ten minutes and then released with a simple "You can go." ??? I don't get it!

Sorry for the rant...

I do like my visor, it keeps the sun out of my eyes. It also makes it easier to see through my glasses by reducing the glare of any dust and sweat that happen to spatter on them.

In a crash, it would easily break away. Would it stab me in the eye? Maybe, but I doubt it.

I feel the benefits outweigh the potential dangers, and I would thank those in power to let me make my own informed decision, thank you.

[randya]

I started taking the visors off my helmets just because they don't seem to be good for anything.
I guess you don't ride in the rain.

[Raiyn]

I guess you don't ride in the rain.
Or at sunrise / sunset

[blue_neon]

I like them for the looks. I dont really see how they help that much with the sun, i guess directy over head sun but that would be a rare occasion. I like them for off road, where they do help leaves, and overgrown plants and what not getting in my face and scratching me.

[[bEn]]

Same. I recently bought a new helmet since my old one had no ventilation and was ugly. I got a new Tioga one and it matches the colours of my bike. It also has one of those visor things too, but i think its for decoration. It does block branches and stuff out of my face which is good, but i don't think it works that well as a sun visor.

[CommuterRun]

I guess you don't ride in the rain.
Au contraire, watashi no tomodachi, the only reason I'm not riding in the rain this week is because it hasn't rained and rain isn't in the forecast. The only reason I didn't ride in the rain, much, in January and February was because I wasn't supposed to get the cast on my arm wet, I figure sweat doesn't count. Otherwise, rain isn't much of a factor over whether I'm riding or not. :D


Or at sunrise / sunset
And over the winter my commute starts before and ends after sunrise traveling east, then the return often starts before sunset and ends after dark traveling west. Of course, now, it's usually full daylight traveling home and today sunrise was 15 minutes after I got started. :)

Towing a 40 lb. trailer in the rain, at night, is just loads of fun. :rolleyes:
But still, better than driving. :)

[vtjim]

Interesting. I love my visor because it keeps the sun out of my eyes on morning commutes. The way the helmet is designed, it looks like the visor would just snap and go over my head in the unlikely event of an unscheduled head-first dismount. The visor is mounted outside the shell.

[Lone_rider]

I had a small accident a few years back. The visor did not detach properly and I landed up with a nice cut about a half of a inch below my right eye now I remove all my visors from my helmets just to be on the safe side. The only thing I found that they were good for was to keep the rain out of your eyes.

[slvoid]

We should implement some kind of sensor where upon sensing a certain deceleration, explosive bolts fire and blow the visor apart away from the helmet.