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Helmet

Old 10-01-12, 05:17 PM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by Cychologist
You support the helmet with your neck while stretched out over your handlebars. After 50 or so miles, trust me the weight of your helmet becomes an issue.

And at 210, I'm still a Clyde.
Guess I should get rid of my sunglasses and mirror.
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Old 10-01-12, 07:24 PM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by chefisaac
But the question is that can it be proved that the extra $100 is an improvement.
And it might be even less safe if it has a number of protrusions, like off the back, that can catch and stop a roll as you fall. This safety institute that tests helmets (or reviews tests) found no differences in performance between the expensive and cheap helmets: https://www.bhsi.org/helmet12.htm They do recommend a rounder profile.

Last edited by goldfinch; 10-01-12 at 07:50 PM.
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Old 10-02-12, 05:07 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by Acquaspin
+1. Styrofoam with a hard coating and a couple straps. Absolutely necessary. From a business perspective is a product that milks incredible markups based on very inexpensive features. A few grams less, more vents, and some plastic levers to allow for adjustments and that's a $100-150 markup. A $50-80 lid will work just as fine as the $150-200 one. From the protection standpoint, both do the exact same job. Once/if the industry begins rating helmets for crashing forces and we see stats from tests of dummies on bikes going head on trees or cars all claims of expensive helmets being stronger or safer than less expensive alternatives is just BS.
A. Some helmets fit better than others. For some folks helmet "A" will fit better than helmet "B," for others it's the opposite.
B. Some helmets are lighter than others.
C. Some helmets ventilate better than others.

These are facts. I agree that it's difficult if not impossible to verify the veracity of any claims that one is safer than another. But the three statements above are all that's required for me to justify spending more on a nicer helmet.
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Old 10-02-12, 05:10 AM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by chefisaac
This is the clyde and athena section. I do not think 5-20 grams of weight saving is anything to write home about and even less of a concern when commuting. I see your point and respect it. However, there are expensive helmets on the market that off you less ventilation then the cheaper ones.

And how many miles are we talking about when weight plays an issue? 100, 1000, 5,000?
Chef, for me, helmet weight is purely a comfort issue, not a performance one. I realize that shaving a few ounces here and there on the bike is largely pointless when I need to lose so much weight myself, but there's no question that I'm more comfortable in a lighter helmet than a heavier one. I think only the most radical weight weenie would choose a lighter helmet simply to reduce the total weight on-bike.
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Old 10-02-12, 05:11 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by chefisaac
Guess I should get rid of my sunglasses and mirror.
If they bother you, then yes. A heavy helmet bothers me.
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Old 10-02-12, 05:14 AM
  #31  
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Got my first helmet from Goodwill for 99 cents.

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Old 10-02-12, 05:54 AM
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Originally Posted by 10 Wheels
Got my first helmet from Goodwill for 99 cents.

Appears to me that the Vette needs a red lid as well
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Old 10-02-12, 06:30 AM
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Originally Posted by IBOHUNT
Appears to me that the Vette needs a red lid as well
Yep. Goodwill was out of Vet Red tops..

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Old 10-02-12, 07:41 AM
  #34  
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Man I am going to have to look up the weight limit on my trike, getting speed and beauty envy.
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Old 10-05-12, 10:15 AM
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[Partial QUOTE=Fangowolf;14793539]Okay I admit it ....So now I'm thinking I will need a helmet at some point. I'm looking at the price spread and I see $20-$180. I can see some big differences between 20 and 60-70 ish helmets, above that and it is getting fuzzier. Any non speed reasons to go over 80 ish for a helmet?[/QUOTE]

Before we beat this to death with electrons and without mentioning that most all wrecks occur within a few miles of the home; Suggest

www.amazon.com and enter: bike helmet adult and then click go.

Seems to be more helmets and choices that grains of sand on a beach. If price is the issue then why not something like this one (from many):

https://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Helmet...e+helmet+adult

"Adult Bicycle Helmet Men Mountain Bike Cycling Safety Guard # M L + Visor RED"

Its just $12.95 with free shipping!! And it has those air holes you mentioned also.

Hope that helps!
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Old 10-05-12, 10:48 AM
  #36  
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This is the first I've read through this thread and have to remind everyone that the forum has a MANDATORY policy that any thread that turns into a discussion on the importance of wearing a helmet or not be merged into the helmet thread. This policy is in place because rarely can the topic be discussed without it turning into a flame-war. In order to keep the thread here in C/A, please keep it on-topic (helmet selection and pricing). If you would like to discuss the need for wearing a helmet, feel free to click on the link above and joint the 145 pages of conversation. Thanks.

Now, with that out of the way, I think Indy said it first, and I can't agree more. Go try on helmets. My head and Giros do NOT get along. Bell fits me GREAT. I have both the Ghissallo and a Volt. I honestly can't tell the difference and there was about a $30 difference. BTW, I got my Volt of about $95 at Dick's on sale. Deals can be found.
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Old 10-05-12, 11:41 AM
  #37  
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I got the Specialized Propero II in large, but thought the medium fit better. The LBS said that it looked too tight, and that the adjusters on a large would be better. It's a little loose around the temples but otherwise it's a fine helmet. I'm just of the opinion that my head is worth a little more than $12.95 despite it being government certified. I'm not sure after recent regulatory issues that certification is necessarily accurate, nor am I sure that profitability vectors in capitalism mesh well with the well being of my head. As an example of things you assume are government certified safe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw156fNDLGo Okay it's China, but if you have a helmet that isn't made there, then I wannna know about it.

You just never know, and for my money $110 to a reputable company isn't too much money to spend on peace of mind that my head is safe.

All that having been written, I still didn't realize until I was a mile away from home yesterday that I didn't even have it with me, left it in the garage. I guess that's how you know it's a good helmet, when you forget you're wearing it or not.
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Old 10-05-12, 12:27 PM
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[QUOTE=SeanBlader;14810161
All that having been written, I still didn't realize until I was a mile away from home yesterday that I didn't even have it with me, left it in the garage. I guess that's how you know it's a good helmet, when you forget you're wearing it or not.[/QUOTE]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that has occasionally done that.
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Old 10-05-12, 01:09 PM
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It is good to hear that some else leaves the house without their helmet.


Go to a thrift store or good will and look through the bike helmets and maybe try one on. If you don't want the used helmet then just note what make and model it is and then go buy it at your LBS or order it on line.

If you buy used, then you don't know the history of the helmet so it could be defective but my thinking is a defective helmet is better than no helmet at all.

Also playing chicken with a semi is a bad idea even if you have the best helmet available.
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Old 10-08-12, 12:21 PM
  #40  
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Speaking of forgetting helmets...many moons ago, on the second day of a month-plus tour, I got off a ferry in WA and left both my helmet and Camelback hanging from a fence post. Rode for nearly 2 miles before that "Why do I feel like I am forgetting something?" feeling did its job. They were both still there when I returned to fetch them.
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