1) Specialized Air Force 3

2) About ~$50 CAD (our stuff is overpriced here; I could cross the border and get the same helmet for about 30 bucks).

3) I'll replace it if I crash, it shows obvious signs of deterioration, it gets too old, or I find a smokin' hot deal on another helmet. I love the idea of the Bell Muni, but I can't justify another $70 CAD for a helmet when my Specialized is less than a year old. Plus, if I bought the Bell, I'd have to buy those oh-so-tempting accessories.

While I'm reluctant to add fuel to the fire, I nevertheless feel a need to chime in on my own reasons for wearing a helmet.

1) My 4-year-old son has been riding with me since he was just over a year old, and I always make him wear a helmet. Not only is it the law in these parts for kids under 17, but I'm trying to set a good example so Daddy wears his, too.

2) As a Respiratory Therapist I've worked a lot with neuro patients who have suffered closed-head injuries, some of which may have been prevented had they been wearing a helmet (even one is too many, IMHO).

3) You can throw all the statistics you want at me, both for and against helmets. Personally, I feel naked without mine; it's akin to riding in a vehicle without a seatbelt on. And, as Mark Twain was fond of saying, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."