This picture was taken during the transition from "hair nets" to hard shell requirements for racing.

There was a lot of confusion about what an adequate helmet was. I just used my hockey helmet until the rules were firmed up.

The Bell "mushroom" helmets were just coming out. My wife wanted me to get one. I did not usually wear a helmet for training and recreational rides, but my wife wanted me to wear a helmet on this tour. She must have actually worried about me. I slapped some reflector tape on the old hockey helmet and told her I'd wear it. You can see where it spent most of the time. It was still lighter and more comfortable than the early Bell helmets.



I wear light comfortable helmets all the time now, and am reminded all too frequently by the emergency room doctors to "get a new helmet."

This one was replaced when we finished the tour. I've had 3 of this model of helmet in the last 8- 10 years.