Originally Posted by Grun
The cost of a new helmet can seem kind of expensive.
But brain damage, employment loss, earnings loss from brain damage and head trauma, lifelong severe headaches, vision damage, skull damage, hair follicle damage, skin damage, hospital bills, and IQ loss are far more expensive.
You do the math, and get some good lights for night commuting. Halogen or ultra bright high-intensity LEDs in combination with a bright flasher or safety light in LED.
echo?
I dont' commute during the dark... I think the better investment is an ORANGE construction workers safety vest with reflexlite strips built in. Atleast for daytime riding. At night they are good as well. That's what I wear and everyone can see me.
As for helmets, YMMV. Some may abuse em to the point they need replaced every year or so... some may take good care of em, not ride much in the hot sun and store em inside and so on.. and they last 6 or more years. Feeling for dryrot and checking the plastic for cracks is enough IMO to determine if you need a new lid. Everyone, I think, knows to replace em after an accident. Atleast i hope they do.