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Helmets

Old 10-18-07, 08:05 AM
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Helmets

Hello all, I am very new to the great sport of biking and I have a basic question on helmets. I just purchased my first road bike last months and have been using it as a commuter to work (round trip 4 miles). Also, I like to take a 20-25 mile ride on weekends. Anyways, I pruchaces a cheap helmet a Wal-Mart for 15 or so dollars. I believe the make is Bell?

Do more expensive helmets protect any better that the cheep ones. If so I will be buying a new one. If not I really dont want to spend extra on looks or style.

Thanks-
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Old 10-18-07, 08:27 AM
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From what i've read and discussed with LBS owners and sales staff can be hierarchicacly dileneated in 3 areas

1) Safety
2) Comfort (Cooling / Weight)
3) Design.

Always look for a Snell 95 rating (https://www.smf.org/standards/b/b95std.html). The more expensive helmets usually tend to be lighter and/or have better ventilation. Both of which are nice on longer rides and/or hotter days.

As far as design #3, goes, since most helmets are mostly garish and butt-ugly (IMO), I usually get the most basic design to minimize "bike ***" stereotypes (Not my designation, BTW. I have little against cyclists and even less towards my gay/lesbian friends - emphasis on the word friends). Thus hopefully minimizing the potential of my becoming the recipient of a red-neck homophobic, cycle-hating, 12 sandwich eatin' cager on a road rage hunting spree in his/her 1973 pick-up truck.

Good luck on your helmet and rides.

Ride On ride warrior.
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Old 10-18-07, 08:45 AM
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The main concerns about helmet protection are in how well they fit and how much they stay secured.

If yours fits properly and doesn't wiggle even if you try to knock it off, you'll be fine. Any helmet you can buy has to meet the same standards. More expensive helmets can have some benefits, but that's debatable, as you can see in this thread over in the Road Cycling section:
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/354104-any-reason-why-helmets-so-expensive.html
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Old 10-18-07, 10:44 AM
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In general there is little corrolation between price and protection. As others pointed out, you want to make sure your helmet has the CSPS sticker inside. See the following web site for more information on helmets than you ever thought you needed to know: https://www.helmets.org/

Consumer reports did some independent testing and found two of their best scoring helmets were in the $40 to $50 range. The many of the more expensive helmets did worse on the test than the cheaper ones.

Happy riding,
André
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Old 10-18-07, 06:20 PM
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I had this same thought several months ago when I needed to get a new helmet. I ended up getting a mid-range helmet as the only real difference I could find was weight and the amount of cooling the helmet offered. I think I spent $50
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Old 10-18-07, 07:16 PM
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With more money you will get:

1. A better fit. You can get various sizes instead of one size fits all at Walmart.

2. Possibly better style.

3. Probably lighter.

4. Probably vented better.

5. Less money in your wallet.
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Old 10-18-07, 07:27 PM
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How much is your head worth?
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Old 10-18-07, 10:40 PM
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Originally Posted by fmbike
Thus hopefully minimizing the potential of my becoming the recipient of a red-neck homophobic, cycle-hating, 12 sandwich eatin' cager on a road rage hunting spree in his/her 1973 pick-up truck.
Excellent rant. *slow clapping*
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Old 10-18-07, 11:29 PM
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I would recomend against the walmart helmet because it probably lacks any decent retention device.

I would go to a LBS and spend $35 on a cheaper Giro with the Roc Lock system. I think most people on here can testify that those work really well.

The walmart helmet will protect you fine its just not worth the hassle of having an inferior retention device.

For example, If I want to wear a stocking cap under my helmet some cool morning it takes about 1/2 of a second to adjust my helmet for that.
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Old 10-19-07, 12:15 AM
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https://www.helmets.org/ is a good website to start your helmet searching.

I went with a $25 walmart Bell Impulse, molded in the shell, fits me great (has a rear band similar to the giro roc loc system), and a smooth exterior for sliding in the event of an accident (if a helmet doesn't slide, it snags, cranking your neck in the process, like those pointy helmets)

cheap and it works
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Old 10-19-07, 11:22 AM
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All helmets meet the same Snell standard, so functionaly in a crash, they all have the same impact resistance.

If A $200 helmet were any better at protection, it would be advertised as "the only helmet that exceeds Snell standards." I haven't seen any company say that.

As far as arguments that expensive helmets have better retention, Snell tests for retention also and all helmets have the same retention system anyway, two straps per side that combine into one chin strap.
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Old 10-20-07, 06:09 AM
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Originally Posted by mrbubl
How much is your head worth?
Can you translate? I don't want to assume that your are insinuating that spending more on a helmet will equate somehow to better protection in a crash. As a one-liner, your statement isn't new, cute, or helpful.

Caruso
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Old 10-20-07, 08:08 AM
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also consider the option of not wearing a helmet. many people don't. and are still living. But if a helmet makes you feel better, go for it! helmets can be had fairly cheaply.even at the LBS. I liked my Bell citi when I wore a helmet. in fact, if you want mine I'll sell it to you. hardly used.
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Last edited by rando; 10-21-07 at 02:10 PM.
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