Alloy Addict

It's good to know there are some bigger helmets becoming available. The biggest problem is finding an LBS that has a wide selection.

89quattro,
A Skid-Lid? That takes me back. I always wondered, "Why bother?" with those things, but I bet the ventilation is hard to beat.

vendorz

Great thread, thx. I've got a lotta hair on my head so none of the large (up to 24 3/4") helmets were gonna work. Believe these x-larges like the Kinghead can get the job done and at a reasonable price too!

Not a huge fan of helmets, I expect to overheat in it. But, I know it is the better part of valor to be able to choose to wear one at least some of the time.

89quattro

Alloy Addict
Believe it or not, I can remember getting the BikeNashbar catalog in the mail, and spotted the new "bighead version" of the Skid-lid being available...long time ago for sure, but the Skid-lid II was the only way to go.

Other option: wear my custom made Bell motorcycle helmet. Back in the early '70's, they had a program available for the crainally challanged, and were more than happy to make up oversize mc helmets.

Over the years, wearing the lid just became second nature, better than nothing. I still remember the 2 times I went down on the bikes (Triumph and Norton) and the helmet was a lifesaver. Speeds were low, no more than 15 mph, but you can't really appreciate what the impact of your helmeted head against the pavement is all about until it happens.

Anyway, first ride report on the Triton: comfortable, fairly easy to adjust straps, and best of all, it actually fits with some room to spare! Good choice for both bigheads and big-hairs.

Alloy Addict

89quattro,
Where I went to college there was a professor that commuted by bike everyday, which was not very common there at all, and he wore an old Bell motorcycle helmet everyday. I don't remember much about his bike, other than it being an older bike, heavily modified for commuting. In the winter he would wear full coveralls, which really wasn't too surprising since he was an agronomy professor. He was well protected, and not a slave to fashion.

steveadelphia

I've got a fat dome, and I use a Limar helmet. LG/XL. Low profile.

I've had a couple other ones that made me feel like my head was a giant meatball.

ACKACK

Megadon357

I almost never wear a helmet, especially here in the Deep South in the summer. When I do, I wear my old Vetta Corsa.

Landgolier

first time over here in clydesville, but I have .02 on this topic. The bell Sequoia/triton is indeed monster, but the ventilation on it isn't great. Fine with me because I bought it to wear in winter with a hat, but running that thing in warmer weather makes you appreciate other helmets.

Also, to the guy wearing the old vetta corsa, helmets expire. Styrofoam continuously off-gasses and slowly turns into lightweight concrete. Not to say it isn't better than nothing, but any helmet over 4-5 years old should be replaced. Bike shops will tell you 2-3 years, who knows what the right number is, but I'm going with double what the guys selling helmets say.

Tom Bombadil

On the topic of foam deterioration. Even the Snell foundation, taking what I believe is a conservative approach, only recommends replacement every 5 years - and does not take an aggressive stance on doing it then.

https://www.smf.org/faqs.html#10

I think the materials are probably good for up to 10 years, maybe more, unless subjected to extreme conditions - like long, extended periods in very high temperatures (being locked in a car in Death Valley for a couple of years).

smokeystrodtman

I just a new Giro Eclipse and am loving it so far. It's much more comfortable and lighter than my six year old Trek and has better venting, too. I don't have a real big head, but at 7 5/8 I'm a L/XL in most hats. There's enough adjustment left in the harness to fit a bigger head, it might go up to an 8.

On the subject of riding gear, I also vote for lycra shorts. I've got some baggies, but they're not as comfortable and are a lot hotter in the summer. Who cares what other people think, you can't please everybody. Besides, my wife likes me in them and that's the only other opinion I'm concerned with (speaking of which, she lost 37# this year and looks HOT in the purple Volers I just got her).

krazygluon

+1

v1k1ng1001

I'm a 7 1/2 - 7 3/4.

I really dig my Giro Monza. Got it on sale for $60.

CliftonGK1

I just got a Bell Citi last night, and it's awesome.
I tried on the Metropolis, and the dial-adjust retention system came too far down the back of my head and pinched my neck when in a riding position. (For those other Clydes with footballer/weightlifter/wrestler neck, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.) The Citi has a smaller retention system that doesn't hit the bad spot, plus it's about $30 cheaper than the Metro.

Air

Besides fit and ventilation is there a difference between a $100 helmet and a $20 helmet if they're both certified?

CliftonGK1

That's the question that I asked myself: "What is the real difference?"

Aerodynamics? Maybe.
Will it affect me at 15mph on a sub-freezing commute when I'm wearing all my polarfleece gear and a backpack? Heck no.

Comfort and affordability, those were my concerns.

bikingshearer 

The diff generally is the ventilation - oh, and the sexy design that is the latest thing in the pro peloton, that is, until the next latest thing comes out.

bikingshearer 

Going commando is de riguer (sp?) if you are wearing padded bike-specific shorts. The pads are designed to make sure there are no seams in places that you really do not want them to be.

There is another option - Andiamos. Basically, they are bicycling-specific underwear, intended to keep the seams from regular shorts, etc., from turning your crotch into hamburger. I've never used them and so can't vouch for them, but you can order them from Rivendell, and they're prety reliable. https://www.rivbike.com/webalog/clothing/22301.html At $23 a pop, they aren't exactly cheap, but they sure are less expensive than any bike-specific short out there.

powerglide

+1
Been looking for a helmet for my fat head and never found comfort for years.
This cheapo Bell helmet MSRP is like $34.99 fits really nice!