Those views pretty much mirror mine. I think wearing a helmet is a good idea in pretty much all cases, but the marginal utility it provides varies, depending on the conditions.

I'm a member of Citibike, NYC's big bike share program. Sometimes I decide spontaneously that I'm going to ride. I don't carry a helmet with me at all times, which means I ride in traffic without a helmet. It's not optimal, but it's not insane, either. When I premeditatedly use Citibike, I carry a helmet. I sometimes even wear it while walking to or from the bike, because I don't care if it looks silly. But this sight has become somewhat common; I'm not the only person who does this. It has become a fact of life that some people sometimes wear helmets for no apparent reason. And that's a good thing.

In one year, I was in three crashes. One of them was very severe; it was a head-on collision with a car. I have no proof, but I suspect strongly that it saved my life, and it's easy to believe that it at least reduced the severity of my injuries. I don't know how statistically significant this is, but it's one reason I think helmet wearing is a good idea. But I try not to proselytize. I don't shame people who don't wear helmets. Better to spread the word by setting an example, and I don't even do a perfect job of it.

Even then, I would be hesitant to agree. You are telling me that if you slide out on a turn and your head hits the ground while riding 25mph, you hold the same chance of serious head injury regardless of if you are wearing a helmet?
The simple existence of an impact dampening shell has to account for something, even if its limited.

Even still, wearing a helmet will help reduce injury. Slide out on a turn not wearing a helmet and your skull bounces and scrapes along the ground. Slide out on a turn wearing a helmet and the helmet bounces and scrapes along the ground. Less chance of needing stiches/graft/extended skin healing.

I agree with this. The CPSC standard doesn't bear much similarity to actual crashes.

Before this thread devolves into the typical helmet debates, I'd suggest to the OP that the MIPS based helmet is going to be the better choice. The CPSC standards are desperately in need of being updated and helmet suppliers need to be developing much better concussion protection products than they do today. This static situation was largely a result of enshrining standards in legislation and a litigious environment that has made the legal consequences for the manufacturer as important (if not more so) than the actual protection of the consumer. Fortunately, there are signs that is changing albeit slowly.

This is a pretty good article that describes the situation in lay terms. It's worth the read.

http://www.bicycling.com/sites/defau...-13-Helmet.pdf

In my opinion, given that both helmets are roughly the same in terms of style and ventilation, I'd for sure go for the Sutton MIPS version because as a minimum it is as good as the Bern helmet (i.e. CPSC standard) but it is almost certainly better protection choice of the two because of the MIPS addition.

J.

Thanks for your impressions of the Bern. I have been thinking of one but have also wondered about the tests done on them, they didn't come out too well. It was Consumer Reports so I take it with a grain of salt, but it looks as if their testing was okay. Still, I am interested.

Nutcase, Bern helmets receive "poor" impact rating from Consumer Reports - BikePortland.org

Well, it's a 3 year old article, and they didn't test the Bern model that I have.

The debate on this thread has been interesting to read. My takeaway is that no helmet can protect me from bad decisions on my part, motorists who are looking at their mobile devices instead of at me, etc. Still, as a beginning cyclist, I feel better with something on my head than nothing at all.

I agree. I saw that yours was a different model, and I remember reading this test when it first came out. I do like the general durability that the Bern offers for the helmet itself when it is mishandled in daily use. I am not sure I wish to give up the ventilation I have currently or go to a higher weight helmet, still, the Bern is interesting to me. I may go with one of their other models if I get one to have better ventilation. My head is fairly narrow so their others should fit fine.

Thanks for your thoughts and stay safe.

Thanks, I'll do my best to stay safe. So far, I've only had some bruises, but it was my own fault - most of the injuries were from riding on the sidewalk instead of the road - too many obstacles like trash cans, etc. Lesson learned!

I bought my Bern from The Daily Rider, a bike shop that caters to commuters and casual cyclists rather than the sportive type, as reflected by the shop's name. I suspect the OP fits into that clientele as well, because both helmet brands he/she was asking about (Bern and Sutton) are urban/city type helmets.

I learned how to ride a bike wearing racing-style helmets, most of the time in a hot climate. They should be lighter and allow more ventilation than urban-style because they're for racing. I was going to get a racing-style helmet too, until I took a closer look at my coworker who commute by bike. I noticed half of them were not wearing racing helmets but a different type of helmet that I wasn't aware of before. This turned out to be the city/urban style helmet. I immediately knew I wanted this type of helmet.

I shopped around for urban-style helmets and one day found The Daily Rider, which carries only urban helmets and an unusual type that looks like hats but are actually helmets. Anyway it was the shop that pointed me to the Bern Brentwood as having the best ventilation among the urban helmets they carry, and so far it has served me well in hot weather, including a 23-mile ride in 90 degree heat.

Consumer Reports actually does impact testing and provides the results in their comparisons.

I don't understand the application of "urban style" helmets. Why wouldn't you want a more traditional version?

J.

Personal preference. I can't answer for others who have also opted for urban helmets, except maybe a coworker. She flat out said she doesn't like the pointy look of racer helmets.

So it's largely a fashion issue not a protection/weather/etc... issue then?

I guess, I'd have to favor the ventilation. You can always reduce the ventilation but it's hard to get more if the helmet doesn't allow it.

Thanks for clarifying. I had seen these style of helmets before but thought there was some additional benefit.

J.

For me, both fashion and weather. Cyclists who wear the full sportive gear (racer helmet, tight bike shorts, jerseys, etc.) have a certain reputation here so the more casual types want to avoid looking like them. Our instructors from WABA (Washington Area Bicyclist Association) acknowledged there's an image problem. Personally I think we should all support each other but maybe that's another topic.

The Bern Brentwood has a liner that can be swapped for a winter liner that includes ear covers. It has also served me fine for summer usage so far. It seems like nobody believes me when I say it's got excellent ventilation for an urban helmet, but that's fine. I'll whine here for sure if I get heat stroke or whatever after my next multi-hour weekend ride. ;)

Hmm. thanks for the detail. Appreciate it. I can see where the winter liner is a good idea. That's a nice feature.

Up here in Minnesota, when I ride in the deep winter, I just use my ski helmet (POC Backcountry MIPS). Cold here can be on the extreme side of the cold equation. Except for deep cold, I'm careful to size my helmets to be able to fit a thin insulation layer underneath. In the cold, the problem for me is not so much how to stay warm as to how to get rid of the moisture through the layers. I sure get that what we do here in the far North does not track the rest of the world - hence my question.

J.

The Allston should have better ventilation than the Brentwood. If you are happy with the ventilation on the Brentwood, then the Allston con't be too bad.

I am used to lots of ventilation. I have been using a Bell Sweep R for years. It is in need of replacement now due to age. It has held up very well. I still look at the Bern and consider it. Its shell offers good protection for the helmet itself which is a consideration for some people. The Sweep protects itself fairly well too. All the foam areas are covered with its shell. The Bern could be abused a bit more I am sure. I try not to abuse them though.

I admit here in the DC area we are fortunate to have much milder winters that you guys up there. Still, I like to cover my ears when it drops below mid-30s F. When I first learned how to ride a bike a few weeks ago, I thought winter riding was out for me, but if the heat isn't stopping me from riding, the mild cold probably won't either. I might even go the studded tire route when there's ice on the ground.

30's are pretty mild here.

I'm paranoid about ice when riding so I go with studded tires when the air/ground temp is such that ice can form.

With the great options for layering and breathability now, you can ride all year in comfort. It's just not cheap...

J.

I forgot to mention I grew up in San Diego, CA, so I was not used to winter in any form. I covered my ears whenever the temp dropped below 50, my first couple of years in DC. :p I know we've got nothing on the Northern states though. A colleague from Minnesota was quick to remind us.

After getting my bike, I've certainly spent more on cycling-related apparel in the past few weeks than what I've spent on regular clothes the past few years. I think it's worth it though - the moisture wicking shirts are really nice on hot days. Looking forward to trying my Pearl Izumi jacket when fall comes around here.

We're sort of perversely proud of the weather here. If we weren't, we'd go crazy.

Living in DC, the wicking characteristics are going to be very important.

Now's the time to be buying all the winter stuff - usually great discounts this time of year.

J.

i am wary of any technology that makes such claims. i want more details like sample size and such. i'm open to hearing more.

Bicycling magazine article is misleading

MIPS and Sliding Resistance of Bicycle Helmets

Both of those articles are by the same person and they are also misleading and light on facts and heavy on conjecture and opinion. For example - the claim that helmets are optimized to prevent TBI when they are not optimized for that and are, in many ways, ineffective at preventing TBI. Ask a helmet manufacturer if they are "optimized to prevent TBI" and see what they say. They don't even want to talk about it.

As with any product, it's up to the consumer to satisfy themselves. My personal view is that it is worthwhile to proactively do this because even a mild TBI can be debilitating. After all, it's my brain that is at risk.

It is very possible to make a reasonable engineering judgment on the efficacy of a given technology and it's potential upside benefits and potential downside risks. In this case, I think the upside potential is substantial and the downside risk is negligible and the cost premium is almost insignificant to the potential upside. I'm willing to use that process instead, and think it's a better process because of characteristics of the industry. I'll let others be part of the brain injury sample.

It's difficult to get information of value in the helmet business simply because the attorneys have had the upper hand for too long.

J.

I have a regular Sutton. I was looking for a light, non-racing type helmet and the Sutton fit me best.

No complaints.

I loved my Pear Izumi jacket. I miss it. I left it on a plane one day.

BTW, My new Bern Allston arrived today. I got the matte grey model. I like the way it looks. I'll try it out tomorrow, but the fit is nice for me right out of the box. I have a small head and got the S/M. I heard they run small and I believe they are probably right since it fits my small head well. I didn't even touch the dial on the back. It is comfortable.

I think the flip down visor will be nice at times. I will probably keep it flipped up most of the time since my LHT has drop bars, but we will see tomorrow. There have been many times I have wanted a visor in the past so this option is nice.

Congrats on the new helmet. I've used the flip visor on mine on late afternoon practice rides when I didn't feel like I needed my sunglasses but wanted to shade my eyes from the setting sun.

The temps here are dropping from mid 90s down to mid-high 80s and they'll probably stay there by my next ride, which is Sat. morning to go see some electrci bikes on display and maybe take a bike maintenance class. It may be a while before I get another 90 degree helmet ventilation test. ;)

I didn't read most of the posts but I think helmets make a difference.

I had a severe crash in January, when I wrecked I was going between 35-40 km/h according to Strava. I came out with a mild concussion and no lasting brain injury.

I was wearing a Bell helmet from Costco.

This is just my experience, but take from it what you will. I think helmets are worth every penny.

Slid out once on an off-camber road, downhill, cold day, probably going 35-40mph. Helmet bounced off the road. I was wearing tights over shorts, and 3-4 layers on top along with winter gloves. Bad case of roadrash was all I had.