SAme here. BTW, does anyone know who makes a helmet for people like me with narrow heads. My helmet looks like a mushroom on my head.

Astompa,

I don't falling off will be much of a problem with a Metro and a VistaLite Eclipse taillight. The VL clip has two little teeth at the bottom to keep it from falling off. With some other models/brands, there could be a problem if the clip is not tight to the light at the bottom of the clip.

My experiences:
1. On 9/25/04, I did a ride that included some really badly rutted, pot-holed and washboard gravel and oiled gravel roads. My Vistalite stayed on the Metro. I was worried about losing the fillings in my teeth (grin!).

2. On 8/19/04, I was struck from behind on a rural highway while riding my recumbent trike. The other driver was going 55 mph at least. The Vistalite stayed on the Metro.

Metro expensive, yes/no! Performance Bike's latest catalog (Fall Preview 2004) has it at $59.99 plus shipping, of course. Less with a 10% or 20% off coupon($54 or $48).
www.performancebike.com

I got mine at Bike Nashbar on sale for $59.99 with a 10% off coupon. They're now $79.99. If at Nashbar (www.nashbar.com), check out the new Bell Citi '05 (BH-CIT). Looks like the Metro to me and only $44.95 minus any coupons.

Areles

Try Velotique. They have a web site, so just do a Google search. I thought I saw them closing out their Metro stock for $50. That's a Canadian price too.

I just looked at Nashbar and they have in stock L and S metro helmets on sale for $54.95, reg $79.95 right now.

And you are still alive?

Astompa,

Alive, in one piece, and nothing was broken. I still have numbness in two fingers on my left hand and the hip hurts. Minor inconveniences considering what could have been.

Lucky to be alive,
Areles

Agreed. That Metro blinker is probably OK for people with hybrids or breezer style bikes

I agree.

I don't so much as the more expensive helmets in my experience kick the crap out of the cheapies in terms of ventalation. I used to have a maximum price of $40 for my helmets, but I recently bought a $80 helmet and was AMAZED at the difference. So much so that I now have a "summer" helmet and a "winter" helmet. take a wild stab at which is which.

why dont they make them in bright colours- I am always amazed that bike clothes and helmets are usually in drab colours like black and grey that make you blend in to the background. If they did this helmet in fluorescent green then i would probably buy one for commuting. Being seen may be a bit dorky but it could save your life.

One word: Marketing
It's easier to sell something that looks "cool" than it is to sell something that's "safe".

yes but not even ONE choice of helmet in a visible colour- thats just stupid

There's a FEW choices out there. Yellow's and white's and an occasional bright red.

Why not just apply some spray paint or reflective tape?

as far as I know you are not really supposed to apply solvents to polycarbonate helmets as they can weaken the structure and cause the helmet to fail in an accident. Applying paint would be particularly doubtful as paint usually contains large amounts of organic solvents. Maybe if anyone knows of any water based fluorescent paint that would stick it could be OK but I have not seen any.

I think you could probably get away with applying reflective tape. Although officially I dont think you are supposed to do this either as the glue can also contain solvent that could theoretically eat away at the helmet.

I guess that doesn't make any sense to me. I've never seen spraypaint do anything like that. The plastic shell you'd be painting is cosmetic, anyway, to give a little protection to the styrofoam's surface etc.