I have two, I think they're both Giros. I don't remember what I paid for them, probably between 25 and 50 bucks. I'm not planning on replacing them anytime soon.

1. Bell Solar
2. Probably $40-ish, don't remember
3. When I break it, or it gets too gross

It's white most of the year, sports a yellow cover in the winter, and has a mirror stuck to the side.
I wear it about 90% of the time when riding. I like going helmetless, but I like protecting my head, and I miss my mirror.

1) none
2) 0$
3) never

EErr don't know the brand. Bought on ebay for 30.00 cause it matchs my bike. I'll replace when straps are to grubby to clean or when I ever crash.

That's a dead giveaway that you don't work for Bell Sports. Easton bell sports owns Giro

https://www.eastonbellsports.com/

Same here.

Ditto.

None, climate issues where I am make them more of a liability/hazard than an asset and let's face it - i'm not all that worried about protective gear for an activity that is safer than sitting on my couch at home.

When i'm feeling safety-conscious I focus on lights, reflectors, and brakes first, and i've been known to preach about active lighting and reflective clothing.

As I consider that more important, I use a Planet Bike Superflash Stealth - there's actually a more powerful Superflash out now! I wants. But it'll have to wait till I get paid - and a PB 2 watt headlight. If i'm on the road, they are on and turned on. I also have reflective tape on my backpack (though I don't wear it because of climate), and an orange ANSI reflective safety vest with white tape which was actually a giveaway - someone on a road crew randomly gave me one when I was commuting in winter at night trying to figure out where to find one.

I will replace the vest if the reflective tape is damaged enough to impair it's visibility. I will replace the headlight if it stops working or I get a good deal on an upgrade. I will replace the taillight when I have enough money to afford the upgrade.

n/a
n/a

Fox Flux for $60 on clearance
I'll replace it if I crash.

1. Giro Indicator
2. Paid about $40 for it back in 2008
3. Will replace it in a year or two if it doesn't need replacing sooner (accident, etc).

isn't it lovely to have the helmet haters cluttering this thread? Back to the OP's questions:

I paid $50 for a Specialized Air Force 3 two years ago. The padding has worn out, and the ventilation was never great. But it mounts a light nicely, and I have taped up the vents for winter use.

In summer I use a Bell Volt ($112). Same helmet Cadel Evans wore on the tour. Unreal ventilation, keeps the sweat out of my eyes, overall fantastic summer helmet. Tried the Giro Prolight but didn't like it nearly as much.

Is there real science behind helmets turning into pumpkins at ~5 years, or is that marketed obsolescence ideas so companies stay in business?

I totally understand the one-good-smack-and-you're-done aspect, but not the shelf life.

I'm surprised at the surge of non-helmet users here, and pleasantly surprised at the civility of co-existence of alternate viewpoints here. Vive le diference is an e-rarity in these forums. Though of course those of you who don't do as I do are destined to burn in hell for eternity, at least we can be nice about it for your short time amongst the living.

1) Airius https://www.amazon.com/Airius-Furius-...436232&sr=8-17
2) $30 - it was the cheapest helmet at the LBS that fit over my bun. (I have very thick hair that went down to my backside before I cut three inches off, so my bun is pretty significant)
3) A crash where it absorbs a good deal of impact, and/or finding one for under $50 that matches my bike. (Gawd I'm shallow.)

Ha ha, I'm a paramedic and I work in the local ER...all it takes is imagining the looks of disgust on my co-workers' faces if I'm ever brought in after a sans-helmet accident to make me pop it on, even if I'm just toodling around the parking lot.

Then again I'm clumsy enough that I probably shouldn't change lightbulbs without full PPE.

ditty-dit-dit-to

Glad you clarified that. I was scratching my head for a second trying to figure that one out.

I used to run a neurosurgical unit, but I've drawn a different conclusion. People assume that helmets save a lot of lives and even more brain damage - something must be better than nothing, right? - but actually the evidence seems to suggest otherwise. Counterintuitive, I know, but as more people have worn helmets we have not seen a commensurate decline in the number of head injuries per mile cycled. So while I have no objection to other people choosing to wear one, I am concerned that too many overestimate the protection a helmet can provide.

Not trying to start an argument here, there's a thread for that purpose in A&S. Just pointing out that knowing the consequences of head injuries doesn't necessarily equate to knowing what works in preventing them.

Meh. I'm a mechanic/salesmonkey, not a buyer in our shop. Like I said, I'd switch to Nutcase in a heartbeat if we carried them, especially the Glo-Brain model with the brain painted in glow in the dark paint. Visibility!

mtalinm -- very little little angst from the haterz, especially in light of the few evangelical pro-helmet comments. I agree more with slcbob. I commend those who choose not to wear helmets for their restraint in this thread. Maybe YOU should lay off the haterade a bit or take your negativity to the "Helmets n+1" thread in A&S, where it belongs?

Hmm, it seems those who don't wear a helmet merely answered the OPs questions honestly and without further comment up to around post 60 and the first posts that went beyond that and into the realm of moralizing horsepucky were posted by a few who wear helmets...then you, of course. What we don't need cluttering this thread are holier-than-thou, busy-body, nanny-state morons looking to start a fight. Like you, for example.

1, schwinn brand
2, cheapest at walmart
3, probably never since its main use is carrying in to work to avoid those "where's your helmet" questions. And an excuse for walking in anywhere drenched in sweat.

edit, main use for me that is. Not to cast aspersions on those earnest individuals desiring to keep their brains unscrambled.

ding, ding, ding. Round over, dont start bickering. Commuting is a happy place.

LOL. Tell that to those in cars or on trains.

I wear a (usually) wear a helmet for three reasons:

• It gives me a convenient place to mount my mirror
• With a cover, it keeps me warm in the winter
• I avoid road rash on the scalp - that just sounds bad

I'm under no illusions about brain injury. Most bicycle helmets won't protect the face either - that scares me, but I don't want to wear a full-face helmet.

Get the full face helmet, your face scares us too!