Your Helmet Choice
#76
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,633
Likes: 35
From: St. Louis Metro East area
Bikes: 1992 Specialized Crossroads (red)
A Schwinn Thrasher from Wal-Mart for $20 (US). Because I'm a cheapskate, and the helmet feels okay on my head. Three cheers for whoever it was that invented the dial-fit system.
#77
I've changed quite a few helmets over the last year and ended up buying the following Catlike Urban Concept which till know, has the bit fit and ventilation of any of the previous ones; even helmets costing twice the price of the Catlike.
#78
#79
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 77
Likes: 27
I just ordered one of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BKULAW/...0_M3T1_SC_dp_1
I was given my bicycle and two very old helmets. They were made by GTrek, but made in 1995. I hear bicycle helmets deteriorate over time. I'll see how the Viking fits etc. I was also consixdering the Bell Faction, and a couple of other similiar ones (one by Fox).
I was given my bicycle and two very old helmets. They were made by GTrek, but made in 1995. I hear bicycle helmets deteriorate over time. I'll see how the Viking fits etc. I was also consixdering the Bell Faction, and a couple of other similiar ones (one by Fox).
#80
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Sun Valley, Nevada
Bikes: 1999 RANS Rocket Saturn V; K2 Attack FS MTB
I've got an Urge DownoMatic on order: https://www.urgebike.com/en/vtt/downomatic. It's way more than I set out to spend, but based on recommendations from a local downhill cycle shop and reviews on this site: https://www.bhsi.org/helmetxx.htm, it's the direction I want to go in headgear. I regularly cruise in traffic over 20mph and I have several stretches of my daily commute that I go over 30mph, I figure it's time to treat those conditions with respect. I really like the look of the helmet too, compared to many others out there.
Plus, I've worked in a physical rehabilitation hospital over 10 years and I don't like my coworkers enough that I want them taking care of me for any length of time.
I currently have a Bell Slant, which has suited me so far, but in case of it being needed, I'm not willing to trust a collision with it. As for the weather, I figure at least 7 months of the year, a F/F helmet is going to be more rather than less comfortable and when it gets hot, I'll see how I cope. I tried on an O'Neill helmet and I was pleasantly surprised how comfortable it was and how it's nothing in comparison to my F/F motorcycle helmet. There is a mostly white colored scheme for 2013 that I chose and I figure on augmenting that with some white reflective tape as well for my pre-dawn and post sunset commutes until next April.
Plus, I've worked in a physical rehabilitation hospital over 10 years and I don't like my coworkers enough that I want them taking care of me for any length of time.

I currently have a Bell Slant, which has suited me so far, but in case of it being needed, I'm not willing to trust a collision with it. As for the weather, I figure at least 7 months of the year, a F/F helmet is going to be more rather than less comfortable and when it gets hot, I'll see how I cope. I tried on an O'Neill helmet and I was pleasantly surprised how comfortable it was and how it's nothing in comparison to my F/F motorcycle helmet. There is a mostly white colored scheme for 2013 that I chose and I figure on augmenting that with some white reflective tape as well for my pre-dawn and post sunset commutes until next April.
#81
The Recumbent Quant

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,094
Likes: 8
From: Fairfield, CT
Bikes: 2012 Cruzbike Sofrider, 2013 Cruzigami Mantis, 2016 Folding CruziTandem
Cheers,
Charles
#82
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Kingsport, TN
Bikes: 2007 Schwinn Le Tour
Bought a Protec Ace multisport helmet in May, but I was foolish to buy a black one. After one day of riding this summer in Toronto my hair was cooked, haha. Beside that, it's a hardshell helmet that is well-made, can take multiple impacts. I'd say most helmets got damaged by handling (dropped on concrete, bang against the wall, etc...) more than by accidents so hardshell can handle day-to-day lives better.
Link for the Protec Helmet:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o05_s00_i00
Upon cooking my head in that helmet, I walked into MEC and picked up an Alpina Spice LE helmet. I didn't expect to spend that much money on a helmet but I needed a new helmet in a hurry, and it just fit my head so well. Also, it's very lightweight and features netting in the front vents to keep bugs from getting into the hair. Although Alpina (a German brand) is very well-known in Europe, only place I have seen it in North America is in MEC in Canada.
Link for the Alpina Spice LE:
https://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Cyclin...ike-helmet.jsp
Link for the Protec Helmet:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o05_s00_i00
Upon cooking my head in that helmet, I walked into MEC and picked up an Alpina Spice LE helmet. I didn't expect to spend that much money on a helmet but I needed a new helmet in a hurry, and it just fit my head so well. Also, it's very lightweight and features netting in the front vents to keep bugs from getting into the hair. Although Alpina (a German brand) is very well-known in Europe, only place I have seen it in North America is in MEC in Canada.
Link for the Alpina Spice LE:
https://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Cyclin...ike-helmet.jsp
#83
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
From: Albany, NY
Bikes: 80's Treks, cargo bike, Lugged LeMond, Eddy Merckx 7-11, Ciocc resto-mod, All City MM disc, and some more

... with the Visor ripped off. I wouldn't mind something a little lighter, but for $20 you can't beat it.
#84
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Louisville, Kentucky
Bikes: 2011 Trek 3900, 1985 Cannondale ST-500, 2017 Haro Shift R5, 2018 Specialized Crux E5
Got an Urge Endur-O-Matic, the aggressive styling appealed to me, and I was hard pressed to find a bad review on it. It's Light, it fits well, and it has more coverage than the BMX helmet I had before.
#85
The Recumbent Quant

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,094
Likes: 8
From: Fairfield, CT
Bikes: 2012 Cruzbike Sofrider, 2013 Cruzigami Mantis, 2016 Folding CruziTandem
#86
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Sun Valley, Nevada
Bikes: 1999 RANS Rocket Saturn V; K2 Attack FS MTB
Helmet choice
As for spending as much as I did, and more than I really wanted to, for the record, I paid more because I had to. In order to get the increased coverage I wanted and to get something I felt comfortable in its looks I spent as much as I did. If there was something out there comparable for both of those issues, but cost less, I'd have chosen the other one.
That said, I had several conversations with Urge North America and their rep for this area and everyone was very, very helpful and professional both on the phone and through emails. I was very pleased with the company's employees.
#87
Idealistic Troublemaker
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 615
Likes: 8
From: SF Bay Area + Surrounding Planet
Bikes: Friday, Brompton, Soma, Fuji, Haro, No_Name...
#88
or tarckeemoon, depending
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,017
Likes: 2
From: the pesto of cities
Bikes: Davidson Impulse, Merckx Titanium AX, Bruce Gordon Rock & Road, Cross Check custom build, On-One Il Pomino, Shawver Cycles cross, Zion 737, Mercian Vincitore, Brompton S1L, Charge Juicer
I'm using my old Limar 909 road helmet with a Light & Motion VIS 360 lighting system on it.
#89
On my second Bontrager Solstice
https://bontrager.com/model/09056
Tis white, light weight and the first one took a beating before it cracked
.
and 50 bucks isn't much to pay for something more between me and that darn ground.
https://bontrager.com/model/09056
Tis white, light weight and the first one took a beating before it cracked
.and 50 bucks isn't much to pay for something more between me and that darn ground.
#90
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
I usually just wear my standard road helmet. I rotate a Giro Atmos and a Specialized S-Works. I also have an older Bell Sweep. I'm thinking of fully Fredding it out with a blinkie and a headlamp.
#91
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
I have a cheapo Bell Ukon helmet. I think it cost me about $40. I just bought a Bern G2 which is a multisport helmet with much better ventilation than the other skate/bike/ski type helmets. Additionally, the G2 has vents that can be opened and closed and has the option of being worn with a winter liner that has built in ear covers or a simple headband summer liner. I'm waiting for the summer liner to arrive since it's not quite cold enough here to be wearing it with the winter liner. I decided to give the skater/city bike type helmet a try because of the better lower head protection. Also, I'd been reading some articles about helmet design and crashworthiness and it seems as if the standard road bike type helmet has the potential of causing neck injuries in a crash due to the sort of "pointed" shape many of them have. Skate style helmets get higher marks in that regard because the more globular shape resists less when hitting objects in a crash scenario. Probably a minor thing, but something to consider nonetheless. I'll be interested to see how well the G2 breathes in really warm to hot weather. I see plenty of folks on my commute wearing skate style helmets in the heat of summer with far less ventilation than the G2. Somehow they manage it. They might be completely miserable, but I'm inclined to think that the G2 is probably a lot better in regards to ventilation. I'll find out soon enough.
https://bernunlimited.com/shop/bike/men/g2-w-visor.html
https://bernunlimited.com/shop/bike/men/g2-w-visor.html
#92
Cycle Dallas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,776
Likes: 11
From: Land of Gar, TX
Bikes: Dulcinea--2017 Kona Rove & a few others
This will be the first non-home-brew mirror I've used.
#93
This. Mine came with ear muffs for cold days, a rear blinkie, and has a visor to keep the sun outta my eyes. Racy helmets on a 3 speed - who would I be kidding?
Last edited by Zorba; 10-25-12 at 05:11 PM.
#94
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,643
Likes: 68
From: Portland OR
Bikes: 61 Bianchi Specialissima 71 Peugeot G50 7? P'geot PX10 74 Raleigh GranSport 75 P'geot UO8 78? Raleigh Team Pro 82 P'geot PSV 86 P'geot PX 91 Bridgestone MB0 92 B'stone XO1 97 Rans VRex 92 Cannondale R1000 94 B'stone MB5 97 Vitus 997
Giro Indicator. Your basic vented roadbike helmet.
It is a reasonably light helmet, which doesn't matter so much since I mount a bunch of stuff on it: two red blinkies, a battery pack, a (very bright) light, a (very small) videocam, and a mirror.
The dial-fit system means I can quickly go from just the helmet to adding a cycling cap underneath (rain) or a balaclava (cold).
I use this helmet for everything from commuting to century rides.
It is a reasonably light helmet, which doesn't matter so much since I mount a bunch of stuff on it: two red blinkies, a battery pack, a (very bright) light, a (very small) videocam, and a mirror.
The dial-fit system means I can quickly go from just the helmet to adding a cycling cap underneath (rain) or a balaclava (cold).
I use this helmet for everything from commuting to century rides.
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Mithrandir
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07-22-12 09:03 PM






