Originally Posted by acidfast7

Originally Posted by chefisaac

First, I wear a helmet and do not plan not to. Second, this is NOT a helmet debate.

I was curious if anyone wore the full helmet like this.

versus a regular cycling helmet.

Thinking of switching to it in the winter time for 1) more protection on when riding in the winters snow and ice 2) more warmth and 3) piece of mind.

Thoughts?

Originally Posted by CB HI

equals helmet debate

Originally Posted by 2_i

This is the Giro helmet I ride in for many seasons now. It covers a larger area of the head than a standard bike helmet. It has fewer holes than bike helmets generally intended for fair weather and those holes in Giro are normally plugged up - great for rainy weather and low temperatures. The chin strap is superior to any I had on a bike helmet. I switch to my Giro.9 I soon as it is practical given temperatures and feel much more secure than in any bike helmet. I am not sure I've engaged in serious tumbles with that helmet on a bike, but certainly in many when skiing. I would be scared, on the other hand, to put on a bike helmet for skiing, as providing a mediocre protection and even getting in the way such as in the possibility of getting caught somewhere - too many compromises there to ensure an air flow.

Originally Posted by digger

Why would you feel that you need more protection in winter? I understand that there is a greater chance of falling in winter, but falling can happen anytime. But falling, is falling, whether winter or summer.

Which is what a bicycle helmet is designed for....a fall, that's it.

www.helmets.org

Edit: I should add that the one time I split a helmet in-two was a fall....in winter. I was off-road riding, front tire went through the ice at 20 kph and I did a superman over the handlebars. Landed on my forehead/face, and helmet was split down the middle.

Originally Posted by skye

Let's first take a look at what other things you are doing to actually prevent winter falls, rather than something you imagine might help after the fall. During the winter, do you:

1. change tires to ones more appropriate for the season?
2. slow your speed to that appropriate for the poorer riding conditions
3. increase your visibility to aid idiot motorists in spotting you during reduced visibility/reduced light conditions
4. Wear appropriate clothing -- in particular, balaclava, ski goggles, etc.

Let's get *those* safety items cleared up first. Then you can more appropriately consider whether a full-face helmet is necessary.

Originally Posted by modernjess

As a winter cyclist in a winter town I'll weigh in:

I think that type of skate helmet is a pretty good choice for winter, and I see a lot of winter bikers wearing them. It is designed to take multiple hits as opposed to a regular bike helmet and all debate aside about riding carefully and safely, if you ride a lot in icy conditions studs or not, you will eventually go down. It's just a given. I've broken/cracked 2 bike helmets in icy snowy crashes in my time. That's a plus with these types of lids.

As far as warmth goes, it depends on you of course, Skate helmets are certainly warmer than regular vented bike helmets as they aren't designed specifically for high output efforts. Depending on your ride, the temp, and your output can that can still be a problem even in winter. I use a regular bike helmet with varying under layers depending on temps down to about 20F, i ride hard in the winter and I like the venting. Then I use a vented Giro ski helmet below 20F which is great, but it's way too warm for anything above that.

My conclusion, if you aren't too concerned about overheating they are perfect for winter.

Originally Posted by cyccommute

First chefisaac isn't talking about a 'full face helmet'...not unless he was going to wear it backwards. I'm pretty sure that anyone who rides in winter learns quickly to change tires, slow down, increase their visibility and wear appropriate clothing. But all those things aren't any kind of guarantee against falling on some random patch of ice. Tires, even studded ones, aren't infallible. Slowing down won't keep you from falling over on ice patches if you hit them wrong. And increasing your visibility won't protect your head nor will wearing a balaclava. Think of a helmet as the last line of defense after you've done all the other things.



Proper riding skills: good thing. Bike in good working order: good thing. But neither will keep you from crashing. I have excellent riding skills (very long term mountain biker) and my bikes are always in top mechanical form but I still crash...on occasion. It happens. Most of the time when you least expect it. My most recent crash occurred on a flat smooth bit of single track that can be ridden at nearly 20 mph. I didn't see a rock, clipped it with my pedal and found myself flying through the air before I augerred into the ground on my knee, my shoulder and then my head. It followed the same pattern as every other crash I've experienced...no warning and then you hit the ground. Sure, I could have not been riding there and I could have slowed down but then I could have driven my car that day too. I won't say that the helmet saved my life but it didn't hurt anything to wear it and I'd rather have rocks embedded in it then in my skull.

And let's face it, most people's riding skills leave a lot to be desired...give them a piece of gum and they will probably fall over. The mechanical soundness of most bikes is also less then stellar.

Originally Posted by digger

Agreed. Please see post number 10.

Let me approach from a differant angle:

All too often I hear well intentioned people (police, doctors, etc) say, "wear your helmet." When a cyclist is struck by a motor vehicle, I often read, "cycllist was (or was not) wearing a helmet." I often see kids, with there helmets on their heads so far back as to be useless, and once I saw a kid that had it on backwards (saw a police officer with one on backwards as well).

It seems that bicycle safety is nothing more than, slap a helmet on your head and off you go. Bicycle safety, is much more than that. Proper riding skills and a sound bicycle are far more important than a helmet. Protective gear (i.e. helmet and gloves), is your last line of defence.

The OP stated that we wanted "more protection in winter", "piece of mind". What was offered by myself, and others, is not merely just to wear a "better" helmet but to look at other options to increase safety. If a helmet is better, or offers more protection, then wear it year-round. Of course, one has to balance comfort and tempreature control with head protection. If comfort didn't matter, then wear a motorcycle helmet....but yer gonna sweat. :-)

****

chefisaac,

it is unlikely that a skateboard helmet would be your best choice. Like a hockey helmet, they are intended for multiple low speed impacts and unlikely that they offer good air flow.

I think that you might want to stick with a bicycle helmet and you can use a number of techniques to help keep you warm:
1) wear a balaclava, and have a full face one and just a touque (ones that are thin enough for under the helmet)
2) something over the helmet to block wind

You can mix and match the 3 things above to help regulate warmth.

In February, I wear the full faced balaclava, the touque and a rain cover.

As spring approaches I usually remove the full face balaclava.

Further into spring the rain cover comes off.

Then evenetually the touque.

Then when fall approaches into winter, the system reverses.

Originally Posted by digger

Here's a response to that.

https://helmets.org/danish.htm

Edit:
I do agree with Colville-Anderson that there was a decrease in cycling when helmet laws where introduced. I know that when I purchased my first helmet (1984) when the law was passed in my province it hung off my handlebar for a year....I eventually got over myself.

With time and education, this trend is starting to reverse now. Bicycle helmets, once the ammunition of bullies to poke fun at another, are now widely accepted by most (not all) and the "self-consciousnesss" of it is almost gone and is now common-place.

My brother, still does not wear one, as he is 10 years older than I, and "grew-up" in the time of no helmet and no seat belt (doesn't wear a set belt either). However, he WILL wear a helmet on his ATV, because THAT law was introduced before he was born and is accepted by him as a "norm."

<shrug>

Originally Posted by chefisaac

Thank you so much for the link!

Originally Posted by cyccommute

The Giro helmet linked suffers from the problems I listed above. I know that some people, perhaps most, don't use helmet mounted lights but their utility is so great that you should consider using them. While a handlebar mounted light does illuminate the road when the road is straight, in curves it points away from where you really need the illumination. A helmet light points into the curve and allows you to shine light where you really need it. The motion of the lamp as you ride is also as eye catching...if not more so...as a flashing light. The Giro's design makes mounting a helmet light difficult.

Originally Posted by chefisaac

I love my helmet light. I LOVE IT. I think it is something like 1000 lumens. Gets my point across if I need to grab a drivers attention.

My next move is to see how to mount it if I went that route. We will see.

Originally Posted by chefisaac

the liner is awesome.

Originally Posted by ckaspar

Hell yeah it is. I wish I lived in cold weather just so I could buy another piece of gear. lol

Originally Posted by chefisaac

Thank you. Not looking for temperature though. Looking for a little more protection if I fall. I might be misunderstanding.

Originally Posted by cyccommute

Crashes are, for the most part, random events that you can't anticipate no matter where or how you ride.

Originally Posted by skye

You are wrong. Crashes are rarely random, and almost always have a non-random cause. When was the last time the FAA, upon examining a plane crash, just threw up its hands and said, "oh, it was just a random crash! Sorry guys!"

No. Airplane crashes are due to pilot error, maintenance error, or another preventable cause.

Same with bicycle crashes. The overwhelming majority of them have a cause, and the most common cause is one form or another of rider error.

Originally Posted by chefisaac

So you are saying that if I hit black ice, it is my fault?