Helmet technology

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02-28-05 | 04:48 PM

#26

Treespeed

Warning:Mild Peril

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 3,170

Likes: 3

From: Seattle Refugee in Los Angeles

Bikes: Cilo, Surly Pacer, Kona Fire Mountain w/Bob Trailer, Scattante

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike

I think if most people thought they were about to be beaned (or likely to be beaned) with a baseball bat, and were given a choice of preventive actions, would permanently step out of the box and not depend on a piece of ineffective plastic for protection from such a serious hazard.

Well obviously the first choice is to duck and avoid being hit and that is certainly how I ride. That being said, I have had my helmeted head beaned a few times, most notably by a bus mirror. I would argue that I'm still able to write this mesage today because of that helmet. But hey, do what you want.

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Non semper erit aestas.

02-28-05 | 04:57 PM

#27

closetbiker

Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 9,630

Likes: 18

From: Vancouver, BC

Quote:

Originally Posted by slvoid

I thought I'd never see the day when you have the tinest bit positive to say about helmets but thank god for THAT. Cause when it's 90-100 degrees and I'm pushing at 85%+ of my MHR in the sun, I'd suffer heat stroke pretty quickly without any vents. So thank god the helmet institute recommends hyper-vented helmets for people like me who can't live without the added ventilation.

You might want to re-think what you have posted here.

I gave the link for the full article of which I posted the first paragraph. They were the BHSI words.

Quote:

Since we believe that rounder shells and less dense foam are virtues in a crash, we don't recommend hyper-vented helmets unless you can't live without the added ventilation.

I think it was a positive comment on the potential safety of vented helmets because the BHSI has some serious reservations about helmets that are excessively vented.

I'd also agree with chicharron when he re-enforced nick burns by saying "big emphasis on marketing". I am in agreement with the BHSI about selling more helmets to repeat buyers by manafacturers is marketing as well. The BHSI where on page

https://www.helmets.org/replace.htm

Most manufacturers now recommend that helmets be replaced after five years, but some of that may be just marketing. (Bell now recommends every three years, which seems to us too short. They base it partially on updating your helmet technology, but they have not been improving their helmets that much over three year periods, and we consider some of their more recent helmets to be a step backwards, so we would take that with a grain of salt.)

So buy a an approved helmet and keep it for a long time. Don't be fooled by sales ploys and spend more than you have to.

Last edited by closetbiker; 02-28-05 at 05:44 PM.

02-28-05 | 07:22 PM

#28

supcom

You need a new bike

Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 5,433

Likes: 4

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanbikehouston

I have several Trek helmets that I got on sale for around $25 or so. I like them because they are white, and reflect heat away from my hair-challenged dome, and they have a "dial" on the back that allows easy "fine tuning" of the fit. Two of my friends bought the same helmet after I "raved" about mine, and they are both very pleased with theirs.

I have only bought one "mega-buck" helmet over the years. It is not as comfortable as the Trek helmet although it does look very spiffy.

I have noticed that when someone with lots of hair is using a helmet with zillions of ventilation holes, I can see their hair up against, and in, the vents. If a helmet fits in such a way as to put your scalp or hair directly against the vents, it is hard to see how much air circulation would occur. On my head, just lots of little sunburn spots would appear. So, I go with white or silver helmets and get the "cooling" effect of reflection, rather than hope for much air circulation.

While there is nothing wrong with white or silver helmets, the color of the shell has no affect on the temperature within. The foam acts as a very effective insulator (hence the vent holes!) and effectively prevents any additional heat absorbed by darker colored shells to reach your head.

02-28-05 | 07:27 PM

#29

bostontrevor

Retrogrouch in Training

Joined: Sep 2004

Posts: 5,484

Likes: 1

From: Knee-deep in the day-to-day

Quote:

Originally Posted by supcom

The foam acts as a very effective insulator (hence the vent holes!)

Hence

02-28-05 | 07:42 PM

#30

alanbikehouston

Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 5,250

Likes: 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by supcom

Well, maybe I will do a test. I have a navy blue helmet laying around somewhere. I could set it and a white helmet side by side in the sun, and measure the interior temperatures. One possible flaw in the "test" would be that, without my head inside the helmet, air actually might circulate through the air vents.

Of course, if the navy blue helmet melts, I will have to sue someone...it's the American thing to do.