While were talking about helmets, I upgraded my smashed MET Ippogriffo to one of these https://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqP...TF_FULLSESSION

I always hated the MET because of its propensity to generate massive amounts of wind noise. Having head-slammed both it and a Bell Furio I can thoroughly recommend the Ippo over the Furio. The Furio was quieter yes, but left me with a massive headache after side slamming the road. MET took full force of the fall at a much higher speed and i hardly felt a thing afterwards even though the shell did not break down as much.

Having said that, there was no way I would buy another Ippo: I need to know what's going on behind me. I was going to upgrade to a MET Stradivarius but baulked when they pulled out a large and it fit. There's no way I'm a large, so the alarm bells started ringing. The Decibel fitted nicely in a medium and was $200 vs $290 for the Strad.

After 7 hours of riding I'm bloody happy with the Decibel. It's quieter than the Ippo, better looking (although the Dav-Lotto colours were more betterer!), and it's so light you hardly notice it's there. I'll update you with crash performance details at a later date

So what colour is it? Burgundy Rust?

I tried on the Decibel, my head wasn't Frankenstein enough (square). The new Strat is a nice helmet. I'd probably get one of those as my next skidlid, but you can pick up an Atmos on ebay real cheap these days, so it would be a tough choice. Come to think of it, I've stacked my helmet more times I can remember, so I really, really should replace it (right honey?)

Colour is a very unglamourous 'RAL 8012 matte', but I think 'Uluru' sounds much better.

Thanks for the report jock.
I was gonna get me an Ippo next... or maybe a Strad (seen some dirt cheep) I've never heard that they're noisy though. Good tip.

Nice work with the avatar Odin. A+

hehe, cheers jock... got bored sitting here waiting fer me bike auction to go orf. 50 minutes to go <drums fingers>

Yeah, flash git..... Saw it and immediately thought COOL!

Is this the one???

https://cgi.ebay.com.au/Malvern-Star-...QQcmdZViewItem

yeah, but I didn't want to link to it and attract too many bids

A Rohloff with the disc setup. Does it get any better?

I s'pose 43 is small compared to your clown paddles

What does that make my 41's?
Damn Mets dont fit my big melon.. even in L, I liked the strad & 5th element.
Specializeds dont feel nice either, felt like they compressed the front/rear.
I guess my gead is a weird shape....

no racing for me but sinday plans include a morning session at killingworth and an afternoon session at ourimbah, once all you speed freaks have finished diggin up the trails

sounds good pshaw, ive never been to killingworth, but dead keen to go there one day.

thylo, that bike is hella nice. drool....

i have a met AND a HUGE noggin and it fits me quite well. i do worry a little about the side impact protection tho.... i also had a bell ( but it was way short on venting and i used to get well overheated) and that was OK from a fit perspective.

The side impact protection works pretty well (speaking from experience ) I'd often wondered about it too, but you would have to be in an unusual crash to hurt your jaw or cheekbone.

The little bit of side protection helmets provide is more than adequate for your everyday, garden variety bike crash where your shoulder hits the road first, followed by your noggin. Your shoulder keeps the lower part of your head away from danger so your delicate features are preserved but in doing that it catapults your brain cage into the ground, which is where the helmet comes in.

I have only ever seen BMX riders hurt their face in a crash. Takes a certain breed to pull of something that strange and difficult.

Dunno. Don't think I'll ever be able to afford one myself. 1600 bucks is a fair chunk of play money for a rear wheel, but it certainly will be a clean, no BS set-up.

Ok, you have a big head, and little feet - how do you keep from falling over?

Maybe Willy's knuckles drag on the gound providing some counterbalance

I've got something that drags on the ground... does that help

LOL Exy - who says seppos dont have a sense of humour, dont let it get diluted now yer home!

FWIW I type mekon instead of melon the first time...freudian slip LOL

It's tough when it keeps getting caught in the chain...really upsets your rythm

Allegedly I just watched the Super 14 final, but it just looked like a bunch of blokes running around in the fog with the commentators saying "I think that's Tamati Ellison taking the ball up" and the man on the sideline responding with "no that was the water boy Murray".

I got my last shred of dignity caught in my chain this arvo when I had an OTB crossing a water filled ditch after the front wheel got bogged - right in front of an elderly couple who didn't know whether to laugh or hobble off for help.

Ouch. Messy business vette. No injuries apart from your pride?

sorry Jock and all, back,

how good has MCewen been.


And even Gates and Vogels.

wb thunder. I see you've been back through all the posts. Sterling effort

McEwen is on fire, and what about Basso smashing 'em the other day. Got claims in the tour GC you think?

What have Gates and old man Vogels been up to?

I only went over at about 2kmh so it was just pride, and a couple of minor bruises, who'd have thought you could get hit in the head by your saddle