ericcox

+1 Current ride with a Limar. My favorite helmet I have owned; the adjustment dial works really well. I'm not sure of the model off the top of my head, but I went with one that was only ~$70.00.

chad

Different companies tend to fit differently...since your mom is buying it, I'm going to go out on a limb and say she probably doesn't want to spend a couple hundred $...but then again maybe she does.

I like Giro's because they are "cool". I personally hate wearing a helmet, but I have no choice. You aren't allowed to race or ride in an organized club/group ride without one...so may as well get used to it.

FWIW I have the Giro Atmos and a 7 year old Giro Mountain bike helmet that was mid-high end (I think I paid $150CDN at a LBS) and I can't remember the model #.

The Bell Sweep would of probably fit me better after all the stuff I've read, and I actually wanted the colnago helmet to match my bike...but meh the atmos is nice. And the monza fits the same and is a lot cheaper so maybe check that out?

But seriously...a helmet isn't something you can really read about online...it has to fit on your head...a $20 wally mart helmet that fits is most likely better than a $240 giro atmos that doesn't fit on your head (or $180USD? In canada they retail for $240).

hockeyteeth

Too true. If anything, the higher-end helmets offer less protection - most (including the Atmos) use the same EPS liner as cheaper helmets, yet sacrifice "protective" material to create additional air vents. The cut-outs and sharper angles reduce the ability of the helmet to slide smoothly on pavement, also compromising rider's safety in a crash when compared to a smoother shell.

*edit - I'm not trying to start a helmet debate. I simply wanted to address the notion that crash-protection of helmets and cost are not necessarily directly related.

timmyquest

Oh come now, i'd say 1 out of every 4-5 riders i see isn't wearing a helmet.

ILUVUK

I'd follow the advice of people recommending the LBS. Try several on and if they're overpriced (sorry to the LBS employees and owners) buy it at nashbar or performance. I've tried the Bell Alchera (my wife's), Giro Transfer (my first) and Ascent R-18 (my current). Frankly, I think all three helmets fit me quite well. The Alchera is just a little more "polished" than the others. Fit wise you can tell the Giro Transfer is a $30 helmet, but it still fits me well. Maybe my head shape just works well with most any brand out there...who knows? I barely notice the Giro and don't notice the Bell and Ascent helmets all. Get a helmet on your head. It's like wearing a seatbelt in a vehicle...it's just plain stupid not to.

ivegotabike

i didnt wear a helmet either, 3 days in the hospital later i do...not that i remember those 3 days anyway...

hockeyteeth

I don't know where you live, but I'd estimate 99% of road cyclists wear helmets.

willieb

You must not ride with other people or something. Beleive it or not, NOT wearing a helmet is not cool for roadies, at least where I ride. Even in every organized ride I've never seen anyone not wearing one, of course most require you wear one, but even on rides with club riders, they always wear helmets. It's just plain smart, plus it's now part of the culture. Anyway, point is... don't worry about wether wearing one is "cool" or not. If you are worried about a cool helmet when buying, just get a brand name from your LBS. (i.e. Giro)

timmyquest

This is exactly the kind of post i was looking to avoid.

Listen, i don't need a lecture...i realize i should be wearing one. I've been riding my bike since i was 3...i've never worn one, i've seen plenty of spills...it's hard to just get up one day and decide "I need a helmet". I don't give a crap if people think i'm cool or not, you kind of have to drop that attitude if you're going to wear skin tight clothes and ride around on a bike looking like a tool. I just don't want an ugly helmet, i don't think that's too much to ask for.

bassplayinbiker

I like Bell helmets, they fit my head the best. I'd recommend a Bell Sweep, they are pretty cool lookin.

slvoid

Actually, the more expensive the helmet, the LESS protection you get. The most expensive ones have the most vents and the least material for weight savings. So they will just make the safety standard. Whereas a bmx helmet would probably be really heavy but surpass the standard.

grahny

That's about what I see around here too.... well, maybe like 1 in 15, but I always see plenty of people without helmets on. Personally I could care less if someone does or doesn't. I didn't wear one for a long time either. It's your head, do as you please.

I had a Giro Pneumo and it was super ultra mega comfortable. It died though (unfortuante offroad accident involving a tree limb and my head) and I'm wearing an Atmos now - got it on sale last year for around $125. Different kind of fit, but still very comfy. Very light - don't even notice it's there. If you want something different than the usual Bell's & Giro's, check out helmets like Rudy Projoect, Specialized, Lazer, etc... As long as you measure your head around above the ears, you should find something that fits decently.

kwrides

For what it's worth Timmyquest, I'm guesing BillyD was joking. Posters get into a lot of battles over the helmet thing here, so I think he was laughing at the ongoing debate/thread hijack possibilities...which, by the way, happend

bbattle

+1

dekalbSTEEL

go to the performance in Northbrook and try on EVERY helmet they have till you find one that fits your head and your budget. Then look online for a better price.

bbattle

The SS/FG thread on this subject had quite a few hipsters wearing bmx helmets. Heavy and with practically no ventilation; no thanks. My old mid-90's Bell was a well-vented helmet till I got a Giro Havoc. And the Havoc was a bucket compared to my Atmos.

Throwing gasoline onto the fire.

dmotoguy

I could have never worn a helmet so far and been fine.. Eddy never wore helmets that did anything in a crash.. either did Coppi.. don't give this guy such a hard time.

TheKillerPenguin

People that don't wear helmets are stupid and dumb because they aren't as cautious as I am.

Henke

Löl. With no helmet on you are less likely to leave a dorky looking corpse after suffering a fatal crash.

etz

I have a Catlike Kompact Pro. It is the second one I have owned. I broke the first one when I put my head through the back of a stationary SUV at about 35kph. I'm pretty sure it saved my life.
When I rang the local (Australia) distributor and told them the story they arranged a replacement at a 50% discount.

biker128pedal

Hey my mom bought me my first helmet. It was a Bell. The cool riders had Skid Lids.

I bought my wife her first and second horse back riding helmet. Real ones not the show ones. I came home from work one day and she told me she fell off and hit here head on the ground. When I flexed the helmet I showed here the crack in the foam liner. They work.

Sirrobinofcoxly

ATMOS!

DScott

Question for OP: do people prattle more or less with a head injury?


Go with the choice that leads to less, for our sake.

Cromulent

Yeah, but you ride against traffic!!

sickboymh

Whats a helmet?