Meanwhile carriage pusher is thinking, why isn't that cyclist wearing a helmet?

My sis and I have been wanting to have a dance party where everyone dark turtlenecks and we play some Kraftwerk and other old shool dancy electronic stuff. Kinda like Sprockets from SNL. Last night while watching one of the local bible stations (beamed in from the jesus college next door) I saw the John Tesh at Red Rocks performance. First I shed a tear. Then I though more about the dance party and this thread.

Call it a Cogs party. Wear your base layers or any technical clothing ya got. Wear ya face hugger helmet and we'll spin some of the Tour de France sound tracks that Tesh made. That would be awesome. Maybe provide some Zima. '90's dude.


Oh yeah. Wear a helmet.

Ya..that's how I live, I ride very aggressive in traffic and do offroad trial type stuff.
It will happen someday, when i'm NOT prepared to ditch or can't. I can be all great about cycling skills..but it will be some stupid crap I can't deal with that will bite me, like an erratic driver.
The helmet does nothing to eliminate danger...it's a failsafe for when all contol is gone from the situation.

I wear a bmx smashout hardshell by Pro-Tec. Quite comfortable, came with a second washable liner.
No stickers. I think it's 40 bandwave fluorescent :) .

My favorite "vulgar display of protective gear" is the handful of messengers around Chicago who wear hockey gear and body armor. One is the legendary SuperDave, who also rides down stairs and makes motorcycle noises. The other is this short Puerto Rican guy who has a full-face hockey mask and shoulder/arm armor and rides a super agressive TT bike. I once saw him doing at least thirty through Michigan Ave traffic, cutting back and forth like a maniac. I imagine he'd wipeout like a motorcycle racer if he fell, just sliding along on the plastic shell... On that note, I feel pretty lame not wearing my helmet in the winter, but I haven't found a wool hat that fits well underneath it. I wear it full time in the summer, and probably ride faster/stupider then anyway.

What does CPSC certified mean?

Consumer Product Safety Commission.

In order of increased protection I believe it goes CPSC, ANSI, Snell.

Ah, here's more info: http://www.bhsi.org/standard.htm

Thanks, man. Now I'm wondering how vital the certification is to the effectiveness of a helmet. Not that I doubt, I just wonder. I've noticed a lot of BMX-style lids are less certified than some of the road helmets. This puzzles me, as I would think that BMX riders tend to need the protection a bit more, with all the stunts and so forth.

Fine question. There's a lot of question about how accurately the testing procedure, particularly the impact tests, even reflect real-world stresses.

Pro-Tec bmx (mine) is CPSC approved. :)