Don't know if any of you follow GCN videos, fun YouTube channel to keep up on bike stuff, roadie and race stuff, but they just did a comparison with a 1998 and 2016 helmet to see which is cooler.


As I started this thread more with my memories of very early 1990s helmets, it's pretty evident that this 1998 one would be a heck of a lot cooler than my first helmet from 91 or 92.

Anyway, figured it might be fun for you see this video.

Thomas Stevens and Frank Lenz both wore helmets during their world tours (1884-1886 & 1892-1894, respectively). Mr. Stevens credited his with sparing him a nasty injury.

first thought it was a typo, then the names began to ring a bell (more Lenz)....
made me think of a fellow who on crazy guy rode a penny farthing on (I think) an around the world trip, sometimes wearing a Pith helmet--which while completely goofy (the helmet I'm referring to) totally fit the part and looks great with him perched up there with it on.
Now riding a Penny Farthing around the world, thats pretty goofy also, but also totally wackily cool....

Whew, 'round the world on a Penny Farthing sounds tough! Saw an exhibition by some L.A.W. guys, just mounting (on level smooth ground) takes some finesse.

Yup, I've ridden one and while it was a totally cool experience, the miniscule downward slope on it gave me but a hint of how any sort of downhill would be absolutely terrifying.
I just had a flashback of one of his vids, going down a hill into Death Valley, his legs up over the bars cuz of the fast cadence.

Meant to say, " the miniscule downward slope I went down on it", being a fixie, no brakes, your cadence speeds up and you can only use your legs to try to slow the pedals and hence your speed down.

Here's the death valley vid

When my girls were young we bought some of those kiddie seats that go behind the rider so they could ride with us, seemed like a good idea at the time (late 80's into maybe '90). Part of our regular ritual was to load them up with those giant white styrofoam helmets (from Toys 'R Us or somewhere) and we would all ride into town to eat breakfast at a local greasy spoon. Walked in one day with their helmets still on when the waitress asked why our kids wore bedpans on their heads! I will always think of that when I think about early helmets . . .

Today I wear a Giro, probably the cheapest one on Amazon that wasn't pink. I'm happy enough although may "upgrade" some day. My girls wear the same I think now that they are adults.

Those old kiddy helmets made 'em look like mushrooms to me. OTOH little kids now usually ride in trailers but they still have helmets despite that the trailers seem pretty safe. Plus kids wearing helmets in trailers often seem a bit uncomfortable w/the helmet against backrest.

My 15 or so year old helmet is really no different than what's current today. I guess you'd have to go further back to see any real difference.

Unless you have the price tag. I had to replace one last month, and my wallet still trembles from the experience! (My head can't tell much of a difference.)

LBS, here, stocks $50 'ish' helmets.. to get the high end, just like the Pro's wear,

you have to go to the upscale Shops in the big cities... Seattle, Portland, Eugene, Olympia.

Helmets can be expensive & it's not esp clear that more $$ ones have better safety. Lighter is more comfy but since (AFAIK) most helmets use similar materials isn't there less protection?

I raced a hairnet my first year, 1976. Started racing open races the next year and bought the Bell just so I'd be wearing it in the next Cat 3,4 pile-up. No sprint here; there was no way I could "ride the front" all day to stay ahead of those crashes. That pile-up never happened (well I rode around quite a few), but that decision saved my life a month after the season ended. I got to be Bell's poster boy for the Boston area cycling community. (I had fun with this years later. I was then living on the west coast. When I went back, I would go to a bike shop I have never stepped in before, go to the helmet display and wait for a salesperson. That salesperson would start his pitch citing my accident.

Another poster said that only slow folk wore the Biker. 1977, two of us wore Bikers in the Maine International and finished in the lead group, in the money and under the old course record.

Oh, those hairnets? The word in the peloton was that we were wore them so we could have open casket ceremonies.

Ben

And as for expense vs safety for modern helmets: think about who the manufacturers are marketing the expensive helmets to - racers and wannabe racers. Racers pay big bucks to be fast. That means the best possible balance between weight, aero and comfort/heat dissipation. Notice that safety does not show up. CPSC standards must be met for a US sold helmet. So manufacturers are burdened with making the CPSC limits while finding that optimum blend of the important stuff. Improving safety would come at the cost of at least on of the elements of weight, aero and comfort/heats dissipation. Those high end helmets are going to toe closer to the CPSC minimum than the Walmart job because real engineering time is spent to get there.

Bottom line - if you want safety, stay away from big dollar helmets. (Except that the MIPS technology may radically lower your injuries under the right conditions.) I paid real money for the POC Trabec. Better safety at the cost of aero and weight. (Surprisingly comfortable, even in hot weather.)

Ben

Here in Montreal, it seems to me that the difference between a $50 ish helmet and a $100 one is in the mounting hardware, ie more comfortable ratchet system and foam cloth stuff. As someone who rides as soon as ice is gone to when ice appears, a better quality adjustment system is nice because I often change what I wear under the helmet, varying layers etc. Plus a nicer fitting helmet in warm weather is nice too, so worth it to me to spend a bit more.
That said, I don't feel there's any real difference in protection, although I think it's fair to say that a better mounting system that holds the helmet on your head properly better will be an advantage in a crash. I have neighbours who rides with their helmets tilted back poorly on their head, not very effective..... That said, I think most new helmets have reasonably designed rear support systems to hold them in place, even the 35 buck ones, the materials just feel more chintzy, the turning ratchets for example.

Helmets have gotten lighter & there's far more models/fits so I think mfg's now pay little attention to foam cushion bits. I saw a name-brand mid-price helmet where the thin cushion strips were coming off even just sitting in the box. Often replacements not available. Winter use is ignored, ideally they'd offer thicker pads for summer & thinner winter pads to leave room for cap. Also, how many riders strap the helmet on tight enough?

What helmets are suited best to long distance touring?

a while back I spent some time in a store trying on lots of different helmets, and there were clearly some that just felt more comfortable right off, and the rear ratchet system etc just felt better quality, and therefore would probably last longer, that was my take on it anyway.

Modern helmets come in all sorts of colors, often not very high-visibility. I've even seen kids' helmets in camo style (?). Should be more helmets in safety colors. Anyway I see there's some interesting new models & features. On link below there's helmets with adjustable ventilation, light/camera mount, detachable rain covers etc.

The 16 Best New Helmets of 2016 : Martone Cycling Helmet V2 | Bicycling

neat article, but they seem all to be at least $200 and I imagine here in Canada, they are all at least 250-300+ $can. which I find a heck of a lot for a helmet, where a 75-100 can. helmet will weigh maybe 50-75-100g more, but cost a third as much.....and still be a pretty darn good helmet with great ventilation.

I bought a new Bell down at the local big box store. Highviz. True Fit. Fusion construction (mold-in-shell). Same CPSC as every other helmet. ~22USD.

If I 'kinda' pranged the $22 Bell, I'd replace it without a second thought. If a rider 'just sorta' whacked their new $270 Giro Synthe, well, the MFR sez they should replace it too, but I wonder if they would?

I'd say both durability and comfort are at the top of that list.

I would agree, especially for the comfort, as with shoes or seats or bike shorts, some helmets will fit better than others.
I personally like visors for keeping sun out of eyes.

I agree on the high prices, hopefully some of the features will trickle down to the affordable helmets, but I'm not holding my breath, heh. My garden-variety Bell feels fairly light anyway.

Maybe yes , maybe no, about safety and $.