Helmets

eightyfish

I had a fall yesterday, first one in four years of daily commuting. Stupidly, I wasn't wearing my helmet at the time as I was thinking "It's only a short bit down Georges St..." Lesson learned.

So- I have a helmet. It's alright but a bit bulky. My forehead is - erm - seizable. I think I tend to look like I'm balancing a rugby ball on my head when I'm wearing it, thus I'm looking for something that looks a little less like a cycle helmet, if you know what I mean.

I was thinking of the Lazer Urbanize here, but I can't find a pic of anyone actually wearing it and I'm reluctant to get something like this online without trying it on. Also maybe this Bell Metro.

Anyone have any experience with these helmets, or any input?

Thanks.

Lumen

Everyone thinks they look stupid in a helmet. Most of them are wrong.

Attempts to wear a helmet that doesn't look like a helmet are doomed to fail, badly.

Some helmets (Limar Pro for instance) look smaller than others. I have one of these, and it solved the overhang problem, but not the massive forehead issue.

Bells generally look enormous.

The other option is to wear a cap and not crash.

dub_skav

eightyfish wrote: »

I had a fall yesterday, first one in four years of daily commuting. Stupidly, I wasn't wearing my helmet at the time as I was thinking "It's only a short bit down Georges St..." Lesson learned.

So- I have a helmet. It's alright but a bit bulky. My forehead is - erm - seizable. I think I tend to look like I'm balancing a rugby ball on my head when I'm wearing it, thus I'm looking for something that looks a little less like a cycle helmet, if you know what I mean.

I was thinking of the Lazer Urbanize here, but I can't find a pic of anyone actually wearing it and I'm reluctant to get something like this online without trying it on. Also maybe this Bell Metro.

Anyone have any experience with these helmets, or any input?

Thanks.

Genuine question. Did you get a head injury?

eightyfish

dub_skav wrote: »

Genuine question. Did you get a head injury?

No, scars on my elbow and hip. Tore through my clothes. Bash on the back of my left thigh which is the only bit that's sore today. My head missed the curb by about a foot.

It was a fairly bad fall, front wheel backwards - front break cables fell apart - few bits came off the bike etc. No recall of why I fell. People were walking on the path right beside me when it happened, other cyclists and cars around. Nobody came up to ask me if I was all right - apart from one nice girl a good few minutes later who handed me a bit of my light that had fallen off.

blorg

There is no harm in wearing a helmet and I would never try to dissuade anyone from doing so... Just make sure you get something Euro.

eightyfish

Lumen wrote: »

The other option is to wear a cap and not crash.

Not to crash was always the intention.

Idleater

blorg wrote: »

There is no harm in wearing a helmet and I would never try to dissuade anyone from doing so... Just make sure you get something Euro.

My view on helmets are that there is no point in getting one that will "just do the trick". I apply the same logic to my motorcycle helmet as my bicycle one - it has to look cool (to me), it has to be comfortable, and it has to be light.

The reasons for this are that if any of these things fail, then I won't wear it so I am basically removing the "uncool" "too heavy" and "it's uncomfortable" excuses - which basically leaves me with the "I'm just not bothered and I'm making a concious decision not to wear it and I will live with the consequences"

Obviously this excuse only applies to the bicycle, as I legally must wear a helmet on the motorcycle.

eightyfish

nereid wrote: »

The reasons for this are that if any of these things fail, then I won't wear it

I'd rather not look like a tool, I'd rather not carry around a massive yolke, and I'd rather not get to my destination with flattened sweaty hair. This makes me, on occasion, reluctant to put on my budget Limar for short journeys. I want something that I can throw on without even considering it.

So- light and not bulky, easy comfortable fit to the head. Which helmet do you wear?

lukester

Look at any group shot of riders on this forum. Does anyone else's head look big or silly (assuming their helmet is within acceptable bounds of euro styling)?

Nope.

That's how your head looks in a helment, no-one else notices. But most think their own head looks unfeasibly huge in a helmet.

I quite like the new Giro Saros, and there are deals to be had on the Ionos. I had a look at the Catlike helmets in Arnotts last week too- I liked them even more up close than I thought I would, and they seem very well built, nice little detailing touches, like the texture of foam on the straps.

All of the above are very well ventilated and very light.

jag con

Well it does not bother me if people think im not cool because i wear a helmet, so what get a life always wear a helmet. Do people think they look cool at the side of the road covered in blood after a fall and then a possible 6-7 hour wait at the a&e i think flat hair would be the last thing on your mind.

Morgan

Just try on loads of helmets until you find one that looks OK. Try Cycleogical, Cycleways and the Cycle Superstore for a good range. I must have tried at least 12 before settling on a Bell Sweep.

Idleater

eightyfish wrote: »

So- light and not bulky, easy comfortable fit to the head. Which helmet do you wear?

On the motorbike: a shoei XR1000

on the bicycle a MET Stradivarius (still comfortable 10 years after buying it), best £100 I spent on accessories.

between 150 and 160g I believe.

blorg

I have a Giro Atmos myself, very happy with it, have it in titanium colour to match my titanium bike and titanium Sidis... Most modern helmets are plenty light, the Atmos is nowhere near the lightest but I would never notice it. You can certainly get cheaper helmets that are lighter, but the Atmos is "light enough." I think ditto for just about anything else you buy these days. Has a good retention system that I think is key, my previous Specialized helmet didn't and as a result was constantly at a bit of a jaunty angle. The one thing it does seem to stick out a bit if looking in the mirror but I think just get used to that bit. Could just be my head, it doesn't look like it stands out so much on other people like this guy. Of course goes without saying, make sure you get a helmet that fits your head. As others say, riding a bike a helmet looks pretty normal, same as lycra...

eightyfish

lukester wrote: »

I had a look at the Catlike helmets in Arnotts last week too- I liked them even more up close than I thought I would, and they seem very well built, nice little detailing touches, like the texture of foam on the straps.

These look interesting - will drop up to Arnotts and have a look.

Lumen

jag con wrote: »

Do people think they look cool at the side of the road covered in blood after a fall

Yes. But maybe that's just me.

lukester

nereid wrote: »

On the motorbike: a shoei XR1000

on the bicycle a MET Stradivarius (still comfortable 10 years after buying it), best £100 I spent on accessories.

between 150 and 160g I believe.

Heh, I have an Arai shaped head, could never get to grips with a Shoei.

Manufacturers recommend replacing bicycle helmets every 3-5 years. Probably over cautious, but after 10 years I'd be considering a replacement.

eightyfish wrote: »

These look interesting - will drop up to Arnotts and have a look.

If you decide to buy one, they're a good bit cheaper online. I'd use that to get a discount at Arnotts, or just buy it online.

petethedrummer

Helmet for large headed fred thread

Idleater

lukester wrote: »

Heh, I have an Arai shaped head, could never get to grips with a Shoei.

Manufacturers recommend replacing bicycle helmets every 3-5 years. Probably over cautious, but after 10 years I'd be considering a replacement.



If you decide to buy one, they're a good bit cheaper online. I'd use that to get a discount at Arnotts, or just buy it online.

Agreed completely.

I've tried arai's and each time they squash my jaws (not the padding - it's under the ear lobes), and I know that I'll just get annoyed at them - heading for my third shoei and second XR1000.

As regards the bicycle helmet, I agree completely, the only reason I have it still is that I am only back on the bike(s) after a 5 year gap so I haven't gotten around to it.

I did think it funny though that the other half bought a "cheap" €40 bell and it was only 9g heavier and had a perfect amount of adjustment.

I think I will treat myself at the weekend perhaps. Gives me a couple of days internet research. I like the catlikes.

Is it "wrong" to wear a 'road' helmet on a MTB? Other than the peak are there differences?

ednwireland

nereid wrote: »

Is it "wrong" to wear a 'road' helmet on a MTB? Other than the peak are there differences?

yes you will be shunned

lukester

nereid wrote: »

I did think it funny though that the other half bought a "cheap" €40 bell and it was only 9g heavier and had a perfect amount of adjustment.


Is it "wrong" to wear a 'road' helmet on a MTB? Other than the peak are there differences?

Worth mentioning, the differences in helmet prices are not safety related, but to do with lightness and ventilation. So the €40 Bell will offer the same protection as the most expensive road helmet you can buy. I had a Giro Transfer for commuting and it was fine, but I did succumb to the marketing-fu of the manufacturers and got a 'proper' road helmet.

Re a road helmet for MTB'ing, AFAIK they all adhere to the same safety standard, so it's a matter of style really.

Bear in mind Euro rules are far more important than truffle-hunter rules.

blorg

nereid wrote: »

Is it "wrong" to wear a 'road' helmet on a MTB? Other than the peak are there differences?

As far as I know the only difference is styling.

petethedrummer

lukester wrote: »

I had a look at the Catlike helmets in Arnotts last week too-

God I hate those. They look far too much like insect eyes or something.

Kolo

It's probably a bad idea getting one online. To get a good fit you need to try it on, so I reckon going to the shops is the best bet.

lukester

Kolo wrote: »

It's probably a bad idea getting one online. To get a good fit you need to try it on, so I reckon going to the shops is the best bet.

No-one's suggesting just buying online without trying on for size first.

The process most people follow is this:

- Find helmet you like.
- Find the best price you can, either locally or online.
- If buying online, try on somewhere local to ascertain your size.

eightyfish

lukester wrote: »

If buying online, try on somewhere local to ascertain your size.

This will be the death of shops. The price difference pays for the staff, stock, rent etc. Though I would do the same myself.

lukester

eightyfish wrote: »

This will be the death of shops. The price difference pays for the staff, stock, rent etc. Though I would do the same myself.

This topic has been debated endlessly, but usually ends up with people saying they will shop locally if the service is good and the price differential isn't too great.

Some shops really take the p*ss. I bought a box of High 5 sachets in CycleSuperStore for 12.99, the same price I'd pay online.
Another city centre shop I was in recently was charging 20 euro for the same product. They did have a nice range of pumps for sale though :pac:

Idleater

ednwireland wrote: »

yes you will be shunned

By the roadies who know I use it for MTBing or the MTBers who can see it's a road bike. Probably both though.

As for Euro Rules, I think I am a bit away from those as I have Duraace on the BH (which for some reason isn't mentioned as an acceptable Euro Rules bike but I thought they were Spanish). It is white/red though, and I do have look pedals.

blorg

lukester wrote: »

No-one's suggesting just buying online without trying on for size first.

The process most people follow is this:

- Find helmet you like.
- Find the best price you can, either locally or online.
- If buying online, try on somewhere local to ascertain your size.

I know it has been done to death but to be honest I think that's a bit cheeky. No problem with buying online* but do it based on measuring your head or try on a friend's helmet; I don't really agree with using local shops as a free fitting service if you have no intention to buy from them... Just my 2c.

*and helmets are particularly good value given there is no VAT in the UK- as long as you don't buy from Wiggle who will add the Irish VAT.

lukester

blorg wrote: »

I don't really agree with using local shops as a free fitting service if you have no intention to buy from them... Just my 2c.
.

Really? I don't have any problem with it- is it any different to normal browsing? I've tried on helmets plenty of times just out of curiosity. I tried on a Catlike after I had bought my Ionos, just to see what it looked and felt like. No intention of buying one. Also just measuring your head is not a reliable way to buy a helmet.

As it worked out in my case, I went into CSS with the intention of buying a helmet they advertised as being in stock on the website. They were charging slightly more, but I was happy to pay that, in the spirit of supporting a local shop. As it happened, their website was wrong, none in stock and I bought online. I still ended up buying several bits there anyway.

I suspect a good few people here have done the same with helmets, shoes etc. The honorable thing might be to tell the shop you can buy the item online for x amount less, and see what they can do.

blorg

petethedrummer wrote: »

God I hate those. They look far too much like insect eyes or something.

I think Tom has the same reaction; I think they look pretty good myself.

monument

Lumen wrote: »

Everyone thinks they look stupid in a helmet. Most of them are wrong.

Oh, come on!

Whatever about the debate on safety, helmets look stupid. Trying to even hint otherwise is nonsense. :P

Lumen wrote: »

Attempts to wear a helmet that doesn't look like a helmet are doomed to fail, badly.

I can agree on that -- you just look even more silly.

Quigs Snr

Although yes you do look stupid in a helmet, in addition to possibily saving your life, they do provide an even bigger advantage in that if you add a pair of glasses no one will recognise you out mincing around the countryside in spandex pants.

Mint Sauce

nereid wrote: »

On the motorbike: a shoei XR1000

on the bicycle a MET Stradivarius (still comfortable 10 years after buying it), best £100 I spent on accessories.

between 150 and 160g I believe.

have me self one of them as well, although mine is noted as being 290g (large sized), as you say, well worth the price tag

DirkVoodoo

I suffer from terrible helmet hair, and helmets look massive on my odd shaped head. I have a Giro, I find it comfy and well ventilated but I don't like their design. Until they stop designing helmets for Lance and learn to accomodate the more well endowed gentleman ( I wasn't sure if trychularly was a suitable sounding word I just made up), I will not wear a helmet.

kenmc

I really like the catlikes meself too. they also have bugnets in the front, which are very handy to keep the wasps out of your head. will probably get one when mine needs replacing, but I've not used my current one yet. thankfully.

blorg

Helmets look perfectly normal if you are riding a bike, honestly, trust me on this. They look absurd if you are off the bike looking at yourself in a mirror. Either that or everyone else I ride with looks normal with their helmets and I am the only one looking weird (it is possible.)

ROK ON

I bought a Catlike Whisper a few weeks back. Looks insectlike definitely.
It is insanely comfortable and very well ventilated.
I have had problems with helmets, in that I usually get too warm and generally don't enjoy headware. I have a Girp Athmos which is the most uncomfortable hunk of junk that I have ever put on my head.
The Catlike really has to be tried. It gets the ROK ON seal of approval.

tunney

jag con wrote: »

Well it does not bother me if people think im not cool because i wear a helmet, so what get a life always wear a helmet. Do people think they look cool at the side of the road covered in blood after a fall and then a possible 6-7 hour wait at the a&e i think flat hair would be the last thing on your mind.

Helmets no matter how cool they looked before the crash will look battered and sh!te after the crash. but you'll pick it up, look at the damage to it, consider how bad you were with it on and shiver when you think what would have happened if you hadn't had it on.

I had a Giro Ionos, smashed it, was unconcious for a few hours, lost 10 days memory and got a smashed up face. This is with the helmet on.

Funniest thing I've seen/heard is a particular irish triathlete choosing to ride a borrowed high nelly with an aero helmet on rather than go unprotected.
Riding - all it takes is one sperm idiot driver.

Idleater

irish-stew wrote: »

have me self one of them as well, although mine is noted as being 290g (large sized), as you say, well worth the price tag

Yeah, I checked mine last night, it's 250g (medium) not 150 as I thought, and the Bell which cost wise is 25% is 259g. How technology advances over the years...

blorg wrote: »

Helmets look perfectly normal if you are riding a bike, honestly, trust me on this. They look absurd if you are off the bike looking at yourself in a mirror.

Agreed. Similarly with all the gear, you look like a plonker popping in for a litre of milk and the paper in full race gear and road shoes . click clomp click clomp...



On the other tangent, I find motorcycle gear is great for shopping in, certainly Christmas on Grafton street, and I had fun in Ikea on Monday.

I'm sure those nice ladeez will stand aside to let other shoppers through next time

eightyfish

ROK ON wrote: »

The Catlike really has to be tried.

I think this is the one I'll try.

Unfortunately I found out this morning that I'm not getting some extra work I understood I was getting because of a stupid hiring freeze, so I may have to wait a while! :mad:

rubadub

eightyfish wrote: »

No, scars on my elbow and hip. Tore through my clothes.

So are you going to wear more protective clothing in future? I cringe looking at people in skimpy lycra, not because of the "fashion", but rather the very little protection it offers. I always wear gloves for protection, and long tracksuits which are not wafer thin. I should wear long sleeves more often too. The only extra protection I did consider was knee and elbow pads for cycling in snow & ice.

jag con wrote: »

Well it does not bother me if people think im not cool because i wear a helmet, so what get a life always wear a helmet.

Well as some poster here said before, make sure it is a high viz helmet, since the visibility will probably afford you more protection than the absorption effect of the foam. And if you really do not care about it looking "cool", there is no excuse not to go high viz.

eightyfish

rubadub wrote: »

So are you going to wear more protective clothing in future? I cringe looking at people in skimpy lycra...

I was just wearing normal clothes hurrying down Georges St to meet my girlfriend for lunch. So I need a few stitches in my combats. My brand new jacket came out of it unscathed somehow.

Lumen

rubadub wrote: »

And if you really do not care about it looking "cool", there is no excuse not to go high viz.

Indeed.

petethedrummer

Rubadub and JagCon to the naughty corner, right now. The OP wants a helmet, not a helmet debate.

Húrin

eightyfish wrote: »

No, scars on my elbow and hip. Tore through my clothes. Bash on the back of my left thigh which is the only bit that's sore today.

Helmets only help to prevent head injuries. Contrary to what many seem to believe, they are not full-body forcefields. How would it have helped you here?

It was a fairly bad fall, front wheel backwards - front break cables fell apart - few bits came off the bike etc. No recall of why I fell. People were walking on the path right beside me when it happened, other cyclists and cars around.

How did such an accident happen on a low-speed road like that?

Nobody came up to ask me if I was all right - apart from one nice girl a good few minutes later who handed me a bit of my light that had fallen off.

Remarkable. I didn't think that Dublin had got this bad, or should I say "urbane and sophisticated".

eightyfish

Húrin wrote: »

Helmets only help to prevent head injuries. Contrary to what many seem to believe, they are not full-body forcefields. How would it have helped you here?

I'm not worried about my body, but I could easily have hit my head off the curb. Hence lesson learned. The one time I fall I'm not wearing the bloody thing.

Húrin wrote: »

How did such an accident happen on a low-speed road like that?

To be honest, I don't know. It wasn't the fault of anybody else on the road. I was coming down the road fairly quickly, elevated over the seat rather than sat down. I remember thinking "crap I'm going to fall" and then being on the ground. I didn't realise the bike wheel turned or anything, got up and tried to walk away with the bike but it wouldn't move. I may have slightly overstepped the pedal or something, mind blank.

Stark

Hurin wrote:

Helmets only help to prevent head injuries. Contrary to what many seem to believe, they are not full-body forcefields. How would it have helped you here?

By surrounding him in a cloud of smug thus deflecting injuries onto the non cycle helmet wearing population.

Unfortunately the smug field isn't a replacement for the act of checking and servicing your bike every now and again.

blorg

eightyfish wrote: »

I'm not worried about my body, but I could easily have hit my head off the curb. Hence lesson learned. The one time I fall I'm not wearing the bloody thing.

This is sort of key, head injuries have the potential to be more serious than your hands, knees and elbows, although the latter have a much higher risk of actually getting injured. I have broken bones before but this is minor compared to a bad head injury. Note I agree with the stuff on relative risks and I don't always wear a helmet myself, but not wearing one because you are concerned about how it looks is just silly as it looks perfectly normal- if you are riding a bike!

WithCheesePlease

How about something like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0rGoWtF-hs

I know I look ridiculous in mine (regular helmet that is), but I still just throw it on and hope people don't recognise me and keep my head down at traffic lights... Oh the shame!

littleknown

i had a catlike whisper and must say it was one of the worst helmets i have had, very uncomfortable and looked ridiculous, now have a giro atmos and love it, will always buy giro from here on. had a giro havoc before, also good.

blorg

@littleknown- I think it is a personal thing, your head gets on with an Giro Atmos, someone else's head might be shaped better for a Catlike Whisper. Both helmets have their fans, it's not that one or other is "better."