Cycling helmet

itsmine

Hoping someone here can give me some advice please..
I'd like to buy my OH a new cycling helmet for christmas.
He rides a Merida Speeder hybrid kindof bike (if that's relevant?) to work every day through Dublin traffic and I've noticed he's stopped wearing his helmet of late. He currently has a basic helmet of some sort. What is the 'ultimate' cycling helmet - unobtrusive, lightweight, safe, whatever other features are important in a helmet?!
Thanks a mill.. :-)

Ryder

This may not be a popular topic here (do a search for helmets) but in short there is no def evidence that they save lives especially at commuting speeds. Helmets themselves differ in fit and look so are hard to buy as a gift. An idea may be to buy a gift touches for a bike shop and suggest a helmet as an idea. As a rough guide, the pricier helmets are about 100+e

itsmine

Ryder wrote: »

This may not be a popular topic here (do a search for helmets) but in short there is no def evidence that they save lives especially at commuting speeds.

Gosh! Ok - maybe not such a good present idea so.
What would be a good present for someone who commutes to work by bike?

Lumen

Get a white or black one, so it'll go with everything.

The Limar 104 is light, good value and looks small.

Or something like this to make him go faster...

Lumen

itsmine wrote: »

What would be a good present for someone who commutes to work by bike?

Gift ideas here.

itsmine

Lumen wrote: »

Gift ideas here.

Thanks for that - had a good read through it.
I was hoping for less etched glass cycling ornament and more must-have cycling accessory.. but it seems that there's a million and one different cycling accessories! He already has bike, wireless cycle computer, shoes that click onto pedals, pannier bag thing and carrier, several lights (I guess you can never have too many lights though - is there some amazing light out there I should consider?), a top and rain jacket and a high-vis vest. He doesn't have mudguards, but I am not confident in picking some for him/his bike, so that's probably not a good idea. I thought this would be easier

itsmine

Lumen wrote: »

Or something like this to make him go faster...

That one is certainly, erm.. aerodynamic.

I thought this looked neat, but is out of stock unfortunately

Lumen

itsmine wrote: »

Thanks for that - had a good read through it.
I was hoping for less etched glass cycling ornament and more must-have cycling accessory.. but it seems that there's a million and one different cycling accessories! He already has bike, wireless cycle computer, shoes that click onto pedals, pannier bag thing and carrier, several lights (I guess you can never have too many lights though - is there some amazing light out there I should consider?), a top and rain jacket and a high-vis vest. He doesn't have mudguards, but I am not confident in picking some for him/his bike, so that's probably not a good idea. I thought this would be easier

Get him a buff. :pac:

itsmine

Lumen wrote: »

Get him a buff. :pac:

Heh.. read that thread earlier. I am a loyal buff fan - they're yer only man on the bike (motorbike for me) or skiing.

Lumen

itsmine wrote: »

I thought this looked neat, but is out of stock unfortunately

It has an integrated visor. Visors are for mountain bikers. If you wear one whilst commuting to work you look dorky(er). :pac:

itsmine

Lumen wrote: »

It has an integrated visor. Visors are for mountain bikers. If you wear one whilst commuting to work you look dorky(er). :pac:

Fairy 'nuff. How about this one for dork-factor?

Lumen

itsmine wrote: »

Fairy 'nuff. How about this one for dork-factor?

The visors are detachable on Bells (AFAIK), which is handy.

Bells do look big. If he's a large size it may look like a stealth bomber has landed on his head.

Also, the fit of Bells is a bit marmite-y. They have an cage which sort of floats suspended around your head. Some people find them wonderfully comfy but others find them weird.

edit: I think before you splash the cash on a fancy helmet you should try and find out why he doesn't wear his existing ones.

Signal_ rabbit

IMHO there is only one helmet, that's the Catlike whisper, just the look of it is pure class!

Lumen

Signal_ rabbit wrote: »

IMHO there is only one helmet, that's the Catlike whisper, just the look of it is pure class!

Indeed, they can even make a recumbent rider look cool.

Oh, wait...

jwshooter

i have a limar 104 in black ,like lumen stared there light and small but snug .

littleknown

i have a giro atmos which i can recommend 100%,its light and comfortable and not bad looking for a helmet

for me helmets are an easy choice, giro are the best!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Giro_Atmos_Cycling_Helmets/5360032491/

i had a catlike whisper before and hated it, really uncomfortable and in my opinion looked stupid, had to sell it on half price..

by the way, the people who say there is no evidence they save lives etc are people who havent crashed, i took a bad fall years ago and landed facefirst against a rock.i was taken to hospital with a pretty messed up face but the helmet did its job and saved my head from who knows what. since then i have never used a bike without it,

another idea for you is one of these, just picked one up and its the best purchase ive made bikewise
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Gore_Phantom_II_Windstopper_Windproof_Jacket/5360030077/

rubadub

Ryder wrote: »

This may not be a popular topic here (do a search for helmets) but in short there is no def evidence that they save lives especially at commuting speeds.

Some would say they are more hazardous

itsmine wrote: »

I've noticed he's stopped wearing his helmet of late.

he might be one of them, could have changed his mind about them completely.

A high viz jacket might be a good option, I have a really light one which keeps you remarkably warm. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Categories.aspx?CategoryID=489

littleknown wrote: »

by the way, the people who say there is no evidence they save lives etc are people who havent crashed, i took a bad fall years ago and landed facefirst against a rock.i was taken to hospital with a pretty messed up face but the helmet did its job and saved my head from who knows what. since then i have never used a bike without it,

So do you now wear a full face helmet? The people who say it are more likely non-emotive in their decision, they have researched it and not come to the faulty conclusion "my helmet cracked, therefore my skull would have", or had some friend who died in a crash or something. Yet if their friend died in a car crash they would still not wear a helmet in a car, or walking home from the pub pissed which rationally & logically would afford a lot of people more protection.

littleknown

rubadub wrote: »

Some would say they are more hazardous


he might be one of them, could have changed his mind about them completely.

A high viz jacket might be a good option, I have a really light one which keeps you remarkably warm. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Categories.aspx?CategoryID=489


So do you now wear a full face helmet? The people who say it are more likely non-emotive in their decision, they have researched it and not come to the faulty conclusion "my helmet cracked, therefore my skull would have", or had some friend who died in a crash or something. Yet if their friend died in a car crash they would still not wear a helmet in a car, or walking home from the pub pissed which rationally & logically would afford a lot of people more protection.

well put it this way, the helmet cracked where my head would have, personally i am happy the helmet did instead, regarding the face i was doing downhill mtb where a lot of people use full face wear so in this regard maybe i should have worn a full face helmet. its a free world though so dont wear one if you dont want to, personally i do want to and i do wear one.

rubadub

littleknown wrote: »

cracked where my head would have,

Thats exactly the faulty logic/presumption I was talking about. I did finite element analysis on helmets & skulls while studying engineering in college, chalk n' cheese TBH.

I would certainly wear one doing downhill MTB'ing, though I would not do it in the first place.

itsmine

Lumen wrote: »

edit: I think before you splash the cash on a fancy helmet you should try and find out why he doesn't wear his existing ones.

Seemingly because the weather's got colder, he's been wearing a fleece hat instead. What do helmet-wearing cyclists wear to keep their ears warm in winter? A thin hat under the helmet? A Buff pulled up snood-like?

itsmine

littleknown wrote: »

i have a giro atmos which i can recommend 100%,its light and comfortable and not bad looking for a helmet

for me helmets are an easy choice, giro are the best!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Giro_Atmos_Cycling_Helmets/5360032491/

That looks pretty neat alright.

I've seen cyclists with lights on their helmets - are they just bungeed on, or do some helmets come with lights?

rubadub

itsmine wrote: »

What do helmet-wearing cyclists wear to keep their ears warm in winter? A thin hat under the helmet?

I have this balaclava, it is very thin and VERY warm, in fact I can only wear it for part of my commute as it is not yet cold enough. I do not wear a helmet but it would fit on top no problem.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24093

cdaly_

I use a headband. Leaves the top of my head free for cooling while keeping the ears from falling off. Nice and thin, no bulk under the helmet.

Used it once as a face mask when I got caught out by a blizzard on the commute home last winter...

DirkVoodoo

OP, not getting into a pros/cons of helmets, BUT:

Helmets are quite a personal thing regarding sizing, some brands fit different shaped heads better than others. I have a Giro, even though I am certain that I do not have a Giro shaped head.

I would: (a) Not so subtly bring your OH out to a bike shop to look at different bike accessories and have him try on a few helmets within your budget to see which one he likes.

(b) Buy a gift voucher and tell him to go buy a helmet of his choosing.

blorg

I have a thin cycling hat which covers my ears and a balaclava for when it gets really cold. Both fit under a helmet no problem.

Personal choice whether you want to wear a helmet, I generally do myself but I have certainly whacked my head badly without one and can confirm that heads are a hell of a lot stronger than helmets. If I had been wearing a helmet no doubt it would have shattered in two; I have written off helmets in much lesser crashes.