Need to replace my helmet...suggestions?

brian-s-jones

My helmet is somewhat old...(7 years) and I would like to
update it.

Can anyone refer me to a source o/l that has RECENTLY
evaluated the lastest helmets?

Protection is obvious but comfort a must also. Realy could
care less about looks!

TIA,

B

Pete

<brian-s-jones@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:0pooc0la4p2j1a6j31seqmjg2tr9hl4rfe@4ax.com...
> My helmet is somewhat old...(7 years) and I would like to
> update it.
>
> Can anyone refer me to a source o/l that has RECENTLY
> evaluated the lastest helmets?
>
> Protection is obvious but comfort a must also. Realy could
> care less about looks!

You want the rabidly pro-helmet stance, or the cynical
stance?

Rabid Pro: http://www.bhsi.org/helmet04.htm

Cynical: All helmets sold in the US meet the same CPSC
standard. More money does not
= more protection. Buy one that fits, and you like.

Pete

Dan Daniel

On Sun, 13 Jun 2004 07:24:26 -0700, brian-s-jones@comcast.net wrote:

>My helmet is somewhat old...(7 years) and I would like to
>update it.
>
>Can anyone refer me to a source o/l that has RECENTLY
>evaluated the lastest helmets?
>
>Protection is obvious but comfort a must also. Realy could
>care less about looks!
>
>TIA,
>
>B

User reviews- just stick to the most recent....

http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/helmet/

The only sure way to check comfort is to try one on. Heads
are different shapes and so are helmets. Some will fit,
some won't.

Frank Krygowski

brian-s-jones@comcast.net wrote:

> My helmet is somewhat old...(7 years) and I would like to
> update it.
>
> Can anyone refer me to a source o/l that has RECENTLY
> evaluated the lastest helmets?
>
> Protection is obvious but comfort a must also. Realy could
> care less about looks!

June issue of Consumer Reports rates a few helmets, in
Consumer Reports' usual style.

They don't, of course, give numerical data on crash
protection. If they did give actual numbers, the
consumers would know how little protection these things
actually offer.

--
--------------------+ Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove
rodent and vegetable dot com, replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

Dave

While some have said they all protect the same (assuming
they meet standards) and I can't disagree with that, look at
the other factors which will directly affect the price...

Overall fit and comfort - it has to sit right, or it won't
do its job right, and it has to not get in your way,
affect your line of sight (like riding too low on the
brow) or bother you in general. You need to almost not
know it's there.

- Venting - some offer more airflow to keep you cooler,
and depending on where you live/ride, this can be a
big factor.

- Weight - goes to overall comfort

My personal pick is the Giro Pneumo. Aerodynamic, meets all
standards, nice adjustable fit, good pad placement inside
(helps keep sweat out of your eyes), excellent ventilation
and light. Used to ride a Specialized Sub6 which was kinda
light, but the venting left a lot to be desired. A lot of
the folks around here also ride "Catlike" helmets and like
those as well. Another good choice is the Limar F105 (I
think it is 105. Might be 107 - they're made from the same
basic design)....

<brian-s-jones@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:0pooc0la4p2j1a6j31seqmjg2tr9hl4rfe@4ax.com...
> My helmet is somewhat old...(7 years) and I would like to
> update it.
>
> Can anyone refer me to a source o/l that has RECENTLY
> evaluated the lastest helmets?
>
> Protection is obvious but comfort a must also. Realy could
> care less about looks!
>
> TIA,
>
> B

brian-s-jones

On Sun, 13 Jun 2004 14:31:50 GMT, "Pete" <ptr@usaf.com> wrote:

>You want the rabidly pro-helmet stance, or the
>cynical stance?
>
>Rabid Pro: http://www.bhsi.org/helmet04.htm
>
>Cynical: All helmets sold in the US meet the same CPSC
>standard. More money does not
>= more protection. Buy one that fits, and you like.
>
>Pete

Thanks Pete...I do wear a helmet, obviously, but will not
wear one that is not comfortable regardless of its
protection!

B

Badger_south

On Sun, 13 Jun 2004 11:10:50 -0400, Frank Krygowski
<frkrygow@mousepotato.com> wrote:

>brian-s-jones@comcast.net wrote:
>
>> My helmet is somewhat old...(7 years) and I would like to
>> update it.
>>
>> Can anyone refer me to a source o/l that has RECENTLY
>> evaluated the lastest helmets?
>>
>> Protection is obvious but comfort a must also. Realy
>> could care less about looks!
>
>June issue of Consumer Reports rates a few helmets, in
>Consumer Reports' usual style.
>
>They don't, of course, give numerical data on crash
>protection. If they did give actual numbers, the
>consumers would know how little protection these things
>actually offer.

You'd get a kick outta the newer 'Landrider' commercial,
Frank. One woman is shown wearing the helmet like a 60s pill-
box hat, wa-a-y back on the back of her head, of course, so
it won't mess up her hair in front. It was a good chuckle.
Maybe it will start a trend among the LR fans - Darwin award
candidates, eh?

-Badger (this is also the commercial that shows those loaded
with panniers and touting doing a tour with one.) ;-p

Matt O'Toole

brian-s-jones@comcast.net wrote:

> My helmet is somewhat old...(7 years) and I would like to
> update it.
>
> Can anyone refer me to a source o/l that has RECENTLY
> evaluated the lastest helmets?
>
> Protection is obvious but comfort a must also. Realy could
> care less about looks!

Just get one that fits. Some helmets come in only two sizes.
Better to get one where the shell itself actually fits your
head, without excess padding, etc. Other than that, they all
meet the same CPSC standard. If your helmet is 7 years old,
almost any newer helmet will be better ventilated, etc. Even
the cheaper ones are pretty good these days. The rest is all
fashion -- and like anything else, the more fashionable you
want to be, the more you'll have to pay.

I've seen stacks of pretty nice helmets at Performance,
better looking than the one I have, for under $30.

Matt O.

Just Zis Guy

On Sun, 13 Jun 2004 07:24:26 -0700, brian-s-jones@comcast.net wrote in
message <0pooc0la4p2j1a6j31seqmjg2tr9hl4rfe@4ax.com>:

>Protection is obvious but comfort a must also. Realy could
>care less about looks!

If you actually give a damn about protection, your choices
are extremely limited. You need a helmet certified to Snell
B.95, but most of the helmets on the market are certified to
(much) lower standards.

Unless, of course you ride on the roads, in which case you
need something much better. Crashes involving motor vehicles
routinely exceed the protective capacity of top of the line
motor racing helmets. A copy of Effective Cycling is a
better investment :-)

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

James Spencer

In article <qzZyc.32239$Oa7.17946@fe1.columbus.rr.com>, Pete
<ptr@usaf.com> wrote:

> You want the rabidly pro-helmet stance, or the
> cynical stance?
>
> Rabid Pro: http://www.bhsi.org/helmet04.htm
>
> Cynical: All helmets sold in the US meet the same CPSC
> standard. More money does not
> = more protection. Buy one that fits, and you like.

The two "stances" you have given here are the same. The
bicycle helmet institute with has posted your "rabid pro"
stance agrees with your "cynical" stance.

--
James P. Spencer Rochester, MN

"Badges?? We don't need no stinkin badges!"

David Kerber

In article <qzZyc.32239$Oa7.17946@fe1.columbus.rr.com>,
ptr@usaf.com says...
>
> <brian-s-jones@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:0pooc0la4p2j1a6j31seqmjg2tr9hl4rfe@4ax.com...
> > My helmet is somewhat old...(7 years) and I would like
> > to update it.
> >
> > Can anyone refer me to a source o/l that has RECENTLY
> > evaluated the lastest helmets?
> >
> > Protection is obvious but comfort a must also. Realy
> > could care less about looks!
>
> You want the rabidly pro-helmet stance, or the
> cynical stance?
>
> Rabid Pro: http://www.bhsi.org/helmet04.htm
>
> Cynical: All helmets sold in the US meet the same CPSC
> standard. More money does not
> = more protection. Buy one that fits, and you like.

Some helmets also meet the more stringent Snell criteria,
and are probably more expensive.

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in
the newsgroups if possible).

Pete

"David Kerber" <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote
>
> Some helmets also meet the more stringent Snell criteria,
> and are probably more expensive.

Comparitively few, and almost none of the name brands you'll
see in the stores.

Here is their current list: http://www.smf.org/certlist/std_B-90A_B-95A_B-90C_B-
95C.html

Pete