UK and Europe · Public discussion

Full Face Helmets

Started by Danny Colyer · · Last activity · 5 posts · 1,427 views

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UK and Europe
Published
12 May 2004
Last activity
14 May 2004
Original author
Danny Colyer
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  1. In another thread said:

    Yebbut, full-face helmets are sooo cooool (actually, I imagine they are
    bloody hot and sweaty).

    When I first started reading the unicycling mailing list *mumble* years
    ago, before the existence of rec.sport.unicycling, few Europeans would
    have considered wearing a helmet (Americans often did, indeed
    International Unicycling Federation rules require helmets for track
    racing, though when the world championships were held in Guildford the
    organisers made the decision to ignore that rule).

    Now, with the increased popularity of off-road and trials unicycling, a
    lot of people wouldn't consider /not/ wearing a helmet. Body armour's
    quite popular, too. (Even *I* now wear wrist guards for Cokering and Muni).

    But at the extreme, there's one regular on rec.sport.unicycling who has
    taken to wearing a full face helmet! He cut his jaw open on a rock
    following a UPD, in light of which the decision doesn't sound too
    unreasonable. But can you imagine how sweaty and uncomfortable it must
    be? Compared to a bicyclist, a unicyclist works harder for less speed.
    So there's more sweat, and less airflow to evaporate it. The only
    time I wear a helmet on a unicycle is for night riding, when the helmet
    really is the best place to mount my Lumicycles.

    This particular rider tends to write superb ride reports, though. If
    you ever want to read an entertaining, well written report of a unicycle
    ride, Google for posts to rec.sport.unicycling by Mikefule.

    --
    Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
    <url:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
    "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

  2. in message <[email hidden]>, Danny Colyer

    (') said:

    But at the extreme, there's one regular on rec.sport.unicycling who
    has
    taken to wearing a full face helmet! He cut his jaw open on a rock
    following a UPD, in light of which the decision doesn't sound too
    unreasonable. But can you imagine how sweaty and uncomfortable it
    must
    be? Compared to a bicyclist, a unicyclist works harder for less
    speed.
    So there's more sweat, and less airflow to evaporate it.

    Having studied the H*lm*t threads on this group for some months, I
    decided to replace my helmet. I bought a Met Parachute, which is (sort
    of) a full face helmet. Reason: I don't wear a helmet often, only when
    I'm doing Really Silly Things. When I'm doing Really Silly Things I'm
    at least as likely to fall on my face as on any other part of my head,
    so it might as well have some protection.

    I confess to being a bit sceptical as to how much protection the thing
    would really give in a faceplant situation, but it does help (in
    concert with the straps) keep the helmet very firmly on the head,
    making it at once more secure and more comfortable (and less likely to
    get dislodged in a shunt). The helmet itself is not greatly heavier
    than other 'MTB' style helmets, and is equally well ventilated so no
    sweatier. So on the whole I would say it was more comfortable to wear
    than other helmets - once it's on.

    The downsides are

    (1) Wind noise effects which definitely impair your ability to hear
    other things going on about you.

    (2) It's exceedingly awkward to take a drink from a bottle - not a
    problem if you're of the Camelback generation, but I'm an old codger.

    (3) The chin guard is sufficiently tight that it's a struggle getting
    the helmet off and on, and if I've forgotten to remove my glasses
    first, actually painful.

    --
    [email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
    Windows 95:
    You, you, you! You make a grown man cry...
    M. Jagger/K. Richards

  3. Simon Brooke said:

    I confess to being a bit sceptical as to how much protection the thing
    would really give in a faceplant situation....

    I'll leave it to you to judge this research suggesting that full face
    helmets may lead to an increased risk of fatal skull fractures. Someone
    posted the link on rec.sport.unicycling last week:
    <url:http://www.bikersrights.com/statistics/cooter/cooter.html>

    It seems at least part of the problem is that the chin bar prevents the
    face from being used as a shock absorber. Nice choice :-/

    --
    Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
    <url:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
    "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

  4. On Thu, 13 May 2004 21:21:21 +0100, Danny Colyer
    <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    <[email hidden]>:

    Quoted message said:

    I'll leave it to you to judge this research suggesting that full face
    helmets may lead to an increased risk of fatal skull fractures. Someone
    posted the link on rec.sport.unicycling last week:
    <url:http://www.bikersrights.com/statistics/cooter/cooter.html>

    Do we know anyone who's pushing full face helmets for cyclists? Oh,
    wait...

    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

  5. in message <[email hidden]>, Danny Colyer

    (') said:
    Simon Brooke said:

    I confess to being a bit sceptical as to how much protection the
    thing would really give in a faceplant situation....

    I'll leave it to you to judge this research suggesting that full face
    helmets may lead to an increased risk of fatal skull fractures.
    Someone posted the link on rec.sport.unicycling last week:
    <url:http://www.bikersrights.com/statistics/cooter/cooter.html>

    It seems at least part of the problem is that the chin bar prevents
    the
    face from being used as a shock absorber. Nice choice :-/

    Ouch.

    Nothing is simple or as-you-would-expect with this safety equipment
    business, is it?

    --
    [email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

    ;; Women are from Venus. Men are from Mars. Lusers are from Uranus.

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