Australian standards helmet question

Katharine & Paul said:

Hello all!

Has anyone read the Australian Standard? Sorry, but I am not going to pay
$31.68 just for a pdf from a website.

My problem is:
I live in a very, very cold part of Australia. So I want a helmet with
minimal (or no) ventilation holes. I find the increasing number of
ventilation holes a problem for winter riding. I used to have a Headway
airflow, which was a much better helmet for riding in winter than anything I
have seen in the shops recently. Every new helmet looks like some sort of
mesh work to go over your head.

I wanted to get a time trial helmet for this reason. But I have recently
seen a Cycling Australia memo that none pass Australian Standards.

What is the Australian Standards ventilation ??? Would I be right in
suggesting that the need for ventilation is largely irrelvant, and in fact a
big problem for riding when the temperature is below zero???

If this is the case, I want to write a letter to complain to them.

Paul

Can you just use one of those thermal beanie things that goes under the
helmet??

I take your point re: ventilation holes. But wouldn't it be less stress
just to get a beanie?? Apologies if I am missing the point... *grins*

Cheers,
Abby

Wear a motorbike helmet! That'll keep you warm!

(yes, I've tried it)

Jules

Katharine & Paul said:

Hello all!

Has anyone read the Australian Standard? Sorry, but I am not going to pay
$31.68 just for a pdf from a website.

My problem is:
I live in a very, very cold part of Australia. So I want a helmet with
minimal (or no) ventilation holes. I find the increasing number of
ventilation holes a problem for winter riding. I used to have a Headway
airflow, which was a much better helmet for riding in winter than anything I
have seen in the shops recently. Every new helmet looks like some sort of
mesh work to go over your head.

I wanted to get a time trial helmet for this reason. But I have recently
seen a Cycling Australia memo that none pass Australian Standards.

What is the Australian Standards ventilation ??? Would I be right in
suggesting that the need for ventilation is largely irrelvant, and in fact a
big problem for riding when the temperature is below zero???

If this is the case, I want to write a letter to complain to them.

Paul

Katharine & Paul said:

Hello all!

Has anyone read the Australian Standard? Sorry, but I am not going to pay
$31.68 just for a pdf from a website.

My problem is:
I live in a very, very cold part of Australia. So I want a helmet with
minimal (or no) ventilation holes. I find the increasing number of
ventilation holes a problem for winter riding. I used to have a Headway
airflow, which was a much better helmet for riding in winter than anything I
have seen in the shops recently. Every new helmet looks like some sort of
mesh work to go over your head.

Ventilation is not a factor in the standard. It's about impact
protection and attachment to your scone.

You can get a BMX/freeride helmet that has next to no vents (and in
Ubercool, all the kids are wearing it! black). Or, you can wear a
beanie under a roady helmet, or yuo can get a standards-approved TT
helmet (ask your LBS to find one for you, they do exist)

I'd love to know where this fridgid part of the world is, I've ridden
up & down Hotham in a snowstorm without any significant head freeze!

Absent Husband said:

Can you just use one of those thermal beanie things that goes under the
helmet??

Made myself one of these out of some scrap polarfleece we had lying
around the house a few months back. Worth it at twice the price
(though it's hardly been cold enough here to wear it: I've had to
remove it half way through my commute when I've had it on).

Quoted message said:

Can you just use one of those thermal beanie things that goes under the
helmet??

Do that already - its still very cold. Put too much under and the helmet
doesnt do up properly.

Many motorbike helmets have hardly any ventilation holes. Why cant we have
cyling helmets for cold weather that dont have the holes?

Quoted message said:

I take your point re: ventilation holes. But wouldn't it be less stress
just to get a beanie?? Apologies if I am missing the point... *grins*

Cheers,
Abby

Katharine & Paul said:

Many motorbike helmets have hardly any ventilation holes. Why cant we have
cyling helmets for cold weather that dont have the holes?

Get a skid lid,
http://www.helmetsrus.com/images/blkrose.jpg

Katharine & Paul said:

Hello all!

Has anyone read the Australian Standard? Sorry, but I am not going to pay
$31.68 just for a pdf from a website.

My problem is:
I live in a very, very cold part of Australia. So I want a helmet with
minimal (or no) ventilation holes. I find the increasing number of
ventilation holes a problem for winter riding. I used to have a Headway
airflow, which was a much better helmet for riding in winter than anything I
have seen in the shops recently. Every new helmet looks like some sort of
mesh work to go over your head.

I wanted to get a time trial helmet for this reason. But I have recently
seen a Cycling Australia memo that none pass Australian Standards.

What is the Australian Standards ventilation ??? Would I be right in
suggesting that the need for ventilation is largely irrelvant, and in fact a
big problem for riding when the temperature is below zero???

If this is the case, I want to write a letter to complain to them.

Paul

We have had a very cold winter so far, Th eepast three weeks have been in the minus' with our coldest about minus six. I took to my helmet with PVC tape and taped all the front vents, works for me. I also wear a beanie underneath the helmet aswell.🙂

leestevens said:

I took to my helmet
with PVC tape and taped all the front vents, works for me. I also wear
a beanie underneath the helmet aswell.🙂

Make yourself a beanie for the helmet. ie one that goes on the outside
of the helmet.

leestevens said:

Katharine & Paul said:

Hello all!

Has anyone read the Australian Standard? Sorry, but I am not going to
pay
$31.68 just for a pdf from a website.

My problem is:
I live in a very, very cold part of Australia. So I want a helmet with
minimal (or no) ventilation holes. I find the increasing number of
ventilation holes a problem for winter riding. I used to have a
Headway
airflow, which was a much better helmet for riding in winter than
anything I
have seen in the shops recently. Every new helmet looks like some sort
of
mesh work to go over your head.

I wanted to get a time trial helmet for this reason. But I have
recently
seen a Cycling Australia memo that none pass Australian Standards.

What is the Australian Standards ventilation ??? Would I be right in
suggesting that the need for ventilation is largely irrelvant, and in
fact a
big problem for riding when the temperature is below zero???

If this is the case, I want to write a letter to complain to them.

PaulWe have had a very cold winter so far, Th eepast three weeks have been

in the minus' with our coldest about minus six. I took to my helmet
with PVC tape and taped all the front vents, works for me. I also wear
a beanie underneath the helmet aswell.🙂

I occasionally ride at well below zero (minus 7 a few weeks ago) and am
very thin up top (I'm balding AND shave to a number 2!!). Frankly, I
never feel the cold on my head at all. My ears feel it a smidgen but
it's my jaw that cops it most and only a motor-cycle helmet would help
me out there. My tootsies and fingers are my main concern. I'm sure
some of the older style helmets cover everything. I'm assuming it's a
style and weight issue which has resulted in the helmets we currently
have that a so holey!!

--
Bean

Remove "yourfinger" before replying

leestevens said:

We have had a very cold winter so far, Th eepast three weeks have been in the minus' with our coldest about minus six. I took to my helmet with PVC tape and taped all the front vents, works for me. I also wear a beanie underneath the helmet aswell.🙂

I have seen pics of track riders with regular looking helmets with blocked vents. Looks like the helmets been shrink wrapped.

cyclingnews.comtrack.phpOpen ↗

Why worry about the standard? As far as I can tell it's as much about
unfair trade as anything else:

- Australia sets its own standard, when there are several already in
existence in the world
- to certify a helmet, an importer has to pay for the helmet to be
tested, then pay for each sticker
- you can buy a helmet over the internet for half the price of the item
in Australia, the same model, from the same assembly line and same
batch, but it hasn't got its sticker so it doesn't meet the standard.

Cycling Australia got sucked into this, probably by commercial
pressure, and won't let you race with your unstickered helmet.

So don't bother writing to Standards Australia - they're in it for the
money.

There are lots of helmets for freeriding, downhilling, skateboarding,
snowboarding, that would meet your needs. Check the internet to import
one at a fairer price than you can get here. If you are desperate for a
sticker, pinch one from another helmet and put it in your new one. Who
will ever know?

Donga

"sinus" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

leestevens said:

We have had a very cold winter so far, Th eepast three weeks have been
in the minus' with our coldest about minus six. I took to my helmet
with PVC tape and taped all the front vents, works for me. I also wear
a beanie underneath the helmet aswell.🙂

I have seen pics of track riders with regular looking helmets with
blocked vents. Looks like the helmets been shrink wrapped.

http://tinyurl.com/h3jdy

Or, the other trackie trick is to put a swimcap over the helmet. The track
'met' and 'catlike' brand track helmets are simply the normal road version
without the holes cut out.

Donga said:

Why worry about the standard? As far as I can tell it's as much about
unfair trade as anything else:

Because it's the law, and if you break it, and get hurt, your insurance
company is unlikely to pay out.

Your choice, of course ... but make an informed one and be aware of the
consequences.

Quoted message said:

- Australia sets its own standard, when there are several already in
existence in the world
- to certify a helmet, an importer has to pay for the helmet to be
tested, then pay for each sticker
- you can buy a helmet over the internet for half the price of the item
in Australia, the same model, from the same assembly line and same
batch, but it hasn't got its sticker so it doesn't meet the standard.

Cycling Australia got sucked into this, probably by commercial
pressure, and won't let you race with your unstickered helmet.

No, CA got "sucked into it" because it is a legal requirement of riding
on the roads in Australia.

"Katharine & Paul" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello all!

Has anyone read the Australian Standard? Sorry, but I am not going to pay
$31.68 just for a pdf from a website.

My problem is:
I live in a very, very cold part of Australia. So I want a helmet with
minimal (or no) ventilation holes. I find the increasing number of
ventilation holes a problem for winter riding. I used to have a Headway
airflow, which was a much better helmet for riding in winter than anything

I

Quoted message said:

have seen in the shops recently. Every new helmet looks like some sort of
mesh work to go over your head.

I wanted to get a time trial helmet for this reason. But I have recently
seen a Cycling Australia memo that none pass Australian Standards.

What is the Australian Standards ventilation ??? Would I be right in
suggesting that the need for ventilation is largely irrelvant, and in fact

a

Quoted message said:

big problem for riding when the temperature is below zero???

If this is the case, I want to write a letter to complain to them.

What's the point? The only reason there are no Australian
Standards-approved TT helmets is because the importers who would have to pay
for expensive testing would have worked out that its not worth their money
testing a helmet that they might sell 1000 of if they are lucky. It's not
that they won't pass the standards, it's because they haven't been tested
under its strict regime!
It's a market forces thing, not a standards thing. The best thing that
could happen to us is if they permitted other countries' standards...
(I own two time trial helmets, doh!).
The same market forces also seem to show that that Australians generally
like flashy, well ventilated helmets.
I suggest you pop on down to K-mart and get the cheapest nastiest helmet you
can find, and put a swim cap over it.

Here's the relevant parts of the Australian Standard, if you are still
interested.....It is very vague on ventilation. Here are the only times it
is mentioned:

1 SCOPE This Standard specifies the basic performance requirements for
impact

energy attenuation, load distribution, strength and effectiveness of the
retention system

and its attachment points, ventilation, and peripheral vision clearance for
lightweight

protective helmets intended to mitigate the adverse effects of a blow to the
head. Marking

requirements are also specified.

It applies to helmets for all cycling activities except BMX racing for which
cyclists may

require more extensive protection.

and

5.3 External projections Rigid projections and irregularities in the
continuous curve

of the outer surface of the helmet, except for ventilation holes and
associated depressions,

shall not be greater than 5 mm in height when measured normal to the general
outer

surface of the helmet.

NOTE: Irregularities in the outer surface of the helmet should be smoothly
faired to minimize

resistance to tangential impact forces brought about by friction or
snagging.

and

5.6 Ventilation The helmet shall incorporate features designed to transfer
heat from

the head.

"Donga" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Why worry about the standard? As far as I can tell it's as much about
unfair trade as anything else:
So don't bother writing to Standards Australia - they're in it for the
money.

And, remember that Standards Australia are industry-based, not some govt
department imposing the standard upon you......
You need to hassle the industry bodies.

Gemma

Bleve said:

Quoted message said:

Cycling Australia got sucked into this, probably by commercial
pressure, and won't let you race with your unstickered helmet.

No, CA got "sucked into it" because it is a legal requirement of riding
on the roads in Australia.

.... and the lawmakers got sucked into it before them. Jeez, we haven't
even got standards on bikes and their components, e.g. brakes. Why
helmets? "Fit for purpose" seems to be enough.

Donga

In aus.bicycle on Tue, 25 Jul 2006 08:57:54 +1000

Bean Long said:

never feel the cold on my head at all. My ears feel it a smidgen but
it's my jaw that cops it most and only a motor-cycle helmet would help
me out there. My tootsies and fingers are my main concern. I'm sure

Nah, you need a throat coat.

These are a cylinder of polar fleece or similar. You wear it around
your neck, pull it up as high as you like, suffocation optional....

Alternatively you can get BMX helmets that look like full face
motorcycle lids. Might not even be too hard to get an old fashioned
visor for an open face motorcycle helmet and fix it to your bicycle
helmet. I bet you'd have way more fogging problems than I do though!

Zebee
- who has so far not been cold as such, but has learned that using
cycling sandals on cold mornings means the arches of your feet get
cold!

In aus.bicycle on 24 Jul 2006 17:00:54 -0700

Donga said:

Why worry about the standard? As far as I can tell it's as much about
unfair trade as anything else:

can't speak for cycle helmets, but that's not so for motorcycle ones.

The Oz standard is definitely better (as in more protective) than the
US one for example. And unlike every other standard I'm aware of
requires batch testing rather than testing a single maker-supplied
helmet then certifying everything sold under that model name.

So if you buy a motorcycle helmet with the AS sticker you know it
comes from a batch where several were picked at random and they passed
one of the more rigourous tests available.

Zebee

In aus.bicycle on 24 Jul 2006 17:56:37 -0700

Bleve said:

Donga said:

Why worry about the standard? As far as I can tell it's as much about
unfair trade as anything else:

Because it's the law, and if you break it, and get hurt, your insurance
company is unlikely to pay out.

You should check that.

My income protection says nothing about it, my 3rd party insurance
says nothing about the legal status of anyone I hit. If my motorcycle
knocks you for six and you are wearing an illegal helmet or none at
all then my insurance don't care.

If fall off the mighty bent while wearing a non-AS helmet or none at
all, my insurance doesn't give a damn.

Zebee