When I started doing races three years ago, I went to my local bike shop and picked up a pretty generic Bell helmet. It seems like ever since I've been fighting to keep the little pads on the inside of the helmet in place. They continually fall out and attempts to replace the velcro, use crazy glue etc. have proven unsuccessful. At this point, I've finally lost about half of them.
Can anyone recommend a helmet that is built better than Bell's and doesn't have this problem? I'm not concerned about winning style points, just protecting my grey matter without having to fight with my equipment. (Oh, and I care little about how aero the thing might be - I'm not fast enough for it to matter).
John Hardt <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
Hi all,
When I started doing races three years ago, I went to my local bike shop and picked up a pretty generic Bell helmet. It seems like ever since I've been fighting to keep the little pads on the inside of the helmet in place. They continually fall out and attempts to replace the velcro, use crazy glue etc. have proven unsuccessful. At this point, I've finally lost about half of them.
Can anyone recommend a helmet that is built better than Bell's and doesn't have this problem? I'm not concerned about winning style points, just protecting my grey matter without having to fight with my equipment. (Oh, and I care little about how aero the thing might be - I'm not fast enough for it to matter).
John
I think you'll find that this problem can be resolved by spending more on the helmet, even another Bell. You'll run into issues with cheap pads with any manufacturers basic line.
Essentially the extra money gets you better quality parts, a lighter helmet, and more vents. I doubt there's any safety benefit at all from spending more, it's just comfort, quality, and perhaps a bit of style that you're buying.
I always found my Giro helmet to be extremely comfortable and a great fit. You can probably get a good deal around this time of year since it's the off-season and shops want to clear out merchandise.
John Hardt <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Hi all,
When I started doing races three years ago, I went to my local bike shop and picked up a pretty generic Bell helmet. It seems like ever since I've been fighting to keep the little pads on the inside of the helmet in place. They continually fall out and attempts to replace the velcro, use crazy glue etc. have proven unsuccessful. At this point, I've finally lost about half of them.
Can anyone recommend a helmet that is built better than Bell's and doesn't have this problem? I'm not concerned about winning style points, just protecting my grey matter without having to fight with my equipment. (Oh, and I care little about how aero the thing might be - I'm not fast enough for it to matter).
My first helmet was a Giro (about 15 years ago). The pads were falling out faster than I could pick them up. And the straps were unbelievably complicated and needed frequent readjusting. So I decided to move away from name brands: cheap helmets could not possibly be worse. And indeed they were not. Pads were falling out and the straps needed readjusting. But I paid only one third of the price. Lately I had a fall, right onto my face. No injuries would have resulted if there had not be a sun visor on the helmet. The visor was forced across my face, scraped my nose and bumped hard into my upper lip. It hurt. For a week I looked as if I had been beaten up badly. This was not a serious accident but here is what I learned: anything that is mounted outside the helmet is dangerous. It may hit the ground and then move to your face. Or it may stay in place and give your head a violent jerk (instead of the slippery helmet surface sliding on the pavement) twisting your neck and/or giving you an extra strong concussion. So no visors, not helmet mounted lights, not even aero shapes. And by the way: the smaller the airholes the wider will an impact be spread on your skull, which is good for your brain. I believe you have to give up just a little comfort for optimum safety. I went to the store and put many helmets on my head. I found a Giro (they come in several sizes, as opposed to the cheap models) that fit my head without the need for any pad. Cost only $50.-, certainly not outrageous. It fits somewhat tight and gives me a very secure feel, does not slide around even if I knock it hard. It is round with no peaks and comes down relatively low in the back. Very smooth and slippery surface and small airholes. And extremely simple straps, no problem to readjust if necessary. Shopping around helps. Unexpected benefit: helmets that are not aerodynamic are small and compact, much easier to take along for example when taking the bike on the train.
