Cooler Helmet?

[Samatha]

In South Texas, the sun is broiling my brain in the styrofoam and
plastic helmet I bought despite the air vents through it. Can anyone
recommend a different helmet that won't have me struggling with heat
exhaustion quite so quickly?

 

[JeffWills]

Samatha wrote:
> In South Texas, the sun is broiling my brain in the styrofoam and
> plastic helmet I bought despite the air vents through it. Can anyone
> recommend a different helmet that won't have me struggling with heat
> exhaustion quite so quickly?

More expensive helmets generally have more, larger vents. It would be
helpful to know what kind of helmet you have now.

Also, I find that wearing a cotton bandana under my helmet helps keep
my head cool. Wetting the bandana down periodically helps even more.

Jeff

 

[Samatha]

I think what I have now is a Giro Eclipse. I haven't been really happy
with it; it's only three weeks old and the rear adjustment wheel slips
out instead of holding tight enough to keep the helmet from sliding
back too far. I am considering taking it back to the bike shop to see
if they'd do a swap for something better with me.

Samatha

 

[POHB]

"Samatha" <[email protected]> wrote
> In South Texas, the sun is broiling my brain in the styrofoam and
> plastic helmet I bought despite the air vents through it. Can anyone
> recommend a different helmet that won't have me struggling with heat
> exhaustion quite so quickly?
>

How about one of these?
http://www.villagehatshop.com/pith_helmet.html

 

[[email protected]]

Samatha wrote:
> I think what I have now is a Giro Eclipse. I haven't been really happy
> with it; it's only three weeks old and the rear adjustment wheel slips
> out instead of holding tight enough to keep the helmet from sliding
> back too far. I am considering taking it back to the bike shop to see
> if they'd do a swap for something better with me.
>
> Samatha

As already mentioned, more expensive helmets usually have more and
bigger vents to let in the air. And are generally lighter in weight.
I've never been fond of Giro's Roc Loc systems. They attach to the
inside of the helmet with velcro. So when you squash the helmet down
onto your head or over a headband or bandana, the velcro comes loose
and the helmet is not tight and can easily be pushed back. I like
Bell's GPS system as found in their Sweep, Ghisallo, Alchera, Delirium
models. Its mechanically attached to the inside of the helmet and will
not come loose like the Giro Roc Loc velcro attachments. Other helmet
makers may or may not use velcro to attach the rear sizing system to
the inside of the helmet. Find one that does not use velcro and fits
your head shape.

 

[Samatha]

Thank you; I'll go check those brands out to see if I can find
something better. As for cost, well, I only have one head, and it's not
replaceable, so spending some cash to make it safer is okay by me. If I
can be safer and not drop over from heat exhaustion, so much the
better.

Samatha

 

[Michael Press]

In article
<[email protected]>,
"Samatha" <[email protected]> wrote:

> In South Texas, the sun is broiling my brain in the styrofoam and
> plastic helmet I bought despite the air vents through it. Can anyone
> recommend a different helmet that won't have me struggling with heat
> exhaustion quite so quickly?

Must ... resist ... must ... resist

--
Michael Press

 

[[email protected]]

Samatha wrote:
> Thank you; I'll go check those brands out to see if I can find
> something better. As for cost, well, I only have one head, and it's not
> replaceable, so spending some cash to make it safer is okay by me. If I
> can be safer and not drop over from heat exhaustion, so much the
> better.
>
> Samatha

I like Bell because its helmet shape fits my head best. Giro fits sort
of OK too. Limar does not fit me well. Other brands I've tried fit or
did not fit. I'm not really suggesting a particular brand of helmet.
Just look for one that has the rear sizing system attached to the
inside of the helmet securely. Not velcro. You want it to stay in
place when you shove your helmet down over headbands, bandanas, etc.
And generally the more expensive helmets have more vents and are
lighter. So they should be cooler. But I'm sure there is some sort of
venting and wind flow principles involved that might allow big vent
helmets to actually be hotter than closed up helmets with minimal
vents.

You can almost always find an older model of a very high end helmet for
about the same cost as a current cheap helmet model. So price isn't
really a factor. Unless you have to have the newest style. Nashbar
has last year's Bell Ghisallo helmets for $40 before using a 10%
discount coupon. Size small only and limited colors. But there are
other sales, closeouts, etc.

 

[G.T.]

Samatha wrote:
> In South Texas, the sun is broiling my brain in the styrofoam and
> plastic helmet I bought despite the air vents through it.

Need to know your current helmet. I have a basic Bell and have never
even noticed it when riding in 105 degree temps.

Greg
--
"All my time I spent in heaven
Revelries of dance and wine
Waking to the sound of laughter
Up I'd rise and kiss the sky" - The Mekons

 

[G.T.]

Michael Press wrote:
> In article
> <[email protected]>,
> "Samatha" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>In South Texas, the sun is broiling my brain in the styrofoam and
>>plastic helmet I bought despite the air vents through it. Can anyone
>>recommend a different helmet that won't have me struggling with heat
>>exhaustion quite so quickly?
>
>
> Must ... resist ... must ... resist
>

She should just ride without one when it's hot, or when it's cold, or
when it's in between. Helmets do nothing except protect one from minor
injuries such as cuts and bruises.

Greg

--
"All my time I spent in heaven
Revelries of dance and wine
Waking to the sound of laughter
Up I'd rise and kiss the sky" - The Mekons

 

[Sorni]

G.T. wrote:
> Michael Press wrote:
>> In article
>> <[email protected]>,
>> "Samatha" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> In South Texas, the sun is broiling my brain in the styrofoam and
>>> plastic helmet I bought despite the air vents through it. Can anyone
>>> recommend a different helmet that won't have me struggling with heat
>>> exhaustion quite so quickly?
>>
>>
>> Must ... resist ... must ... resist
>>
>
> She should just ride without one when it's hot, or when it's cold, or
> when it's in between. Helmets do nothing except protect one from
> minor injuries such as cuts and bruises.

I don't recall ever seeing you ride without one.

Bill "enfant provocateur" S.

 

[Pat Lamb]

Samatha wrote:
> In South Texas, the sun is broiling my brain in the styrofoam and
> plastic helmet I bought despite the air vents through it. Can anyone
> recommend a different helmet that won't have me struggling with heat
> exhaustion quite so quickly?

Get a white one:
http://tinyurl.com/z36ad

 

[[email protected]]

Samatha <[email protected]> wrote:

> I think what I have now is a Giro Eclipse.

The next models up have a better Roc Loc system and bigger vents. I just
got a white Atmos...don't think it's possible to get anything cooler.
It's pricey but comes with a carrying case.

Helmet fit is the first criteria. After that ventilation, then color.
Spending more doesn't increase protection, just comfort.

 

[Hank Wirtz]

"POHB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

>
> How about one of these?
> http://www.villagehatshop.com/pith_helmet.html
>

If you were to ride wearing one of those, I think you'd have to claim the
route you're riding as a Colony of the Crown.

 

[Samatha]

It's a Giro Eclipse cheapie model (that was still $38 not well spent);
I went home and checked at lunch after posting up above that I thought
it was this model.

Samatha

 

[[email protected]]

Hank Wirtz wrote:
> "POHB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
> >
> > How about one of these?
> > http://www.villagehatshop.com/pith_helmet.html
> >
>
> If you were to ride wearing one of those, I think you'd have to claim the
> route you're riding as a Colony of the Crown.

Clarence Pickard wore a pith helmet in 1973 on the first RAGBRAI.

http://www.ragbrai.org/ragbrai-history.html

Among the many interesting people the ride attracted was Clarence
Pickard of Indianola. This 83-year-old gentleman, who hadn't ridden a
bicycle much in recent years, showed up for that first ride with a used
ladies Schwinn and rode all the way to Davenport, including the 100
degree plus day from Des Moines to Williamsburg, a 110-mile trek.
Pickard's attire for the ride was a long-sleeved shirt, trousers,
woolen long underwear and a silver pith helmet.

 

[[email protected]]

[email protected] wrote:
>
> Helmet fit is the first criteria. After that ventilation, then color.
> Spending more doesn't increase protection, just comfort.

Right. In fact, spending more almost always gets you _less_
protection. More holes, less styrofoam, less impact protection. The
most expensive helmets are the ones that barely pass the already low
certification standards.

Not that the advertisements will ever make _that_ clear!

- Frank Krygowski

 

[Ozark Bicycle]

[email protected] wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
> >
> > Helmet fit is the first criteria. After that ventilation, then color.
> > Spending more doesn't increase protection, just comfort.
>
> Right. In fact, spending more almost always gets you _less_
> protection. More holes, less styrofoam, less impact protection. The
> most expensive helmets are the ones that barely pass the already low
> certification standards.
>
> Not that the advertisements will ever make _that_ clear!
>
>

Not to mention the fact that "more holes" doesn't necessarily equate to
better ventilation when actually riding (i.e., when there is actual
airflow). Nor does it necessarily equate to lighter weight (styrofoam
is pretty darn light, and the high-end, minimalist helmets are
necessarilly reinforced with heavier materials for structural reasons).

Helmets have become a fashion statement: "What does Lance (etc.)
ride?". And a conspicuous consumption issue: "Mine cost $189.99, what
did yours cost?".

IMO, spending close to $200 for a styrofoam and thin plastic shell
bucket that costs ~$10-15 (at most!) to manufacture and package is the
height of consumer suckerism.

IMO, YMMV (especially if you bought a "high-end" helmet ;-> ), etc.,
etc., etc.

 

[mrbubl]

Samatha wrote:
> It's a Giro Eclipse cheapie model (that was still $38 not well spent);
> I went home and checked at lunch after posting up above that I thought
> it was this model.
>
> Samatha
>
atmos or pneumo, have both with a coolmax headwrap in Texas too. very
good but more $$$$

 

[G.T.]

"Sorni" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> G.T. wrote:
> > Michael Press wrote:
> >> In article
> >> <[email protected]>,
> >> "Samatha" <[email protected]> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>> In South Texas, the sun is broiling my brain in the styrofoam and
> >>> plastic helmet I bought despite the air vents through it. Can anyone
> >>> recommend a different helmet that won't have me struggling with heat
> >>> exhaustion quite so quickly?
> >>
> >>
> >> Must ... resist ... must ... resist
> >>
> >
> > She should just ride without one when it's hot, or when it's cold, or
> > when it's in between. Helmets do nothing except protect one from
> > minor injuries such as cuts and bruises.
>
> I don't recall ever seeing you ride without one.

That's cuz we haven't ridden on the road. Yet. I hit too many low bridges
off-road so wear a helmet.

Sometimes I take hand held photos while riding one handed off-road with no
helmet:

http://www.2fortheroad.net/2002trip/ugly_mug1.jpg

Greg