it's on backwards you douche!
what the SNELL are you talking about?
This is one of those posts I've always been threatening to write, but never remember after my rides. I'm amazed by the amount of people riding helmets that are either the wrong size, worn wrong, or way too old. Nevermind those that aren't wearing anything. Those guys are depending on the blood-matted hair protection plan. I can see how that the retention device on helmets should be covering the eyes while riding. That makes total sense. I used to love helping beautiful women at the shop try on helmets watching in horror as they fail the IQ test in miserable fashion. "Does it go on this way?" "Uhhh, yeah. And the zipper on your pants is for your pooper..." The same goes for the tough guys as well.
At least most of those people are using helmets purchased in the last 10 years. My favorite are those who think that Bell eggshell helmet w/ 4 holes they bought back in the 70's is actually going to protect them. Plus, if your helmet comes w/ a nylon cover, and that cover comes complete w/ the colors purple and neon green, you may need a new helmet. I've thought of plenty of funny things to say regarding all these idiots, but I never remember them after the ride.
Simply put, polystyrene will begin to lose its integrity after 5 years. We got ahold of a customer's 6 year old helmet after he purchased a new one and decided to take a hammer to it just to see. It's a bunch of guys in a bike shop full of tools; what else what you'd expect? Needless to say the helmet DISENTEGRATED into dust! You'd get more protection from a wool hat!
Good helmets start at $30 these days, and they have the same protection as the $200 pro versions, and in many cases they share much of the same technology. The more expensive helmets have much more airflow, and are generally lighter and much better fitting. Cheaper helmets are usually universal fit, which means it's good enough for everyone but not great for you. If you're into cycling fashion, you'd be hard pressed to find a decent helmet under $100 unless it's on clearance. Remember, all helmets sold in the States need to have certification. They have to have a CPSC, ANSI, or SNELL sticker on the inside. They should also have a "born on" date to let you know how long of a life you and your new purchase have together.
If any of you out there think that "it won't happen to me", cool. See how long your significant other sticks around when they have to feed you through a straw and push you around in a stroller for the rest of your life. If you don't make it, then Darwin was right!
T-tags:cycling, helmets, cycling safety, helmet standards, natural selection
This is one of those posts I've always been threatening to write, but never remember after my rides. I'm amazed by the amount of people riding helmets that are either the wrong size, worn wrong, or way too old. Nevermind those that aren't wearing anything. Those guys are depending on the blood-matted hair protection plan. I can see how that the retention device on helmets should be covering the eyes while riding. That makes total sense. I used to love helping beautiful women at the shop try on helmets watching in horror as they fail the IQ test in miserable fashion. "Does it go on this way?" "Uhhh, yeah. And the zipper on your pants is for your pooper..." The same goes for the tough guys as well.
At least most of those people are using helmets purchased in the last 10 years. My favorite are those who think that Bell eggshell helmet w/ 4 holes they bought back in the 70's is actually going to protect them. Plus, if your helmet comes w/ a nylon cover, and that cover comes complete w/ the colors purple and neon green, you may need a new helmet. I've thought of plenty of funny things to say regarding all these idiots, but I never remember them after the ride.
Simply put, polystyrene will begin to lose its integrity after 5 years. We got ahold of a customer's 6 year old helmet after he purchased a new one and decided to take a hammer to it just to see. It's a bunch of guys in a bike shop full of tools; what else what you'd expect? Needless to say the helmet DISENTEGRATED into dust! You'd get more protection from a wool hat!
Good helmets start at $30 these days, and they have the same protection as the $200 pro versions, and in many cases they share much of the same technology. The more expensive helmets have much more airflow, and are generally lighter and much better fitting. Cheaper helmets are usually universal fit, which means it's good enough for everyone but not great for you. If you're into cycling fashion, you'd be hard pressed to find a decent helmet under $100 unless it's on clearance. Remember, all helmets sold in the States need to have certification. They have to have a CPSC, ANSI, or SNELL sticker on the inside. They should also have a "born on" date to let you know how long of a life you and your new purchase have together.
If any of you out there think that "it won't happen to me", cool. See how long your significant other sticks around when they have to feed you through a straw and push you around in a stroller for the rest of your life. If you don't make it, then Darwin was right!
T-tags:cycling, helmets, cycling safety, helmet standards, natural selection
posted by Chris Huller at 5:06 PM
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