Conference noted::bicycle

> My husband and I are both interested in purchasing helmets for biking.

	Good!  Anyone who DOESN'T wear a helmet when riding probably
	doesn't have brains worth protecting.  :-)

> Any suggestions on good brands, what to look for, how much I should
> expect to pay?

	What to look for: 

		ANSI or SNELL approval (sticker inside the helmet.  If a 
		helmet doesn't have a sticker, it may not have been tested 
		to meet any standard.  DO NOT BUY A HELMET THAT IS NOT
		KNOWN TO BE ANSI APPROVED OR SNELL APPROVED.

		Don't buy a used helmet unless you trust the person
		selling it and it fits correctly.  A helmet that has
		been a party to an accident should be replaced.

		A chin strap with a quick-release buckle (not a pair
		of D-rings) is easier to keep adjusted.

		A removable, washable, absorbent brow pad is good to 
		keep the sweat out of your eyes.

	Brands: 
		Bell, Vetta, OKG.

		Stay away from SkidLid.  They went out of business
		making helmets that would not meet ANSI standards.

	Prices:
		Bell and Vetta: Between $40 and $60.
		OKG: About $30

			-John A. Wasser

 P.S.  The Vetta Corsa and Bell TourLight are among the most popular of
	current helmets.  The Vetta Corsa is available in a choice of
	colors (white, yellow, red...).  I recommend yellow for
	visibility... even if it clashes with your biking clothes.
    

    Helmets are one area where tourers and racers have the same goals.
    Both want a light, cool helmet that doesn't produce much drag and
    prevents as much cranial damage as possible.  
    
    Most helmets you'll find today are safe; the bigger problem is 
    selecting one that's comfortable.  That means trying one on!
    
    Really, if you go to a couple of bike shops and try on a few
    helmets, it won't be long before you pick on up that feels 
    right.  
    
    The hot helmet right now is the Bell Stratos, which goes for
    something between $59-$70.  It has all the right design
    criteria - cool, light, more aerodynamic than a bare head(!).
    However, I have refused to buy one so far; it looks like they
    spent $55 on the design, and $4 on the product!  There are
    nasty seams in the mold, and cheap-feeling plastic.  The V-1
    Pro feels like a high-quality product in comparison, and it's
    available for about $40.  
    
    Try on a few, and buy what feels right.
    
    MATT 

    Kiwi makes a good helmet. A bit heavy, but I quickly got used to
    it and wore it throughout the summer last year.

    The rec.bicycle usenet newsgroup has discussions about helmets every
    3 months or so.  The following are clippings from there.
    
    -------------------------------------------------------------
    Posted by: decwrl!decvax!ittatc!dcdwest!sdcsvax!net1!esosun!seismo!rutgers!sri-spam!jeffr
Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park
Posted: Fri Dec 19 12:49:54 1986
 
The publication "A Consumers Guide To Bicycle Helmets" is available for a
SASE from
 
		Washington Area Bicyclist Association
		530 Seventh Street, S. E.
		Washington, D. C.  20003
 
This is a small pamphlet which gives basic information about some helmets
and how to judge helmets not specifically covered.
--------------------------------

Posted by: decwrl!decvax!bellcore!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!houxm!mtuxo!mtune!mtunf!mtx5c!mtx5d!mtx5a!mtx5e!mtx5w!drv
Organization: AT&T Information Systems, Middletown, NJ 07748-4801.
Posted: Tue Jul 29 17:33:55 1986
 
From the Spring 1985 Bicycle Rider article on helmets that I
quoted from in an earlier article, here are some helmet test
results.  As a guide to understanding the results a bit of 
background information is necessary.  According to the article,
which quotes Harry Hunt, professor of safety at USC, head injuries
are usually divided into these categories:
 
   G FORCE FROM FALL            RESULTS OF FALL
   -----------------            ---------------
 
	< 150 g's               Cause little or no injury
 
        150 - 250 g's           Light concussion and traumatic
                                amnesia. Victim would probably
                                lose all memory of the accident
                                and, perhaps, some hours of his/her
                                life before the crash. Most likely,
                                there will be no permanent damage.
 
        250 - 350 g's           May cause loss of consciousness
                                for several minutes and the traumatic
                                amnesia will be more pronounced. There
                                will be loss of particular events from
                                one's memory. Permanent injury is
                                possible to some at the higher end of
                                this range.
 
        400 - 700 g's           The borderline between recovery and
                                disaster is 400 g's. More than 400
                                will bruise and lacerate the brain
                                even without skull fracture, and there
                                will be hemorrhaging within the cranial
                                cavity.  Victim will need expert care
                                to survive and will not necessarily be OK.
 
        > 700 g's               Certain to cause closed-head injuries.
                                Survival is problematical.  At a minimum,
                                there will be permanent and significant
                                brain damage.
 
One other piece of info before the test results from Bicycle Rider.
They performed their own test which is not used by ANSI or Snell,
the two laboratories which test and certify helmets.  Bicycle Rider's
test, which they claim is more representative of an actual fall,
involves a fall of 5.3 feet onto a large, sturdy piece of pavement.
ANSI, for comparison, involves a fall of 1 meter onto a steel surface.
 
And now for the test results:
 
HELMETS PROVIDING EFFECTIVE HEAD PROTECTION
 
Manufacturer & Type                PEAK G-Load at                PEAK Load
                                   1 meter (ANSI)                5.3 feet
 
AC Targe Sport                            135                       205
Bailen                                    122                       175
Bell Biker                                185                       220
Bell L'il Bell Shell                      125                       182
Bell Tourlite                             190                       250
Bell V1 Pro                               190                       270
Brancale                                  160                       225
Etto                                      140                       360
Hanna Pro                                 190                       220
Hanna Pro HP1                             140                       215
Kiwi                                      142                       200
Land Tool Co., Maxon                      115                       170
Mountain Safety Research                  130                       475
Nava                                      130                       190
NJL Tourlite                              160                       170
OGK                                       140                       180
Vetta                                     118                       182
o
 
HELMETS THAT DO NOT OFFER MINIMUM HEAD PROTECTION
(These Helmets Do Not Meet The Minimum ANSI Standards)
 
Manufacturer & Type                PEAK G-Load at        PEAK G-Load at
                                Listed Drop Height       1 meter (ANSI)
 
Brancale Sport                  700 g's at 2.2 ft        *
Griffin                         635 g's at 2.2 ft        700+ (off scale)
Kucharik                        360 g's at 2.7 ft        *
Monarch                               ---                700+ (off scale)
Skid Lid                        520 g's at 2.2 ft        700+ (off scale)
Skid Lid II                     540 g's at 3.5 ft
 
* Beyond test equipment capacity
 
The reason this last group of helmets were tested at the various
heights and not at the 5.3 foot height as with the other helmets
is simply because they did so poorly at lower heights and the
testers did not want to risk damage to the test equipment.
 
An interesting fact about the failures--all the failing helmets
are designed without EPS (Styrofoam) liners.  This, according to
Bicycle Rider, is especially bad since, in addition to their
poor protection they are deceptive since they look like helmets
and give the illusion of protection that isn't actually there.
 
As someone reported, Skid Lid went out of business after negative
test results from various sources including Bicycle Rider.  In fact,
if my memory serves me correctly, Skid Lid is suing Bicycle Rider
over some of the tests.
 
Hope these are useful in judging the value of helmets.
 
Dennis R. Vogel
AT&T Information Systems
Middletown, NJ
    ---------------------------------------------------
    
    -Jeff Bell

Some other info on helmets is scattered in note 22.* and the midrange
notes of 40.* - like 40.5, 40.6 etc.
                                           ken

I concur with the suggestion of trying a bunch of them on.  Last summer when
I got a helmet I went to a bunch of shops and tried on all the brands I could
find.  Most of them weren't very comfortable (physical fit mostly, sometimes
poor airflow).  I eventually got an Avenir (white for visibility, but I think
the black is sharper).
						-- Tom

    This is an old skindiver trick.
    Put the strap in the D rings as you normally would, then feed the
    end back through the "top" D on top of itself leaving a loop hanging
    down.
    (wish I could figure out how to "draw" it...)
    
    If there is ANY tension on the strap the thing will stay, and yet
    release with a tug on the free end.
    
    dave pierson 

    
    	re. Helmet color:  During the fall, a yellow helmet can blend
    in with leaves.  Also, yellow reflects less total light than white
    so white is more visable in twilight.  (At night, reflective strips
    are far more important than helmet color.)  White may be a problem
    if you ride on days like today. (I got in about 20 miles Saturday
    going to see Gary Miller's new Counterpoint tandem. Had so many
    layers of clothes on, it was hard to move - but I was warm.) - Chris

    I must whole-heartedly recommend the OKG (or is it OGK??) helmet,
    as it is relatively inexpensive and quite comfortable. But I agree
    with earlier recommendations that one should try out several; my
    just happens to fit perfectly, without any modifications, but someone
    with a smaller or larger head (can't imagine a head much larger
    than mine!!) would have problems. 
    
    I find that there is good airflow throughout most of the helmet,
    but sweat tends to flow from around the forehead on wicked-hot
    days. And the wind makes a lot of noise at about 40 mph (which
    doesn't happen a heck of a lot in my case, so it's not REALLY a
    problem!)
    
    That's my two-cents' worth!
    
    John Erickson

    I have had two accidents over the past two years. Both were serious
    and in case I was wearing a helmet as always. The helmet was a BAILEN.
    After the first accident, I sent the helmet back to Bailen and they
    sent me another on free of charge. After the second one, I was given
    another one as a present. From practical experience I can say they
    are great. The rest of my body was a mess but my head was intact.
    I highly recommend them. I am still riding because of them.
    
    Gary

    re .10	Thats odd; two falls in two years.  I've (noticeably)
    dumped it four times in four years, (plus an uncounted number before
    my 2 decade rest period), wasn't wearing a helmet for any of
    them.  Most serious was a broken shoulder, all of 'em raised bumps
    somewhere on the brain box but nothing too serious.  I suppose I
    believe that if I'm going down hard enough to crack the cranium
    then the neck is probably going to get it bad too, and there isn't
    a helmet in existance thats a fair match for a 235R75-15 tire. 
    Plus all my usual comments about impairment of vision and hearing
    to the rear and side, etc.
    
    	Reg
    
    My perception of risk is my own, your mileage may vary...
    

    
    RE: .11
    
    I'm sure you have heard comments like this before, but I thought
    I'd throw it in anyway....
    
    I'd say that 4 "bumps on the brain" in 4 years IS pretty serious.
    You ought to take care of that organ.
    
    Chuck
    

    
    Obviously, anyone who hasn't had a serious head injury isn't going
    to go around touting the benefits of a hot, sweaty, heavy, and
    generally inconvenient and uncomfortable hardshell helmet.
    
    Once that insufficient helmet (or lack thereof) puts you in the
    hospital you tend to learn real fast.
    
    And please don't try to tell me "I know how to fall so I won't hurt
    my head" because I know all about the proper way to crash. Sometimes
    you can't completely control the situation you're in, and that's
    where you need the protection.
    
    CdH
    

    re (.13 re .11)	Yup, references to "tuck and roll" techniques
    were conspicuously absent.
    
    	If I divide bicycle accidents into major categories they
    look (to me) about like this:-
    
    a)	Minor tumble;  scratches and bruises, hospitals and doctors not
    needed.  (*MOSTLY* what happens to *ME*)
    
    b)	Major crash;  broken Limbs, bad cuts, serious loss of blood,
    potential infection of wound, removal from scene by ambulance,
    3 month or so recovery period.  (Happened to me once)

    c)	Catastrophic crash;  may involve being struck by a motor vehicle,
    possibly from above; head/neck injuries, concussion, possibility
    of permanent dissability (physical and/or mental) even death.  (I
    don't have any experience of these)
    
    	This is only my judgement, but class a) and b) accidents don't
    seem to need the head gear, there is a sub-set of class c) that
    might be reduced to b) or even a), though I suspect that it is small
    enough that I can ignore it.  Real, big, bad, meaningful class c)
    accidents ?  C'mon, what does an inch of styrofoam do against the
    transmission case of a '76 Buick ?

	What's a valid sample size ?	Three near misses in six months
    was enough to convince me that the helmet that I had on my head was
    impairing either my vision or hearing to the side and rear to the
    point where cars were getting right alonside me before I knew they
    were coming.  I wasn't willing to isolate the problem any further
    by trying a different style, I just didn't want another near miss
    that could have the potential of being the final c) class crash.

        To me its a risk trade-off issue and I'd rather reduce the
    probability of having the accident than minimize the injuries from
    it (given that I believe I can't do both).
    
    	Reg
    

    
    RE: .14  and categories of injuries....
    
    I think I won't convince you of this Reg, but I'm putting it in for
    general information for others...
    
    You can receive serious head injury from a short, low-speed, fall.
    If you slip on sand or leaves or hit a hidden pothole, you can be
    on the ground before you have time to think.  If your head happens
    to hit first, the injury can be bad.
    
    You do not have to be in a Cat I sprint or meet an 18-wheeler to
    have a bad experience.
    
    Chuck

    
    Hey, Reg, I'm not trying to start this old battle again. Seriously.
    
    There's just a lot of folks out there (.0 especially) who are making
    decisions on this advice. It's democratic of you to show the other
    side of the helmet wearing issue, but let's not try and convince
    folks that have already made up their minds about wearing one not
    to. That's as unfair as me trying to convince you to wear one.
    
    It's a personal choice. God bless america for that, there's no law
    dictating it. My choice is based on personal experience of the c)
    catagory. I've never came close to that kind of injury since, but
    my choice is to prevent it rather than try my chances. Head injuries
    can be one of the most serious injuries known. Unfortunately, it's
    one of the most disregarded. You can sew on a dismembered limb, 
    reconstruct a broken bone, even rebuild a mangled face, but you can't 
    do a thing about brain damage.

    Your decision is your right and priveledge. No battles from this
    end.
    
    CdH
    

    My most serious accident involved no injuries other than my head
    hitting the pavement.  Right then and there the helmet paid for
    itself.
    
    I doubt that lack of tuck and roll capability, obscured vision,
    or dimished hearing, had anything to do with causing the injury.
    I attribute the accident to riding through Boston traffic on 3 hours
    of sleep without my hands near the brakes.
    
    -jlb

    RE: .18
    
    Don't get scared away from bicycling.  While any sport (I think)
    has some inherent risks, the risks in bicycling are almost entirely
    under your control.  
    
    By choosing when, where, and how to ride, you have a dramatic effect
    on your chances of accident and injury. 
    
    Chuck (one who hates pain and injury but loves biking)

A knowledgeable doctor told me that there are two areas of the body
where injuries just can't generally be patched up:  
The head and the spinal cord. 

He further said that spinal cord injuries are most common in
automobile (occupant) and swimming accidents, relatively rare in
cycling.

Head injuries, he said, are relatively common to cyclists - and
helmets are quite effective in making sure that a head injury is
such that medicine can undo any damage. 

To me, this is a very positive statement for biking (and helmets).

	~Mike

    re .20	Funny, I had heard (somewhere ?) that the injuries to
    cyclists were something like
    
    	Collar Bone
	Shoulder
	Wrists
	Hands and Fingers
    	Knees & Elbows
	Minor scratches and bruises
    	Spinal
    	Head
    
	I agree that the consequences of head injuries are the most
    serious, I just don't agree that (for me) their probability is worth
    the agravation of a helmet, especially when coupled to my other
    belief that they (helmets) can be a contributory cause.

    	Oh, its not that I'm reckless in other respects, I even wear
    a seatbelt in Massachusetts, despite the fact that there is currently
    no law requiring me to.  This is a case of accepting a very minor
    discomfort/inconvenience for an extremely unlikely event, I happen
    to believe that there is substantial improvement in survival
    probability due to seat belt use, *HOWEVER UNLIKELY* the accident.
    I just don't believe that an inch of styrofoam is going to make
    a heck of a lot of difference in a full scale accident.
    
    	Reg
    
    (My perceptions of risk are my own, your mileage may vary)
    
    

-.1 re my -.2

Reg (and others):

My helmet saved me from a concussion (still broke collar bone and 3 
ribs, but they healed fine).

Personally don't agree with your decision to not wear a helmet, but
i DO believe that it is YOUR decision to make. 

	~Mike

    re : helmet vs. no helmet and .18 ~ready to give up cycling
    
    First, cycling does involve some risk otherwise it would be boring
    and we would take up golf or something. But, accidents can usually
    be avoided and helmets should be used as an aid to remind us of
    our vulnerablity and increase caution besides limiting one of the
    few non-recoverable injuries.
    
    I agree with free choice and I have taken stands on both sides.
    I have had a couple of non-helmeted shoulder rolls back in my early
    days of cycling, so I can vouch for the *possibility* of crashing
    with the proper technique. Unfortunately, working in bicycle shops
    and hearing numerous case histories of crashes convinced me to to
    wear a helmet, which I will never learn to enjoy. The most convincing
    cases were not the lost logging truck battles (SAVED by a helmet)
    or the person I knew from racing killed by a **!! dog in a low speed
    crash(no helmet "it wasn't a race"), but the couple of customers
    that could *only* ride a bike due to epilepsy or "missing brainpower"
    due to multiple "minor" headers. 
    
    Yes it is ALL a calculated risk (driving scares me a lot more),
    but I prefer to load the odds in my favor with a Bell V-1 Pro, which
    I hope to never put to the test.  By the way, I tried a Bell Tour
    lite and gave up on it due to neck pains due to the weight and high
    center of gravity which I never did adapt to.  The Tour Lite may
    be O.K. for short rides without much time in the drops. The Tour
    Lite also has relatively poor ventilation for hill climbing.
    
    My dream helmet of the moment, if I could drop $60-70, would be
    the Giro. It is a softshell with a Lycra cover, a new concept, but
    it meets the standards. It is definitely a one crash helmet though.
    It weighs *nothing* and has excellent ventilation.
    
    I read somewhere that helmets should be replaced every few years
    due to environmental degradation of their materials. I can't remember
    where I saw this, has anyone else heard this. I know there are a
    lot of "antique" helmets out there.
     
    May the wind always be at your back and the hills be interesting.
    
    Thom                              

    GAWLEE, if I were to take up gawlf I'd worry more about getting
    hit by a ball than I do about a bicycle crash -- I have no control
    over other golfer's shots.  (I do wear a helmet, though).
    
    tailwinds and sunny skies,
    ed

"Stanford Dean Killed in Bike Accident"
[ From the SF Chronicle, 1/28/87, p48 ]
 
"The dean of Stanford University's earth sciences department was killed
yesterday in a bicycle accident near Woodside.
 
"Allan Cox, who was known internationally for his work in plate
tectonics, died of massive head injuries suffered from when he collided
with a tree on a winding, rural section of Tunitas Creek Road, a
university spokesman said last night.
 
"Campus police had begun searching for Cox when he did not appear at his
office yesterday morning.  The 60-year old Woodside resident was found
in the early afternoon by a San Mateo County sherrif's deputy and
pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.  He was not wearing a
protective helmet."
 

    re .24 and .25
    Thanks,
    You made my point for me about *anything* being a calculated risk,
    including golf. As for myself, I would take the trade off of the
    rewards of cycling any day ( no offense to any golfers out there.)
    
    Tunitas creek road was one of my favorite routes when I lived in
    that area, and would convince most people to buy a helmet after
    one descent ( if they survived). Its short 40+mph straightaways
    into hairpins with 50 foot dropoffs into the Redwoods were exhilerating
    but persuaded me to turn it into a favorite *ascent*. This definitely
    points out the need for commonsense defensive riding, including
    route planning, with or without a helmet.
    
    Thom
           

Believe that one can adapt to most any correctly fitting helmet with 
a bit of use.  At first, some discomfort is likely; but give it a 
a little time and the muscles will adapt.

I'm not even aware of my helmet while biking.  Sometimes while 
walking (bareheaded), I look in the helmet mounted rear view mirror 
and am surprized that it is not there.


	~Mike

    While we are on the subject of helmets: 

    I would encourage any parents to start their kids out from
    day one, with the idea that anything taller than a "big
    wheel" naturally requires a helmet. This will save much
    trouble later on by avoiding the necessity of convincing them
    to give up their helmetless freedom and makes helmet wearing
    a habit. 

    I have a 2-1/2 and 5 year old that I started on *tricycles*
    wearing helmets. The five year old may occasionally complain
    about comfort, but it is simply part of riding (now a 2
    wheeler with trainers), and she very rarely forgets. I know
    this habit has paid off after seeing a couple of trike
    headers that resulted in a minor scrape or two instead of
    spending the afternoon in the emergency room holding my kids
    hand while their head gets stitched up. That would not be my
    idea of a pleasant afternoon, and it has happened to my
    sister who *still* does not believe in helmets for her kids. 

    I also noticed that helmet wearing appears to be contagious
    among kids, at least according to the sudden increase of
    useage in our neighborhood. 

    A good quality tippable tricycle is a good transitional tool
    to teach respect for the world of 2-wheelers and life
    threatening crashes. They also begin to understand the need
    for learning bike handling, another great saftey feature to
    go along with a helmet, which they do not learn on those
    noisy, slow, unresponsive, but stable "big wheelers". 

    Kids and bicycle saftey could be a whole new topic or
    two so I will not stray any further from the helmet issue. 

    Ride defensively- but keep it fun! 

    Thom 

    Howdy,
    
    Just thought I'd stick in my two cents worth on this debate.  I've
    been wearing a helmet for 13 years now.  First I wore leather hairnets
    then I wore a Bell Biker, now I'm wearing a V-I Pro.  I used to
    enjoy the feeling of the wind ( and less noise ) but I prefer wearing
    a helmet.  There are 3 reasons why:
    
    1. I'm a racer USCF requires a hardshell to be worn in races, plus
    in some of the crashes I've been in in Cat 3 races I was glad to
    have the protection.
    
    2. Helmets aren't that uncomfortable when you get used to them.
    In fact you can saturate the pads in both the the Bell's I've owned
    to get a trickle of water on your face.
    
    3. Helmets can save you in a serious crash.  Last year I was hit
    by a Firebird and my helmet combined with the fact that my bike
    went on to the hood of the car did more damage to the car ($3000+)
    than was done to either by bike or I.
    
    About scaring people off from cycling by telling them about accidents
    I have mixed feelings.  I used to know a woman who was a super strong
    rider but when she had first accident she just stopped riding
    altogether, this was because she beleived that she would NEVER have
    an accident.  The moral is cycling is safe, but there are still
    some risks.
    
    
    				Can't wait for spring
    
    
    					Joe(ZR)

I broke down this year and bought a Stratos helmet.  I had my
misgivings about its production quality, but after a forty-mile
ride, I'm convinced that it's the way to go.  The thing is
noticably less of a wind barrier than my old V1-Pro.  It's also
quieter and lighter.  The eye shield is also kind of nice, though
I'm a little self-conscious about the way it looks on. (Darth
Vader was OUT years ago!)  The forced air cooling works great
everywhere except (of course) on long hills.  Then it gets hot;
hotter than the old helmet did. 

One final problem with the helmet:  as soon as another rider sees
you with it on, they're determined to pass you.  I made the
mistake of riding Saturday in Lincoln, which might as well be a
small town in Italy for all the Columbus bike frames and lycra
flying around there.  These guys in tri suits on their Centurions 
were all over the place. They had sure built up a lot of aggression 
on their rollers this winter! I have a lot of catching up to do...


MATT

    I have tried lots of helmets -- I have more helmets than I have
    bikes, I think -- I just acquired a gyro, the new 7.5 oz jobbie
    without a plastic outer shell, just the styrofoam part that comes
    on the inside of most helmets.
    
    WOW!! What a difference.  I had been getting neck pains after about
    70 miles on several different occassions this year.  I started wearing
    the gyro last week.  Wore it Sunday and at 170 I noticed that I
    did not have any neck pains at all.  It's kinda pricey at $69.95 and
    I imagine several other manufacturers will be out with cheaper copies in
    the near future but that all depends on where your priorities are.
    BTW, it is ANSI approved, the story is that the buckle does not
    meet SNELL guidelines.

    re: .31 1 vote for the gyro
    
    Its   GIRO . As in them strange sounding bike races "Giro de whatever"
    :-).  I have tried one on and would not hesitate to get one if my
    budget wasn't standing in the way.  
    
    (I usually don't like nit-picking, but it may save
    someone some embarassment at the store).
                                      
    Thom
    

    yup, blush, it's giro.  I think it was the stylish logo that gave
    me the impression that it was y intead of i -- the two sloping lines
    pointing down at the i.
    
    But, I'll still vote for it, even if I did lose a quarter last month
    on the spelling of the name.
    
    ed

The Oxford Rule:

It's "is not".  It isn't "ain't" and it's "it's", not "its", if you
mean  "it  is".   If you don't, it's "its".  Then too, it's "hers".
It isn't "her's".  It isn't  "our's",  either.   It's  "ours"  and,
likewise, "yours" and "theirs".

		-- from "More Joy of Lex" by Gyles Brandreth

    I'm about to buy one of these Styrofoam helmets that are now so
    popular (Giro, Protec, etc.) and apparantly as safe as the hardshells.
    My question is directed at those who have used the Giro or the others
    for a season or more.  Do you find any drawbacks?  do you have to
    be extra careful so that you don't drop and crack or dent the helmet?
    They don't have a sweatband on the brow, so do you have sweat streaming
    into your face?  And is there adequate ventilation when it's hot
    (although in New England it looks like it will be a while until
    hot arrives!).
    
    Thanks,
    Dave
    
    

    Along the same lines as .35, does anyone know if there is any
    difference (other than the cover - which you can buy separately)
    between the $70 Giro and the $30 Performance helmet?  They *look*
    very similar and the description in the Performance catalog says
    something about the reason its so cheap is that it is bought 
    directly from the manufacterer.  It seems Performance *wants* me
    to think they are the same.  But are they?

    Re: Protec Mirage helmet
    
    I bought & have raced in a Protec Mirage helmet. The light weight
    is definitely noticable & more comfortable on the neck. One drawback
    is that it dents easily, but that's a minor consideration if you
    want it for racing. I'm careful not to toss it around, and I always
    store it in it's box.
    
    I find that my head stays cooler than in my old Bell V1 Pro helmet,
    and it does have a terry sweatband/pad on the brow.
    
    Mark

    I bought a Giro last year for about $70.  At the time it was the
    only lightweight available.  If I was buying one now, I would probably
    by the Performance or whatever was cheapest.
    
    I have had no problems, but then I never toss it around.  I have
    dropped it a couple of times without problems.  I usually keep it
    in the trunk of my car of hanging from the brake lever on the bike.
    
    The pads stick onto the styrofoam but I wish it had velcro pads.
    
    I have had no real problems without the sweatband, maybe I would
    notice the improvement if the helmet had one.  The light weight
    is very nice.  I would not wear a heavier one given the choice.
    
    /Jim Pappas

    
    	The Performance Aero Helmet is a light (only 7.5 ounces) soft-
    	shell helmet that does meet ANSI Z90.4 and SNELL 84 standards,
    	which many soft-shell, and even some hard-shell helmets don't.
    	And the best part is; it only costs $29.95, with a choice of
    	colors for the helmet cover.
    
    								  Mike
    

    In 6/7's Boston Globe, the daily article on the Tour De France mentions
    that the 7-11 team is wearing helmets.  One of the team members,
    Roy Knickman, says he always wears his "brain bucket" when riding
    in big packs.  It's good to see that helmets are gaining acceptance
    with the pro's.  
    
    

    I am presently in the market for a new helmet.  I currently
    wear a Kiwi, but I was looking for something lighter.  I have
    read through this note, but since the last reply was a year ago,
    I was wondering if anyone had any further recommendations on
    brand and style.
    
    Thanks
    
    

    A friend just bought a Gyro Headhunter helmet.  I think it's considered
    a softshell - it has this thin flexible plastic cover of the foam,
    kind of like a vinyl - it's super lightweight.  He also said that
    he likes the air flow through the helmet.
    
    I didn't try it on, so I can only go by his comments.
    

    It's 'Hammerhead', not 'Headhunter'!

The styrofoam helmets are very comfortable.  The most popular seems to be the
Giro, which I use.  Go to a shop(s) that sell a few different models and try
them on to find the one that fits the best, then wait for a sale.

    I also had a Kiwi (about a pound!) and my wife just got me
    a Bell Quest softshell.  Bicycling mag just did a comparison
    of helmets for coolness and other features and it was the
    best in that catagory.  It weighs about 8 or 9 ozs, so it's
    not the lightest there is, but it does have a very nice
    strap system.  The clip is by your ear, and I can put it
    on and take it off with one hand.  there isn't any buckles
    at all under my chin, just the strap.  very comfortable.
    It also has a retaining ring embedded into the foam that
    is supposed to help prevent the helmut from breaking apart
    during an impact.
    
    All in all, compared to the Kiwi, it's like wearing air.
    
    Dave
    

    Another vote for the Bell Quest.  I recently bought one to replace
    my aging Bell Biker and the Quest much more comfortable than the
    Biker.  The ventilation is quite a bit better too.
    
    Mark

I agree with Bat. Each helmet fits differently than another, so try them all on
and get the one that fits.  A good way to see how a helmet fits your head is to
put it on and then shake your head. If the helmet slides around its too big,
then if you get the next size smaller and can't pull it all the way on, look for
another brand.  Make sure it fits snug.  You'll hate having to adjust the thing
after every bump. 

	I ended up getting a Giro. I didn't want to pay that much for a piece
of foam, but it fit the best, is light and has alot of vents. Also if anyone
wants a copy of the Helmet Buyers Guide in the May issue of Bicycling I can 
send you a copy.   


Tom

>Giro, which I use.  Go to a shop(s) that sell a few different models and try
>them on to find the one that fits the best, then wait for a sale.
    
    	There is a national sale going on from Aug 4th thru the 6th (I
    think).  Advertised in Bicycling.  Bell Ovation list 69.95 will be
    39.95 and Rhode Gear helmets (not sure of the model) will be available 
    for 27.95.
    
    	The dealer I remember seeing in New Hampshire was Nault's in
    Manchester, but there were several in Mass. also.  Check the news
    stand for more info in the August Issue.
    
    	BTW - I strongly endorse the Bell Ovation (See Other Notes in This
    File) for a multitude of reasons.
    
    						Jerry
    

    Thanks for all the great information.  I went to Sunshine Sports
    last night to check them out.  They had the Bell Image -- any 
    comments?   The salesperson said it replaced the Bell Ovation.
    It fit okay once I replaced the foam paddings inside.
    
    They also had the Bell Quest and the Giro, however, I'm not sure
    about buying a foam helmet.  In my spare time I will check out
    the notes file for foam helmets.
    
                              

    I recently hit the pavement @ 33mph.  My Bell V1-Pro did its job
    just fine or I wouldn't be here typing this.  You can't argue with
    success.  I repalaced it with a new one.  I like the hard shell
    and don't mind the weight.

    I ran head first into the tailgate of a stationary Ford Fiesta 
    at about 30mph. The car had broken down and the tailgate was
    up as the driver had his tools stored in the back and I was
    doing a Greg LeMond impersonation after watching the final stage
    of the Tour De France the evening before. !!! Not Recommended !!!.
    The hemlet took the full impact across a very narrow section
    of the shell. I then caught the tailgate with my shoulder which
    got pretty badly cut up but I was still able to carry the mangled 
    remains of my bike off the road and walk to the nearest phone to 
    get someone to take me to hospital. The specialist who checked
    the xrays of my head and neck reckoned that without the helmet
    I would have been lucky to survive. 
                 I was wearing a Vetta Supercorsa which I find 
    comfortable even during the summer and a great  improvement on the 
    standard Corsa which I used to wear.
                 In 85 I bought a Skid Lid which I stopped wearing after
    reading a survey on helmets which totaly condemned them as failing
    to meet almost all the recognized standards. Does anyone know what
    happened to the company? I believe they were based in San Diego.
    
                  
                                                       

    re .51:  The stroy I've heard is that Skid Lid went out of business.
    
    ed

    re. 51, Wow!  Almost a repeat of Davis Phinney's face plant through the
    windshield last year.  I guess it's a good thing you didn't look up. 
    Sounds like you were really lucky to be able to walk away.  

         It's time for me to get a new helmet, primarily for off-road.  I
    like the Specialized helmet with Head-lok but not the price($90-$100).
    Nashbar also offers a helmet by Troxel which is similarly styled with
    an itegrated visor for about $40.  Weight is listed as 235g vs. 300+
    for the Specialized.
    
    Questions:
    
       1.  Has anyone heard of, or had experience with, Troxel helmets?
    
       2.  Does anyone have a recommendation for an MTB helmet, ideally one
    	   with lower coverage in the back, light weight, good airflow...
    
       3.  Any thoughts or suggestions on buying helmets mail order?  (I've
   	   done it with M/C helmets and saved a lot!)
    
    Thanks for your help.
    Tom

I had a troxel helmet I used all last year.  I lost 70 pounds so it didn't
really fit right anymore.  I bought a Giro because of the rock lock which fit
much more snugly.  My only complaint about the troxel was that when you sweat,
the straps slipped.  It is less of a problem on the Giro (Air Blast, $89) due to
the rock lock.

Tim

    -1 i got the air blast for off-road as well and really like it. you
       can retro the visor, but it may interfere with a helmet mounted
       lighting system...
    
       Chip

    
    I have the Bell avalange (sp?) since last year, it is cool, light
    has a visor that goes off and on easily and has the reebok pump. 
    I kinda like that feature as sometimes I like a little more relaxed
    fit or tight and I can just pump it as I ride or release pressure. 
    
    Shaw