HELMETS?
Thread started by
northernsoulbyrd at 07.29.09 - 7:16 pm
So the dean of my school in Portland says supposedly it's required to wear a helmet when you're riding your bike in Portland... What are some good spots here in LA that have a variety of helmets at good prices? And which places give the messenger discounts?
reply
Just buy one at Target or Wal-Mart for $15-20.
As long as they're CPSC certified, there's no point in spending extra money, since they're not going to be any safer (although they may have more vents and neater colors).
JB07.29.09 - 7:19 pm
reply
Well, just as long as my skull is protected, I don't really care... But it can't be no janky ass helmet either. And IDK... I gotta like it too, LOL.
northernsoulbyrd responding to a
comment by JB
07.29.09 - 7:22 pm
reply
well you can get a while bmx helmet, or paint on white, and then draw all over it.
Gav responding to a
comment by northernsoulbyrd
07.29.09 - 7:31 pm
reply
i recently bought one of those bern baker helmets with the vents on the top
and i have to say it's pretty freaking awesome for a helmet.
i have no problem wearing it anywhere i go.
madmike07.29.09 - 7:32 pm
reply
How much was it BFF? I'm on a budget, but I'm not going to parade around PDX wearing something I'm not comfortable wearing either.
northernsoulbyrd responding to a
comment by madmike
07.29.09 - 7:33 pm
reply
it was $20 over at O20
mines the same in the pic except mines is white.
and oh yeah where's my h.k stickers at?
madmike responding to a
comment by northernsoulbyrd
07.29.09 - 7:39 pm
reply
well the helmet I arted-up is on my profile picture. That was a cheap helmet though
Gav responding to a
comment by northernsoulbyrd
07.29.09 - 7:39 pm
reply
Oh yeah, I still have your Hello Kitty stickers! Sorry, I've been lagging it. I've been mad busy lately... Hit me up Sunday, yeah?
That helmet looks respectable. I'll debate it. I'll go to O20 and check out what other ones they got up in there too. :D
northernsoulbyrd responding to a
comment by madmike
07.29.09 - 7:40 pm
reply
I am not aware of any Adult helmet law in Portland. Last year they passed a law for children but anyone over 18 no helmet required.
Foldie07.29.09 - 7:53 pm
reply
This site has great info about helmet safety.
http://www.helmets.org/
angle07.29.09 - 10:20 pm
reply
Try the 20 or Echo Park Cycles.
A thing to consider about helmets are how effective the vents are. BMX helmets are nice if you ride mostly at night but if you ride in hot or humid conditions, you want one that breathes well. I like Catlike helmet because of the huge vents. Giro and Specialized make some that are similar. I don't know how humid Portland is in the summertime but Redding was over 100F and humid. It was unbearable riding with a helmet specially when going slow. But the faster you went the more comfortable it was.
sc_nomad07.29.09 - 11:29 pm
reply
Buy a 10 dollah helmet for a 10 dollah head
Roadblock responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
07.30.09 - 1:07 am
reply
i would think not since they dont backflips and all those things... but yet again, who knows
theladiesman responding to a
comment by robin swabin
07.30.09 - 1:09 am
reply
Portand isn't bad at all during the summer... It's hot for only maybe 8 days in Portland during the summer. Other than that, it's either really breezy, raining or cloudy. :)
Well, the dean of my school knows I ride and he called my mom and told her that there's a helmet law... SUPPOSEDLY. I had no idea.
northernsoulbyrd responding to a
comment by sc_nomad
07.30.09 - 9:46 am
reply
I ride with a rock climbing helmet by C.A.M.P. Someone told me it's not really effective for bicycles, but it's all I got. I didn't hurt my head when I fell, and it's got a cool unintentional smiley face on the back to greet passing drivers.
profoscurity07.30.09 - 9:55 am
reply
Skate/BMX helmets are good since they tend to cover more. Assuming you're referring to commuting in portland, it is also good to stay away from helmets with fancy aero dynamic edges that can get caught on other objects in a crash. Best option (as far as I understand) is to find something round and fairly inexpensive.
Dept store helmets are fine, but I dont mind paying a few more bucks for something with a little more style.
Jenson has some Bell Faction helmets for really cheap. You can use that helmet for everything... but it will heat up your head
md207.30.09 - 10:03 am
reply
plus it's totally devo. in my opinion, it may be worth investing $10 in a bmx helmet. different helmets are designed for different kinds of falls and the helmet you have might not protect you in all sorts of accidents.
@robin swabin
bmx/skateboard helmets are designed to withstand numerous impacts, as opposed to a traditional "bike helmet" which you're supposed to throw away after an accident. the only disadvantage is that they may not absorb as much shock as a helmet that crumples on impact, but it's still much safer than not wearing a helmet at all.
ultimately, the safest helmet is the one you wear often, so after trying a few varieties i ended up spending $70 on a nice lightweight bell with great ventilation. (i also heard that lighter colors reflect more sunlight and keep your head cooler. in addition, i would assume that you'd be more visible to cars.)
tortuga_veloce responding to a
comment by profoscurity
07.30.09 - 10:06 am
reply
which helmet do you have?
snowcone responding to a
comment by tortuga_veloce
07.30.09 - 10:11 am
reply
Bell Influx.
One of my favorite features is the quality of the dial on the back. it really keeps the helmet snug on your head so you don't have to choke yourself with the strap to feel secure.
tortuga_veloce responding to a
comment by snowcone
07.30.09 - 10:26 am
reply
cool, thanks for the recommendation. it's hard to find the right helmet.
snowcone responding to a
comment by tortuga_veloce
07.30.09 - 10:28 am
reply
if you get a chance to try on an "LAS," they are the most comfortable helmets i have ever felt. putting one on is like a scalp massage, and the fastener on the back is fully adjustable. on top of that, it's super-lightweight, AND yan at wheel world tells me they actually comply with the highest safety standards in the world.
i didnt buy one because the cheapest model was $180, but oh man it was nice.
Giro is another good brand, but they are designed for a head that is wider than mine.
tortuga_veloce responding to a
comment by snowcone
07.30.09 - 10:31 am
reply
yeah... $180 is out of my price range right now, but i'll check it out if i run into it.
now i have to figure out which size helmet i need. is my head normal size? haha
snowcone responding to a
comment by tortuga_veloce
07.30.09 - 10:32 am
reply
Yeah, the dial is good. I have one on my helmet and don't even use the strap. My thought is that the helmet is supposed to cushion you for the first couple impacts and then after that, momentum is the enemy. The notion of having something strapped around my neck while I'm sliding into who knows what is a bit scary.
But don't take my word for it..
profoscurity07.30.09 - 10:36 am
reply
try them on and tighten the clicker on the back. if it wobbles from side-to-side, try a smaller helmet or a different brand.
and be ready to pay $60-80 for something you're going to be comfortble wearing. my first helmet cost $30, but it was so hot i left it at home 90% of the time.
tortuga_veloce responding to a
comment by snowcone
07.30.09 - 10:37 am
reply
Just measure around your skull. Wrap a measuring tape around and see what size it is... then look online.
Almost every helmet company has inch/centimeter guides for what size helmet is intended to fit you. Its easy
md2 responding to a
comment by snowcone
07.30.09 - 10:40 am
reply
the logic is that if you get hit by a car, you will first impact the car with one side of your head, and then the ground with the other. if your helmet falls off when you hit the car, you're not protected when you hit the ground.
i adjust my strap so that it's snug but not tight when my mouth is open. it has a little wiggle side-to-side, but i can feel that it won't slide so far that i wont be protected in a fall.
tortuga_veloce responding to a
comment by profoscurity
07.30.09 - 10:41 am
reply
the dial is in no way intended to compensate for the straps... this is very, very dangerous.
An impact (i imagine) could knock the helmet off your head before you even hit the ground.
Plus depending on the impact, you could lose the helmet before your head is finished banging around the concrete.
DONT USE THE DIAL ONLY... that is a really bad idea.
md2 responding to a
comment by profoscurity
07.30.09 - 10:44 am
reply
i understand
use the dial to make the helmet tight
use the strap, but it doesn't have to be super tight, just snug
snowcone responding to a
comment by md2
07.30.09 - 10:45 am
reply
The helmet you should get is the helmet you're going to like wearing. All the helmets discussed is a hell of alot better than none.
@poodle, you heard that light colors are cooler than dark colored helmets? What, you flunked basic science in high school? Absent when the teacher lectured on radian energy and the laws of thermodynamics or something?
User107.30.09 - 10:56 am
reply
light colored helmets also help fight global warming by bouncing infrared rays out to space, bitch.
tortuga_veloce responding to a
comment by User1
07.30.09 - 11:02 am
reply
whats the deal with CATLIKES. grammy told me they dont meet the standards out here.
expensive hat ?
I have a giro atmos but it ended up being shitty qaulity.. the plastic strap broke off.
HANDBONE07.30.09 - 11:14 am
reply
Hah...
Im just glad you know of a course called "basic science". Have a syllabus on hand to review?
md2 responding to a
comment by User1
07.30.09 - 11:18 am
reply
So you heard?
User1 responding to a
comment by tortuga_veloce
07.30.09 - 11:18 am
reply
They probably do...for whatever reason the co. doesn't bother with the US. You can find them on ebay however...
TheJen responding to a
comment by HANDBONE
08.18.09 - 7:57 pm
reply
Orange 20 has catlikes right now. They're so sweet but they're also 250 bucks.
monovsstereo08.19.09 - 5:05 am
reply
helmuts r guud
my brain is broke, i don't wear helmut, and got smashed from behind by drinkering drivering.
brain be smashed, don't thinks so fasts nows.
TheDude08.20.09 - 12:33 am
reply
Really, I almost died. Bleeding from my head in the middle of Wilshire Blvd Seizure and twitching and people freaking out and everything.
Because I wasn't wearing a helmet.
Don't be a jackass.
TheDude08.20.09 - 12:35 am
reply
-->
Ridazz Roulette!
.