Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bicycle and helmet

Free as a bird

ghost dance beat — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:25:19 -0800

What is the most lightweight and/or the most vented bicycle helmet that you can buy? I am looking for the most comfortable helmet possible - one that almost feels like you're not even wearing it (impossible, I know). Let's assume I am not concerned about any country-specific safety regulations or certifications. Any recommendations of brands or specific models?

Pimp My Bike!

Juliet Banana — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:11:38 -0800

I'm about to go on a bike accessory spending spree, and I wanted input on the most impenetrable locks, the most stylish helmets, and on everything from baskets to bells to headlights. I also would welcome any input on the best way to light a bike frame using electroluminescent wire. HELMET: After considering Nutcase Helmets and this hilarious derby hat helmet and wishing the Yakkay helmets were available in the US, I'm almost decided on the Bern Watts. I can't shake the feeling that I'm missing something really cool in the thousands of helmets out there, though; have you ever seen a helmet that looks so cool you actually want to wear it?

LOCK: U-locks are still the gold standard, right? Does it matter if it's actually a Kryptonite?

HEADLIGHT AND TAILLIGHT: These are required by law and safety, but I still want them to look good, you know? Am I going to regret not getting some crazy expensive bulky high powered light when I'm squinting into the pitch or getting run over from behind? Chicago is pretty well-lit; do I really need a eye-scorching headlight if I never ride trails?

BASKETS, BELLS, HELL, MAYBE EVEN STREAMERS: These are just for fun, so if you've found anything particularly awesome or cute, hook it up.

EL WIRE: It seems like most people trot this out only for Burning Man, but I honestly would like to keep something like this wrapped around my frame 24/7 and turn it on for night rides. Does anyone have any ideas of how to keep an inverter attached, dry, and preferably unpilfered? I would need to be able to detach it to replace the batteries and in case it started pouring. The best idea I've had so far is to velcro the inverter underneath my hollow banana seat, but I'm not sure how to keep it safe from the spray from my un-fendered back wheel; maybe a velcro-attached piece of vinyl? Shrink-wrap?

THE BASIC BACKGROUND: The most important things to me are one, safety, and two, style. I want things that will help me not get killed and look really slick while doing it. I am not athletic and the most competitive event I'm going to take part in on my bike are Eat, Drink, and Ride Bikes pub crawls. If I cared about speed or mileage or whatever people like Matt Haughey worry about, I would not be riding a single speed knock-off Schwinn Stingray from the 1960s with a cruiser brake. I ride my bike to have fun and get from Point A to Point B.

What is a comfortable hairstyle-preserving bike helmet?

CancerMan — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:43:36 -0800

My spouse wants to bike to work, but doesn't want to wear a helmet, citing "heat" and "helmet hair" as the main reasons. With no concern for price, what helmet brands or models would best prevent those "horrible" conditions? This is her first attempt at biking to work. She's ridden a bike many times before, but only on bike paths away from traffic or around quiet neighborhoods (she didn't wear a helmet then, either). The commute is approximately 15 minutes through a semi-residential area, along a busy multi-lane road. She intends to ride on the sidewalk. The condition of the concrete is pretty good for the most part, but there are two or three places where tree roots or soil erosion have created bumps. She would have to cross three intersections, each leading to a housing subdivision. Since it's rush hour, traffic is significant as many people are leaving or returning to and from work, which means there will be cars pulling out of driveways and turning into these main intersections.

My wife knows why she should wear a helmet, and she's heard enough gory stories and seen pictures of accidents to understand the consequences of not wearing one. I've also told her of my own close calls on city streets with inattentive drivers (however, I no longer ride to work).

Unfortunately, the two reasons of heat and hair appear to be deal-breakers for her. She feels the short commute and fact that she will ride on the sidewalk present less risk of injury, such that she will still arrive at work safe and beautiful. Therefore, this question is less about why she should wear a helmet, and more about what kind of helmet she could wear. I think if I can show her that she can still wear a helmet and preserve her style, she'll be more inclined to do so.

Her hair is in a bob, down to her neck, and the front bangs are usually pinned with a tiny (tiny!) clip. I've asked if she could style her hair at work, but she refuses to because she can't bring nor store her products at the office, much less find a place to freshen up. She will also not wear a bandanna or cap because she feels it will only trap the heat.

I intend to bring my wife to our local bike shop to perform some maintenance checkup on her ride. Whilst there I want to have her try on some helmets and ideally show her that some helmets won't mess up her hair and still provide ventilation and protection. I've also read a couple of AskMe threads about helmet hair, and started to look at brands like Giro and Limar (unknown if the bike shop carries them).

Are there other brands that will provide a level of comfort, negate the heat and preserve her hairstyle, so that my spouse will wear a helmet on her commute?

Headphone recommendations for road cycling?

Señor Pantalones — Sat, 16 May 2009 21:34:46 -0800

[cycling] best headphones, preferably not buds? A few years ago, a company called Slipstreamz introduced something called "The Slip" which mounted earbuds outside the ear on a windscreen and allowed the best of both worlds -- hearing your environment and hearing your ipod. They appear to be out of business (or at least hard to find, and their server has been down since I started looking).

I've tried riding with both forms of iPhone buds (the plug-style and the pre-plug disc-shaped "buds"). They block too much environmental audio, and I'm not comfortable being that detached from my surroundings.

What are you using? What do you like or dislike about them? Would you recommend them?

Thanks in advance. Bonus points for iphone-friendly (e.g., mic on the cable) recommendations.

Sorry I have to ask, but no "don't do it" safety responses please. This is a specific question for people who choose to ride with headphones.

Helmet hair solutions

imposster — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:19:05 -0800

Any suggestions for battling helmet hair related to bicycle riding? My current helmet has vents that produce odd ridges in my hair that don't come out, even after wetting my hair. For the record, I'm a male with short to medium-short hair (although the length doesn't affect whether I get helmet hair or not.) I really like riding my bike to work and I don't feel safe riding in traffic without a helmet. Is there a type of helmet that is better for not messing up your hair or are there other tips?

new to biking

mustcatchmooseandsquirrel — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 20:29:10 -0800

I got a bike. Now what do I do? I bought a hybrid and a lock for it; it seem like a good bike and I feel comfortable on it. However, I did not really have a childhood filled with biking and only really had a bike that I rode briefly five years ago or so. Thus, I do not really know how to get into using the bike for fun and transportation.

How do I get to feel more comfortable riding the bike? Is there anything that I need to know that seems obvious? Do I actually need a helmet? (if so, how do I fix helmet hair? also, any tips for riding in a skirt?) What else do I need to know?

I don't have a car so aside from walking, this would be my only real mode of transportation other than bumming rides from friends.

Why are bicycle helmets so flimsy?

jldindc — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 12:15:06 -0800

I got a new helmet about 4 months ago, and paid about $100. I wear it all the time, and value the safety it provides. However, I've noticed that nearly all bicycle helmets only have the harder plastic part on the OUTSIDE of the helmet, not also in the inside. I find my helmets always get dented on the inside or on the areas where there is no plastic covering. Why can't they manufacture ones that have it all around the foam areas? or at least on the surfaces that have contact with the table if I put it down on a table? Very frustrating to be always buying a new one, just because the foam gets damaged so easily. I'm willing to spend money to protect my brain, but it seems a little plastic would go a long way to make the helmet last a little longer. I know the helmet is supposed to absorb impact, but would it not absorb impact if there was plastic all around the inside and outside?

Accibump on road bike. New helmet required?

netsirk — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 12:00:52 -0800

I had a minor accident on my road bike this weekend, and fell over whilst moving at a very low speed. Do I need a new helmet? I was not seriously injured, just gathered a smattering of road rash and some bruises because I wasn't able to clip my feet out of the pedals quickly enough. I was wearing a helmet, and when I fell, the main point of impact was my elbow. The side of my helmet did also hit the road, but I didn't land on my head or anything like that.

There does not appear to be any damage at all to the helmet - no visible dents or scrapes - but I've heard that the structural integrity of a helmet can be compromised by even a relatively minor bump. It's a Giro helmet, something like this model, and it is about 10 months old. Is it still safe to use? Or am I better of springing for a new one?