Full face Helmet?

[semislickstick]

Why? Genuinely want to know. I have bar ends, and they save me, climbing.....

..because the end of it smacked my face as I was falling off the bike, smacked my cheek bone, then the next day I had bits of teeth dropping off while eating a sandwich. I still have an odd pulling sensation under the skin every time I blink on that side, prob just a freaky accident and I liked using the bar ends and have been tempted to get some but my face was even more of a mess than normal for a while (I looked like I'd been beaten up and didn't leave the house for a week) and I'd be scared of tempting fate fitting some!
I was very lucky to get away without much noticeable facial scarring. (I'm female, I don't think cycle war wounds look as good on us as guys :-)

I did think at the time of getting one of those (Giro?) swichblade/ (Met)Parachute helmets with the removable chin guard. If I'm going to protect the top of my head why not the bottom half too?

But anyway, I didn't. It probably would have taken a full face motorcycle helmet to stop the cheek bone/teeth injury but the chin guard would have saved the skin on my face from being left on the tarmac.

You just have to weigh up the everyday pro's and con's for yourself don't you.

...sorry for the long winded reply.

 

[ufkacbln]

+ 2 (yes I'm weak willed and have been bullied into wearing one)

But a full face helmet? No, no and again no. If they were compulsory I wouldn't cycle, for safety reasons:-

firstly, they would restirct the field of vision, making accidents more likely
secondly, they would restrict hearing, making accidents more likely
thirdly, I would only be able to cycle downhill, otherwise I would collapse from heat exhaustion, in hot weather this would make death more likely

THis is my exact point - you (at the moment) have the luxury to choose.

According to the pro-compulsion lobby these are invalid arguments for not wearing a helmet!

 

[Tynan]

a knock between skull and road can e very minor and still bloody hurt, a cycle helmet will help in hard knocks too

nevr heard that a dropped cycle helmet should be replaced, they do say that for motorcycle helmets, it's got nothing to do with helmet protection, it's about the design of the helmet

 

[Twanger]

...sorry for the long winded reply.

Many thanks....food for thought...

 

[classic33]

Having seen what the strapping did to someones ear when he came off sideways. Someone else cut across in front of him, sending him down the road where his helmet was pulled round the head(one side to the other) I said I wouldn't wear one.

I do use & have used a full face for commuting. They heat up as pointed out, but having just checked field of vision is only slightly affected. Still able to see over both shoulders(just over 190 degrees field of view) only slighlty less than without. This without moving the head.
Hit sideways on by a by a car coming out of a junction, the head hit the bonnet but no marks on the face from this.
Warm weather, you get used to wearing one.
Hearing I don't feel was affected.

BUT
Given the choice of hindsight or helmet to purchase. I'd go for hindsight if it were possible.

As is pointed out, at present we have the choice of whether we use one or not. Lets hope it stays that way.

 

[summerdays]

I don't think they are great on the road for the reasons mentioned - reduced visibility, hearing and one that I didn't really appreciate until recently when I saw a kid with one on one day then the next day a normal helmet.

They reduce your "human-ness", that facial contact with other road users, and make you appear more aggressive. I use my face all the time when cycling to transfer messages to other road users especially at road junctions - personally I think a smile is one of the most important things I can do when cycling.

 

[Will1985]

+1 summerdays. FF helmets are also sending the message that cycling can be perceived as dangerous, and become another reason for the lawmakers to remove cyclists from roads.

Isn't the risk of a cervical spine injury/severance increased with FF/motorcycle style helmets?

 

[J4CKO]

I think there is probably a case for FF, but not a Downhill one, surely one could be designed that has some protection for your face but doesnt weigh a tonne or overheat your head.

As for increasing the perception cycling is dangerous, well, there is the chance that you may fall off and bang your head, so it can be quite dangerous, perhaps this reinforces the idea that people can do some things to minimise the risk as far as possible ?

 

[Will1985]

Why not wear leathers as well to minimise the chances of scraping some skin off?!!

I'll rephrase my earlier comment - a car driver might see a FF helmet and think they are safer than a standard cycle helmet. Factor that into the research done a few years ago on driver perceptions of a cyclist based on headwear and you might get passed even closer.

Furthermore, a FF helmet doesn't stop you from ruining your face - just look at Massa's crash. While the helmet was internally intact, he received a laceration above his eyebrow when the helmet moved. From experience, the same thing happens on cycle helmets.

 

[semislickstick]

Why not wear leathers as well to minimise the chances of scraping some skin off?!!

I'll rephrase my earlier comment - a car driver might see a FF helmet and think they are safer than a standard cycle helmet. Factor that into the research done a few years ago on driver perceptions of a cyclist based on headwear and you might get passed even closer.

Furthermore, a FF helmet doesn't stop you from ruining your face - just look at Massa's crash. While the helmet was internally intact, he received a laceration above his eyebrow when the helmet moved. From experience, the same thing happens on cycle helmets.

To be far, when I was cycling I was going a lot slower than Massa and it wasn't a projectile flying at me and it was my cheek that slid along the road a jaw bar in the way WOULD have stopped that! Honest! I know FF M/c helmets are a snug fit so and movement is minimal, you don't just rely on a chin strap. Did his helmet move? I thought at 162mph+ the spring ripped through the shell.

Have you got the dial fit cycle helmet? I found that didn't budge if I did it up (Giro)?

That same research by the student also suggested that you got more room if you wore a girlie wig and had a basket on the front.

Isn't the risk of a cervical spine injury/severance increased with FF/motorcycle style helmets?

Anything that makes your head stick out further could do the same, there were recommendations about standard cycle helmets being more rounded and to avoid the pointy ones that could act as a pivot point.

All depends what you think the risk is!

 

[summerdays]

Well put it this way I have no idea what the quality of a full face helmet as worn by downhiller's but kids wear ones bought in places like Toys'r'us and from what I've seen they are of the same quality as the bikes for being able to adjust them to fit properly.