Helmets

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Dan77

Senior Member
Location
Worcester
I started road cycling last year, decades after enjoying mountain biking in what seems like a previous life.

So I bought my first ever cycling helmet. Not knowing whether I would stick with it or not, I went for a cheap one. I think it's a Specialised Align. Having upgraded from a hybrid to a road bike and now feeling somewhat less safe due to the different handling (I hope just more experience required) and extra speed, I think it's time to look at upgrading.

Is MIPS important? I notice some POC helmets don't have MIPS but appear to have their own highly rated system?
I'm not really set on a brand but want something that's good value for money, looks good and ideally in hi-vis yellow.

It will be for commuting and for longer weekend road riding. Any recommendations appreciated. I like the look of the Abus Gamechanger but it doesn't appear to be MIPS.
 

vickster

Legendary Member
One that fits, and is comfortable, don’t think MIPS make any difference to that.
Go to LBS try on or you’ll spend a lot of time and money buying and returning ones that don’t fit.
One helmet that fits one head may well not fit another so recommendations are pretty useless.
spending more usually gets lighter and more ventilation but not necessarily comfort. More money to the manufacturer

I don’t see the point of a high vis helmet myself unless yellow is your favourite colour. Your head is very small compared to the rest of your body and about the last thing a motorist will see!
 
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fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Helmet arguments aside

Fit is an issue - so you may need to try a few on - Covid rules aside.

I don't have any helmet's with MIPS - really isn't needed. Planet-X have a good range of helmets, and whilst not the most fancy, they are perfectly good enough - I have three. They aren't as good as my £140 Bell Volt, but each cost £15. They do the job. P-X do road and MTB helmets - I've three of their MTB range, 1 XC helmet and two Enduro style. If they get knocked, I'm not too fussed - quite often barge through trees with my lid.

I've smashed two expensive Bell helmets in the past - once on road RTA and once on my MTB - I'm not too fussed about the PX ones they were cheap.

Most helmets are there to give a bit of skid protection, and most modern lids are fairly rounded so they slide, hence MIPS not being that essential, and there is usually enough movement anyway.
 
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Dan77

Dan77

Senior Member
Location
Worcester
I don’t see the point of a high vis helmet myself unless yellow is your favourite colour. Your head is very small compared to the rest of your body and about the last thing a motorist will see!

I don't know. You may be right.

My bike is matt black and usually so are my clothes. I do tend to wear hi-vis yellow socks as I think that's probably the most visible part in a way due to the fact my legs are always moving. My thought with the hi-vis helmet is a similar theory. When approaching junctions I try to get eye contact with any waiting drivers and that movement of my head along with hi-vis may help a little??? I also run Bontrager Ion flashing lights even on a sunny day. When commuting I have a hi-vis cover over my rucksack.
 

CanucksTraveller

Macho Business Donkey Wrestler
Location
Hertfordshire
POC owner here. Yes POC do effectively have a version of MIPS, they just call it something else (SPIN). It's almost precisely the same concept.
I'm not convinced there's really much evidence that it brings a lot to the party, I didn't choose my two for that feature. They were chosen for the comfort and fit, they suit my head shape so I stick with them. I really like their unusual colours too so that's a bonus. As mentioned, shape is really key, if the shell or the cradle aren't the right for your shape of head, it's going to go back.

POC do advocate bold / strong colours, though not necessarily hi viz per se (and I think they avoid hi viz yellow because it can actually blend in to some situations). They do a lot of blues, greens, pinks, oranges etc. My main one is white and orange.
 
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vickster

Legendary Member
Up to you on the yellow but it’ll limit your choice.
If can’t buy from LBS buy from a place with free delivery and returns like Sigma or use PayPal after registering for their free returns scheme.
Sport pursuit have deals on helmets (maybe POC at mo), have to pay delivery but take PayPal so can do free returns
 

Drago

Legendary Member
Vickster is right. For all sorts of technical and psychological reasons I won't go into here, hi vis is rarely as conspicuous in application as perceived logic would tell is.

If you want hi vis yellow because you just like the colour, then great. Otherwise, bright red is much better if your aim is to not only be seen, but for people to consciously make note of your presence.

There is little evidence that eye contact does anything other than provide false reassurance.

There is also some evidence that over bright daytime light use, particularly on small targets, makes it harder for an observer to judge your speed, and actually makes it more likely you will suffer a T bone scenario. If you must use lights duting the day, low wattage jobs are the way to go.
 

vickster

Legendary Member
Again, not getting into helmet debate, but they are potentially better in low speed than high speed when serious injuries won’t just affect your head.
If worried about crashing, slow down :okay:
 

Drago

Legendary Member
Bottom line is they all meet one or both of the same 2 main safety standards. Any manufacturers claims of performance above and beyond this are just that - claims. You won't know how truthful or accurate those claims are until you auger in head first.

Find one of reasonable quality that won't fall apart after 5 minutes, check that is has ventilation that suits your needs, ensure its a decent fit, and go ride your bike.
 
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Dan77

Dan77

Senior Member
Location
Worcester
The one I have fits fine. Perhaps I don't need to upgrade at all then.

It's not especially comfortable but it's not annoyingly uncomfortable either. Worst part about it is probably when my daughter gets hold of it and rips the velcro'd in padding out.
 

vickster

Legendary Member
The one I have fits fine. Perhaps I don't need to upgrade at all then.

It's not especially comfortable but it's not annoyingly uncomfortable either. Worst part about it is probably when my daughter gets hold of it and rips the velcro'd in padding out.
Put a hook high up, much cheaper than a new helmet
 

Milkfloat

An Peanut
Location
Midlands
For me if you are going to go the expense and hassle of wearing a helmet you may as well make it the safest you can - I don't always wear a helmet, but when I do it is MIPS.
 
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