This is not a helmet...

[HJ]

Bike Snob NYC's take on the "Swelled Head: The Shock of the Pneumatic", even in America they think it is stupid...

 

[magnatom]

First off, it does not seem to offer much protection at all, its already deflating by the time the head hits something hard. Cant see it stopping impact injury like a lid will.

also, if its activated from sudden tilt/movement, then how does it deal with sneezing?

I actually disagree with you to some extent Jonny. I think in principle airbag type protection could be much better than a helmet. Yes there are timing issues and inflation issue, but the principle is sound. Air at the correct pressure (not too high, not too low) has excellent cushioning properties. It is far more compressable than todays helmets and thus could do what it is tasked to do, reduce impact force and spread the impact over a longer time period. As Cunobelin also points out, you also loose the snag, big head issues. However, the practicalities of it are just absurd. Having to wear that thing around your neck is one major flaw. What happens if you drop it on the floor.....boom! What happens if you have put it on back to front (it happens with helmets!), what happens if the material gets snagged etc....

If someone could develop a collar that was integrated into a riding jersey, that was much smaller than this thing (and harder to put on the wrong way around (Perhaps!), then yes, maybe there would be a use for technology like this.

It looks like they are a long way from this, however.

 

[jonny jeez]

"Cuts and scratches, yes. It wont protect you from a car," I replied,

I understand the argument that a lid doesn't reduce the chances of a collision (and may indeed increase them) but how can it not offer protection from a car (assuming you mean an impact with a car) a lid will decrease the effect of any impact injury to the area protected by said lid?

As will cotton wool, a big balloon or a wolly hat (just to show that I am not preaching for lids here).

granted its not a panacea, but you cant say it wont offer *some" protection

 

[HJ]

So why not surround yer self with a big metal cage, and while yer at it add four wheels...

 

[mcshroom]

So why not surround yer self with a big metal cage, and while yer at it add four wheels...

because it would be too heavy and woudn't filter very well

 

[Peter10]

First off, it does not seem to offer much protection at all, its already deflating by the time the head hits something hard. Cant see it stopping impact injury like a lid will.

also, if its activated from sudden tilt/movement, then how does it deal with sneezing?

probably through a G force sensor like a car airbag. A lot of people assume a car airbag goes off at any speed crash but they don't. Kind of like the myth that they go off when you try to pick the locks etc.

On a technical aspect, it's a great idea. Personally not for me at all but I'm sure there are practical uses for it somewhere.

 

[Norm]

And here is how we are all going to look wearing them!

It would take a lot more than a blow up collar to make me look that good!

 

[2Loose]

I understand the argument that a lid doesn't reduce the chances of a collision (and may indeed increase them) but how can it not offer protection from a car (assuming you mean an impact with a car) a lid will decrease the effect of any impact injury to the area protected by said lid?

I think Maganatom is pointing out that protecting your head to a small degree does not protect the rest of you at all.

 

[MartinC]

Good news is that it has no snag points or vents so will cause less injuries than some helmet designs and stay in place!

That's an unusually sloppy argument from you!

Just because it avoids some flaws with helmet design doesn't mean it'll cause less injuries. It may have other features (e.g. unwanted deployments) that cause even more injuries.

 

[jonny jeez]

I think Maganatom is pointing out that protecting your head to a small degree does not protect the rest of you at all.

2loose, I was replying to Downfader, not Mags.

Although I take the point it does not protect the rest of you, this still doesn't support a theory that it doesn't protect a bit of you...for a bit.

I've taken to not wearing a lid my self of recent (my choice), but i think its a dodgy line to suggest that a lid offers no protection at all. New riders who visit these pages for advice and opinion, will take that on board and become confused.

 

[jonny jeez]

On a technical aspect, it's a great idea. Personally not for me at all but I'm sure there are practical uses for it somewhere.

it'd possibly have a better application as a deployable (spelling) neck brace, fitted on the underside of motorcycle helmets or even the underside of cycle lids.

At the end of the day, if you dont want to wear a lid, you are unlikely to wear one of these instead

 

[4F]

I'm not sure who these 'lid haters' are, I've never come across any.

Hello, my name is 4F nice to meet you

 

[downfader]

I understand the argument that a lid doesn't reduce the chances of a collision (and may indeed increase them) but how can it not offer protection from a car (assuming you mean an impact with a car) a lid will decrease the effect of any impact injury to the area protected by said lid?

As will cotton wool, a big balloon or a wolly hat (just to show that I am not preaching for lids here).

granted its not a panacea, but you cant say it wont offer *some" protection

The point I was trying to make was that its better to be a good rider than rely on a helmet.

I think most impacts with cars on helmeted heads are now starting to be reflected in the news reports that they dont work for the faster speeds cars have hit cyclists at. I've not got the stats to hand but even the DfT recognised that only something like 6% of accidents involving the unhelmeted head could have benefitted from one.

I have no problem with people wearing helmets, but both driver and cyclist alike must accept the many limitations.