Ignoring the materials, the ones likely to give the best protection and not displace in an accident are the wrap around types like these Casco cycle helmets.
.
.
Radio 4 Join the Bike Helmet Debate
- Thread starter Caph
- Start date
Motorbike helmets and casco helmets are a non starter for me as cycling is a physical activity and they are far too hot.
There is a big lack of cycle helmet standards, I think the EU standard is about as useful as a sticker saying 'not suitable for under threes'. The only meaningful standard I could find was Snell and the only brand tested was Specialized. That doesn't mean other brands are rubbish as testing is expensive and the manufacturer may not agree with Snell's idea of an ideal helmet, the problem is the lack of information available about why manufacturers have chosen to make helmets a certain way.
There is a big lack of cycle helmet standards, I think the EU standard is about as useful as a sticker saying 'not suitable for under threes'. The only meaningful standard I could find was Snell and the only brand tested was Specialized. That doesn't mean other brands are rubbish as testing is expensive and the manufacturer may not agree with Snell's idea of an ideal helmet, the problem is the lack of information available about why manufacturers have chosen to make helmets a certain way.
For normal unpowered cycling and for e-bikers who like to put in plenty of effort I fully agree, but for the many e-bikers who rely on the bike motor for much of their propulsion they are suitable. This type of wrap around cycle helmet is very common in Australia where helmets are compulsory, and it's generally far hotter there than in the UK.
I suppose a cyclist could have winter and summer helmets though.
.
I had a glance at the Specialized range at Evans, and while I really don't mind paying out big money for quality (blimey, I DID buy a brand new 905 2 months ago), £170 for a bike helmet strikes me as over the top.
I'll have a look round at the likes of Bike Radar websites, who often do what seem to be comprehensive product guides, and if I find anything that looks useful, I'll report back!
Allen.
I'll have a look round at the likes of Bike Radar websites, who often do what seem to be comprehensive product guides, and if I find anything that looks useful, I'll report back!
Allen.
I paid about £30 for mine but I don't remember where I got it, have a Google for air force 3.
I've just bought myself a Specialized Max (which is the XL version of the Align as far as I can see) for 30 GBP from Evans.
Are these cheaper Specialized helmets really SNELL B-90 tested? Their wording is a little vague saying it meets 'one or more' standards.......
This link has been posted before but is still worth a read....
Helmet standards and capabilities
This link has been posted before but is still worth a read....
Helmet standards and capabilities
Last edited:
......and this one, although 10 years old I suspect not much has changed....
http://www.cyclehelmets.org/papers/c2003.pdf
http://www.cyclehelmets.org/papers/c2003.pdf
Mea culpa. Well, not sure about guilty, but certainly wrong.
Not a lot of independent reviews of products around the interweb, but I did immediately find a Snell-approved Specialised at £25, which is nearer the (my sort of) mark.
Specialized Air Force Helmet Review - BikeRadar
Apologies for slagging off the brand.
A.
Not a lot of independent reviews of products around the interweb, but I did immediately find a Snell-approved Specialised at £25, which is nearer the (my sort of) mark.
Specialized Air Force Helmet Review - BikeRadar
Apologies for slagging off the brand.
A.
Last edited:
You can find the list of Snell certified helmets on the Snell website under the "certified helmets" link.
I'm a motorcyclist and positively hate wearing a crash helmet. As a teenager I never had to wear one and wouldn't now out of choice.
I personally find them restrictive regarding hearing, vision and awareness.
Apart from full face type's, which I find even more restrictive, they offer little or no facial protection and zero neck protection, there is apparently some evidence that they may enhance neck injury.
Most head injuries appear to result in the brain impacting the inside of the skull, causing either swelling or bleeding. This would surely happen with or without a helmet should the head come to an abrubt halt from speed, such as in a fall or motoring accident.
I often wonder at what point does a helmet save life but leave the wearer a near brain dead cabbage or save the brain but leave the wearer a total paraplegic? In either case the wearer become's a burden to others and an expense to the NHS, which is exactly what the helmet law was intended to avoid.
I don't doubt they offer some protection from minor impacts, but I'd rather be killed outright than suffer either of the above scenario's.
Protecting myself, should be a matter of personal choice, not law.
The ultimate protection will always be, avoid the activity all together?
I personally find them restrictive regarding hearing, vision and awareness.
Apart from full face type's, which I find even more restrictive, they offer little or no facial protection and zero neck protection, there is apparently some evidence that they may enhance neck injury.
Most head injuries appear to result in the brain impacting the inside of the skull, causing either swelling or bleeding. This would surely happen with or without a helmet should the head come to an abrubt halt from speed, such as in a fall or motoring accident.
I often wonder at what point does a helmet save life but leave the wearer a near brain dead cabbage or save the brain but leave the wearer a total paraplegic? In either case the wearer become's a burden to others and an expense to the NHS, which is exactly what the helmet law was intended to avoid.
I don't doubt they offer some protection from minor impacts, but I'd rather be killed outright than suffer either of the above scenario's.
Protecting myself, should be a matter of personal choice, not law.
The ultimate protection will always be, avoid the activity all together?
Same for me on all counts onmebike, I too rode motorbikes for many years without helmets and was undoubtedly the safer rider for it.
Secondary safety measures have long been proven to increase risk taking and accidents as a result.
Primary safety is best, don't have the accident in the first place, accidents are caused, they don't "just happen".
64 years cycling never with a helmet, 52 years motorcycling, much of it without a helmet, not a mark on me, but still someone will want to post the Nanny State warcry, "It could happen to you anytime". Yes it could, but as the record shows, it's far, far less likely with my approach.
.
Secondary safety measures have long been proven to increase risk taking and accidents as a result.
Primary safety is best, don't have the accident in the first place, accidents are caused, they don't "just happen".
64 years cycling never with a helmet, 52 years motorcycling, much of it without a helmet, not a mark on me, but still someone will want to post the Nanny State warcry, "It could happen to you anytime". Yes it could, but as the record shows, it's far, far less likely with my approach.
.
I've read all the arguments and anecdotes, but the ONE point that keeps me wearing a helmet is this:
A&E staff, doctors and nurses, who ride cycles, tend to wear cycle helmets.
And I still find that a compelling reason to wear one. Am I missing something? I really would like to know, as I'm not at all keen on cycle helmets, even though I wear one!
Allen.
A&E staff, doctors and nurses, who ride cycles, tend to wear cycle helmets.
And I still find that a compelling reason to wear one. Am I missing something? I really would like to know, as I'm not at all keen on cycle helmets, even though I wear one!
Allen.
It results from so often seeing the results of accidents Allen, giving the impression that accident risk is the norm, but their decision is based on ignorance. They normally know nothing technically about accidents and the forces involved, that is properly the province of the experts like the Roads Research Laboratory, and accidents are the exception, not the norm
Many cycle helmets are ineffective in various types of accidents, many displace far too easily especially when multiple blows result from landing and street furniture. The materials used vary and each is only effective at certain speeds and with certain impact types. Have an accident that's not the type of impact a chosen helmet is designed for and it doesn't protect.
So luck is involved and it's best to do everything possible to avoid having an accident in the first place. If that seems blindingly obvious, it isn't so to the many who have a number of accidents while others like me have none while doing exactly the same cycling, often over a huge number of years.
.
Yes, I'm starting to see the holes in the argument. My A&E correspondents take no heed, nor could they, of HOW the bikes were being ridden pre-crash.
It also occurs to me that another statistic involving the medical profession is that (well, it was the case 20 years back) doctors had one of the highest incidence of alcoholism and drug abuse of any other professional group. Mind, as an ex-alcoholic, it seems I followed their lead there, too. Perhaps I should be more careful of who I choose as exemplars.
A
It also occurs to me that another statistic involving the medical profession is that (well, it was the case 20 years back) doctors had one of the highest incidence of alcoholism and drug abuse of any other professional group. Mind, as an ex-alcoholic, it seems I followed their lead there, too. Perhaps I should be more careful of who I choose as exemplars.
A
This subject is a regular and I'm still totally in agreement with Flecc.
I also concur, from experience, that Doctors and nurses are, generally, not good role models when it comes to health and even safety. They have far too much stress to deal with.
I think the most important thing when cycling is awareness of your surrounding. Daydreaming, reverie and keeping your head down are just asking for trouble. Safe route planning and good road positioning is to be highly recommended. Personally I've never bothered with helmet or high viz but that probably reflects the roads I cycle on and the traffic conditions - I might well change my mind for serious inner city or country cycling.
I also concur, from experience, that Doctors and nurses are, generally, not good role models when it comes to health and even safety. They have far too much stress to deal with.
I think the most important thing when cycling is awareness of your surrounding. Daydreaming, reverie and keeping your head down are just asking for trouble. Safe route planning and good road positioning is to be highly recommended. Personally I've never bothered with helmet or high viz but that probably reflects the roads I cycle on and the traffic conditions - I might well change my mind for serious inner city or country cycling.
FWIW I don't wear a helmet because of cars, I wear one because I fall off the bike occasionally and banging my head on the road hurts.
I certainly don't believe they should be compulsory but they do have their uses.
I certainly don't believe they should be compulsory but they do have their uses.
This may be due to one of several reasons? They may feel that in their line of work they feel they should lead by example or because of their work, they only see the victims of accident's and therefore wrongly believe accidents to be the norm.
Apart from eye protection I personally prefer not to wear protective clothing of any description because of the greater feeling of awareness and freedom. I also feel protective clothing may have an adverse effect, making the wearer feel less vulnerable and therefore become more wreckless at the expense of others.
Wearing a helmet should be a matter of personal choice as its only yourself you are protecting. I have to wonder though? having had several head injuries in my family which were all non driving/riding related, are you at any greater risk riding a bike or motorcycle than being a pedestrian, negotiating a flight of stairs in the home or participating in any of a multitude of other pastime's. My mother fell while dancing, hitting her head on a wooden floor, she was paralysed from the neck down. Fortunately, surgery eventually got her back on her feet with only minor disability. A girlfriend hit her head on the edge of a kerb and ended up having half her skull removed to relieve pressure on her brain, she too recovered over time. A family friend slipped on an icy concrete step and fell hitting his head on several step's on the way down suffering severe injury. As a child I ran into the corner of an open metal framed window and suffered cuts and concusion. On another occassion I fell from a first floor roof hitting my head on an oil drum and suffered minor cut's. But, in 50yrs of road use by cycle, motorcycle and car I've only suffered a broken leg from several minor accidents. I can only assume from my own experience's that head injuries are no more likely riding a bicycle than at any other time.
Last edited:
Related Articles
-
MTF Enterprises announces acquisition of EMU Electric Bikes- Started by: Pedelecs
-
Wisper 806T folding bike wins Which? ‘Best Buy’- Started by: Pedelecs
-
Sustrans calls for protected cycle lanes- Started by: Pedelecs
-
Amazon launch their first UK e-cargo micromobility hub- Started by: Pedelecs
