Buying a cycle helmet.

scully_its_me

I am going to be buying a cycle helmet.
If anyone has the time to type out some advice it would be appreciated.
Does anyone know of any special offers at the moment?
Would a cheap one from argos do?
Would it be a better investment to buy an expensive one?
What's the difference between all the different ones on the market?
Thankyou

custardy

what type of riding do you do?
best to pop in to your local bike shop and try a few on

BOBS

Our local independant bike shop has decent helmets for a tenner

bikebarbie

if you go to a website called Bike Radar there are reviews on most helmets. The most important thing to look for is the fitting, one that is snug and not that it wobbles around.

darich

When I bought my helmet from a proper bike shop they had a large range.
As long as the helmet meets the appropriate standard then it'll be adequate - you simply pick one that suits your budget or a colour you like.
The more expensive ones will have more vents, may be slightly more aerodynamic etc but will perform to a similar standard to a cheaper one.

It's the type of thing you buy but hope to never need or find out just how good it is.

thelawnet

scully_its_me wrote: »

I am going to be buying a cycle helmet.
If anyone has the time to type out some advice it would be appreciated.
Does anyone know of any special offers at the moment?
Would a cheap one from argos do?
Would it be a better investment to buy an expensive one?
What's the difference between all the different ones on the market?
Thankyou

Some of the expensive ones are aerodynamic and light-weight, which is good if you're competing in the Tour de France. You can also get full-face ones, if you are doing hardcore off-road riding. If you want to look like a sweaty fashion victim you can get a BMX helmet, which have no ventilation holes.

In terms of safety there's a very basic British standard, which is not stringent at all. Snell do a proper test, a list of certified helmets is on their website - http://www.smf.org/certlist/std_B-90A_B-95A_B-90C_B-95C Specialized is the only brand that's really bothered to certify.

A better investment for bike safety than a helmet is a copy of Cyclecraft http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cyclecraft-Skilled-Cycling-Techniques-Adults/dp/0117020516
No point in having a fancy helmet and then riding along in the gutter.

Dippypud

Buy the best you can afford...

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2010/07/27/james-cracknell-s-wife-beverley-turner-says-cycling-helmet-saved-his-life-following-near-fatal-accident-115875-22443801/

being smacked on the back of the head by a truck or van wing mirror is NOT funny.

thelawnet

Dippypud wrote: »

Buy the best you can afford...

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2010/07/27/james-cracknell-s-wife-beverley-turner-says-cycling-helmet-saved-his-life-following-near-fatal-accident-115875-22443801/

being smacked on the back of the head by a truck or van wing mirror is NOT funny.

The thing is he was hit by a passing truck at 5am. You could well argue that a wing mirror on his bike would have allowed him to see that the truck was going to hit him, and allowed him to move out the way.

Equally, you can get super-bright tail lights such as this one: http://road.cc/content/review/30623-hope-vision-district-3-rear-light

Daytime-running tail lights might be more beneficial than a cycle helmet.

James Cracknell is it seems permanently brain damaged, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1369480/James-Cracknell-Even-kids-say-Ive-lost-sparkle-heart-breaking.html - accident avoidance is much better than mitigation, although of course you can do both.

Saying 'buy an expensive helmet' is rather a myopic view of cycle safety - a more expensive one is not necessarily safer, and the evidence as to helmet safety is rather mixed in the first place.

Dippypud

Yeh OK, but if a van driver or bunch of oikes on their way home thought it fun to 'wind up' a cyclist by buzzing him / her close and misjudged it.

They're not not gonna say sorry mate didn't mean it.

I'd like to think a good choice of head gear could help, as you say James Cracknell is permenently damaged. But then that tanker was doing 70.

By 'best you can afford' doesn't always mean most expensive.

thelawnet

Dippypud wrote: »

Yeh OK, but if a van driver or bunch of oikes on their way home thought it fun to 'wind up' a cyclist by buzzing him / her close and misjudged it.

They're not not gonna say sorry mate didn't mean it.

Again the point is that with a mirror on your bike you can see them coming and take evasive action - better that than being hit while wearing a helmet.

scully_its_me

Thanks for all the replies
Much appreciated