Lids

rally200

Could any one recommend a lid that: looks ok, wont break the bank, is fairly comfortable, and oh yes, keep your head in one piece

littleandy0410

Specialized helmets seem to be a good buy, for the fact that they tend to be safety rated higher than a lot of helmets.

I use a Specialized Air Force, which in plain black I think looks OK. Review here (Ignore the hideous colour in the picture!) http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/protection/helmet-standard/product/air-force-helmet-10048
For £25 it can't be bad: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/air-force-3-helmet-ec011209

My wife has a Specialized Chamonix http://www.rutlandcycling.com/9659/Specialized-Accessories-Chamonix-Helmet.html?referrer=froogle1 which got 10 out of 10 in this month's Cycling Plus magazine, and again, is safety rated to Snell B90A which is much higher than the EU standard of EN 1708. Review here (and again, ignore the foul colour scheme! Why do they do that!): http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/protection/helmet-standard/product/chamonix-helmet-10108

ride_whenever

the specialised helmets are the first ones to look at as they test them to higher standards than other helmets IIRC.

But you need to buy one that fits you, so get out there and try them out.

simon_e

Most important is that you buy one that fits your head properly. Try different makes and models. Spending more gets better ventilation and sometimes better adjusters but not necessarily any better protection.

My Bell Ghisallo is tested to the American CPSC standard, which is supposedly better than the CE European standard. I'm not convinced it will make much (if any) difference in the real world so wouldn't buy one on that basis. I found the Bell fitted my head better than the Met or Giro helmets I tried, which to me is much more significant.

rally200

Cheers all, will def try to find the Spec. in LBS. If they don't have 'em will buy the "hideous colour" one off t'internet as it matches my Allez - which is of course the most important thing . Littleandy what do you make of the review comment re the Chamonix looking odd without the visor on - is there really much diff from the air force 3?

JGS

ride_whenever wrote:

the specialised helmets are the first ones to look at as they test them to higher standards than other helmets IIRC.

But you need to buy one that fits you, so get out there and try them out.

Specialized helmets also fit really well and I found that my Instinct is easily on par with a Giro Xen (for MTBing), which costs nearly twice the price.

littleandy0410

Funny, I could've sworn the photo in the link to the Chamonix was of a bright multicoloured helmet. I must have been looking at the air force review twice! :oops: Looks great in that 2 tone silver, and if it matches your bike, even better! My air force is black, and matches my road bike and my mountain bike!! 8)

To be honest, I don't think the visor has ever come off the Chamonix, as my wife only ever uses it for mountain biking, and that's a pretty rare occurence!! I take the visor off my air force when on the road bike, and clip it on when MTBing, and think it looks fine either way.

But, as the others have all said, fit is the most important thing.....ok, 2nd most important after looks!

littleandy0410

Just noticed, the chamonix review was updated today, I was sure the photo yesterday was red white and blue striped!

cougie

You really have to try before you buy. The specialized helmets just dont fit my head shape - but Giro and Bell seem to.

rally200

littleandy0410 wrote:

Funny, I could've sworn the photo in the link to the Chamonix was of a bright multicoloured helmet. I must have been looking at the air force review twice! :oops: Looks great in that 2 tone silver, and if it matches your bike, even better! My air force is black, and matches my road bike and my mountain bike!! 8)

To be honest, I don't think the visor has ever come off the Chamonix, as my wife only ever uses it for mountain biking, and that's a pretty rare occurence!! I take the visor off my air force when on the road bike, and clip it on when MTBing, and think it looks fine either way.

But, as the others have all said, fit is the most important thing.....ok, 2nd most important after looks!

They have changed the Chamonix review - they now say it looks cool with & without peak. that's enough for me. Now, can anyone recomend the best cards to peg to my seatstay, & flick in the spokes.

gabriel959

You can also try the Catlike lids (used by a few olympic/world champions). They are sold exclusively by Prendas.co.uk, loads of air intakes and made in europe!

synchronicity

You must come from a motorcycle background eh mate?
I've never heard of helmets referred to as 'lids' in the bicycle fraternity...

wastelander

+1 re fit...cost/colour does not come into the equation until you've found a brand/model that fit's your headshape

JGS

synchronicity wrote:

I've never heard of helmets referred to as 'lids' in the bicycle fraternity...

Apart from in BMX, DH, DJ and Trials?

rally200

Promise, promise, I willl go to LBS & try some diff lids on. How else can I judge the effects on my hair?

Colour is not so important - I'd gladly wear a dayglo/reflective lid if I could find one - the days when I searched high & low for a fibreglass lid with metallic paint to match my vespa are long, long gone. then again roadies must be the Mods of the cycling world 8)

synchronicity

JGS wrote:

synchronicity wrote:

I've never heard of helmets referred to as 'lids' in the bicycle fraternity...

Apart from in BMX, DH, DJ and Trials?

D'OH. :oops:

beakyboy

gabriel959 wrote:

You can also try the Catlike lids (used by a few olympic/world champions). They are sold exclusively by Prendas.co.uk, loads of air intakes and made in europe!

+1, i own one, seriously light, seriously good looking and very light.

rally200

beakyboy wrote:

gabriel959 wrote:

You can also try the Catlike lids (used by a few olympic/world champions). They are sold exclusively by Prendas.co.uk, loads of air intakes and made in europe!

+1, i own one, seriously light, seriously good looking and very light.

yes they look cool but ,, sharp intake of breath £££?????£££!!!!

Am settled on Chamonix - us spec, light, price,

gabriel959

rally200 wrote:

beakyboy wrote:

gabriel959 wrote:

You can also try the Catlike lids (used by a few olympic/world champions). They are sold exclusively by Prendas.co.uk, loads of air intakes and made in europe!

+1, i own one, seriously light, seriously good looking and very light.

yes they look cool but ,, sharp intake of breath £££?????£££!!!!

Am settled on Chamonix - us spec, light, price,

The Catlikes are really light, price wise, you can get one for £50 from Prendas.co.uk (the Kompact Pro). Also, the air intakes are really good and my head is not sweaty anymore!