Peak or not?

gnashers
gnashers Posts: 27
edited November 2009 in Road beginners
Why is wearing a helmet with a peak frowned upon by many roadies?
«1

Comments

  • Despite it looking stupid? Dunno, extra weight I suppose.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Cos MTB helmets have peaks?

    My helmet is the one I got when I had an mtb so it has a peak. It's detachable but I leave it on cos I think it looks better, and at night I can use it to shield my eyes from oncoming headlights.

    By day it's not so useful, especially when on the drops, cos I find myself having to crane my neck a bit to see far enough in front of me. Maybe that's why roadie helmets don't have peaks.
  • nolf
    nolf Posts: 1,287
    Cool roadies have cotton caps which they wear underneath their helmets.

    very cool roadies don't bother with helmets at all.
    "I hold it true, what'er befall;
    I feel it, when I sorrow most;
    'Tis better to have loved and lost;
    Than never to have loved at all."

    Alfred Tennyson
  • I wouldn't say roadies who don't wear helmets are cool! Stupid maybe... and they won't look very cool at all when they're stuck in a wheelchair due to a nasty head injury.
  • Peak off-road
    No peak on-road

    I have 2 helmets, Giro Xen for MTB and Giro Atmos for road.
    Parkpre Pro Elite 94 - Parkpre Pro Image 94 - Parkpre Team 925 SS 94 - Parkpre Pro 825 95 - Marin Mount Vision Hotrod 97 - Specialized Rockhopper 98 - Trek SL1000 07 - Rocky Mountain Vertex 50 09
  • no peak anywhere. there's no need for them.
  • MikeWW
    MikeWW Posts: 723
    Peak useful in the rain and sometimes at night as it keeps rain and stuff out of your eyes when glasses not practical
  • it keeps rain and stuff out of your eyes when glasses not practical
    a) in which circumstances are glasses not practical
    and
    b) how big is your peak exactly??!
  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    I use a peak for commuting at its helps to keep rain from dripping down the backs of my glasses.
    Also as stated earlier its great for keeping headlights out of direct view if your blinded.
    For normal riding through or when training I don't use a peak.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 16,646
    it keeps rain and stuff out of your eyes when glasses not practical
    a) in which circumstances are glasses not practical
    and
    b) how big is your peak exactly??!

    big enough

    keeps rain off your glasses and all

    peak caps work.... peaked helmets are frowned upon
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    edited October 2009
    franjipan wrote:
    I wouldn't say roadies who don't wear helmets are cool! Stupid maybe... and they won't look very cool at all when they're stuck in a wheelchair due to a nasty head injury.

    here we go again.....


    anyway, I've never felt the need for a peak - on either my road bike or my MTB. Pointless piece of marketing bollox invented by the helmet companies in order to make the lid look more like a motocross helmet, so they could pander to the growing MTB market. Does nothing to improve safety and in some cases will actually restrict your vision - great idea....
  • Limburger
    Limburger Posts: 346
    Roadies have a much more 'head down' riding position (in general) owing to having a high seat/low bar combination. This stops you from having your head level (especially when on the drops) so you tend to look up rather than straight ahead. If you had a peak you would be staring at the piece of cheap plastic that is obscuring the car your about to hit.

    MTBers have a much more upright riding position (in general) so a peak does not obscure their view of the tree they are about to hit.
    God made the Earth. The Dutch made The Netherlands

    FCN 11/12 - Ocasional beardy
  • hodsgod
    hodsgod Posts: 226
    I find the peak usefull if it rains, therefore it stays on my helmet.
  • daveclow
    daveclow Posts: 164
    nolf wrote:
    Cool roadies have cotton caps which they wear underneath their helmets.

    very cool roadies don't bother with helmets at all.

    the only possible thing i could think of to make them cooler still would be to smoke whilst riding.
  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    daveclow wrote:

    the only possible thing i could think of to make them cooler still would be to smoke whilst riding.

    like this..?

    10.jpg
  • derosa
    derosa Posts: 2,819
    So the helmet peak ensures your fag stays lit in all weathers?

    Big H

    May the road rise up to meet you.
    May the wind always be at your back.
  • porker33
    porker33 Posts: 636
    I keep the peak on my Bell, I find that the improved aerodynamics are worth at least an extra 5mph on a moderate downhill blast! :lol:
  • Rich Hcp
    Rich Hcp Posts: 1,355
    A peak is handy off road for keeping twigs off your face.

    On a roadie the peak gets in the way, so no peak is better

    My next lid will have a peak for off road use

    The non-peak will be for roadie use
    Richard

    Giving it Large
  • daveclow
    daveclow Posts: 164
    softlad wrote:
    daveclow wrote:

    the only possible thing i could think of to make them cooler still would be to smoke whilst riding.

    like this..?

    10.jpg

    hahahahhaha brilliant. the next thing i was going to say is to have greasy slick back hair aswell. awesome.
  • daveclow wrote:
    softlad wrote:
    daveclow wrote:

    the only possible thing i could think of to make them cooler still would be to smoke whilst riding.

    like this..?

    10.jpg

    hahahahhaha brilliant. the next thing i was going to say is to have greasy slick back hair aswell. awesome.

    All he needs now is a leather jacket and a snake tattoo.
  • teagar
    teagar Posts: 2,100
    Lance-Armstrong-001.jpg


    *ahem*
    Note: the above post is an opinion and not fact. It might be a lie.
  • MikeWW
    MikeWW Posts: 723
    teagar wrote:
    Lance-Armstrong-001.jpg


    *ahem*

    LOL
  • lfcquin
    lfcquin Posts: 470
    teagar wrote:
    Lance-Armstrong-001.jpg


    *ahem*

    Doesn't that just prove the point that peaks look naff for roadies?

    Beckham wore a dress, I don't think that looked cool either. :D
  • I found the peak helps in the rain, looks like some people also like the practicality!
    Anway function rather than fashion is my choice.....
  • Steve_b77
    Steve_b77 Posts: 1,680
    It loosk a damm site better than the guy on the left.

    His helmet looks like it's perched ontop of his head
  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    Steve_b77 wrote:
    His helmet looks like it's perched ontop of his head

    where else would it be perched..?
  • As i said practicality is my priority however them golf ball type helmets do look plain wrong....
    whoever wears them.... that should upset a few people
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Yes, it's on his head, but so high he looks like a button mushroom.

    What's that all about??
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 16,646
    teagar wrote:
    Lance-Armstrong-001.jpg


    *ahem*

    immediately uncool if failstrong is using it
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • FeynmanC
    FeynmanC Posts: 649
    I just took the peak off my one to see if it helped the bad pain I got in my upperback/right shoulder area.

    It has cured it! I had to lift my head to see under the peak and those couple of extra degrees of flex in my neck were causing all sorts of pain :shock:

    It wasn't quite as much fun in the rain without it, but id prefer not to feel like someone has stuck a knike between my shoulder blades after half an hour I think.
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