Helmets: Mtb vs Road

thermopyl

After starting what has been my longest ever debate ever on Helmets ( which seems to have descended into complete silliness), here's a proper question...

I don't like wearing a helmet as i have an enormous head. My MTB helmet makes it worse.

However, as it's early days on my road bike, i havent splashed out on a replacement.

I had a quick scan on Wiggle though and road helmets seem to be v.pricey! Are they different in some way? streamlined? branded?

rjh299

Lighter, better ventilation the more you pay usually. Just get whatever you can afford and like the look of. You could just wear MTB one on your road bike if you want. Just make sure you remove the peak. Nobody uses one of those...

rjh299

Cue Lance...

amnesia

rjh299 wrote:

Lighter, better ventilation the more you pay usually. Just get whatever you can afford and like the look of. You could just wear MTB one on your road bike if you want. Just make sure you remove the peak. Nobody uses one of those...

Fit is much more important than price and look.
No point having a cheap, good looking helmet if it doesn't fit properly.

I have just bought a Las Squalo and it is extremely comfy (for my funny shaped head).

Best bet is to try some on at a LBS and go from there... what price do you put on your head ?

louthepoo

i didn't realise there were different helmets for mtb and road. I haven't got a clue which mine is. I know i've taken the peak off, i was told by a loads of cyclists that its a mtb thing! I didn't really care about the peak, just had enough of people telling me i shouldn't have it on!

Bar Shaker

Does it matter? I have an expensive mtb one that I wear on either bike.

Should I taunt roadies wearing roady helmets, as I pass them?

danowat

Wear what you like, who gives a crap if you get judged.

I am looking at £100 woody woodpecker aero lids ATM, my missus says I'll look a bit of a tool, but if it makes me faster in a TT, who cares what it looks like :twisted:

rjh299

amnesia wrote:

rjh299 wrote:

Lighter, better ventilation the more you pay usually. Just get whatever you can afford and like the look of. You could just wear MTB one on your road bike if you want. Just make sure you remove the peak. Nobody uses one of those...

Fit is much more important than price and look.
No point having a cheap, good looking helmet if it doesn't fit properly.

I have just bought a Las Squalo and it is extremely comfy (for my funny shaped head).

Best bet is to try some on at a LBS and go from there... what price do you put on your head ?

Your right but his question wasn't about which one to buy. He wanted to know if there's a difference between road and mtb helmets, and why some are expensive compared to others.

anto164

Bar Shaker wrote:

Does it matter? I have an expensive mtb one that I wear on either bike.

Should I taunt roadies wearing roady helmets, as I pass them?

Same as me.. My mtb helmet cost me the sharp side of £90, and it's used on the mtb and the roady.

tlw1

I just wear my mtb one (with the peak) - should I hold my head in shame?

solsurf

I wear my mtb quite a bit on my road bike when it is raining it just gives a bit more protection. its a Giro e2 great helmet although always seems a bit wonky. My kask road helmet seems really comfy and althought the fitting system is a little strange i like it.

I dont know why they are both comfy but do feel different.

lastwords

The peak on a moutain bike helmet stops some crud and a lot of rain getting on your glasses its also good at keeping the sun out your eyes, on a mountain bike your position is more upright so i find it doesnt affect my vision.

On the road bike if you use a peak you have to stretch your neck a lot when riding the drops so a helmet without a peak works great, you also tend to want to look further ahead than when your riding off road.

You may fiind a mtb helmet also comes further down at the back to protect the head.

Lillywhite

Didn't realise that there was any difference between a road and a MTB helmet, apart from the fact that some helmets are supplied with a detachable plastic peak.

Lycra Man

I wear a helmet with a peak when riding my road bike. The peak keeps the rain off my glasses, and the headlights of approaching cars out of my eyes when I ride all night.

Why would I take the peak off? I wouldn't.

More posey nonsense from the fashion police!

Lycra Man

dreamlx10

Wearing a helmet peak on the road makes you look like a c**k !

Pross

I'm pretty sure both my helmets are "MTB" helmets i.e. they had a peak on them which I took off, to be honest I didn't even realise there were different helmets. They are all to one of the main standards (SNELL, BSEN etc.) so I can't see that it makes much difference. Maybe the road helmets are better ventilated but I just bought what I could afford at the time. Your head's the same on or off road so why change a helmet?

keef66

"Wearing a helmet peak on the road makes you look like a c**k !"

I think you'll find that wearing a massive purple road helmet will make you look like a c**k.

petemadoc

This has descended into an argument about peaks . . . .lol

Of all the things to argue about. My road helmet has a peak and I didn't think about until reading this! It keeps the rain off my glasses too so I think I'll leave it on, even if I do look a c**k

cougie

I think the only real difference is the peak.

As previous people have said = peak is great offroad for keeping crap off, and helps with lowhanging branches and bushes. On the road it will block your vision though and you have to crane your neck further.

I'd only splash out on a road helmet if you find the MTB helmet annoys you.

Chris James

dreamlx10 wrote:

Wearing a helmet peak on the road makes you look like a c**k !

Indeed, although wearing a cotton cap under the helmet - with the peak of the cap merging forwards and obscuting vision in exactly the same way as a MTB helmet - is de rigeur in the wet.

philiplwhite

Entry level road and MTB lids are probably not that different in performance. At the higher end MTB lids are (depending on the type of MTB ing) more studier heavier and less well ventilaled. Its obvious that you wear a heavier better protected lid for free riding and down hill MTB stuff.But like road racing there are many types of MTB ridding.

Personaly I have a Specialised XC (cross country MTB) lid. This is a good compromise in weight and protection. I just pull the peak off on road. If I left it on I would get a really sore neck craning to look forward in the drops. ( and look a *&^^%$)

clanton

Chris James wrote:

dreamlx10 wrote:

Wearing a helmet peak on the road makes you look like a c**k !

Indeed, although wearing a cotton cap under the helmet - with the peak of the cap merging forwards and obscuting vision in exactly the same way as a MTB helmet - is de rigeur in the wet.

Nice answer. I have a mtb helmet (Giro Xen) and a "Road" helmet - Spesh S works and both have peaks - which I leave on. The peka on the road helmet is never in the way, the one on the Giro has two settings and on the lower setting I find it does.

clanton

Chris James wrote:

dreamlx10 wrote:

Wearing a helmet peak on the road makes you look like a c**k !

Indeed, although wearing a cotton cap under the helmet - with the peak of the cap merging forwards and obscuting vision in exactly the same way as a MTB helmet - is de rigeur in the wet.

Nice answer. I have a mtb helmet (Giro Xen) and a "Road" helmet - Spesh S works and both have peaks - which I leave on. The peka on the road helmet is never in the way, the one on the Giro has two settings and on the lower setting I find it does.

In terms of differences between the two - the Giro is heavier - has BIGGER vents (MTB helmets usually do as the speeds you go are slower - contrary to what others have said on this thread) and fits much lower down on the head with extra protection around the base of the skull and temple area.