Am I insane for wanting to spend £130 on a helmet?

ptr_

I ride on average twice a week, I don't spend a lot on other components and have a bottom of the line helmet that I hate - it puts me off riding my distinctly average bike, which I love.

When my brother agreed to buy me a new helmet as a belated birthday present I thought I'd push my luck and ask for the £129.99 Specialized S-Works one... he said yep, no problem

But I keep getting nagging thoughts of how stupidly expensive that really is so I'm curious on BR forumites' opinions.

P_Tucker

I find not wearing a helmet to be really cheap

solboy

You are not alone in thinking like this but if cycling is a hobby you enjoy and you like to have nice things why not?

The helmet wont make you faster or a better rider but it will make you feel good and will perform better in hot conditions.

I have recently had the same dilemma and the only word of caution i have is that i could not get the S Works to fit as the straps were always loose so i went for the Prevail instead and this is a much nicer helmet IMO. I paid £130 for the Prevail and i know you can get the SWorks for £105 from cyclestore.

cornerblock

P_Tucker wrote:

I find not wearing a helmet to be really cheap

Now now, lets not have that debate again. Personally I'd have no problem spending that on a decent helmet. Like all top end gear, we wish it was cheaper, but if it is more comfy, cooler and less dorky than a cheap helmet (and someone else is paying!) then go for it. Anything that gets you out on the bike more must be a good thing.

Nancy Luger

Go for it. Probably the singular most important purchase in cycling. If your current helmet puts you off riding, having the one you want is gonna encourage you to ride more - so is better value for money cos you'll get more use and enjoyment from it. Don't sell yourself short, your bruv isn't!!!

Escadrille Ecosse

Went through the same debate myself a when considering buying an S-Works helmet, only difference being it was my own money. In the end I bought it and I'm glad I did as it is the most comfortable cycle helmet I have ever owned and it does for XC, road and commuting. It is the only piece of bling cycle gear I own and is thoroughly recommended. To missquote Benjamin Franklin "Quality remains long after the cost is forgotten"

elliotlipski

Currently in the process of persuading (forcing) my girlfriend to get me the prevail as a belated birthday present. Can think of a number of reasons for spending the extra money and the other guys on here have said them all. If you use it like you said you will, it will be a purchase that justifies itself.

Wacky Racer

I have the cost guilt pang virtually every time I spend money on cycling gear. But, I usually end up getting what I desire rather than what I need. Let's face it, we could all manage with raggety clothes, trainers and a £20 lid, but most of us don't. I think if you have a hobby you really enjoy and stick at it, and you can afford it, then get what you desire and sod the nagging little man perched on your right shoulder saying "do you really need to spend that much".

The very fact that you ask the question on here tells me you have already made up your mind, but want some consent from others. JFDI

london-red

yes. spend half that at most. lots of choice.

clx1

All depends on how much you value your head!

daviesee

Wacky Racer wrote:

I have the cost guilt pang virtually every time I spend money on cycling gear. But, I usually end up getting what I desire rather than what I need. Let's face it, we could all manage with raggety clothes, trainers and a £20 lid, but most of us don't. I think if you have a hobby you really enjoy and stick at it, and you can afford it, then get what you desire and sod the nagging little man perched on your right shoulder saying "do you really need to spend that much".

The very fact that you ask the question on here tells me you have already made up your mind, but want some consent from others. JFDI

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Mr Bungle

You are completely Insane

ptr_

Thanks for all the responses, will be buying the new lid Saturday.

Wacky Racer wrote:

I have the cost guilt pang virtually every time I spend money on cycling gear. But, I usually end up getting what I desire rather than what I need. Let's face it, we could all manage with raggety clothes, trainers and a £20 lid, but most of us don't. I think if you have a hobby you really enjoy and stick at it, and you can afford it, then get what you desire and sod the nagging little man perched on your right shoulder saying "do you really need to spend that much".

The very fact that you ask the question on here tells me you have already made up your mind, but want some consent from others. JFDI

Gazzaputt

You get what you pay for.

I have a Met Stevlio lid for commuting in and Kask C50 for weekends.

The Kask was 3 times the price of the Met but the quality of the Kask reflects this.

Better fit, padding is vastly superior (doesn't allow sweat to drip onto my face) and ventilation better.

They both though conform to the same safety standard so in theory will provide the same protection in a crash (I hope!)

on-yer-bike

The best helmet is the one that makes you look the least like a BBC science fiction character, doesnt give you a mushroom head and is comfy. I find that the MET Stradivarius does all this for under £90.00

keef66

I just got a Giro Atmos in the Planet X sale. It's tiny, light, and mainly made of holes!

I'd never have paid full price for one, but at £78 I was tempted.

(The innards of my 15 yr old mtb hat had just disintegrated again, but this time at a point I couldn't effect a repair / kludge)

symo

Get the spesh helmet. The only way you would be insane is by wearing it underwater.

Wirral_paul

The best helmet is the one that makes you look the least like a BBC science fiction character, doesnt give you a mushroom head and is comfy. I find that the MET Stradivarius does all this for under £90.00

I'd suggest with all due respect that the best helmet is the one that does the best job of saving your life in the event of a crash.

The extra money once you get to a certain price point (beyond the pure safety aspect as most helmets these days will do a damn good job protecting you - some obviously better than others regardless of passing the same standards) should ensure it is also as light, comfortable and well vented as possible really. I had no issue paying a fair bit more than £130 for a Giro Aeon and absolutely no regrets. I've not tested it by trying to kill myself yet (give me time) but it is so much more comfy than my previous £45 Bell skid lid. The ventilation alone made it worth the price in the summer - I think we had summer sometime in July for 2 days or so)

centimani

on-yer-bike wrote:

The best helmet is the one that makes you look the least like a BBC science fiction character, doesnt give you a mushroom head and is comfy. I find that the MET Stradivarius does all this for under £90.00

I have the Strad but paid full whack for mine (probably when they were new models)...i like it but feel it DOES make you look like a mushroom head (not so much it bothers me, but you know what i mean).
But, its light, loads of ventilation....and most importantly, i'd like to think the cost will be repaid in the (hopefully never) event of it being needed.

Brommers76

Cost is irrelevant unless you can't afford it.

For a helmet, fit, looks, cooling and weight are important in that order.

clu

Why worry about the cost of the helmet, your brother is the one shelling out the cash for it. There's absolutely no need to feel guilty or have any other nagging thoughts about it. Yes it's a lot for a helmet but so what, your brother wants to buy you something nice that you'll really like. Your brother cares about you and rightly so.

I spent about the same on a Giro Ionos, and I really like it. It's very light, comfy, fits my head extremely well, does give better cooling than my previous helmet (Giro Atmos) and there seems to be less noise from the wind/air when I'm out on my bike. So I have absolutely no guilt or regrets about spending a lot for a really great helmet.

zenistar

I thought the same thing when i shelled out for a Prevail, i thought long and hard about spending the cash - at the end of the day I went with what gave the best protection AND what was most comfortable.

I used to really struggle and have to force myself to wear my old helmets but the prevail is so light and cool that i dont even notice it is there now - absolutely no issues and I wont have any problem shelling out such cash in the future for another helmet (when needed) as long as it has both the protection and comfort factor.

Eyon

How valuable is your head? My Giro Athalon cost me £100 and i cracked it in 5 rides, with a face in one piece, i bought another one.

Heads are hard to replace, helmets are relatively cheap and easy to replace

P_Tucker

Wirral_Paul wrote:

The best helmet is the one that makes you look the least like a BBC science fiction character, doesnt give you a mushroom head and is comfy. I find that the MET Stradivarius does all this for under £90.00

I'd suggest with all due respect that the best helmet is the one that does the best job of saving your life in the event of a crash.

A motorcycle helmet is what you want then.

Wirral_paul

LOL. You know what I mean i'm sure Mr Tucker!!

I'll leave my leather cycling shorts in the drawer too

solboy

Mine arrived today (ion and black). I normally leave new things with the labels on etc for a few days just in case i decide to take items back but not in this case its a keeper and i have no regrets spending £130 but the wife does think im nuts. i then remineded her that it costs £260 every six months for her to have her hair done!

snakedoc

I bought a prevail when cycle surgery were doing on of their 20% off helmets promotions so it came to around £130.
Most comfortable helmet I've owned, light too!
Definitely worth every penny

mouth

No no no, you've got it all wrong. You need this my friend.........

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... award.html

IMO the lid is the most important purchase you'll ever make (maybe except the actual bike/components). Try a few others on first to be sure, but if you can afford it or in your case someone else is providing the dime the £130 is not silly.

The point about them all having the same protection is valid, but for me cost was irrelevant and I chose the one which I felt I could trust the most.

neilo23

To paraphrase P. Tucker, don't bother wearing one. I don't. Merckx didn't, Armstrong didn't until he had to. Get a decent bike and the other bits of kit first.

neilo23

Spend 5 quid on a cap.

geebee2

Go for it if that's what you want, but...

I use a sub £10 LIDL helmet, which is perfect as far as I'm concerned.

I have yet to be convinced that an expensive helmet is much better than the LIDL. On the other hand I haven't ever tried an expensive helmet, so no basis for comparison.

I reckon a good pair of shoes or bib tights for example would give more return for the money.