Is it possible not to look an arse in a road helmet?

jonny_trousers
jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
edited May 2012 in Commuting chat
I'm due a new lid and am desperately trying to find something that will do the job well without making me look a bigger tool than I do already. I know the answer is to wear some cool eyewear at all times, but even then, some helmets are better than others in the style stakes, right? I hear good things about Kask, but I'm not convinced by the looks of the Mojito. I'd maybe consider stretching to the Vertigo if it looked way better, but perhaps that's chucking money down the drain for no good reason? The Bontrager Oracle? I think Giro is out for the mushroom factor and Specialized just look plain weird, as do Las, Lazer and Catlike. God, I'm fussy...
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Comments

  • saintdracula
    saintdracula Posts: 232
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    Love thyself.
  • Ride hard
    Ride hard Posts: 389
    Haaa, a fellow bike tart!!

    Well, I haven't had any experience of the brands you mentioned, but I would personally recommend the BBB Falcon for the non-mushroom look. I've had one for almost 18 months and have to say that it's very light (if you're a Cancellera type and worried about those precious grams), stylish and very well ventilated. It's also unique as I have yet to see anyone else with one.

    Another alternative to the usual Giro's and Specialized (what is up with that helmet that makes you look like a Cylon from the original series of Battlestar Galactica?) of this world is the Abus Tec-Tical. I've only ever tried one on so can't comment on how good it is, but I have owned a Lane-U in the past which was quality.

    But I guess it all comes down to the shape of your head at the end of the day, because if you have similar features to the Tefal Man, no helmet is going to look right!
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  • kelsen
    kelsen Posts: 2,003
    Are you sure it's the helmet? :wink:
  • dhope
    dhope Posts: 6,699
    Having recently bought a Specialized Prevail I can confirm I look like an tit in it.

    PX are doing half price Kasks at the moment...
    Rose Xeon CW Disc
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  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    No, it's not.

    But it is possible, and indeed desirable, not to care.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Is it possible not to look an ars* in a road helmet?

    In short. No.
    _
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Jonny_Trousers wrote:
    I hear good things about Kask, but I'm not convinced by the looks of the Mojito. I'd maybe consider stretching to the Vertigo if it looked way better, but perhaps that's chucking money down the drain for no good reason?

    I got a white Mojito and I think it looks fine - but I'm not convinced about the other colour schemes. But the Vertigo really looks a bit pointless now. It costs £80 more than the Mojito and weighs a lot more. More to the point, it is physically larger than the Mojito so even if you think the helmet itself looks better, it will look worse on you than the Mojito!

    Find a shop and try one. I look a pillock without a lid so I was surprised to find I look less of a pillock with the Mojito on :lol:
    Faster than a tent.......
  • t4tomo
    t4tomo Posts: 2,643
    kelsen wrote:
    Are you sure it's the helmet? :wink:
    +1
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  • mudcow007
    mudcow007 Posts: 3,861
    could always go with something like this

    darth-vader-deluxe-helmet.jpg

    works good if you encounter flies on your commute too
    Keeping it classy since '83
  • Jay dubbleU
    Jay dubbleU Posts: 3,159
    Part of being cool is not to care what others think
  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    Giro Advantage. Doesn't look like a mushroom, and is also fast...
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    TGOTB wrote:
    Giro Advantage. Doesn't look like a mushroom, and is also fast...

    Every bicycle helmet looks like a mushroom when you have a small head.
    _
  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    TGOTB wrote:
    Giro Advantage. Doesn't look like a mushroom, and is also fast...

    Every bicycle helmet looks like a mushroom when you have a small head.
    Believe me, this one doesn't :lol:
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 29,357
    edited May 2012
    Anyone else get the PX newsletter, with the picture of the hockey mask-style TT helmet?

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  • jonny_trousers
    jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
    Ride hard wrote:
    Haaa, a fellow bike tart!!

    Well, I haven't had any experience of the brands you mentioned, but I would personally recommend the BBB Falcon for the non-mushroom look. I've had one for almost 18 months and have to say that it's very light (if you're a Cancellera type and worried about those precious grams), stylish and very well ventilated. It's also unique as I have yet to see anyone else with one.

    Another alternative to the usual Giro's and Specialized (what is up with that helmet that makes you look like a Cylon from the original series of Battlestar Galactica?) of this world is the Abus Tec-Tical. I've only ever tried one on so can't comment on how good it is, but I have owned a Lane-U in the past which was quality.

    But I guess it all comes down to the shape of your head at the end of the day, because if you have similar features to the Tefal Man, no helmet is going to look right!

    Good call! Both the BBB and the Abus look like no nonsense, subtle-looking helmets. The BBB, from the reviews, seems to be cheaper quality, but if I can find one at a good price... Cheers!
  • jonny_trousers
    jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
    dhope wrote:
    Having recently bought a Specialized Prevail I can confirm I look like an tit in it.

    PX are doing half price Kasks at the moment...

    Cheers! That is a good deal on the Sky Vertigos, but unfortunately my bonce falls between medium and large in Kasks and they're not doing Large, which I would like so I can wear something underneath at times.
  • jonny_trousers
    jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
    bompington wrote:
    No, it's not.

    But it is possible, and indeed desirable, not to care.

    Wise, wise words!
  • jonny_trousers
    jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
    Rolf F wrote:
    Jonny_Trousers wrote:
    I hear good things about Kask, but I'm not convinced by the looks of the Mojito. I'd maybe consider stretching to the Vertigo if it looked way better, but perhaps that's chucking money down the drain for no good reason?

    I got a white Mojito and I think it looks fine - but I'm not convinced about the other colour schemes. But the Vertigo really looks a bit pointless now. It costs £80 more than the Mojito and weighs a lot more. More to the point, it is physically larger than the Mojito so even if you think the helmet itself looks better, it will look worse on you than the Mojito!

    Find a shop and try one. I look a pillock without a lid so I was surprised to find I look less of a pillock with the Mojito on :lol:

    Yeah, I'll maybe pop up to Condor today, as I think they stock Kask.

    The problem for me is I am utterly gorgeous without a helmet on*, but with... Picture Steve McQueen with a cycling helmet on. not cool, right? Barry Chuckle, however, looks much the same with or without.

    *This is a complete and utter fib
  • jonny_trousers
    jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
    TGOTB wrote:
    Giro Advantage. Doesn't look like a mushroom, and is also fast...

    Although the Advantage is indeed a sexy piece of head furniture, it kind of throws down the gauntlet with your fellow commuters. Just imagine how desperate the SCR lot would be to scalp you in that!
  • king_jeffers
    king_jeffers Posts: 694
    Las Squalo works for me, only lid I've had that eliminates the mushroom look and fits great - got two of them now. I like to colour coordinate between bikes :oops:
  • jonny_trousers
    jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
    King Jeffers wrote:
    Las Squalo works for me, only lid I've had that eliminates the mushroom look and fits great - got two of them now. I like to colour coordinate between bikes :oops:

    Tart!

    Hmm, I see Wiggle have them on sale right now too. You really need a third!
  • Blacktemplar
    Blacktemplar Posts: 713
    I have a large approximately square head from which protrude Andy Schleck's ears (if only I had some of his other physical attributes :wink: ), and up until now, I've always managed to look like an extra from Super Mario.... however I've just bought one of these, and I look less like an ars* than I have ever done. (It's marginal, but we're all into marginal gains here). Not only Bike Porn Plus 'Best on Test' but even better, nearly forty squid off rrp at Wiggle. Result.

    LAS18_1.jpg
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  • secretsam
    secretsam Posts: 5,120
    You'll look more of an arse with your brains leaking out if you have a spill and bump your bonce
    It's just a hill. Get over it.
  • bails87
    bails87 Posts: 12,998
    SecretSam wrote:
    You'll look more of an ars* with your brains leaking out if you have a spill and bump your bonce
    Because it will definitely happen. But not if you're wearing a helmet.

    It sounds scary tbh, I think I'll ride on the pavement for safety.





    :twisted:
    MTB/CX

    "As I said last time, it won't happen again."
  • jonny_trousers
    jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
    SecretSam wrote:
    You'll look more of an ars* with your brains leaking out if you have a spill and bump your bonce

    Was I advocating not wearing a helmet? I just wanted to know who reccommended what. I assumed my initial post made that pretty clear. Oh well...
  • king_jeffers
    king_jeffers Posts: 694
    +1 for pavement, think I'm gonna carry my lid on my pack from now on... supaaarrrrr cooool :mrgreen:
  • jonny_trousers
    jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
    So I pulled the trigger on a BBB Falcon (Thanks Ride Hard!). I opted for that one because it looks pretty good, avoids mushroom head as best a cycling helmet can, gets pretty decent reviews, was priced ok (just shy of £80 at Wiggle) and has a central pillar at the front, which will be useful for my Moon light that I mount there. It does sound like it's a bit more basic than other options out there, but if it's good enough for a couple of pro teams... Fingers crossed it does the job.

    Thanks for the thoughts!
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Jonny_Trousers wrote:
    So I pulled the trigger on a BBB Falcon (Thanks Ride Hard!). I opted for that one because it looks pretty good, avoids mushroom head as best a cycling helmet can, gets pretty decent reviews, was priced ok (just shy of £80 at Wiggle) and has a central pillar at the front, which will be useful for my Moon light that I mount there. It does sound like it's a bit more basic than other options out there, but if it's good enough for a couple of pro teams... Fingers crossed it does the job.

    Thanks for the thoughts!

    That's plenty more arsey looking than the helmet! :P
    _
  • jonny_trousers
    jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Jonny_Trousers wrote:
    So I pulled the trigger on a BBB Falcon (Thanks Ride Hard!). I opted for that one because it looks pretty good, avoids mushroom head as best a cycling helmet can, gets pretty decent reviews, was priced ok (just shy of £80 at Wiggle) and has a central pillar at the front, which will be useful for my Moon light that I mount there. It does sound like it's a bit more basic than other options out there, but if it's good enough for a couple of pro teams... Fingers crossed it does the job.

    Thanks for the thoughts!

    That's plenty more arsey looking than the helmet! :P

    True, but I commute at night and it's great for aiming directly at those drivers at junctions who you just know haven't seen you. If you know of a sexy looking helmet light then sign me up!
  • jonny_trousers
    jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
    Jonny_Trousers wrote:
    So I pulled the trigger on a BBB Falcon (Thanks Ride Hard!). I opted for that one because it looks pretty good, avoids mushroom head as best a cycling helmet can, gets pretty decent reviews, was priced ok (just shy of £80 at Wiggle) and has a central pillar at the front, which will be useful for my Moon light that I mount there. It does sound like it's a bit more basic than other options out there, but if it's good enough for a couple of pro teams... Fingers crossed it does the job.

    Thanks for the thoughts!

    Well, the Falcon arrived and my first impressions were that build quality was a little poor for a supposedly 'pro' helmet. But then I had expected that from what I'd read up on it. On the plus side it did avoid mushroom-head and looked pretty smart, all things considered. Going out for my first ride, however, I discovered that it was really tricky to get a comfy fit with the straps, that the padding, particularly at the brow, was pretty poor, and that the wind noise was ridiculous. It's a real shame because I do think it's as good-looking as a bike helmet can be, but it's going to have to go back. If professional teams actually do use this helmet then I'm sure they are massively customised. I hear BBB are to release an updated version soon that may well address the above issues, but it's too late for me. Time to try a Las Victory!

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