Buying an expensive helmet (hopefully) should be a waste of money

[DrRichard]

Unlike many of our bike components and accessories, the bike helmet, apart from some aero advantage, should be a 'total waste of money'. Sitting on top of our head and doing nothing but sun protection until we get rid of it 3,5, 10 years later... then buy a new one and repeat.  Well an altercation with a concrete pole and in need of a new helmet - I am very happy I spent some money...  Thanks to the Freewheel Cycology team for dealing with my crash replacement - never knew that I would get a discounted replacement from Specialised - again not a perk of buying the helmet - until you need it!  Not that I ever ride without a helmet and have done that mat several hundreds of times - a spatchcock helmet is cause for reflection...

[splat]

I hope that you aren't hurt and that the helmet took most of the impact.

I went down that mat on Saturday morning and I can confirm that it is slippery with not much of a run-off at the bottom.
My back tyre tried to take its own line 1/2 way down, but I managed to recover.
That section from there to the gate provides a fair opportunity for injury (I haven't been there in about 2 years, so got a bit of a fright).

[BuffsVintageBikes]

Geepers, that could have ended very badly. Glad that helmet did its job 🤙

[Bub Marley]

Buying an expensive helmet doesn’t actually make you safer. You’re paying more money for performance benefit i.e weight and aerodynamics. From a safety perspective though, there isn’t any difference as all helmets have to pass certain safety tests. 

 

That crash replacement policy is great though. I made use of it with Oakley and got a nice discount on a new helmet.

[Dexter-morgan]

When I hit the tar @ 70kph on Suikerbos rand, my helmet split in two pieces, afterwards, I spent even more on a MIPS helmet.

Glad you are OK (ish) after the crash.

[AkwA]

7 minutes ago, Bub Marley said:

Buying an expensive helmet doesn’t actually make you safer. You’re paying more money for performance benefit i.e weight and aerodynamics. From a safety perspective though, there isn’t any difference as all helmets have to pass certain safety tests. 

That would depend how expensive you go, a R400 helmet simply isn't the same as one thats R1500, safety wise.
I dont and never will ride a helmet without Mips, Turbine, or something similar, it is more than worth it.

[michaelbiker]

1 hour ago, DrRichard said:

Unlike many of our bike components and accessories, the bike helmet, apart from some aero advantage, should be a 'total waste of money'. Sitting on top of our head and doing nothing but sun protection until we get rid of it 3,5, 10 years later... then buy a new one and repeat.  Well an altercation with a concrete pole and in need of a new helmet - I am very happy I spent some money...  Thanks to the Freewheel Cycology team for dealing with my crash replacement - never knew that I would get a discounted replacement from Specialised - again not a perk of buying the helmet - until you need it!  Not that I ever ride without a helmet and have done that mat several hundreds of times - a spatchcock helmet is cause for reflection...

I know this spot. It’s on the lower Kirstenbosch trail. That rubber mat is extremely dangerous in the wet. My wife had a fall there recently and considering the location got off pretty lightly with just a few bruises. She landed on the rock and was thankfully going quite slowly when it happened. 
 

Glad you were saved by your helmet. I shudder to think what would have happened if you weren’t wearing one. 

[Lynskey]

Keep your helmet in your pants. Save you money and injuries. 

[Bub Marley]

1 hour ago, AkwA said:

That would depend how expensive you go, a R400 helmet simply isn't the same as one thats R1500, safety wise.
I dont and never will ride a helmet without Mips, Turbine, or something similar, it is more than worth it.

Any helmet has to pass certain safety standards. A R400 helmet is right at the bottom end, probably a makro helmet. Those helmets are obviously designed for different things but it’s still needs to meet certain safety standard.

 

I was actually referring to R 1500 helmet vs R6000 helmet. You’re paying for aerodynamics and weight here.

[Jewbacca]

The Spez align 2 MIPS was rated one of the safest helmets in testing (still rated at the top end) and you can grab it brand new for under R1000

It just weighs 300g as opposed to 230ish

Aero it is not bad either.

I have 2. I choose safety and functional over being cool

[AkwA]

1 minute ago, Bub Marley said:Those helmets are obviously designed for different things but it’s still needs to meet certain safety standard.

I was actually referring to R 1500 helmet vs R6000 helmet. You’re paying for aerodynamics and weight here.

Agreed, mostly.

 

2 minutes ago, Bub Marley said:

Any helmet has to pass certain safety standards. A R400 helmet is right at the bottom end, probably a makro helmet. Those helmets are obviously designed for different things but it’s still needs to meet certain safety standard.

They will meet some standard, but after searching around a bit, there are a few different standards. Also, why settle for the minimum, why not go for something more protective, I’ve seen some of the really light helmets get absolutely wrecked in smallish crashes, where a buddy of mine didn’t even crack his Leatt helmet with one of the biggest crashes I’ve seen, and he did hit his head. 

[AkwA]

2 minutes ago, Jewbacca said:

The Spez align 2 MIPS was rated one of the safest helmets in testing (still rated at the top end) and you can grab it brand new for under R1000

It just weighs 300g as opposed to 230ish

Aero it is not bad either.

I have 2. I choose safety and functional over being cool

Very few of us are fit enough to warrant a 70g lighter helmet, and the aero is going to be negligible.

 

Agreed, I’d much rather have an in tact head than a light helmet.

[ChrisF]

1 hour ago, AkwA said:

That would depend how expensive you go, a R400 helmet simply isn't the same as one thats R1500, safety wise.
I dont and never will ride a helmet without Mips, Turbine, or something similar, it is more than worth it.

 

My crash in March TESTED the MIPS 

 

I am convinced that without MIPS my neck would have taken a VERY back knock !!  

 

 

I was dissapointed to see how few helmets actually has MIPS, when I searched for a replacement.  One salesman did point out another helmet with a "similar system".

[Robbie Stewart]

I've had concussion. Three times. The first hit had me pass out while talking to the driver of the car that caused the crash. When I recovered consciousness he was gone. The second time, I was out again. I don't know how long. It could be 5 minutes. It could be 2 hours because I was alone at the time. my neurosurgeon told me I won't work again. The third time was earlier this year, and I knew immediately what was happening, except I was wearing a much better helmet this time around.

All I can add to this discussion is that concussions are not a joke. MIPS / Turbo is the bare minimum any helmet should have. Anything less than that adds tremendous risk to a serious brain injury. 

last week had me suffering a bout of post concussion syndrome again, if anyone thinks that what I am saying isn't serious enough. 

You have ONE head. Protect it!

[AkwA]

Just now, ChrisF said:

 

My crash in March TESTED the MIPS 

 

I am convinced that without MIPS my neck would have taken a VERY back knock !!  

 

 

I was dissapointed to see how few helmets actually has MIPS, when I searched for a replacement.  One salesman did point out another helmet with a "similar system".

Mips is really good

Turbine by Leatt is similar, I think POC has Spin, which is similar and there are a few others, but just do research and I wouldnt take the salesmans word.

 

[Jewbacca]

These guys are the gold standard in unbiased helmet research and testing

https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicycle-helmet-ratings.html