Cycling helmet quality

[Cassie]

In the light of the recent death of a cycler in Cape town, (I gather that he had extensive head injuries), I'm wondering just how good / safe / effcetive a cycling helmet is.

 

Is more expensive really more safe? i.e R400 helmet vs a R1000 one...

 

I've heard strories of MTB riders that have crashed a couple of times and knocking their heads against trees, for example. In those instances (let's call it lowish speed impacts) the helmets they wore protected them from serious injury.

However, any higher impact head crash  - it seems to me that you do not stand much chance that your helmet is going to give you any extra protection (over and above what a basic helmet will provide?)

 

Any comments welcome.

 

 

[AndreZA]

Anything above about R600 you start paying for better fit, ventilation and less weight. In Australia they do their own tests. So international or Euro standards are not even good enough for them. Their they don't allow too big ventilation holes either. They say a stick or long sharp object can poke through and into your head.

 

 

[brussel]

Cassie I have had more crashes than I can remember. Two of which where major crashes on the finishline. One after winning a race a competitor swerved into me sticking his pedal in my front wheel. I landed up in the gutter at 60km/h helmet was toast - I was fine. Other crash into the back of a bakkie at 60mk/h. Helmet shell was OK the styrene inner was in 20 different pieces...I walked away from both crashes.

 

Helmets work.

 

But they can only do so much. Getting hit by some guy not concentrating in his car...that is a lot of steel to stop with your head. as for cost I dont think the expensive ones are really much different other than styling - unless someone think different?

 

[linnega]

Above about 15kph a bicycle helmet is pretty damn ineffective.  The impact absorption happens as the helmet compresses - as soon as it cracks there is no further benefit.  As for pricing and effectiveness, there is no real correlation.  Your Game cheapie is the same as your R2500 carbon fiber wonder creation from Bell.  The only real benefit (in terms of impact protection) of the expensive helmets is that they are lighter, so you are less likely to hit your head.  Of course, not wearing a helmet reduces that likelihood further.

[Cassie]

Brussel, That's what i'm trying to get at...it seems that styling is what one pays for...

 

Basically, helmets are good & essential - but a more exopensive one isn't really going to do wonders  more in protecting the 'ol nut' in a serious situation. Like you rightly said - they can only do so much.

 

Thanks for the post

Cassie

 

 

[brussel]

Cassie for sure...I was looking yesterday at a R3000 helmet and it looks for all intents and purposes identical to my R500 one...

 

OK much more sexy styling and there may be some things that make it marginally more safe...but really like most other cycling stuff its all about how cool you look  

[AndreZA]

Brussel' date=' That's what i'm trying to get at...it seems that styling is what one pays for...

 

Basically, helmets are good & essential - but a more exopensive one isn't really going to do wonders  more in protecting the 'ol nut' in a serious situation. Like you rightly said - they can only do so much.

 

Thanks for the post

Cassie

 

 

[/quote']

 

But having ridden the Lost City Challenge in a R299 Sportman's Warehouse helmet and a R600 Met Sfero I will always go for the one with the better ventilation.

 

 

[JPW#]

I only cycle with Trek helmets, they just seem to fit better than the rest and cost half the price.

[Speed Devil]

Not all deaths can be attributed to the knock on the head in the event of an accident.

 

I agree that a helmet does reduce the risk substantially, but there are many other factors involved.

Unfortunately we never hear what the actual cause of death was when a cyclist gets killed....Was his neck broken?  Were there puncture wounds? etc etc...Sometimes more internal damage is done than externally and is not visible to the eye at the crash scene. So it always easy to say " a cyclist was wearing a cheap helmet and that was the cause of death"

 

There are real nasty cheapies on sale at our local chain stores which do not conform to international standards, and some people will take a chance with them. The quality of the inner and outer shell is really poor and could break if you look too hard at it.

Personally I would go for something more expensive that has undergone extensive testing and are made of better quality materials.

 

A high price helmet might only get you something flashy, a better fit, more ventilation holes etc etc, but at least I will feel comfortable in it.

 

Everybody has a budget and can only afford certain equipment. It's your choice what you want to pay, but at least make sure it conforms to either ANSI or Schnell standards as a minimum requirement when purchasing a helmet.