Gravel helmets?
I'm surprised this isn't yet a niche, overpriced market.
But I am curious, do you tend to use your road bike helmet, or mountain bike helmet, or something different? |
I’m sure helmet makers are in the process of creating them as we speak. Probably will be a standard road helmet painted in an earth tone color with some gimmick to differentiate it from a normal road helmet, like a banana holder.
When Rapha creates a dusty pink and olive banana unicorn looking helmet, I totally expect a check in the mail. |
I've been using my road bike helmet, mainly because my off-road trips are almost always integrated with on-road segments, and also a mountain bike visor limits my range of vision.
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I’m having difficulty coming up with any safety needs of gravel riding that’s not adequately addressed by existing road/MTB helmets. Around here, maybe an ideal gravel helmet would have an integrated dust mask? 😂
I’m sure if there is any feature which gives the slightest improved experience for gravel riding, it will be inevitable that we see gravel helmets, and that’s a good thing. It’s like the recurrent theme from some road/MTB riders about gravel/adventure bikes as a made-up category to sell more bikes...yes, you don’t “need” a gravel bike to ride gravel, but if you are looking for a bike and a gravel bike happens to be the best single tool for the job, why would buy something else? |
In all seriousness, I think if/when they come up with gravel specific helmets, they’ll be a lot like the POC Octal X. Labeled as an XC MTB helmet but looks very similar to their standard Octal road lid but with a little more impact protection.
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Why more impact protection for gravel? Wouldn't you be ok with less.... dirt road is softer than asphalt or cement.
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Road helmet with cycling cap. Always. Drop bars = road helmet.
Flat bars = wear one of those silly visor helmet thingys? I dunno. |
Originally Posted by trailangel
(Post 20992812)
Why more impact protection for gravel? Wouldn't you be ok with less.... dirt road is softer than asphalt or cement.
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Maybe I am missing something, but why would there be a need for anything beyond a regular helmet from the shop/store?
If the difference between a road and mtb helmet is a plastic visor, then wear the helmet whichever way you want and go ride gravel. If a gravel helmet comes out, the shark officially will have been jumped. |
Originally Posted by Hmmm
(Post 20992823)
Road helmet with cycling cap. Always. Drop bars = road helmet.
Flat bars = wear one of those silly visor helmet thingys? I dunno. This makes absolute sense to me. -Tim- |
I wear my road helmet, and my road kits. I have noticed brands starting to market "gravel" clothing, just looks like slightly baggier road kits.
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Full face motorcycle helmet, natch.
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I have a helmet. It fits my head. My head is no different shape or size when I ride paved roads or gravel roads or trails.
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I wear my fat bike helmet on my gravel bike.
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when I'm off road & sometimes when I'm on a desolated paved trail, or one that is not busy, I'll use a grey helmet that is less conspicuous. my road helmets are yellow or have yellow highlights
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...552d163bef.jpg |
if Gravel riding includes pavement then road helmet
if gravel riding includes some single track then use a mtb helmet. if gravel riding includes pavement and single track then use a mtb helmet. Honestly i have used a road helmet for mtb'ing. |
Originally Posted by OneIsAllYouNeed
(Post 20994125)
I wear my fat bike helmet on my gravel bike.
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I too use a road helmet, usually with a cycling cap with a visor I can flip up. Started out riding my gravel bikes with a mtb helmet but the fixed visor didn't work for me on a drop bar bike.
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So all this talk has made me hyper aware of using my helmet without a visor on MTB trails. Oh geez, what do all the people who are passing me because they ride singletrack faster than me thinking when they pass me?!? Now I need to care about how they view both my riding AND my choice in helmet!!
Eek!*** |
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Gravel helmets?
Wouldn't that be uncomfortable! |
Originally Posted by xroadcharlie
(Post 20994540)
Gravel helmets?
Wouldn't that be uncomfortable! I rode the Hilly Billy Roubaix this past weekend, and there was a large and nasty crash about nine mile in. Came at the bottom of a descent and involved about seven people. Sounds like many suffered broken bones (I think ribs, clavicles, at least one nose, shoulder injuries) and two people were still being evaluated about a day later. Crashes may be more likely in such a setting, but I think anything that would make a helmet safer for gravel riding would also make it safer for regular road riding. |
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I wear my down country helmet.
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Originally Posted by wgscott
(Post 20992079)
I'm surprised this isn't yet a niche, overpriced market.
But I am curious, do you tend to use your road bike helmet, or mountain bike helmet, or something different? But if you're asking for advice, I understand Trek came out with something that changed cycling forever. You ought to give it a try! |
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