medic75

Thanks for the update. I am new to winter commuting and have realized that, under certain snow conditions, it is not ideal to remove either hand from the bars to signal a turn. In these same conditions, it is also not ideal for the vehicle behind to not know that you are turning left. Either of these can result in a very dangerous situation. I am thinking this helmet may help address my concerns. Are the lights bright enough to be seen in the daylight?

acidfast7

Seems gimmicky and after being hit by a van, I've given up helmets. Maybe when the daughter comes I'll wear one again to set a good example.

Andy_K 

medic75

Well, my wife has been asking me what I want for Christmas. I found a decent price on one of these with MIPS, so I let her know. Hopefully it will fit my needs.

Andy_K 

acidfast7

The traffic on the island I live on is limited to 20 mph on most streets. I now only do 100% urban commuting. I was literally run over by a van that just accelerated through me when the light turned green. A helmet wouldn't have helped. In fact, just about everyone here has ditched them as the traffic is slow moving and most accidents are usually the fault of the CYCLIST not obeying traffic laws.

Thus, the additional hassle of having to haul/carry a helmet, coupled with the fact that bike lives outside during the day and thus the helmet gets wet all the time reduces the minimal gain from having it.

Thus, it's just not a product that I see the value of. Nor would most urban-only European commuters that never ride in cycling-specific clothing.

Just my 2c, maybe it works for your cycling conditions.

acidfast7

Most people here die after a collision with a bus ... usually a scraping incident ... it's most common in London ... a helmet doesn't help in those situations.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=southsea+cyclist+killed&safe=strict&ei=fRoOXNGVH-aF1fAPlK-7gA8&start=0&sa=N&ved=0ahUKEwiRyNad45TfAhXmQhUIHZTXDvA4ChDy0wMIiAE&biw=1280&bih=618

Those double decker buses are quite huge and tough to see around when driving.

medic75

@acidfast7 - I am not going to tell you you're wrong. A helmet is a choice, and you make that choice for you. The only reason I began to wear a helmet was because I told my son that he has to wear a helmet and I decided to set a good example by doing what I expect him to do.

With that being said, I have several years of experience working as a paramedic, and I know the value of a helmet when it comes to knocking your head on something hard. The chance of this happening varies significantly depending on how an where you ride. Regardless, I view a helmet as an insurance policy at a reasonable cost - something you never want to take advantage of, but are glad it is there when you need it.

Now, I would like to get this back on topic - not the advantages of a wearing a helmet, but what makes this helmet different, if it works, and if it is worth it. I'm sure the advantages and disadvantages of wearing a helmet have been discussed here many times.

As for the Lumos Kickstart, it is somewhat expensive. The only way I could consider paying retail is if it were at my LBS so I could try it out (the see my value that acidfast7 refers to). If you can find a sale, $129 for quality MIPS helmet is not terrible. I like the layout of the turn signalling LEDs. While other helmets have blinking lights, I believe this helmet does a far better job of signalling your intentions. Being that drivers aren't used to turn signals on bikes, the signals need to not only present your presence, but also make your intentions clear. It is my opinion that competing helmets do not do this. My next concern is if these lights are bright enough for daylight use - I did manage to find a few online videos that make me feel better about this but, once again, I won't be sure until I can get my hands on one. It may be gimmicky, but so were mountain bikes, cellular phones, televisions, and even turn signals on cars. Anything a cyclist can do to improve their visibility and allow others to know their intentions is a good thing. Once I get my hands on one of these helmets I will be better able to review it. Until then I can only make decisions based on appearance and perceived function.

acidfast7

I should point out that when I go on a proper cycle (enough to change clothing) ... I wear a helmet as it's a more high risk activity than commuting. When commuting I always defer to traffic and am not in rush.

When I'm actually cycling for sport/fun, I change clothing and wear a helmet as it's a different mindset. It's a workout/friendly competition, which commuting isn't.

Also, that price point seems standard as any reasonable tested helmet will be €/£100.

Fahrenheit531 

Thanks for this.

noglider 

Lithium ion batteries do not benefit from full drains. In fact, it's bad for them. So if you charge them regularly before they are discharged, it is either benign or beneficial for them. Do whatever is convenient for you.

Logged In

Is it next to Gringott's or across the street from the ruins of Olivander's?

CliffordK

I think I've looked at the helmets off and on. I have a light on my Bell helmet that uses button batteries, but stopped using it since I drain the batteries too quickly.

I might go for the Lumos if it just had basic solid front, flashing rear lights, no signals, and good colors.

No smart phones, no turn signals, just simple lights.

surak

Lumos does make a helmet without turn signal lights.