Helmet Color
02-18-14, 12:48 PM
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Helmet Color
I am going to order my new helmet from the LBS this week and I was wondering if there are huge benefits in wearing a lighter colored helmet in the summer?
02-18-14, 12:49 PM
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Red is the fastest.
I currently have a black helmet. The helmet before was white. I didn't notice a difference.
I currently have a black helmet. The helmet before was white. I didn't notice a difference.
02-18-14, 12:55 PM
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Matching For Fastest Effect...
Helmet should match kit, which should match bike. So, what color is your bike?
02-18-14, 12:55 PM
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All else in irrelevant......
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My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
02-18-14, 12:57 PM
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Keep in mind there's a beer cooler between your helmet's outer shell and your head.
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02-18-14, 02:31 PM
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You have to ORDER a helmet from your LBS? They don't have the one you want in inventory?
Get white... not because it's cooler, but because it's the kewlist.
Get white... not because it's cooler, but because it's the kewlist.
02-18-14, 02:31 PM
#7
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Good question.
I got on Amazon recently to check out hi-viz cycling helements, and there were very few. I thought that was weird. I intend to make my next helement purchase a hi-viz one. As a bent rider I'm immune to style considerations.
I got on Amazon recently to check out hi-viz cycling helements, and there were very few. I thought that was weird. I intend to make my next helement purchase a hi-viz one. As a bent rider I'm immune to style considerations.
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02-18-14, 02:34 PM
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As has been said, color maters not at all for warm weather comfort.
Visibility trumps other stuff. The consensus seems to be that white is the most conspicuous helmet color. Add that to the fact that white will match any bike or kit color, your choice seems obvious.
It kind of reminds me of what the great yacht designer from the turn of the last century, Nathaniel Herreshoff had to say about yacht colors, “There are only two colors to paint a boat - black or white. And only a fool would paint a boat black.”
Visibility trumps other stuff. The consensus seems to be that white is the most conspicuous helmet color. Add that to the fact that white will match any bike or kit color, your choice seems obvious.
It kind of reminds me of what the great yacht designer from the turn of the last century, Nathaniel Herreshoff had to say about yacht colors, “There are only two colors to paint a boat - black or white. And only a fool would paint a boat black.”
02-18-14, 02:43 PM
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I think hi-viz is overused and in the short term it will start to become less effective. People often see only what they are expecting to see or are watching for.
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02-18-14, 02:46 PM
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I used to buy graphite color helemts caused I liked the color but now Ii stick with white (although I also have a helmet with girly colors - rainbow purple/green/pink/white)- its easy to see, is hi-viz without being neon... friends have been able to spot me far away becasue of the helmet. And somehoiw I think the white helmet tends to keep the sun's rays cool, but that's just me...
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02-18-14, 03:08 PM
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Check out Giro "Savant". I'm on my second one. The present one is high-vis yellow. The other one did its job well but had to be retired.
Last edited by Doug64; 02-18-14 at 03:26 PM.
02-18-14, 03:33 PM
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I guess if they miss my gaudy bright colored jersey, the white helmet doesn't add much, but I still like to shade the odds my way however I can, by whatever fraction of a percent, down to my white shoes and socks.
02-18-14, 03:43 PM
#14
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My bikes are blue, so I had a blue helmet that was getting a bit old (15 years or so). My new one is blue & white. I do put some 1/2" reflective tape all the way around the rim, white in front, and either white or yellow on the back.
02-18-14, 05:14 PM
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+1 I would hesitate to post that myself... I have no facts or stats that would support my feelings. But I just feel like in foul weather and/or off-season months motorist don't expect to see me.... and so they don't. I do wear bright colored jerseys and jackets. But otherwise I wear black, black, black.
02-18-14, 06:54 PM
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I like the Specialized King of the Mountain, white with the KoM polka-dots. Not because I like the scheme, but I can easily spot it in those crowded group photos.
02-18-14, 07:02 PM
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The good guys always wear white hats.
02-18-14, 07:27 PM
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I have always found white to be the most cool, and it adds to visibility at night.
02-18-14, 08:36 PM
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FYI - They had the helmet in stock just not the color I wanted.
02-19-14, 07:26 AM
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I'm with Henry Ford on this one.
02-19-14, 07:46 AM
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"Rider conspicuity and crash related injury: case-control study" conclusion: White.
Last edited by tcs; 02-23-14 at 07:22 AM.
02-19-14, 07:56 AM
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Will I go faster if my tires have red sidewalls and put I red stripes on my boring dull silver helmet? How about red eyes?
Oh, back on topic, depends on your personality type -
Multicolor matching your team jersery = showoff or poser. If the helmet is sponsored, you win anyway.
Black = young and aggressive posturing, speed and size to match.
White = Yes, the good guys wear White.
Silver = Easily intimidated and don't like to stand out.
This year I am promoting myself to White.
Oh, back on topic, depends on your personality type -
Multicolor matching your team jersery = showoff or poser. If the helmet is sponsored, you win anyway.
Black = young and aggressive posturing, speed and size to match.
White = Yes, the good guys wear White.
Silver = Easily intimidated and don't like to stand out.
This year I am promoting myself to White.
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02-19-14, 08:22 AM
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IMO while others say that a black helmet is as cool as a white helmet, I just cant believe that. Also as someone stated a white helmet is more visible at night. So I wear white.
02-19-14, 08:23 AM
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It really is all about the kit. Black goes with everything.