Originally Posted by
1989Pre
Wrong, Iride01:
Milton Keynes: "There really is no protecting of the foam," "...the plastic shell is not there to protect the foam. It's to allow the foam to slide on the pavement."
It may have several functions in addition to helping slide on the pavement. Protection of the foam is not one of them as the utility of the foam is not designed to survive the crash. I think you and MK are talking past each other as you keep insisting that protection of the foam is a function. At this point, I don't even know what you mean by that.
There are multiple different designs for bike helmets at this point, some of them using plastic gels instead of foam, and others use plastic shells as structural support of the helmet. But the thin-shelled helmets pretty much use the shell for the friction reduction and, let's be honest, esthetic reasons. What people are objecting to is your intuitive assertions that this can't be right. Thin-shelled helmets are safe, certainly for road bike use. If you'd rather pay more money and/or wear a hotter helmet, feel free to choose a different design.