late

Title says it all, I had a stroke. I want to go riding, but my helmet is at least 10 years old. So I plan on getting the best MIPS helmet out there. Some of them have more coverage, maybe they are for mtn biking, do you think they would offer better crash protection?

Polaris OBark

I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope you recover quickly and fully.

I suggest Bontrager Wavecell

They make both road and mountain. I have both. The visor comes off the mountain one, if it gets in your way, and it does offer more coverage at the back.

raqball

I have a Giro Helios Mips Spherical Helmet that allows the outer liner to rotate around the inner liner during a crash. Suppose to work but luckily I've never tested it..

Sorry to hear about your stroke..

Ride safe!

tcs

"Best". Hmph. There are several test regimes for helmets. Companies design their helmets to meet minimum requirements or to ace the tests. Do the tests accurately map real-world requirements? We hope so, but I've never seen any real-world injury data feedback.

That said, I wouldn't hesitate to wear a helmet that did well in tests. Thing is, CPSC/ASTM/Snell are a pass/fail, not a best/worst score. FWIW, a couple of outfits test to numerical rating.

Here's Virginia Tech Helmet Testing's take:

​​​​​​https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicyc...-ratings.html#!

Here's a distillation of Consumer Report's testing:

https://helmets.org/bikehelmetratings.htm

In addition, I'd recommend a solid color bright white, safety orange or hi-viz helmet with a smooth, rounded exterior and extended rear coverage, none of which 'rates' in the tests but seems logical in the real world. Some companies' strap/harness/occipital support designs just don't work very comfortably with some folks' skull/face/jaw designs (which is why I don't think 'just buy what I bought' is very good advice). Finally, some helmet companies are now offering different headforms, for more rounded or more oval skulls.

PS - MIPS is one of six or seven rotational concussion mitigation technologies currently available on the helmet market.

79pmooney

I have the POC Tektal. MTB style with very good coverage, MIPS, comfortable and excellent quality. (I wore the earlier Trabec for 6-7 years and got to see it hold up far better than any Bell I've used. COVID hit at the 5 year point so I stayed out of shops and just kept wearing it.

It is heavier with less venting than the road helmets but I find I don't even notice this helmet riding. I've worn it to the farmers market and discovered an hour later, I'm still wearing it! (And wearing it off bike for the visor to keep glare off my glasses is no hardship outside looking odd.)

Juan Foote

Pardon me for asking, but what does "had a stroke" have to do with needing a new helmet? Do you anticipate falling on your head as a result of said, or...?

late

Hardening of the arteries makes me more vulnerable to getting more damage.

3alarmer 

.
...I replaced my 5 year old Smith MIPS helmet, at the beginning of the summer, with the one Specialized sells (not cheaply) as their better road helmet (the Prevail.)
I'm not especially fond of the company, but I looked at a lot of helmets (REI and local bike shops that remain), and this one had better ventilation, and was lighter than anything else I looked at.

It gets pretty hot here, so those are my major criteria. Your criteria might be different.

late

That looks amazing, but it's not what I am looking for. Also, this isn't a hot climate, and I do most of my riding in the morning. I'd like to say it's to avoid the heat, but we always stop somewhere for a coffee and a goody, and our favorite place closes at noon.

I like the looks of Wavecell. The closest bike shop with a decent selection is about a half hour drive, as soon as I can get us there, I'll take a look at those.

late

I ordered a Fox Dropframe Pro, which was one of the best of the tested helmets, there is a better one, but it is $400. I tried a medium, but it was smaller than the medium Fox helmet I tried in a store. The Dropframe doesn't have the usual fitting system with the wheel in back. I am worried my head won't fit the large, all they do is provide thicker pads, so if it isn't close..

I am feeling better, but there's a long ways to go.

I have done PT so many times I am good at it. I scour Youtube and other sources for exercises and such. My balance isn't perfect, but it's good enough for riding. I found one that is really good at working those oddball muscles that you use balancing. My initial score was 9, I got an 18 out of 30 the other day, and my goal right now is to get into the 20s.

One of the exercises I've done for years is to walk forwards, backwards and sideways against the resistance of rubber bands. It helps. When I was in my 60s I could still push a car. I liked doing that, a gray haired old fart pushing a car had people doing the swivel look. What can I say, I like defying expectations.

Leisesturm

I really don't know what "better" means when ALL helmets sold in the US have to meet stringent CSPC metrics. Toughest in the world. $50 or $500 and the outcomes won't be any different. BTW, all bets are off if you fall and hit your head, helmet or no helmet. Helmets aren't magic. They attempt to keep a healthy head from sustaining life threatening trauma. You, my friend, should be on a trike. I saw this thread the day you posted your o.p. and I've held my peace hoping someone less opinionated than I would tell you the same thing.

late

The university has updated their ratings:
https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicyc...t-ratings.html

I know the risk. If I fall hard, I'm dead. We all die, but I am not done living. So I'll take whatever advantage I can get, but early next Spring, I am going to ride. I'm glad you posted, I hadn't looked at the ratings in a long time. If the Dropframe doesn't fit, good to know there are others out there now that are even better.

Polaris OBark

Have you considered using an in-door trainer during the winter months? I spent a few years in Maine, and remember the winters as long and somewhat chilly.

Indoor trainers are great for rehab, too.

As I posted earlier, I hope you recover quickly and fully.

late

I have an old trainer, don't use it much. Most days I get up, make tea, and spend an hour on the treadmill watching tv.

himespau 

I seem to remember that you used to like video games. Give Zwift a try.

Leisesturm

I don't know, TONS of people think trikes are so much fun (living) that they ride them even without age, balance compromises or other factors that force the issue. Just saying. But you do you. My point was that you don't need "the best" helmet. They are all good enough. More money gets you more comfort, more features, zippier styling, etc. But the helmet me and mine use, the $50 (on sale) Giro Register MIPS is every bit as good as your $200 Fox. Saving small amounts of money here and there throughout the year can add up to real money over time.

late

Is Zwift one of those apps? I need to get the apps back on my phone. I hate Spectrum.

I understand Peloton has an app, any idea which one is best for an old guy in terrible shape?

Polaris OBark

There are a bunch of them now. The only two I have used are Zwift and Rouvy. Rouvy has actual scenery, which I find more motivating for some reason. Both have free trials. There are several other options as well.

late

"The Giro Register earned a 4 star rating. Its STAR value score of 17.06 ranked #130 of 178 helmets tested."

"The Fox Dropframe Pro MIPS earned a 5 star rating. Its STAR value score of 8.85 ranked #5 of 178 helmets tested."

You know anybody that does 20+ mile rides on a trike? With hills? My area is very safe, few lights or stop signs. My summer ended in August, this is already a long winter for me. I can't wait.

late

Thanks, I'll check them out. I started feeling like myself, partly anyway, yesterday. It gave me hope, it's like a drug.

himespau 

I've only ever tried Zwift, but they each have their pros and cons. I like the gamification of Zwift and that I have a team that I can ride/race with and that forces accountability onto me. I know not everyone is into racing, but Zwift also has group rides, workouts, and just free rides where you ride around and explore scenery (as do most of the other apps). There's no way I could ride indoors for long periods without an app to keep me going. I got hit by a car in May 2021 and since recovering and getting back on the bike in September 2021 I've probably done 200 miles outdoors at the absolute most and ~8,000 miles on the trainer.

To give you an idea of which one Zwift is, this is a me getting my ass kicked in a race in their stylized version of a Japanese island and then Richmond, VA. Again, you don't have to race, but this is just what the app looks like. Graphics were probably state of the art maybe 20 years ago, but it's designed to run on phones, apple TVs, tablets, computers, whatever.

momoman

I just came across the VT helmet rating last week and went out to buy the $65 Giant Rev Comp MIPS, which IMO is probably the best bang for the buck. I already have a decent black helmet but wanted a white one as well.

Have you considered a recumbent trike? I’m seeing more of these on the road and on the bike paths here in SoCal. One of my buddies suffered brain injury from a motorcycle crash a while ago and was riding as a stoker at the back of a tandem for many years. He recently bought a recumbent trike so he can ride independently.



There are many styles and brands to choose from.

late

My knees are a mess, I can't use a recumbent unless I get new knees, which I don't want to do. I might if I could afford the top shelf artificial knees, but I have a long history of trashing stuff, including my body. And the failure rate of replacement knees is really bad.

Leisesturm

You are still equating a"better" rating with "safer". Look at ratings of popular luxury cars. BMW's get rated higher than Mercedes-Benz, but a rating agency would be in real hot water if they claimed a BMW was safer than a Mercedes. But we already agreed that the point was moot. ANY fall would be a bad idea, even with the $400 helmet that is out of reach financially. By "trike" in my last post I meant recumbent trike, and people do 100+ miles a day on them. Have you actually tried a trike?

momoman

According to this article a recumbent bike is easier on the knees. Have you tried riding a recumbent? It’s also closer to the ground so the impact from any fall should be less.

https://www.topfitnessmag.com/recumb...ter-for-knees/