Was anyone even wearing a helmet in the 1980's?
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 324
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 92 Post(s)
Liked 304 Times
in
94 Posts
Was anyone even wearing a helmet in the 1980's?
They apparently sold a lot of them, but none of the guys I rode with wore one back then.
The Vintage Cycling Helmet: Bike Helmets of the 1970's & 1980's - YouTube
The Vintage Cycling Helmet: Bike Helmets of the 1970's & 1980's - YouTube
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Berkeley CA
Posts: 2,541
Bikes: 1981 Ron Cooper, 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa, 2000 Gary Fisher Sugar 1, 1986 Miyata 710, 1982 Raleigh "International"
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 935 Post(s)
Liked 1,328 Times
in
492 Posts
Yep. I toured through Europe with a Bell Biker in 1976. Switched to a V1 Pro in the early 80s after my Biker was destroyed when I was run down from behind by a pickup truck and catapulted headfirst into the asphalt. Most of my riding friends wore these. Switched to the fabric covered Giros when those came out somewhere around 1985.
Likes For davester:
#3
Full Member
I started wearing one of the early Bell helmets in the late '70s, the kind with a cloth cover over a foam shell as I recall. I'd' gotten a bad head injury as a kid when I went over the handlebars of my Western Flyer. When I got into college and bought a fast French bike I was doing a lot of riding over rural roads in Tennessee, where people then and now drove like mad dogs. I didn't want to take any more chances than I had to.
Likes For Roypercy:
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minas Ithil
Posts: 9,173
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2432 Post(s)
Liked 641 Times
in
398 Posts
I started road cycling in 1987 and didn't wear a helmet until 1993. That was when I was in the military and they came out with a rule that helmets were mandatory when riding on base. But that was about the time when pretty much everyone started wearing them so I didn't look out of place anymore haha. But the cotton cap has always been under my helmet.
Likes For Lazyass:
#5
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: far western MD
Posts: 98
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 39 Times
in
24 Posts
Wore a Bell starting in early-mid 80"s. Had raced motorcycles in 70's so helmet was the norm, plus had already had 2 concussions (1 motorcycle,1 soccer)
Likes For 3Roch:
#6
Not lost wanderer.
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Lititz, Pa
Posts: 3,354
Bikes: In USA; 73 Raleigh Super Course dingle speed, 72 Raleigh Gran Sport SS, 72 Geoffry Butler, 81 Centurion Pro-Tour, 74 Gugie Grandier Sportier
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 890 Post(s)
Liked 1,017 Times
in
534 Posts
Nope, still do not unless I am riding my motorcycle.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
Posts: 9,589
Bikes: '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, '94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster, Tern Link D8
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1616 Post(s)
Liked 2,221 Times
in
1,106 Posts
__________________
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Likes For SJX426:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,439
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5892 Post(s)
Liked 3,479 Times
in
2,081 Posts
I worked in a bike shop in the 80s. I thought they were a good idea and sold them to my customers. I think I may have used a Bell Biker for a short time. I know I used a V1 pro for some time and then the Giro when it came out.
Likes For bikemig:
#9
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,004
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1465 Post(s)
Liked 1,542 Times
in
806 Posts
I think that I started wearing a helmet soon after moving to California in 1982, a Vetta. I'll see if I can find a photo...
1987 Tour de Sewer in Los Angeles.
1987 Tour de Sewer in Los Angeles.
Last edited by Phil_gretz; 04-23-21 at 06:29 AM. Reason: add photo
Likes For Phil_gretz:
#10
Bikes are okay, I guess.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 6,938
Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2647 Post(s)
Liked 2,447 Times
in
1,558 Posts
Sold them in shops in the '70s and probably in about '80 a girlfriend gave me one and said, "You will wear it." I chose a hardshell yellow MSR and probably still have it somewhere.
Likes For thumpism:
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Great White North
Posts: 1,226
Bikes: 2013 Cannondale Caad 8, 2010 Opus Fidelio, 1985 Peugeot UO14, 1999 Peugeot Dune, Sakai Select, L'Avantage, 1971 Gitane Apache Standard, 1999 Specialized Hard Rock
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 548 Post(s)
Liked 473 Times
in
302 Posts
I did not and road my road bike all over the place. To concerned about my flow back then to wear a helmet. No need to worry about that now!
Likes For gthomson:
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,180
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3818 Post(s)
Liked 6,752 Times
in
2,626 Posts
Had a nasty bike crash in 1980, knocking myself unconscious and losing a few teeth. No helmet. My parents strongly encouraged me to pick one up thereafter; I bought a SkidLid. Fortunately, I didn't have to test it in another crash.
#13
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Seattle
Posts: 147
Bikes: Masi Gran Criterium, Derosa, Ron Cooper, Davidson, Miyata 912, Le Jeune, Klein Rascals, AMP Research B3, B4, B5, PX10,Holdsworth, Schwinn Paramount, Frejus, Erickson, Simoncini SLX, Cecil Walker
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 54 Post(s)
Liked 116 Times
in
52 Posts
I had a Bell in the 80's and always wore it. It was uncommon but I don't recall being mocked for it or anything. I grew up in a motorcycle family, so it was pretty normal for me. I always wanted one of the leather hair net helmets but they were expensive and I knew they did nothing.
Likes For cheffyjay:
#14
Full Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Upper third of the central USA
Posts: 493
Bikes: N+1
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 230 Post(s)
Liked 659 Times
in
320 Posts
I was hit by a car in 1978 -- no helmet -- skull fracture and a number of other not-very-fun injuries. Started riding again with a Bell Biker. These days I use a Specialized Prevail -- super light and the least horrible sweat-producer of any helmet I've ever worn.
Only place/time I do not wear one now (edit: while on a bike!) is riding around in towns in the Netherlands when I go to visit my relatives there -- no one other than hard core roadies there wear one, and motorists and dogs are exceptionally well trained and respect bicycles, plus the infrastructure is terrific.
Only place/time I do not wear one now (edit: while on a bike!) is riding around in towns in the Netherlands when I go to visit my relatives there -- no one other than hard core roadies there wear one, and motorists and dogs are exceptionally well trained and respect bicycles, plus the infrastructure is terrific.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Schwenksville, Pa
Posts: 2,776
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 277 Post(s)
Liked 342 Times
in
181 Posts
My first helmet was a Bell Spectrum in 1988. I have a big head to begin with and squeezing it into that one size fits all helmet was ridiculous looking.
__________________
80 Mercian Olympic, 92 DB Overdrive, '07 Rivendell AHH, '16 Clockwork All-Rounder
80 Mercian Olympic, 92 DB Overdrive, '07 Rivendell AHH, '16 Clockwork All-Rounder
Likes For Kobe:
#16
2k miles from the midwest
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,964
Bikes: ~'75 Colin Laing, '80s Schwinn SuperSport 650b, ex-Backroads ti project...
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 525 Post(s)
Liked 931 Times
in
446 Posts
My parents bought me a black Bracale hardshell in '87. I was spending the summer going out for 4-5hrs/day riding around rural IN, empty county roads between the corn fields and they said I had to wear it after having been run into a ditch the fall before.
To this day, I think my dislike of wearing a helmet comes from that hot, heavy thing.
To this day, I think my dislike of wearing a helmet comes from that hot, heavy thing.
Likes For Dylansbob:
#17
Half way there
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 2,958
Bikes: Many, and the list changes frequently
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 990 Post(s)
Liked 884 Times
in
529 Posts
I wore a Skid-Lid in the late 70s when I commuted back and forth to work; however I did not wear it for other types of riding. It was probably the mid-oughts when I started wearing one consistently.
Last edited by Moe Zhoost; 04-23-21 at 08:42 AM. Reason: spelling
#18
Unsafe at Any Speed
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 86
Bikes: Bikes: 2015 Volagi Viaje XL, 85 Specialized Rockhopper w/drops, 81 Miyata 912, gone but not forgotten late 60s Coast To Coast Sting-Ray(J38 knockoff), Schwinn Typhoon, 75 Sekine GS, 81 Trek 412, 85 Trek 720 Touring.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times
in
7 Posts
I wore mine all the time a “Bell Biker” just like the one he starts the video with. Bought in the late 70s form the Yellow Jersey Bicycle Co-op on State St. in Madison WI. just a few doors down from where I worked at the time. A good thing too, had it on when I slid off the path foolishly speeding down Vail Pass bike trail and flew head over heals. Still have it, it still has a scar from that crash, still have an uncracked head the bike was never the same though. If I ever get to ride the Eroica California I plan to where it. Thanks for the link Joe brought back many memories.
Likes For KAH:
#19
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times
in
339 Posts
I've been wearing helmets since 1978 or so. This photo is from 1983:
__________________
www.rhmsaddles.com.
www.rhmsaddles.com.
Likes For TugaDude:
#22
Groupetto Dragon-Ass
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Lostin Austin, TX
Posts: 617
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 415 Post(s)
Liked 790 Times
in
373 Posts
I started riding again in '86, and was surprised to find that a lot of serious bikers were using the Mirage soft shells. A helmet may have even been a requirement for the Cat racers around here.
My best riding buddy wore his Bell Biker well into this century.
I put a big flat spot into my Nashbar soft shell around '92.
I pick old helmets up when I find a cherry one cheap.
My best riding buddy wore his Bell Biker well into this century.
I put a big flat spot into my Nashbar soft shell around '92.
I pick old helmets up when I find a cherry one cheap.
Likes For Chuckk:
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Point Reyes Station, California
Posts: 4,539
Bikes: Indeed!
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1513 Post(s)
Liked 3,488 Times
in
1,138 Posts
Like others here I began wearing a helmet after a crash and concussion. That was about 5 years before this photo was taken.
Brent
Brent
#24
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,415
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6243 Post(s)
Liked 4,262 Times
in
2,387 Posts
I bought, and used, a Bell Biker in the late 70s, possibly as early as 1978. It lasted until about 1985 when I let go of one handlebar on the most epic mountain bike jump of my life. I smashed it after going over the high side and ended up with “camera motor drive” vision. (Moving my head from side-to-side felt like I was taking pictures with a motor drive).
I smashed a MSR when one of the two dogs I was riding with decided that she was afraid of drainage grates on the road. She stopped, the other dog didn’t nor did I. I remember a might THWACK when my head hit the ground and two dogs jumping over me in a very graceful and beautiful arc.
One of my most memorable car she’s happened with a Bell V1-Pro. I smashed it to pieces when I hit a curb at about 20 mph and did a Greg Louganis dismount...full layout with a pivot on my head.
Since then I’ve smashed so many helmets that I have no idea how many. It could be as high as 20 or 30. With the exception of going over the high side, I have not once lost consciousness in any crash. I remember them in glorious technicolor.
I smashed a MSR when one of the two dogs I was riding with decided that she was afraid of drainage grates on the road. She stopped, the other dog didn’t nor did I. I remember a might THWACK when my head hit the ground and two dogs jumping over me in a very graceful and beautiful arc.
One of my most memorable car she’s happened with a Bell V1-Pro. I smashed it to pieces when I hit a curb at about 20 mph and did a Greg Louganis dismount...full layout with a pivot on my head.
Since then I’ve smashed so many helmets that I have no idea how many. It could be as high as 20 or 30. With the exception of going over the high side, I have not once lost consciousness in any crash. I remember them in glorious technicolor.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Likes For cyccommute:
#25
Full Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 239
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 107 Post(s)
Liked 152 Times
in
97 Posts
In 1982, I wore a Brancale hardshell helmet while racing as a junior in France. We were required to wear a helmet at the line up, but almost everyone discarded them by the end of the first lap. And almost all helmets were just the leather hairnet style.
Likes For James1964: