thebankman

Consumer Reports at https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/index.htm has a review of bike helmets on their website. It looks like they reviewed bikes too. If you take their advice, there you go.

thebankman

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/t...bike%20helmets here's the overview of recommendations, apparently the bike reviews are for subscribers only

Cyclist0094

I like the Bell Citi, pretty substantial construction as bike helmets go and it doesn't look gay on your head like many of the quasi aero helmets. I have had mine two years.

Siu Blue Wind

Can you hook us up to the bikes somehow?




puleeze?

edp773

That report is great. It is about time to stop the debate that all helmets protect your head equally.

I second the request for the bike results.

thebankman

sorry i'm not a member...i couldn't view it either. i heard about the link through a local news wrap-up of those helmet results

Kabloink

Not having access to the full report, does that mean it found helmets that do not protect as well by a large margin??

Looking at the quick recomendations, it seems the argument that you do not need a over $100 helmet for protection is still valid.

Cyclist0094

In the olden days of cycling (about 15years go) many manufactures had thier helmets rated by the Snell foundation and built to the tougher Snell standards in addition to the then ANSI standard. Around 1999 the CPSC came along and set a mandatory standard that was close to the Snell B-90 standard. So rather than pay Snell for certifying and bi-annualy recertifying helmets the manufactures all saved money by just complying with the CPSC standard. The toughest US bicycle helmet safety standard is the Snell B-95 test which only a few manufactures use now.

comparing standards : https://www.helmets.org/stansumm.htm

Snell foundation : https://www.smf.org/

Snell rated Helmets: https://www.smf.org/certlist/std_B-90...90C_B-95C.html

SemperFi

I also own the Bell Citi and bought one as a gift for my son based on numerous web site recommendations about its safety. Apparently its more rounded shape offers greater impact protection than some of those more aero types.

I like the helmet and it's relatively easy to dial in a good fit. It looks pretty decent also and has a detachable visor to keep the rain/sun out of your eyes.

alanbikehouston

It is interesting that two models of helmets have been recalled, based on what CR's tests found.

The Snell standard includes buying helmets in stores, and testing them. The government standard is a design standard. A helmet that meets the government standard "promises" that its design meets the minimum requirements. However, the government does not actually test the helmets that are delivered to stores. The government requires that a helmet be well-designed, but does not require that helmets delivered to stores meet that standard, or any other standard.

Snell approved helmets are the only helmets where an independent agency has tested random production models.

CR also makes clear that helmets only work when they are correctly fitted, and worn correctly. I would estimated that less than 20% of the kids I see, age five to age fifteen, have a helmet that is well fitted and that is being worn correctly. I guess their parents don't have fifteen minutes to read the instruction manual and fit the helmit correctly.

Boudicca

They are recommending on cost and safety. It doesn't answer the comfort question, and I for one am prepared to pay more for a helmet with Nice Large Holes so it doesn't heat my head up like a sauna.

staple

Bike reviews in brief: they put bikes into three categories: road, fitness, and comfort. They did not review mountain bikes. They rated the bikes on handling, shock absorption, climbing, and shifting. The road bikes they included were mostly comfort types.

Road bikes:

1 Klein Reve v ($1800)
2 Giant OCR Composite 3 ($1800)
3 Giant OCR 1 ($1000 -- "CR Best Buy")
4 Specialized Roubaix ($1300)
5 Trek Pilot 2.1 ($1320)
6 Cannondale Synapse 4 ($1050 -- "CR Best Buy")
7 Lemond Poprad ($1350 -- they note that it's a cyclocross bike and not like the others)
8 Raleigh Cadent 1.0 ($650 -- "CR Best Buy" -- they say it performed very well for the price)

Fitness Bikes:

1 Giant FCR3 ($630)
2 Schwinn Super Sport GS ($700)
3 Fuji Absolute 2.0 ($700)
4 Jamis Coda Comp ($830)
5 Cannondale Road Warrior 400 ($700)

Comfort Bikes:

1 Schwinn Sierra GS ($340)
2 Mongoose Switchback SX ($280)
3 Giant Sedona DX ($360)
4 Jamis Explorer 4.0 ($600)
5 Diamondback Wildwood Deluxe ($350)
6 Specialized Crossroads Sport ($330 -- again, they point out this is not like the others -- I assume because it has 700c wheels instead of 26"?)

There is also a sidebar, "Cheap bikes are not bargains," which briefly summarizes the reasons why one should spend $300+ at a bike shop instead of buying a $100 X-mart bike.

duane041

Thanks for the links and the info. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the helmet I just got Friday from my LBS (Bell Slant) was highly rated. I got it because it came in a flat black color scheme. I don't even know if using 'color scheme' is fair. It's just dull. I like that. 4-color glossy helmets give me the heaves.

Sixtwo

I bought a Giant FCR3 because of what CR said in their article and love it...really wanted the Corsa Red FCR1 but finding any FCR in XL in the Bay Area was a friggin' chore, so I settled for the 3 and am turning it into a 1 by changing out certain components...one thing the CR article fails to mention is that they tested the 2005 model, not the cheaper 2006 version, which may not handle as well...

I-Like-To-Bike

Try the library. It don't cost nuthin'.

Bob Ross

Exactly. My wife was buying a new helmet last week & asked our knowledgeable & trustworthy LBS employee what the difference between a $75 helmet & a $100 helmet was.

"More holes" he said.