Helmet Question
#26
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I stayed upright. It was a tight left turn with a tree leaning a bit over the trail. I was just off balance enough that I couldn't pull my head and shoulder out of the way in time. My head took the majority of the impact. It stunned me for a few seconds, but was okay to finish the ride with no issues. Other than that tree issue, I really enjoyed my first time down Sullivan Canyon - fun trail! My neck is a little stiff today, however.
I read in a dirt bike magazine once: "lean over in the tight trees and you'll get cleaned right off the bike".
Sullivan Canyon, it belongs to the Gas Company and from time to time they dig it up to work on pipelines. It also changes dramatically if there is a lot of rain. Probably don't have to worry about that again.
Where did you start and how did you come back up? I usually start at the south end of Reseda Blvd., go to the Hub, then Backbone trail to J-drop. J-drop is a nasty .6 of a mile that drops from Backbone into Rustic Canyon. From there it's a short climb out to Sullivan Ridge which parallels Sullivan Canyon, or there is another drop into the canyon.
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Here I am on Backbone/Will Rogers trail.
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Ouch! Maybe a little ice?
I read in a dirt bike magazine once: "lean over in the tight trees and you'll get cleaned right off the bike".
Sullivan Canyon, it belongs to the Gas Company and from time to time they dig it up to work on pipelines. It also changes dramatically if there is a lot of rain. Probably don't have to worry about that again.
Where did you start and how did you come back up? I usually start at the south end of Reseda Blvd., go to the Hub, then Backbone trail to J-drop. J-drop is a nasty .6 of a mile that drops from Backbone into Rustic Canyon. From there it's a short climb out to Sullivan Ridge which parallels Sullivan Canyon, or there is another drop into the canyon.
I read in a dirt bike magazine once: "lean over in the tight trees and you'll get cleaned right off the bike".
Sullivan Canyon, it belongs to the Gas Company and from time to time they dig it up to work on pipelines. It also changes dramatically if there is a lot of rain. Probably don't have to worry about that again.
Where did you start and how did you come back up? I usually start at the south end of Reseda Blvd., go to the Hub, then Backbone trail to J-drop. J-drop is a nasty .6 of a mile that drops from Backbone into Rustic Canyon. From there it's a short climb out to Sullivan Ridge which parallels Sullivan Canyon, or there is another drop into the canyon.
We climbed Sullivan Ridge to Dirt Mullholland, did the Broken Arrow singletrack loop to the west, came back east on DM, and dropped down into Sullivan Canyon and enjoyed the singletrack that snakes alongside the road. It was my first time riding in that area, and I had a great time, despite the tree mishap. I definitely want to do more riding in that area. I will try to use my head a little better next time.
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I'm okay. It's just a little stiff.
We climbed Sullivan Ridge to Dirt Mullholland, did the Broken Arrow singletrack loop to the west, came back east on DM, and dropped down into Sullivan Canyon and enjoyed the singletrack that snakes alongside the road. It was my first time riding in that area, and I had a great time, despite the tree mishap. I definitely want to do more riding in that area. I will try to use my head a little better next time.
We climbed Sullivan Ridge to Dirt Mullholland, did the Broken Arrow singletrack loop to the west, came back east on DM, and dropped down into Sullivan Canyon and enjoyed the singletrack that snakes alongside the road. It was my first time riding in that area, and I had a great time, despite the tree mishap. I definitely want to do more riding in that area. I will try to use my head a little better next time.
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Personally I don't track the age of helmets, but would go by the overall condition.
As @Iride01 mentioned, technology in helmets is slowly evolving. So, perhaps rather than worrying about whether the foam is aging, ask whether your helmet meets the technology standards you want.
As @Iride01 mentioned, technology in helmets is slowly evolving. So, perhaps rather than worrying about whether the foam is aging, ask whether your helmet meets the technology standards you want.
That helmet is ready for replacement. (Delayed by COVID but also it is a very well made POC and is holding up far better than the Bells I used to buy. And no hard impacts yet!)
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POC make some good helmets. I've been using their ski helmets for about a decade now (2 different models in that time). Unfortunately their current bike helmets don't seem to fit my head shape, otherwise they would have been my first choice. It's odd because their ski helmets fit perfectly!
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I'll join the chorus of those saying to replace helmets every few years. Helmet technology is continually getting more protective and is never quite protective enough for bad crashes. Brain surgery is expensive. It's a no-brainer (ha!) to put brain health above the very few hundred dollars for a highly rated current tech helmet. The U of V site is an excellent place to start.
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I'll join the chorus of those saying to replace helmets every few years. Helmet technology is continually getting more protective and is never quite protective enough for bad crashes. Brain surgery is expensive. It's a no-brainer (ha!) to put brain health above the very few hundred dollars for a highly rated current tech helmet. The U of V site is an excellent place to start.
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So now to the real Nitty... Gritty...
Yep, I never ride without one, and yes a helmet has saved my life, but do you really need to spend a couple of hundred bucks on a helmet?
How much ya gonna spend on your helmet?
Yep, I never ride without one, and yes a helmet has saved my life, but do you really need to spend a couple of hundred bucks on a helmet?
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#36
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Many of us spend "too much" on bikes, wheels, accessories, etc. The extra cost of an "expensive" helmet is nothing compared to some of those other indulgences.
But for chrissake, buy a decent new helmet every few years. It doesn't have to be the spendy kind.
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No, you don't, though I do. I have two helmets - a high end Giro that retails for close to $300. it's aero and sleek and relatively safe (MIPS) and a low end Specialized, also MIPS, that cost $60, looks a little clunky, and gets high ratings from Virginia Tech.
Many of us spend "too much" on bikes, wheels, accessories, etc. The extra cost of an "expensive" helmet is nothing compared to some of those other indulgences.
But for chrissake, buy a decent new helmet every few years. It doesn't have to be the spendy kind.
Many of us spend "too much" on bikes, wheels, accessories, etc. The extra cost of an "expensive" helmet is nothing compared to some of those other indulgences.
But for chrissake, buy a decent new helmet every few years. It doesn't have to be the spendy kind.
dont tell a cyclist what redshift really means
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EDIT: Good ventilation is a big deal to me, which is also a factor that drives the price up.
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POC make some good helmets. I've been using their ski helmets for about a decade now (2 different models in that time). Unfortunately their current bike helmets don't seem to fit my head shape, otherwise they would have been my first choice. It's odd because their ski helmets fit perfectly!
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Synthe worked great. No headache, no concussion, nothing.
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#43
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Post #21 in this thread - Abus Aventor. The helmet did its job perfectly. I liked it okay, but there were some minor issues that have me looking for something different.
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#45
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#46
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Me three. Based on aesthetics, I dislike POC. They kind of have a MTB and BMX vibe, IMHO. That counts for zero in any body else's choice, of course.
I ride mostly with Giros these days. I tend to like the Lazers and they get very high safety ratings, but some years ago I had a really bad experience with the headband adjuster - it just kept breaking, and so I haven't gone back.
I ride mostly with Giros these days. I tend to like the Lazers and they get very high safety ratings, but some years ago I had a really bad experience with the headband adjuster - it just kept breaking, and so I haven't gone back.
Last edited by MinnMan; 08-10-21 at 01:09 PM.
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Me three. Based on aesthetics, I dislike POC. They kind of have a MTB and BMX vibe, IMHO. That counts for zero in any body else's choice, of course.
I ride mostly with Giros these days. I tend to like the Lazers and they get very high safety ratings, but some years ago I had a really bad experience with the headband adjuster - it just kept breaking, and so I haven't gone back.
I ride mostly with Giros these days. I tend to like the Lazers and they get very high safety ratings, but some years ago I had a really bad experience with the headband adjuster - it just kept breaking, and so I haven't gone back.
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Also note that there are quite a lot of cheap helmets that have very poor safety ratings.
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I spend a good amount of time on a MTB, but I'm definitely more into the roadie aesthetic. I wear the same kit on the dirt as I do on the road. I've had Giros over the years that have been good for me, and will go back to using one until I decide on a replacement for my crushed Abus. The new Lazer Sphere is a strong contender, at the moment. I like it's rounded lower edge better than the squared-off line of the G1.
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