HELMET!

[Tim]

I got hit w a falling tree @ 6mr on one of those crazy packed Saturday mornings riding w Walt - letting people pass I was holding onto a tree that apparently was holding up a tall skinny dead tree that hit my skull directly - drove my head into my shoulders - Helmet was a bell Walmart Job , but saved me possibly from severe injury.

I was concussed for a few days and went to RWJ for a CT scan.
Chiropractor for a month 3 xs a week got my neck back into feeling good.
Got lucky.

That said saw two guys @ Harts yesterday no head gear.

We Saw you at the top of Devils Elbow. Did you see that Stocky Moose guy without the helmet? We passed him in the thick brush section and he was stopped for us to pass, I asked him if he lost his helmet in the overgrown bushes and offered to help look for it with him. He didn't get my humor, duh.

There has been a lot of helmet-less riding lately. 100% of the people I see without helmets are not serious mountain bikers. As a serious mountain biker, I feel like setting a good example is paramount. I know when I first started riding again a few years ago I noticed what the guys who "looked like they knew what they were doing" were doing.

 

[Tim]

We Saw you at the top of Devils Elbow. Did you see that Stocky Moose guy without the helmet? We passed him in the thick brush section and he was stopped for us to pass, I asked him if he lost his helmet in the overgrown bushes and offered to help look for it with him. He didn't get my humor, duh.

And not to derail this but what is the devils elbow? I ride Harts a couple times per week at least and I don't know what this is.

 

[pygmypony]

And not to derail this but what is the devils elbow? I ride Harts a couple times per week at least and I don't know what this is.

i think it's snaggleback dipset climb or something like that on strava

 

[pygmypony]

this segment...

SNAGGLEBACK DIPSET CLIMB | Strava Ride Segment in Middletown Township, New Jersey

www.strava.com

back to the topic, this came up on my twitter feed the other day...bike helmets are simply not designed to protect your head from a car. that said, i've had many falls where i was thankful to be wearing a helmet...so i wear one. pretty simple.

Bicycle Helmets Not Designed For Impacts From Cars, Stresses Leading Maker Giro

A leading bicycle helmet maker has stressed that bicycle helmets are not designed to mitigate impacts from motor vehicles.

www.forbes.com

 

[The Kalmyk]

I always find this a curious reason to wear a helmet, @rick81721 said something similar awhile back. If you actually get hit by a car, your head is probably the least of your worries.

That one time.

 

[pooriggy]

Devil's elbow.

 

[GreenMachine]

We Saw you at the top of Devils Elbow. Did you see that Stocky Moose guy without the helmet? We passed him in the thick brush section and he was stopped for us to pass, I asked him if he lost his helmet in the overgrown bushes and offered to help look for it with him. He didn't get my humor, duh.

Yes I saw him! And I think he’s a regular no head can guy .

 

[stb222]

That one time.

More worried about the 50 other times something with happen.

 

[The Kalmyk]

More worried about the 50 other times something with happen.

Maybe you dont make it to 50?

 

[serviceguy]

Young guy with a brand new Giant on 6 bridges yesterday, his excuse was 'I have a helmet but I didn't think trail would be this technical so I didn't wear it, I will next time'.
Meh.

 

[EJphotos]

Helmets are also handy for them low hanging twigs/branches/trees that seem to jump in front of you and don't bend out of the way.

 

[MissJR]

Question for Enduro and downhill peeps:

What is the difference between Enduro and DH rated full faced helmets? I'm not doing massive drops but I am doing some baby drops. I like chunky rocks and techy bits but I'm not racing and I'm not exactly hitting that stuff fast (when I do attempt it... Yes... Sometimes I walk it. Sigh.)

Is an Enduro but not DH rated helmet still ok for bike parks? They seem to have more ventilation but I also want to make sure my head stays intact if I crash.

 

[Soundguy]

Question for Enduro and downhill peeps:

What is the difference between Enduro and DH rated full faced helmets? I'm not doing massive drops but I am doing some baby drops. I like chunky rocks and techy bits but I'm not racing and I'm not exactly hitting that stuff fast (when I do attempt it... Yes... Sometimes I walk it. Sigh.)

Is an Enduro but not DH rated helmet still ok for bike parks? They seem to have more ventilation but I also want to make sure my head stays intact if I crash.

You’ll be happier in an enduro. If you aren’t going ludicrous speed down gnarly DH race courses definitely go for the vents and light weight.

 

[UtahJoe]

I was thinking about this thread when my wife came home from work now last night... For like the 5000 th time now since she's been working in the ER..... Young teen riding a long board crashed with no helmet on... Trauma/massive head injuries... Usually when my wife tells me these stories my first question is if they were ok... And so many times the answer is... Well they will live, but they probably will never be the same.... I can't even count how many of these stories I have heard.... Bikes, skate boards, etc... The irony of this incident is apparently the individual crashed not to long ago with a helmet on, broke it and suffered a concussion... But never replaced the broken helmet..

 

[mattybfat]

I was thinking about this thread when my wife came home from work now last night... For like the 5000 th time now since she's been working in the ER..... Young teen riding a long board crashed with no helmet on... Trauma/massive head injuries... Usually when my wife tells me these stories my first question is if they were ok... And so many times the answer is... Well they will live, but they probably will never be the same.... I can't even count how many of these stories I have heard.... Bikes, skate boards, etc... The irony of this incident is apparently the individual crashed not to long ago with a helmet on, broke it and suffered a concussion... But never replaced the broken helmet..

Same story different hospital, it still amazes me that this hasn't been drilled like the seat belt was. The amount of head traumas that could be avoided is outstanding.

 

[Mathers]

Question for Enduro and downhill peeps:

What is the difference between Enduro and DH rated full faced helmets? I'm not doing massive drops but I am doing some baby drops. I like chunky rocks and techy bits but I'm not racing and I'm not exactly hitting that stuff fast (when I do attempt it... Yes... Sometimes I walk it. Sigh.)

Is an Enduro but not DH rated helmet still ok for bike parks? They seem to have more ventilation but I also want to make sure my head stays intact if I crash.

I’ve been looking at helmets and started looking at the Bell super air. It’s a “convertible” and very light. Not cheap but you get a nice helmet for multiple uses.

 

[MissJR]

I’ve been looking at helmets and started looking at the Bell super air. It’s a “convertible” and very light. Not cheap but you get a nice helmet for multiple uses.

That seems promising too. I like that it has the ratchet adjustment in the back like a regular helmet (if I'm looking at the right one). The removable chin bar makes me nervous but I think that's old school thinking now. If you get it, post up a review. The helmet someone recommended to me was the ixs trigger because of the ratchet adjustment and it being so lightweight. But it's says Enduro not DH even tho someone who wears it DHing is the one who recommended it.

 

[stb222]

That seems promising too. I like that it has the ratchet adjustment in the back like a regular helmet (if I'm looking at the right one). The removable chin bar makes me nervous but I think that's old school thinking now. If you get it, post up a review. The helmet someone recommended to me was the ixs trigger because of the ratchet adjustment and it being so lightweight. But it's says Enduro not DH even tho someone who wears it DHing is the one who recommended it.

Considering “trail” riding now includes drops larger than you are likely doing and with an open face helmet, I think you are splitting hairs with the enduro/DH comparison.

IMO, go with lightweight and airflow.

 

[mtbiker87]

If this is specifically for park days, I go full DH. At someplace like Creek, runs are measured in minutes,not hours, and you get to take it off on the way up on the lift, so it's not like you're pedaling for hours wearing this big stuffy helmet. Personally, I have a separate kit for park days, and trail riding, each appropriate for the task at hand.

That being said, the helmet you ware, is much better than one you won't. Better to have the lighter weight, better vented enduro helmet you're happy to put on, than to use an open face trail helmet on park days,because you feel the big lid is too uncomfortable.

 

[ebarker9]

If this is specifically for park days, I go full DH. At someplace like Creek, runs are measured in minutes,not hours, and you get to take it off on the way up on the lift, so it's not like you're pedaling for hours wearing this big stuffy helmet. Personally, I have a separate kit for park days, and trail riding, each appropriate for the task at hand.

That being said, the helmet you ware, is much better than one you won't. Better to have the lighter weight, better vented enduro helmet you're happy to put on, than to use an open face trail helmet on park days,because you feel the big lid is too uncomfortable.

Totally agree. The only significant crash that I've had riding at a bike park was at Mt Creek and landed on my shoulder and side of the chin guard after washing my front tire out in a berm. I'd recently gone to a D3 from my previous Giro Remedy and was glad to have the more substantial helmet on. I don't see a lot of reason not to go for the DH helmet if, like you say, you're going to be spending half of your time with it off while on the chairlift.