Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site flairvax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!akgua!mcnc!decvax!decwrl!flairvax!whp4
From: whp4@flairvax.UUCP (Bill Palmer)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: Helmet reviews
Message-ID: <472@flairvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 4-May-84 16:56:38 EDT
Article-I.D.: flairvax.472
Posted: Fri May  4 16:56:38 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 5-May-84 07:35:00 EDT
References: <271@nbs-amrf.UUCP>, <323@ihu1g.UUCP>
Organization: Fairchild AI Lab, Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 36

You really ought to get a helmet.  I have two vivid datapoints to base
that statement on.  The first is a race I was in a couple of years ago,
where someone fell in a corner because of some sand (it was a spur of the
moment training criterium and no one had a broom to sweep the corners).
He not only missed the break, but also stayed in the hospital for a week
or two with a nasty concussion.  He didn't have a helmet on.  I believe
he wears one now.  Also, don't be mislead into getting a leather hairnet
like European racers wear; they are virtually useless.  Maybe your scalp
will still be intact, but the skull fracture won't be any fun.  My other
datapoint is my uncle's motorcycle accident, incurred at cycling speeds 
(~20mph).  He wears a big heavy motorcycle helmet, and you can still see
all the gouges and scratches put in it by the gravel and pavement.  I'd
hate to transfer what happened to that helmet to any part of my body.

As for comfort, yes, poorly designed helmets can really be a drag.  My
old Protec helmet had a distinct tendency to fry me after a few thousand
feet of climbing.  I bought one of those Bell Tourlites (the so-called
tourist helmet with the big adjustable sun-visor on the front), and it 
seems to be much better.  It looks something like a salad-bowl overturned 
on your head, but it is pretty comfortable and not nearly as hot.  As
for bugs, well, I don't wear glasses so I haven't experienced the problem
you describe, but I have never had a problem with bugs getting inside
my helmet.  When you're on a fast downhill, and you run into a big insect
like a 4" dragonfly or a bumblebee, though, the "plock" you hear reminds
me of being shot at with taconite pellets and a wrist-rocket...

Seriously, you really want a helmet on your head when dealing with that
crazy automobile crowd.  I bought a helmet for myself a long time before
I felt the need to buy a water bottle (for those long trips to the
grocery store up the street :-) ...

					Bill Palmer
					whp4@sri-kl
					ihnp4!hplabs!flairvax!whp4