Re:How the Dutch created a casual biking culture
by hfdgiutdryg on Tuesday August 28, 2018 @09:06PM
(#17864370)
I generally agree, but I want to point out that there is a huge range of impact protection depending on the general shape (e.g. 'aero' vs 'skater' style), construction (hard shell downhill MTB helmet vs typical road helmet) and fit. I can't count the number of times I've seen a cyclist with a terribly ill-fitting, poorly positioned helmet. I've seen many completely exposed foreheads, thanks to too much rearward tilt, and mostly exposed skull bases thanks to the impractical aero/race-inspired design that's dominated the road market for decades.
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Re:How the Dutch created a casual biking culture
by magduf on Wednesday August 29, 2018 @10:24AM
(#17868403)
Personally, though I ride a road bike, I wear a fairly standard MTB helmet. Really, I like the visor more than anything, but I do think it has better protection all-around.
I also use MTB (Shimano SPD) pedals: they're easy to clip in and out of, and I can wear normal-looking shoes that I can actually walk normally in.
The racing stuff is just ridiculous: it gets you a tiny improvement in performance at a huge penalty in usefulness. If you're not actually racing, it's pointless.
Re:How the Dutch created a casual biking culture
by cesnja on Wednesday August 29, 2018 @11:09AM
(#17868798)
Some "racing" bike helmets are wonderful though - they block minimal airflow and are very lightweight, so you don't even notice wearing them.
Re:How the Dutch created a casual biking culture
by magduf on Friday August 31, 2018 @10:41AM
(#17885950)
Yeah, but surely that comes at a cost, of less protection for certain types of falls. See the parent's comment about mostly-exposed skull bases for instance. Personally, I'd rather have better protection even if that means a little less airflow and a few grams more mass. (Of course, you can go to an extreme here; those full-face MTB racing helmets are really too much IMO.)
Re:How the Dutch created a casual biking culture
by forapurpose on Wednesday August 29, 2018 @01:26AM
(#17865889)
I know about fit and positioning, but I haven't heard there are differences in safety due to shape or the "aero/race-inspired design". Where can I find out more about it? Has any research been done?