Helmets ABC

drew.d

drew.d

Likes Bikes
After a recent crash that included a good wallop to the side of my head, I'm after a new helmet (no rush... wait for the broken arms to heal :p). I've read through the other helmet threads, but have some questions that I can't find any consistent answers to:

1. Does higher price generally indicate better protection?

Let me point out that higher price doesn't always equal lower weight, as my Lazer Magma (RIP) which was $150 weighed the same as my bro's $400 Giro Ionos. Nor was the ventilation appreciably better, though the fitting definitely was - even if I had no complaints about the Lazer's fitting. But better fit means the helmet will stay in place in a serious crash, so it seems. Also, you notice the rigidity insertions in the helmet body that an el cheapo one lacks. My point is: a more expensive car has more safety features - is it the same with helmets? Is there any research or literature to back this up?

2. Has anybody actually had their helmet checked at a race for the Australian standards sticker?

and 3. Has anybody seen the Orbea helmets (what Julien Absalon wears...) in store/have one? In Sydney, that is.

I really liked my Lazer Magma... you don't see many around (perhaps it's ugly?), but would like to flesh out the landscape a bit more.
 
drew.d said:
2. Has anybody actually had their helmet checked at a race for the Australian standards sticker?
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At the recent Fitz's Challenge (road event) every single rider had their helmet checked for an Aust Stds sticker. I guess this is one item that shouldn't be purchased overseas.
 
Answer to Q2 - yes, and I think you will see it happening a whole lot more.

I've just completed the MTBA Commissaires course, and the advice given was that helmets should be checked at every race.

Australia does have the toughest helmet standards of any country in the world, so I see it as being a pre-requisite.

Does higher price equal better protection? Not sure - it may with some (eg Fox Flux helmet sitting lower at the back of the head, some helmets having monocoque skeletons etc) but I don't think you can definitively say higher price = safer. Although higher price might equal less weight, better fit and more comfort, which might persuade the user to wear the helmet properly and more often, which would then by default be safer.

If you like the Lazer Magma, try out a Lazer Nirvana, O2 or Genesis. I have an O2 and a Genesis and love them both, I really like the Rollsys fit system.
 
frensham said:
At the recent Fitz's Challenge (road event) every single rider had their helmet checked for an Aust Stds sticker. I guess this is one item that shouldn't be purchased overseas.
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Why is that though? I have an overseas helmet and have been checked once and avoided a few other checks. The commissaries that checked me at the World Masters games said 'you really should have a sticker, but we can see it’s a Bell Sweep and Bell Sweeps are approved, carry on…'. I know there must be some insurance requirement to have the sticker but as the commissaries said...
 
I would be in trouble as all the stickers on the inside of my helmets are all but gone from the times the things get covered in mud and washed, therefore how am I to prove that the helmet meets the required standards!! :confused:
 
Mr Green said:
Why is that though? I have an overseas helmet and have been checked once and avoided a few other checks. The commissaries that checked me at the World Masters games said 'you really should have a sticker, but we can see it’s a Bell Sweep and Bell Sweeps are approved, carry on…'. I know there must be some insurance requirement to have the sticker but as the commissaries said...
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The issue is that road and most XC are held on public, gazzeted roads, or at least a portion of, and road safety legislation pretty much country-wide requires that cyclists wear an Australian Standards-approved helmet.

I can't speak for CA, but the MTBA Tech Regs specify 'Australian Standards approved helmet, or helmet approved by equivalent OS standard' (of which there is a list) - but these are only regulations, and are trumped by State, Territory and National law.

It is a uncertain issue, and you will encounter a number of different opinions. For me though - better safe than sorry, and I'll always buy helmets locally.
 
Personally I have an aversion to expensive helmets because I think they are unsafe... why? Because I've seen too many people reluctant to replace them after minor hits and crashes, or even more major ones. I think any helmet that fits well and is undamaged will give comparative protection to any other, the differences are probably in coverage (some will cover the back of the head more/less).

The main thing is that helmets needs to be replaced after impacts, personally I'm much happier to do this if I spent $70 on it than $300. I've seen too many people keep riding with damaged expensive helmets even if it's just while they are getting the cash together for a new one. Or the helmet gets dropped and they choose to pretend that didn't happen. For me it's a disposable piece of kit, so I spend the least amount possible to get something comfortable and well-fitting.

Just my two cents, obviously not everyone minds replacing $$ helmets.
 
Helmet Standards for MTB

This from the MTBA website - also see the bit I have put in red about helmet standards when riding on the road, and, yes, helmets are regularly inspected by commissaires at MTBA sanctioned races:

Clarification of acceptable International Standards for MTB helmets
April 28, 2006

Recently MTBA announced that from July 1 2006 full-face helmets will be mandatory at all MTBA sanctioned DH events. We further indicated that these hemets must also carry the Australian Standards complience sticker or an international equivalent. This statement brings full-face style DH MTB helmets into the same standard requirements as we have previously stated for XC helmets.

We now release the first list of standards that MTBA will accept as an international equivalent to the Australian/New Zealand Standard 2063.

(1) ANSI Z90.4;
(2) Snell "B" or "N" series;
(3) ASTM F-1447.
(4) Canadian CAN/CSA-D113.2-M;
(5) U.S. CPSC standard for bicycle helmets;
(6) European CEN standard for bicycle helmets (EN1078)

Other international standards may be added from time to time.

It is important to recognise that the Australian Standard (AS2063) is generally considered to be one of the toughest in the world to pass and thus as helmets for bicycle use (and in particular full-face style DH MTB helmets) that comply with AS/ NZ 2063 become available we strongly recommend that such helmets be used where ever possible. We certainly encourage importers of bicycle helmets to undergo the Australian Standards certification process.

We also note that, consistent with current Australian Road Rules, all helmets that will be worn when riding on open public roads need to be certified by the Australian Standard (AS2063) alone.

Further clarification on any matter arising from the above can be obtained from MTBA.
 
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pinkbike said:
Personally I have an aversion to expensive helmets because I think they are unsafe... why? Because I've seen too many people reluctant to replace them after minor hits and crashes, or even more major ones..
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To the contrary, I prefer expensive helmets because I am vain. When I had shitty $50 helmets, I just wouldn't put them on when I went for a spin down to the shops to get bread and milk. Now that I have cool, euro-tastic lids, I do, because the local IGA has big windows, and I get to look at myself in my cool helmet in the reflection.

In all seriousness though, modern helmets are so good that if you end up with a head injury while wearing an XC/road helmet, then it's probably a case of unavoidable bad luck, or you should have been wearing a DH jobbie.
 
Pinkbike makes a good point about expense and replacement - especially as the few shops I've rung around don't offer any crash replacement deal. And besides, if I liked my relatively inexpensive Lazer, why bother "upgrading"?

From the link I posted, it seems fit is all important, as proper fit dissipates more of the force.

The issue in terms of replacement $, it seems, is if you buy locally or OS. It's the ambiguity in "Australian Standards approved helmet". Does this mean This helmet model is approved under Australian Standards, or does it mean, more literally This helmet right here is approved and we know because we can see its sticker? (But even this isn't necessarily reliable, given people's tendency to continue using a helmet after a crash).

What Mr Green says is important if it is the precedent...


Mr Green said:
Why is that though? I have an overseas helmet and have been checked once and avoided a few other checks. The commissaries that checked me at the World Masters games said 'you really should have a sticker, but we can see it’s a Bell Sweep and Bell Sweeps are approved, carry on…'. I know there must be some insurance requirement to have the sticker but as the commissaries said...
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Fine if you have a popular, well recognisable helmet, that officials can tick off like that, but not so fine if you have one they don't recognise.
 
If a helmet meets standards, then it doesn't have to have the sticker. AFAIK, it is just for retail purposes that the sticker is on, like the SPF ones on sunglasses.

Some helmets, like the Catlike Whisper, are not Australian Standards approved. They almost certainly meet one of the other standards accepted by CA/MTBA, but try having that argument with a cranky commissar at the start line.

The main reason a few helmets as not AA approved is cost, not standard. AA requires its own standards to be tested to, rather than taking results from similar tests (like CEN regs). This means it cost a lot for companies/distributors to get helmets to market in Australia, which is a relatively small market anyway, so they don't do it.
 
C Dunlop said:
If a helmet meets standards, then it doesn't have to have the sticker. AFAIK, it is just for retail purposes that the sticker is on, like the SPF ones on sunglasses.
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The ones on sunglasses don't have "Do Not Remove" on them though.
 
Changing Regulations

Interestingly, stricter regulations will be in force from 13 December 2010:
http://www.rcta.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=134&Itemid=121

Prior to this date, the older version of AS 2063 (1996 rather than 2008) is valid, along with Snell Standards. From 13.12, only AS 2063:2008 will be valid. Clearly this has an impact on the sale of helmets: as riders, I'm not sure whether helmets under the old regs will be approved (albeit it will be a nightmare to check). Look for a run of retail helmet sales in the lead up to December!

Separately, I searched for a list of approved helmets, without success. I found only one reference, on Cycling Australia, but the list doesn't appear to be added:
http://www.cycling.org.au/?Page=17678
 
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I broke my helmet recently in a stack. Went to LBS to get a helmet, but didn't shop around becuase I was short of time needing a helmet for an event.

I tried the expensive flash looking helmet, and the mid priced decent looking helmet and only looked at the cheapo helmet. In the end went with the mid-price one purely because it came in a few sizes and ultimately fit me better. The high end one was single sized and apparently my head is the wrong shape for that one.

If all the ones you are looking at are AS approved then fit is the next most important feature by far.
 
Don't Australian Standards require continuous batch testing?
This would give you reassurance that the manufacturer has had to keep the standard of manufacture up to the correct level at all times.

Another thing to consider is Insurance, and things such as TAC (in Victoria) if in an accident and you don't have an approved helmet it could open a mine field trying to get compensation etc. What are the chances of that being checked who knows..likewise at events...why take the risk and hassle, you could get away with it forever or you might end up travelling a long distance to an event you really really want to do and then get turned away at the line.

As for cheap or expensive...whatever fits you best and is at a price your willing to pay.
I cracked my Sweep XC (harilines but stil cracked), ended up i hospital for days, tried to get another one to find they don't bring in the XC just the plain sweep, now use a Volt (looked after very well by LBS)..not quite the same but still at a price i wanted to pay. And all helmets have to meet the same regulations, it's not an ANCAP with cars and different levels.
 
Who is going to tell Lance that he can't compete at the Tour Down Under without the five ticks sticker in his helmet given to him by his US sponsor?
 
drew.d said:
1. Does higher price generally indicate better protection?
Click to expand...

Only to a certain degree.
Obviously a $300 full face helmet will protect you more than a seagull brand Kmart job from $20.00.
But, when I worked in the bank a few year back I did a personal loan for someone that works at the Rosebank facility that is responsible for the testing and standardisation of ALL helmets that are sold in Australia. The head tester at the department.
Of course I picked her brain, and she told me that some top of the line helmets actually suffer catastrophic failure at lower level impacts and crushing forces than many sub $50 helmets.

I can't say brands, but you see heaps of them in the peleton on the TDF.

She also said that Australia has far higher standards that have to be met than many other countries so you actually can't buy a BAD helmet in Australia (as long as it has the standards approved sticker on it).

I asked her about my helmet, a cheap bell ($65.00 RRP) and she said they were among some of the best for their category when it came to their tests.
They subject them to all kinds of hell too, and use X-Rays, and very advanced structure analysis technology to find even the minutest of fractures or defects.

It's not a blanket statement, but it does mean that a $450 roadie helmet may offer you less protection than a $65.00 one. Food for thought.
 
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How do you prove your helmet complies to one of the accepted international standards, i.e. they don't (necessarily?) have stickers...
 
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