Categories: In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Unsafe Headgear

I appreciate my helmet. I treat it with respect. I never leave for a ride without it. I replace it after a crash or even after helplessly watching it bound down the stairwell like some kind of deformed styrofoam slinky-dink after allowing it to slip from my grasp. (This activity also typically involves some assertions questioning what it does in its spare time, its origins of birth, and things of that nature.) Community member @chaz also recently suggested that, in accordance with motorcycle tradition, we ceremoniously cut the strap on the helmet and hang it in the VVorkshop in deference to the purpose it served us.

Suffice to say, I’m grateful for the advances technology offers us when it comes to protective headgear, because staying alive is in alignment with my strategy. But progress is the slayer of ritual and tradition, and I can’t help but look back longingly to the days when helmets were rarely worn and if they were, they consisted of thin strips of leather that, assuming it stayed on, would do little more than keep your cranium from coming apart after cracking it to bits on a cobblestone or some such object.

The hairnet was the coolest cranial accouterment ever designed, with the insulated cycling cap that fit over it being a close second. The cycling cap on its own was, of course, also a class piece of kit to be worn forwards, sideways, or backwards – made cooler only by perching a set of cycling-specific shades on top of it. A helmetless head saw hair slicked back by the wind as a byproduct of the V as riders raised their arms in triumph over the finish line. The bare noggin on the high mountain passes was a beacon of Purified Awesome, allowing us to see in all their glory the suffering faces of the riders as they moved sur la plaque over the summit.

Take a moment, fellow Velominati, to honor the Useless Headgear of our past.

[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/Headgear/”]

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Vin'cenza says:

Mar 27 2012 at 11:32 am

Presenting the Greatest (photo) helmet concept -- with a Sword !!
Vin'cenza says:

Mar 27 2012 at 11:33 am

@snoov

@Vin'cenza
As you say, it should assist you in looking fantastic, end of story.

Where was the story -- missed it. Period!
ChrisO says:

Mar 27 2012 at 11:36 am

@Vin'cenza

Actually the 'rant' began 'Oh god a helmet debate...' quite a different thing.

My point is, I see no point in debating the subject - I didn't then and I don't now.

If you genuinely wish to find out more I can suggest the following:

1. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute - a pro-compulsion group. Among other things this site compares the various safety standards across Europe, US and Australia and gives details of the tests.
http://www.bhsi.org/stdcomp.htm

2. A fairly neutral UK-based industry group aimed at the general population. Has a good description of how helmets actually work and links to further reading.
http://www.whycycle.co.uk/safety_and_security/cycling_helmets/

3. The main anti-compulsion group. Worth reading their analyses of various pieces of research.
http://www.cyclehelmets.org

4. The inevitable Wikipedia entry. Worth noting the section on design intentions and standards.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_helmet

You may also wish to peruse the site of the UK's Cyclists Touring Club, one of (if not the) oldest and largest cycling organisations in the world, and which adopts a pro-choice stance.

For the record, if I may correct one assumption you seem to have made - that I don't ever wear a helmet. As a matter of course I don't, but there are situations where I do e.g. when I used to commute in London I would usually wear one, so I'm not coming at this from an 'unchurched' point of view.

However I find your choice of religious terminology quite interesting given my view that helmets are an article of belief and beyond debate for most people.

I may be nailing the Messiah to the cross but don't worry I won't be casting lots for your helmet ;-)
Vin'cenza says:

Mar 27 2012 at 11:46 am

@ChrisO

@Vin'cenza

Actually the 'rant' began 'Oh god a helmet debate...' quite a different thing.

My point is, I see no point in debating the subject - I didn't then and I don't now.

If you genuinely wish to find out more I can suggest the following:

1. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute - a pro-compulsion group. Among other things this site compares the various safety standards across Europe, US and Australia and gives details of the tests. http://www.bhsi.org/stdcomp.htm

2. A fairly neutral UK-based industry group aimed at the general population. Has a good description of how helmets actually work and links to further reading. http://www.whycycle.co.uk/safety_and_security/cycling_helmets/

3. The main anti-compulsion group. Worth reading their analyses of various pieces of research. http://www.cyclehelmets.org

4. The inevitable Wikipedia entry. Worth noting the section on design intentions and standards. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_helmet

You may also wish to peruse the site of the UK's Cyclists Touring Club, one of (if not the) oldest and largest cycling organisations in the world, and which adopts a pro-choice stance.

For the record, if I may correct one assumption you seem to have made - that I don't ever wear a helmet. As a matter of course I don't, but there are situations where I do e.g. when I used to commute in London I would usually wear one, so I'm not coming at this from an 'unchurched' point of view.

However I find your choice of religious terminology quite interesting given my view that helmets are an article of belief and beyond debate for most people.

I may be nailing the Messiah to the cross but don't worry I won't be casting lots for your helmet ;-)

4 points and no use (to me). Need links to BLOWOUT sales on hi-quality helmets. For those that believe and still look good believing.
Vin'cenza says:

Mar 27 2012 at 11:51 am

See you in a few days.
RedRanger says:

Mar 27 2012 at 12:02 pm

@Vin'cenza
When I got my sterling I ordered it from the distributor. Msrp on it is 230. I found a coupon code via the google that was 50% off. Totally pro helmet for under 120? Tits!
xyxax says:

Mar 27 2012 at 1:58 pm

@Vin'cenza

@RedRanger
Tried Red Ranger's thing on e-Rudy site, promotional code "50helmets" and indeed a Sterling for 50% off ($115).
RedRanger says:

Mar 27 2012 at 2:16 pm

@xyxax
Awesome!
scaler911 says:

Mar 27 2012 at 3:09 pm

@RedRanger

@xyxax
Rudy Project is one of my teams sponsors, and while we get a better deal than that, I gotta say that they are really nice helmets (and glasses). Worth full retail, and a helluva deal if you can get 'em half off.
I'm not just pimping my sponsor either. It's just nice gear.
RedRanger says:

Mar 27 2012 at 3:35 pm

@scaler911
totally agree. I had been lusting over one back when I lived in Italy, but couldnt find em. when I found that deal I acted on it right away. no regrets