Cycling has been suffering a crisis every since the use of a helmet became compulsory. This crisis is rooted in the simple fact that cycling peaked aesthetically with the cycling cap perched casually deliberate atop a sweaty cranium. It was only after mandatory helmet dictum spread its tentacles into all UCI-sanctioned races in 2003 that helmet manufacturers began taking helmet design seriously.
To be clear, I am a helmet advocate. I never leave home without mine, and no Cyclist shall ever be allowed to start a Cogal without perching one on their noggin. But I do this in the knowledge that I look less Fantastic that if I were rolling out in a classic cotton Cycling Cap.
Specialized was the first to make inroads into building a stylish helmet with the Sub-Six. The fact that every other helmet was a hollowed-out bowling ball didn’t matter very much because no one wore them outside Belgium, and even there, they were permitted to wear the second-coolest piece of headgear, the Hairnet. Giro made some inroads with their Air Attack series, but progress was generally at a standstill until the hardshell became mandatory after the tragic death of Andrey Kivilev in Paris-Nice in 2003.
The issue of the helmet has also been compounded by the fact that most continental Pros had no clue how to wear a helmet, given that they spent most of their lives not wearing one. When asked to, they often suffered from Toad Head and other anomalies commonly encountered when violating the Three-Point System.
Helmets are a necessary evil which are improving in style, but they are all uglier than the hallowed Cycling Cap. When wearing a helmet, keep the following points in mind.
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View Comments
@Brian
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsQTURsMPms
@brianparker77
another
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G68XGDq0Ka0
@Gianni
I watched the uncut, 5 or 6 hour long German TV version of this movie about two years ago all in one go. Man, what a movie! Fuck'in blew me away and I was crushed for about two days following the marathon viewing of it. A true must see.
@frank
Frank, I'd strongly recommend not looking into "tiagra-gate" It'll only raise your blood pressure..
@Marcus
FUCK'IN Ludo Dierckxsens!!! Talk about your throw back cyclists! Guy is just awesome! Watching him hammering out those P-R's with Hincapie and Museeuw back in the late '90's/early 2000's just blows me away! Just hardcore! But, for the helmet, we are missing the back piece on that helmet that he always wore. Not sure what it's purpose was?
@frank
I always felt like Contador was one of the few allowed to break this rule. Hanging the shades on the back collar of the jersey is a douche look, but being a personality who has fully embraced his inner douche, it fits the character.
@wiscot
Or alternatively, so thoroughly crush your spirit that you'll want to shut down the site or sell the rights and content on to Road Bike Review. Same same.
@Andre the Fish
Yes.
@Cantona
Seriously?
We're going to do this again? There are only so many pictures of the Assos girl on the Internet.
Tell you what; If, and only if, you can find new pictures of her - never before posted on Velominati and send them - to me;
Then, and only upon receipt of said photos, may you have your precious helmet debate - version 4.0.
@mouse
haha. Fair play. No debate here.
(just wear one - or tattoo something on your forehead so that I don't have to spend the night shitting myself trying to keep you alive).
There. I'm done. Purged.