I agree with your sermon - which leads me to my gripe
Sounds like you've put in some effort to get it right. Once you know what a properly fit helmet feels like it gets a lot easier to know what you need.
Fortunately, most people never get the chance to try the safety aspects of their helmet. But you just can't count on that.
Spending a lot of money and having faith in your helmet isn't enough. I know I'm preaching but I just hate for people to find out they're wearing the wrong helmet the hard way.
Ron, I agree with everything you wrote - and like Scotty, I had my own "why you should wear a good helmet" experience, a run in with a flying football sized chunk of concrete at highway speed - straight into the forehead. It knocked me out and I was blind for a couple of weeks, but the helmet preserved the little brains I was born with. The bike was totaled, run over by a semi, I was told, and I had some minor cuts on my face, black eyes, a burn on my leg and 1001 bruises. One of the luckiest days in my life.
That one time saved my life - I have always worn helmets on anything faster than a bicycle - always will. But I hate my current helmet - over the summer it has slowly deformed and now fits poorly and has broken 4 pairs of glasses and cutting me, once bad enough that I almost got stitches. Hate, does not describe what I feel for that helmet. I can hardly wait until I find a replacement.
And that is the problem - finding a good helmet that fits has been going on for over 3 months now. My head is nothing special, but the helmet manufacturers and cycle shops (here) are selling fashion, not safety. I have been to nearly every shop in town, in general the selection is poor and expensive. No trials, no returns and no size in stock that fits, but they would be happy to get if for me in 3 weeks for 50% more than if I ordered it direct - with no return or credit since it is a special order - unlike most website sellers.
I look at all the helmet reviews, but since this quest for a new helmet has begun, it has become clear that helmets are manufactured and marketed for appearance. Protection (physical, hearing, and vision) are relegated to the small print. The finish and "styling" are given prime billing and focus.
While it is easy to blame the shops, I think the buck ends up at the manufacturers - in more ways than one. I think it is reasonable to think that in the 44 years that I have been wearing helmets, that they would be significantly better in every respect than the white Bell I wore in the mid-60s. They are
significantly "fancier" and more expensive, but have not made the same kind of strides in protection, fit, ease of use and durability. Given that, I find their "safety studies, ratings and safety first statements more than a little disingenuous. Especially, since they effectively deny any kind of "insurance" from harm or guarantee of performance of their product.
If I didn't care, I would not gripe about it. Your postings clearly show you care and work hard to make helmets work for people. In all my years riding, you are the first "sales person" I have ever heard speak with that level of product knowledge and interest in the customer. The first. Nobody else even close. I just think you (and the rest of us) should have a much better products to deal with, instead of expensive fashion statements.
Tom
