Why no winter helmets? - Page 2 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

02-13-2004, 04:29 AM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> Hi,
>
> I'm sure someone will pop out and point to one, but in the mainstream bike
> stores the helmets are all designed for summer, keep the head cool, use.
> Sure you can cover them. Put a liner, but can't be too thick, inside. And a
> head/earband to cover the ears, but the strap across the forehead is too
> wide for between my glasses and helmet.
>
> The winter helmet would of course be insulated. With some sort of earflaps.
> And it could be lighter than a motorcycle helmet.

To be honest, I think this would be too hot for most winter
conditions. I routinely ride in temperatures down to about 20F with
just a thin headband (PI) under my regular helmet to keep my ears
warm. When it gets down to about 0F, I put on a thin silk full face
ski mask under the helmet, and I have to take it easy or I'll get
sweaty. I do have a thick head of hair, so that may make a
difference; someone with thinning (or no) hair may need more.

--
Dave Kerber
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02-13-2004, 05:02 AM

Heya Luigi !

So nice to see you back. You disappeared so abruptly after your accident. I
was worried you'd given up on us.

Congrats on graduating and all that. Are you still a Historian or have you
moved into something more commercial?

So, you back in the UK? Cambridge? London? Cycling?

Elisa Francesca Roselli
Ile de France

Luigi de Guzman wrote:

> This is what I get for drinking all those UK pints of ale.
>
> -Luigi
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> photos, rants, raves

02-13-2004, 05:08 AM

On 12 Feb 2004 20:07:44 -0700, Benjamin Weiner
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>Wear a hat, cap, or thin liner (polypro beanie) under a larger bike helmet.

Or over your existing helmet.
--
Rick Onanian

02-13-2004, 06:07 AM

"Luigi de Guzman" wrote:
> Nobody rides in the ice.
>
> Correction: nobody of commercial significance, enough to justify a
> production run of helmets (with all the associated capital costs,
> tooling etc) rides in the ice.
>
> Ergo, no winter helmets.
>
> market forces are a bitch, arent' they?

Perhaps. But a couple of manufacturers offer winter cycling shoes (even
though most folks will use booties or extra socks).

So while demand for a winter helmet might not be huge initially, I think
enough winter riders would buy them to make it profitable. Eventually, when
folks see their friends wearing them, they might want one too. There's all
kinds of specialty items around for cycling these days. Winter helmets don't
seem too far fetched. OTOH, keeping toes and fingers warm is probably more
of a challenge.

Art Harris

02-13-2004, 06:39 AM

On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 14:07:04 GMT, "Arthur Harris" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>So while demand for a winter helmet might not be huge initially, I think
>enough winter riders would buy them to make it profitable. Eventually, when
>folks see their friends wearing them, they might want one too. There's all
>kinds of specialty items around for cycling these days. Winter helmets don't
>seem too far fetched. OTOH, keeping toes and fingers warm is probably more
>of a challenge.
>
>Art Harris

Well, with my winter cycling cap(insulated, ear flaps) and a
taped-over helmet, I'm good to a fairly low temperature. Since a
winter cap can be stored away and used for years with a variety of
helmets, I doubt I would ever need a separate winter helmet, short of
riding for long periods of tie at well below zero F.

Curtis L. Russell
Odenton, MD (USA)
Just someone on two wheels...

02-13-2004, 06:54 AM

On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 14:02:33 +0100, Elisa Francesca Roselli
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>Heya Luigi !
>
>So nice to see you back. You disappeared so abruptly after your accident. I
>was worried you'd given up on us.
>
>Congrats on graduating and all that. Are you still a Historian or have you
>moved into something more commercial?
>So, you back in the UK? Cambridge? London? Cycling?

Life after the accident was hectic (though I still have a scar on my
elbow, to remind me). Finishing my dissertation, submitting it (with
hours to spare: it was a wonder I didn't crash again on the way to
submit it, though), leaving the UK.

Got the degree in December, back Stateside now, looking to put the
education to work.

Presently trying to get even remotely fit, so that, come summertime, I
can actually do some nice hilly rolling countryside that's not so far
away from me.

Comment allez-vous? et le votre velo?

-Luigi
Pessime loquitur lingua Franca...

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
photos, rants, raves

02-13-2004, 09:03 AM

Does anyone still make "soft shell" helmets? Or, more to the point, the
lycra covers that fit them? Some of these were even coated for rain, and
would nicely "winterize" an otherwise summer helmet.

"May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

02-13-2004, 09:07 AM

From: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (David*Kerber)
>To be honest, I think this would be too
>hot for most winter conditions. I routinely
>ride in temperatures down to about 20F
>with just a thin headband (PI) under my
>regular helmet to keep my ears warm.
>When it gets down to about 0F, I put on
>a thin silk full face ski mask under the
>helmet, and I have to take it easy or I'll
>get sweaty. I do have a thick head of
>hair, so that may make a difference;
>someone with thinning (or no) hair may
>need more.
>--
>Dave Kerber

Gee thanks for making the rest of us feel like wusses! LOL!!

"May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

02-13-2004, 09:12 AM

"Luigi de Guzman" wrote:

>Nobody rides in the ice.

>Correction: nobody of commercial
>significance, enough to justify a
>production run of helmets (with all the
>associated capital costs, tooling etc)
>rides in the ice.

>Ergo, no winter helmets.

Then how do you explain the commercial availability of studded bicycle
tires?

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

"May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

02-13-2004, 09:23 AM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].webtv.net>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> From: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (David*Kerber)
> >To be honest, I think this would be too
> >hot for most winter conditions. I routinely
> >ride in temperatures down to about 20F
> >with just a thin headband (PI) under my
> >regular helmet to keep my ears warm.
> >When it gets down to about 0F, I put on
> >a thin silk full face ski mask under the
> >helmet, and I have to take it easy or I'll
> >get sweaty. I do have a thick head of
> >hair, so that may make a difference;
> >someone with thinning (or no) hair may
> >need more.
> >--
> >Dave Kerber
>
> Gee thanks for making the rest of us feel like wusses! LOL!!

Purely intentional, I assure you <G,D&R>!

--
Dave Kerber
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