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Around SBN: The Worst Team Ever Projected?

O/T tech-mechs: talk me into spending money

Here's the sitch:  My team changed sponsors and changed kit:  from blue and white to white and green.  Thus, the blue helmet I have now, no worky so bueno con the green stuff.

The great idea to get the team together to do a big helmet buy from the sponsoring shop (which is in Fort Worth--156 miles away from mi casa) fell through.  So yesterday I was in the LBS (Biketown) perusing the specialized helmets (cuz I like how the fit my head and noticed:  the high end helmets (decibel and propero) weigh at least 10 grams more than the cheapish air force3, yet cost 4 times more.  I already wear an air force3 for my commuting helmet (alas an equally bad color scheme) and know I like how it fits.

Add to that the "one-and-done" nature of a helmet: one crash and it's trashed  . . . and I'm conflicted:  I want to rock an expensive helmet like the cool kids do . . . but I can't for the life of me come with any other reason to.

Help me spend money here!!!!

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Ventilation

Got a Prospero after I destroyed the lower end Bell I’d been wearing in a crash this summer. It’s night and day in terms of comfort b/c of how well ventilated it is. I can’t compare to lower end Specialized, but it is a very very comfortable helmet, esp from a temperature standpoint.

by Ed K on Nov 13, 2009 7:30 PM EST reply actions  

Man

You’re a cheap date

by Jimbo... on Nov 13, 2009 9:13 PM EST up reply actions  

I sort of thought that might get your attention.

It’s also important in places where we don’t have the same heat you all do, but where summer is often marked by truly insane humidity.

by Ed K on Nov 14, 2009 2:19 AM EST up reply actions  

Yea the Propero looks like a good bet

My favorite helmet in terms of ventilation was my Specialized Decibel. It’s all about that long open vent on the forehead.

No horn, watch for finger.

by sminer on Nov 13, 2009 9:34 PM EST up reply actions  

is that it?

All I know is that the thing is really good on the keeping my noggin cool front, and it doesn’t even look bad in the all black version.

by Ed K on Nov 14, 2009 2:20 AM EST up reply actions  

Check out the Lazer Helium

Next time I buy a helmet, I’m getting one of these. Great ventilation, clean look, low on the giant-mushroom-head effect. And super expensive.

by Jimbo... on Nov 13, 2009 10:20 PM EST reply actions  

I'd either do a Lazer Helium or a Bell Volt...

but if I really wanted to get ventilation, I would go to Canada and buy me a Catlike helmet. They are not for everybody b/c some don’t like the look but they are near the top at ventilating.

by Vlaanderen90 on Nov 14, 2009 12:27 AM EST reply actions  

Talk you into spending money?

Well, IMHO, the more coordinated and squared away a team looks, the more “non-amateur” they look. Coming from a low-budget team background, I was always impressed when guys would show up with as much matching stuff as possible. We like to pretend, “it’s just a helmet, it’s still in good shape and works just as well as the new ones”, and “I don’t care if it doesn’t match”; but in reality, we do care. We’re niche athletes in a niche sport and we like our stuff to look as professional as we can manage.

If you got the money, buy the new matching helmet.

"My facking goat didn’t wear Robes! Does he look Scottisch?!" Baron von Frinkenstein

by swells on Nov 14, 2009 1:07 PM EST reply actions  

Bah on the new matching helmet.

If you’re a professional you don’t have a choice, if you have a choice, by all means use it. Screw the guys who try to impress by looking all professional. I bite my thumb at them. :)

No horn, watch for finger.

by sminer on Nov 14, 2009 5:30 PM EST up reply actions  

"matching helmet"

O/T-I suddenly thought of Bugs Bunny @ Elmer Fudd “spear and magic helmet”…heh

I’d post a link but, I’m on my iTouch…google it…it’s funny.

"My facking goat didn’t wear Robes! Does he look Scottisch?!" Baron von Frinkenstein

by swells on Nov 14, 2009 8:43 PM EST via mobile up reply actions  

I'm so fickle

but between sminer’s comment, Jim’s aversion to trying to talk me into a high-end helmet, and this comment . . . I think I’ll find something else to spend the money on.

by R Mc on Nov 14, 2009 9:07 PM EST up reply actions  

Take a look at cyclingtips.com

on how too look pro. funny stuff. if you feel better with the matching helmet and you can afford it go for it man!
Our sport is expensive anyway. Try to explain to a non cyclist friend that you can spend more money on a bike than a lot of people on car and you will get the idea.

Your bike doesn't want to crash so relax and let it roll!!!

by perezbike on Nov 16, 2009 9:35 PM EST up reply actions  

Is a Giro Pneumo out of your pricerange?

If not, I highly recommend one. I’ve worn them for 4 years and love it. Lots of ventilation, light, great colors, etc.

I mean uh... hasn't that ever occurred to you, man? Sir?

by Drew Davis on Nov 14, 2009 2:30 PM EST reply actions  

Don't like how giros fit my head.

Or I’d consider ’em. You can find good deals on them now.

Funny thing: I was all set to buy the propeor or the decibel and Jim (lbs owner) talked me out of it. Said he coudln’t tell much of a difference between the helmets and it wasn’t like I needed to worry about ventilation in November . . . and that I didn’t need to race until January.

I asked him what business he was in and he laughed.

by R Mc on Nov 14, 2009 3:44 PM EST up reply actions  

That's a good owner right there

Not trying to upsell you.

Your season starts in January? And you don’t live in Upsidedown Land? Man, Texas is one crazy state.

Go Horn Frogs!

I mean uh... hasn't that ever occurred to you, man? Sir?

by Drew Davis on Nov 15, 2009 6:29 AM EST up reply actions  

Good lord

don’t you people have winter?

I mean uh... hasn't that ever occurred to you, man? Sir?

by Drew Davis on Nov 16, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions  

Well...

it does get colder. And it usually pours rain on the early season races. And one of the January races had a snow storm. So, we sort of have winter. But not like your winter.

by Jen See on Nov 18, 2009 12:10 PM EST up reply actions  

that's my old 'hood you're talking about there

went to high school a couple of blocks down the street from TCU, and they stole their colors from the high school.

You want crazy: we used to sneak into frat parties in 8th grade . . . which is a big part of the explanation for why I had no interest in going to school there . . .

by R Mc on Nov 16, 2009 12:52 PM EST up reply actions  

Anything that comes with replacement pads.

I have the Bell Sweep that fits perfectly (insert: giant pumpkin joke) is well ventilated and stylish. The pads disintigrated though, and had to make some out of old helmets. For $139 you should get replacement pads…

by Peter Fontecchio on Nov 16, 2009 10:26 AM EST reply actions  

I'm picturing an orange on a toothpick...........

I mean uh... hasn't that ever occurred to you, man? Sir?

by Drew Davis on Nov 16, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions  

Please????

“Debatable ground” : westward expansion, sentimental aesthetics, and the literary personas of Washington Irving / Richard Vogtel McLamore 1996
English Book Book : Thesis/dissertation/manuscript Archival Material Archival Material iv, 259 leaves ; 28 cm.

(The line between self-promotion and self-mockery is really hard to recognize . . .)

by R Mc on Nov 16, 2009 12:58 PM EST up reply actions  

Awesome!

I had no idea.

The chances that mine will ever be appropriate here are beyond remote!

by Ed K on Nov 17, 2009 2:17 AM EST up reply actions  

Very cool :-)

Hmm, I wonder if we took a survey, how many people here at the Cafe have one of those dissertation thingies?

by Jen See on Nov 18, 2009 12:11 PM EST up reply actions  

About the same

as when there was no survey.

by tedvdw on Nov 18, 2009 12:45 PM EST up reply actions  

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