Conference noted::bicycle

    
    My preference is for the micro-shell.  It doesn't get as grungy
    looking, and may offer a bit more protection than soft-shell
    with a cover.  If money were no object, I'd recommend the
    Time Equipe, which cools extremely well.  But there are other
    helmets about as good, I'm sure, including some Giro.  Also
    look at the Leader helmets - at least in catalogues, they
    look like good helmets.
    
    If you are trying the helmet, test it not only for static fit,
    but also take around the block to see if it seats well in the
    wind and cools you.
    
    -john

Also, the V1-Pro used to be a fairly heavy helmet, which is really noticeable
on a long ride.

I'd go for either a no-shell or a micro-shell, and within that go for fit.

    RE: .2
    
    What's a micro-shell?  Is that the thin casing over the foam?  How does
    the V1-Pro differ from this?
    
    Also, I was told the V1 was only 1 ounce heavier than the Quest.  That
    doesn't sound like much.
    
    -larry

    Microshell is a very thin layer of plastic that is either taped or
    glued to the foam.  The major purpose of the microshell is to hold the
    foam together in a crash.  It also protects it from minor bumps (e.g.,
    trees).  Most people prefer microshell-covered foam to lycra-covered
    foam (as in the Bell Quest helmet) because the microshell allows better
    ventilation and more protection against rought handling.
    
    On weight, most lycra-covered or microshell-covered helmets weigh 7 to
    9 ounces (real weight, not advertised weight).  Hardshell helmets
    (e.g., the Bell V1Pro) weigh 15 to 20 ounces.  Pick one up.  The
    difference is very noticable.
    
    Ken

     As you've probably read, there are a number of components to
    consider:
    
                - ANSI/SNELL approved (a must!)
    
                - Type of riding
    
                - Cost
    
                - Weight
    
                - Ventilation requirement 
    
                - Cosmetics
    
                - Fit
    
     Not necessarily in that order and defintely connected to the type
     and amount of riding to be done...
    
       Chip

    RE: .4
    
    Does Bell make a micro-shell helmet?  what's it called?
    
    Thanks once again,
    
    Larry

    I have owned 2 Bell V1 Pros and my wife now has one also. They fit better
    than any of the others and adjustments were relatively easy on both of
    our helmets. The foam and the outer shell coming apart easily is
    a non-issue from my view. I have never had a problem with this in the
    3 years I'vew owned them.
    
    I had a fall with that helmet on 2 yrs. ago. If you want your noggin 
    protected from concussion, this helmet is as good as any. I got up and
    walked home. The helmet saved me from a moderate concussion. My wife
    is a nurse who treats head-injured patients, coincidentally. She examined 
    me and the helmet after the incident and felt that the $40 investment 
    saved me a good lengthy stay in the hospital, at the least.
    
    There are lighter and cooler helmets which might save one from discomfort 
    from the summer heat. Try a few on at Bike Trashbar or your local biking
    establishment and see how it fits you. I wouldn't concern yourself
    over a few ounces here or there, unless you do more than 2 hour rides 
    regularly. Even then, I find the added weight is barely noticeable. 
    
    Russ  

      
    
     RE: Bell Image, 
     I have several helmets but my favourite is the Bell image. Reason, the
     fit. The helmet comes with some different thickness foam pads which
     are verlcroed to the inside of the helmet. You can switch them around
     to get the perfect fit. Not everyone has the same shape head and this 
     way you are garunteed to find your combination. 
     As a pointer, check out your local hostpital. The emergency room or
     incoming patients usually have discount coupons for helmets good for
     any helmet of your choice at any bike shops. The discount coupons are
     anywheres from $10.00 to $25.00 off the actual price. 
    
     Shaw
    
    
     

    I was  at  a  talk  by  Randy  Swart  of the Bicycle Helmet Safety
    Institute  this weekend, and one of the things he talked about was
    picking a helmet.

    The first thing to look for is a Snell sticker. ANSI certification
    is  much less rigorous than Snell. Snell charges $.50 per sticker,
    which  probably  costs about $1.00 to $1.50 retail. They also spot
    check  helmets  from  stores  to make sure that the helmets really
    meet the standard.

    There is  a 1990 Snell standard. Helmets which meet it have a blue
    sticker  which  says  B90  on  the inside. This replaces the green
    sticker from the B84 (1984) standard.  The changes are not major.

    The next  thing  to look for is a good fit. This is why you should
    take  advice  about  particular  helmets  very  loosly. The helmet
    should protect your forehead, and when the straps are on it should
    not  slide  back  on  your  head more than 1 inch when you push it
    back.  The  U.S.  Army  has  4 different helmet shapes, as well as
    different  sizes,  so  you may find that what fits one person well
    won't fit another at all.

    A helmet  should not fall apart on impact incase there is a second
    impact  (common  in  auto-bike  accidents, the biker hits the car,
    possibly with his head, and then hits the ground). The two ways to
    achieve  this  are  through  a  shell  (hard or "thin") or through
    reinforcing  an  all  foam  helmet. The new ANSI standard (due out
    soon) will require reinforcing in all foam helmets.

    The consensus  seems to be that thin shell helmets offer almost as
    much  protection  as hard shells, and are somewhat superior to all
    foam  helmets.  Hard  shells  seem  to  have  disappeared from the
    market.

    Tests on  ventilation  have shown that the only thing that matters
    in  keeping  cool  is  vents  in  the front of the helmet. All the
    advertising  noise about venturis and so on is just noise. There's
    a  new  helmet  out  (I  forgot the name) with 3 huge vents in the
    front.  Looking  at it you'd be surprised that it passes the Snell
    tests, but it does, so if it fits, I'd look at it.


    Old Bell  Biker helmets seem to age remarkably little. A very used
    yellowed  Bell  Biker  was  tested  and  it provided about as much
    protection  as  it  did when it was new. The newer helmets provide
    more  protection, but the Bikers are not deteriorating much, if at
    all.

--David

Re: .9 (hospitals giving discout coupons for helmets)

    One of  the  standard  comments  you  hear  is  that  nobody every
    complains  about  the  cost  of  his  second helmet. (The one that
    replaced one broken in an accident.)

--David

    Any recommendations on helmets for kids?  Their ages range from 
6-9 years?  Any help would be appreciated.

/Phil

    By that  age  they  should  be  strong  enough to use a hard shell
    helmet,  and  I  would  recommend  one  because  it  will take the
    constant  dings  when  they drop it or otherwise mistreat it. Many
    hardshells allow you to add stickers to the helmet, and that might
    help  personalize  it  so  the  kids  are more willing to wear it.
    (Check  with  the  manufacturer  on  what  kinds  of  sticers  are
    allowed.)

--David

    
    A friend at work was just looking for a child's helmet, and
    had the same advice (she doesn't ride, by the way): Avoid
    the soft-shells, because they'll get dinged before the day is
    out.  And if you go for a micro-shell, think about one that
    exposes as little of the foam as possible.
    
    -john

	Two of my kids have the Performance soft shell helmets, 'cause
	they seemed to be a decent helmet for cheap at the time.  They
	abuse them pretty good and they've held up real well.  The only
	problem is the the Velcro-like patches that hold the cover came
	unstuck and needed to be reglued.  Dings in the foam hasn't
	been a big problem.

	chris

    I sent this out yesterday to friends.  I guess I should put it here
    too.  The actual accident below happened on Tuesday, August 13, 1991. 
    
    Yeah, you're right.  Nobody ever complains about how expensive their
    _second_ helmet was.
    
    ------------------------------------------------------
    
From:	GUESS::YERAZUNIS "A spectre of revenge, riding the flow tide home.  14-Aug-1991 2256" 14-AUG-1991 23:33:56.73
To:	@IN_HUMOR,@OUT_HUMOR,DECWRL::"[email protected]"
CC:	YERAZUNIS
Subj:	real life up close personal not funny just scary...

[I'm sending this to my "humor" lists, even though it's not funny.  Sorry.
It's real.  No embellishments.  If you've had a rotten day already, you
may as well read this... it won't make it worse.  At least _much_ worse.]

On the way back from a picnic, I was ripping down a hill on my bicycle 
at around 33 MPH.  I stopped just fine at the light beyond the bottom of
the hill.  Unfortunately, a biking companion who didn't believe in 
bike helmets didn't.  She ended up in a pile on the pavement about
twenty feet behind me.  She was going like 10 MPH and just fell off
the bike.

I heard the clatter of her bike hitting the ground (and being stopped)
turned back to look.  She was on the asphalt in a pile.  Her bike 
was on the curb.  

I said "Oh ****" and dropped my bike.  When I got to her, she was 
grunting.  She was breathing and her airway was clear but she couldn't
make any sort of coordinated sound or motion.  She was trying to crawl
but her arms wouldn't cooperate.  She was bleeding from a lot of random
cuts and her shirt was already 20% blood soaked.  

I said "Oh ****" again.  Head injury.  Scene survey: no cars coming.  
No cars in targeting range.  She did this one by herself... and I don't
need to move her immediately.  She's breathing and grunting.  Aphasic?
Primary survey- no arterial pumping, no obvious fractures that gotta
be tended immediately- but a very suspicious looking wound (deep,
bloody, and _indented_) on the right temple.  Blood everywhere.  Guy 
in a pickup with a cellphone pulls up.  He says "Ambulance?".  "Yep."  
He calls it in and blocks the roadway so we can't get hit by traffic
directly.

She won't stay still.  I *know* she's got some brain problem, and there's no
need to move her, so I try to talk to her and tell her to keep still for
a bit.  She can't understand me.  Aphasic.  She keeps trying to stand up, 
but her balance and coordination are shot.  She wobbles to the side of the
road with much assistance and sits down again.  I get through the primary
survey... lots of superficial stuff except for the head shot.  I look in
her eyes - pupils are the same size and she's starting to make coherent
noises.  I ask her her name.  She can't remember.  Thirty seconds later,
she can remember her name, but not her birthday.  An EMT shows up.  He says
"I'm an EMT".  I say "Bike accident, no helmet, head injury, disoriented.
And uncooperative. I haven't found anything else significant. She's all 
yours."  He does a quick survey too, pulls out his box, and bandages 
the head wound.

Ambulance shows up.  She goes on the gurney and into the back door.  I go 
up front and ride to the hospital.  Spend three hours making the 
necessary phone calls.  They do the triage thing and the radiology 
thing and the neurology thing and the plastic surgery thing.  Three 
hours later, she's vaguely aware of events at the picnic.  +- 1 hour 
of the crash is still not there.   She has 19 stitches in her face and 
a definite concussion (no fracture).  I recover my bike and go for pizza 
and beer.

The real waste is that if she'd been wearing a bicycle helmet she 
would have walked away from the accident with a little road rash and
a really MEAN attitude.  And that's it.  No brain damage, no plastic
surgery needed.  

A mutual friend who she goes biking with a lot says that just the day
before, she and he were discussing bicycle helmets.  She says she's
"waiting for a sale" before she buys one.

Bad move.

I have no idea if she will have residual brain damage or not.  Hopefully
not.  They did have to do some trimming to make her face fit back together
again.

*****WEAR YOUR ****ING HELMETS!!*****   I HATE DEALING WITH BRAIN-DAMAGED
PEOPLE!!!

	-Bill
    

    	VeloNews or someone had a joke:
    
    	"Whadaya call a cyclist without a helmet"
    
    	"Organ donor."
    
    	Scott

    I recently needed my helmet for [only] the second time in its
    eight years... pedal caught the curve after taking a high speed
    turn too wide and I faceplanted up on the sidewalk.  Having a
    helmet does have it's drawbacks: if you're not injured, the only
    thing left to be is embarrassed...  I just felt like slithering
    into a sewer grate and hiding there til dark.  -kb
    P.S. The sidewalk was ok.  

    
    re .16: I am curious to know how the helmet would have
    prevented your companion from needing facial plastic surgery.
    I don't see how they protect one's face at all.  My problem
    with helmets is that they don't protect enough of you!
    
    I had a bike accident 6 years ago and was wearing a helmet
    which didn't do *shit* for my mouth where a tooth was
    bashed out and I needed lots of dental surgery.  I can't
    see how it would protect a face or nose either.
    

>    re .16: I am curious to know how the helmet would have
>    prevented your companion from needing facial plastic surgery.

    He said that the only major wound was at the right temple.
    
    (I assume that this is the part that needed the surgery.)

    -Jeff Bell

I don't see how any helmet is going to protect your teeth!
Maybe you should try wearing a mouth guard if you want protection.

My wife made my son (6 year old) wear his hockey helmet, with the face
mask, till he got used to his new bike.  Now, given the choice, he usually
prefers the hockey helmet over the bike helmet.  He says it feels better!

I don't know if anyone has done any crash tests of hockey helmets with
bike riders.  I'd be curious to know if they provide an equal, or greater,
level of protection.  I know the face mask is a plus and the helmet covers
more of the skull.  I don't know if it can handle the same level of crash
impact, I would think it did but I'd like to hear any thoughts/facts.

One disadvantage of the hockey helmet is that it does get hot under there.
Another point is you can look pretty scary to some driver wearing one of
these cages on your face.

    Hockey helmets are designed to deal with repeated low energy blows
    by spreading the area that absorbs the energy.

    Bicycle helmets  are  designed  to  deal with a single high energy
    blow  by  absorbing  energy  (using  that  energy  to  destroy the
    helmet).

    Neither helmet  is  suitable  for  the other use. If you want more
    protection  than  a  bicycle helmet offers, motorcycle helmets are
    designed  for the same sorts of accidents that bicycle helmets are
    designed  for,  except  that  the motorcycle helmet assumes a much
    more  energetic  accident.  Motorcycle helmets are much hotter and
    heavier  than  bicycle helmets, but if you want more protection on
    your bicycle, they will help.

    Personally, I use a Snell approved helmet, since that is enough in
    the vast majority of bicycle accidents. It won't protect my teeth,
    but it will protect my brain.

--David

Recently I had the misfortune of needing my melmet, a Bell Quest.  I was 
decending Vail pass via the bike path and my speed before the incident was 33
mph.  I was braking for an upcoming curve when I hit a very small amount of 
sand and the rear wheel started skidding, sending me sliding sideways towards 
two large rocks (4 ft in diameter) and a small (5 ft) pine tree.  

I instinctively got off of the brakes and got the bike almost straightened up.
Too late.  I hit the tree and one of the rocks.  I came off of the bike (Look
pedals release just fine in a crash) flew through the air about 15 ft and 
landed head first on the ground.  I was out for a few seconds but sustained 
very little damage, some road rash and sore neck/upper back muscles, 
considering the severity of the crash.  

The helmet cracked from front to back just like it was designed to do.  It 
stayed all in one peice and had several dents from smaller rocks when I 
impacted.  That helmet saved me from far more severe injuries.

Wear those helmets.

Mark

	Just out of curiosity, would the helmet that they use in
	BMX racing meet the needs of .19's son?  I am unfamiliar
	with them, but they seem to have been designed for just
	that purpose.

    re [back a few...]
    
    The temple wound would have been up underneath the helmet (at least it
    would be on my venerable Bell Tourlite.)
    
    Second, it's unclear to me whether the temple wound was the cause of
    the concussion.  Sorry, but I didn't have tail-facing video at the
    time.  :-)  
    
    By the way, she's up and around now- I think she's even at work today.
    
    	-Bill

    In the couple of weeks since I first read this note, I've been keeping
    track, taking a (completely unscientific) survey of the cyclists I see
    when I'm riding or driving my car ... with and without helmets.  Some of
    these are probably the same people counted more than once, as I tend to
    take similar routes all the time and I'm sure others do too.  Even with
    such a small sampling, there are some interesting trends.
    
    	Category		with helmets		without helmets
    	--------		------------		---------------
    	adult male		    21			       23
    	adult female	            18                          5
    	children                     4                         17
    	---------		------------		---------------
    	total			    43                         45
    
    Based on the difference in ratio between adult males and adult females
    who wear helmets, I'd say there's some basis in fact to the Grateful
    Dead song "Women are Smarter" ... ;^)   Perhaps wearing a helmet is
    interpreted by some as not macho, and so some adult males tend to avoid it
    due more to social pressure than common sense ... pure speculation on
    my part of course.  Surely cost can't be that much of an issue, since a
    helmet costs a small fraction of what some of those bikes cost.
    
    It was surprising to me that so few children wear helmets ... after all
    they're out there on the same streets as the rest of us.  Even more
    surprising was that two of the four children who did have helmets were
    riding with adults (presumably their parents) who did not ... not very
    good examples if you ask me.
    
    I suspect that with the kids it's that most parents don't ride, and
    tend to think of bikes as toys that do not require much in the way of
    safety gear.  Perhaps they recall the old days when they were kids with
    bikes and NOBODY wore helmets.  It'd be nice if there were more effort
    put into educating kids to wear helmets.  Personally, I'd like to see
    them all grow up to the point where they could make informed decisions
    of their own about personal safety.
    
    I personally would not go out riding without a helmet, but I oppose any
    law that requires them.  Basically I don't think legislation is the way
    to go ... social pressure and common sense should be the determining
    factor.  I think that parents should encourage (or pressure) their kids
    into wearing helmets, 'cause kids don't have much of a sense of self
    preservation in the first place and have to have time to develop one.
    With adults it's a different attitude, as they're presumably better
    equipped to make informed decisions about such things.  If people are
    dumb enough to go out riding without one, well let evolution take it's
    toll.  Better that than having some legislator deciding what's best for
    everybody.  Like seat belts, I think it's good common sense but should
    be left up to the individual.
    
    ... Bob

	Hi everybody	

	I would like to buy the Specialized AIR FORCE II Helmet. But here
	in Switzerland, they are so expensive (about 160 Swiss Francs = 
	about 105 dollars). 
	
	Maybe my sister, living in Los Angeles and coming for vacantion to
	Switzerland, could bring me one over. So I would like to have the
	following informations:

	- what's about the price in the States for this helmet ?
	- where in Los Angeles (or Beverly Hills) is it available ?
	- does some body have experience wearing it; how is the 
	  ventilation and are the front holes large enough ?

	Thanks for all the information you can give me.

	Norbert

    		Air Force II - ventilation is great, it looks good, and it 
    is sized slightly smaller than the Air Force I.   I'm not quite sure what 
    retail is.  Maybe $60-70?

    All right, so it's 1992, but things haven't changed too much :-)
    
    I'm looking for a summer helmet, i.e. light and ventilated for
    labouring up Alpine/Pyreneen cols day after day in August. My
    current Bell Spectrum is quite light, but it gets hot and the
    velcro pads irritate my head after an hour or two. Also, I could
    do with a bit more ear-clearance for the Blades.
    
    I have a shortlist of 3 for now:
    
    Specialized Sub-6 -
        very light. how well ventilated is it ? is the grey colour
        light enough not to absorb sunlight ?
    Giro Air-Attack SC -
        advertised heavily as being well-ventilated. A tad heavier.
        lots of colours, so I presume a predominantly white one can be
        got.
    Time Equipe -
        May be more difficult to get hold of one. But, it's white and
        reputed as being very cool. What's the weight like ?
    
    If you can think of any other light, cool, and expensive helmets
    please add them to my list. Does anyone know what Chiappa's helmet was
    for (most of) the stage to Sestrieres ?
    
    ---Alan                                                

    Have you seen a Trek Micro?  Lots of ear clearance and very
    light.  I don't know about ventilation, but I don't think 
    I've seen a "styro-helmet" that I'd describe as having poor
    ventilation.
    
    r�

Alan,

I have an Air-Attack SC and the old Giro Prolight. The Air Attack's vetilation 
is second to none. When my hair is short I can really feel the air flowing 
across the top of my head. Although when my hair gets long it clogs the ports 
and it isn't as noticable. The vents are in the right place to force the air 
through the helmet. Vents on the forehead part of the helmet seem to be the most 
important. The Giro fits better than the other helmets I've tried. I also like
the thin EPS shell for looks and keeping it clean, but be careful not to bang it
against sharp objects, it is very thin. Also there was talk about the foam
only helmets "sticking" to the road surface and causing neck injuries during
a crash. This might be why you see most helmets going to the thin EPS shell.

The Time helmet can be found around the local shops here in Mass. I tried it on 
before I bought the Air Attack. It didn't fit right.

Once you narrow your choices down go for the best fitting helmet. You don't want 
to keep adjusting the helmet while you ride because it keeps moving around on 
your head. I can put my Air Attack on without the straps buckled and shake my 
head around and it stays in place. 

I kept my Prolight for winter riding. I bought a Giro "Weather Warrior" helmet
cover for it. It also serves as a loaner and backup.

Tom

    I tried both the Air Attack and the Time, finding that the Time fit
    me a lot better.  Weight is exactly the same.
    
    Those in the US, look in Velonews ads if you are looking for bargains. 
    O'neils and a few other shops are listing '91 black time equipe
    for $49.99.
    
    steve

Alan,

I certainly back up the recommendation to get a helmet that fits comfortably.
It doesn't matter how light and cool it is if you're not wearing it!

Also, Cycling Plus in the U.K. has just done an overview of the current range
of helmets. They highlighted two as very good for cooling and comfort generally
- the Bell Cyclone (~�38) and the Giro ?? (~�70). Guess which one I would go
for? Anyway, they said the Bell was extremely good for the money, while the
Giro was fantastic but ought to be for that price.

Hope that helps.

Tim

     What you like and what's comfortable... I second that! 
    
     My guess is the average human won't detect differences of a few
    degrees. I do wish they'd tell us what the specific unit of measure
    is that classifies grading categories... 
    
      Chip

    I was just about to sign up for another ride in September when I found
    what I thought was the standard "You must wear a helmet" clause.  No
    problem, I always wear a helmet and won't let my daughter ride without
    hers.  Then I re-read it.  It said "hard-shell helmet" required.  Now
    wait a minute.  If both the hard-shell and lycra covered helmet are
    ANSI/SNELL approved, why should they require a hard-shell helmet?  I
    sorta remember something about the lycra covered helmet possibly not
    sliding as well as the hard-shell helmet in some skidding-type
    accidents, thus causing neck injuries, or something like that.
    
    Is there a significant increase in protection from the hard-shell (I
    really mean a micro-shell) helmet over the foam/lycra-cover helmet? 
    Did the ride organizers have too many lawyers involved in this event?
    Should I go out and replace both my and my daughters helmets?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Bob

    If I read something saying `hard shell' I would assume that it meant
    as opposed to a bunch of bananas.  I would have a real hard time having
    respect for anybody who thought they knew more than SNELL...

    The paperwork says "hard shell helmet" because those weenies haven't
    kept up with the times.  They would know a hardshell from a Giro if
    you gave them to 'em.  Don't worry.
    
    ed

I think they where trying to avoid people showing up with the old leather
hair nets.

ANSI or Snell is what the form should have.

T

	FWIW, I bought a helmet on Friday, and there were two models that
the salesman thought were identical, except for the covering.  The were the
same shape, same straps, same make (Giro).  The only difference I could see
was that one had a `hard' (though thin) plastic coating, and the other had
a cloth/net cover.  The hard helmet was rated Snell B90, the cloth was rated
Snell B84.

Mark

    I think that the hard shell helmet clause was to eliminate
    the leather as well as the "Skid Lid" helmets.

    
    I've been very happy with the Time Equipe.  White, light (very
    lightweight) and cool.
    
    As Tom Deloreia and others have said, try it on first - there's
    a variety of head shapes and helmet shapes.  My friend Pat's 
    Specialized helmet fits her very well, but is too narrow for me.
    
    -john
    
    PS: A reminder that the Time has arrows in the direction of wind
    movement ... an added value at no extra cost!  :-) :-)

I just bought my second helmet and find the new one very nice, very light,
and very comfortable. It's a white (good in summertime over here) hard cover
whith lots of holes for air flow.

It's a Met "Scato" made in Italia. It's one of the cheapest here (probably 
because Italie is very close). It's $60 while the Giro Hammerhead is twice
this much

Didier

    
    
    	I bought a Specialized Sub-6 a couple of months ago. Very light and
    so ventilated that I often have to put a cover on it. There's a label
    inside with your emergency details which I think is a nice touch. If
    you find that velcro pads irritate, you should be aware that there are
    velcro pads around the base of the helmet.
    
    	One gripe that I have, not only with the sub-6 but with all that I
    tried is the positioning of the catch. Why do they put it under the
    chin. Can't it fit on the strap in front of the ear?
    
    Graham.
    

Has anyone notice the new Giro helmet on Greg Lemond during the Tour? 
Leotien Van Moorsel had one on during the womens Olympic RR. 

The shape is close to Specialized Sub Six helmet but it has a micro shell 
cover.

Tom

    Hello,
    
    my name is Hartmut, a (mostly) read-only noter. I love bicycling as
    recreational activity and a way to do a lot of short distance travel
    and transport. At home (KBO, Kaufbeuren, Germany), I usually commute 
    to work by bike and going to town, I'm a lot faster with the bike than
    with the car as well. I am also interested in technolgy (triggered by
    the tandem we have, but not ride much since our two kids arrived).
    
    Currently I am in Shrewsbury MA for 2 to 3 more months. Of course, I
    brought my bike to commute to work here, too and leave the car with the
    family. Since the typical US car driver doesn't seem to know how to
    handle traffic with bikes, I'd love to get a helmet.
    
    From all the notes I understand, number 1 priority is fit. Are there
    any recommendations for shops in the central Mass area where I find
    knowledgeable folks to help and a good selection of helmets reasonably
    priced?
    
    Thanks and best regards,
    
    Hartmut

Hartmut,

In the Shrewsbury area I'd recommend any of Landrys (Rt 9, Westboro), O'Neils
(Main Street, Worcester) or Bicycle Alley (Main Street, Worcester).

Rich (who also commutes to SHR).

    
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