Cycling UK Forum

stoobs, sorry I might be doing something wrong but the pdf in the link only has 4 pages so I can't find the reference.

Is this the source you meant to quote? I can't find any reference to cracking in it.

Interested to know what you mean by viable in this context. My understanding is that the amount of energy required to crack polystyrene foam is much less than that needed to crush it.

Helmets aren't meant to break up. They absorb energy by being progressively crushed. A helmet that's broken up has failed.

I'd endorse both RoseVersand and Bike24.

Fatboy is right. I used to have an old Raleigh with bosses closer together than the current standard. Old fashioned cantis fitted because they had pads on post and they was more angular adjustment possible. Studded post adjustment is very much limited by the cupped washers.

Cycling helmets have been in widespread use for about 40 years now. Study of their use in real life is is possible because you can compare large populations of cyclists e.g. countries where helmet use is high with those where helmet use is low or where helmet use has changed significantly in the same population after compulsion. None of these studies has shown any real benefit attributable to helmet use. For example NZ and Australia after compulsion or comparing Holland with with any high usage population. A rational conclusion from this is that they don't make any difference in the real world.

If you take a look at the engineering and ergonomic aspects then you have to question how much protection 300 gms of polystyrene can offer. The manufacturers and standards bodies certainly have very low expectations. They commonly exclude falls in excess of 10-12 mph or any collision with another vehicles. There is a common fallacy that a helmet will provide some protection even if the impact is beyond these design criteria but this isn't supported by a knowledge of how they work.

It's also sensible to question why helmets are required for cycling but not for other activities that are as common and carry the same risk of injury e.g. walking.

No doubt someone will accuse me of being anti helmet. I'm not. Mostly I wear a helmet and I make sure it conforms to a good standard, fits properly, is worn properly and isn't older than 3 years or so.

I am very sceptical about the benefits they provide. I'm also aware that actively promoting them portrays cycling as a dangerous activity, which it isn't. Compulsion has been shown to reduce the numbers of cyclist wherever it's been introduced. There are credible studies that show that the safety of cyclists is directly related to the number of people cycling so both of these are particularly unhelpful. The British Government has stated that it intends to bring in compulsion when voluntary helmet wearing has reached a high enough level.

To me the big divide isn't between 'pro' helmet and 'anti' helmet people but between those who can discuss them rationally and those that can't.

Sat here in Zurich - in a very rich capitalist society with extensive and cheap public transport, lots of cyclists and lots of consideration for them both the letter and many of the comments seem very blinkered and stupid. If Britain wanted to choose a car driven society it should have chosen a bigger island to live on - there just isn't room! Next please.

Bontrager make slick tyres (think they're called RaceLites) in sections that certainly go up to 32. I quite like them. A Trek dealer should stock them.

I can't see that going to 32 spoke wheels would give you any benefits, even less any that were worth having. All other things being equal a 36 spoker will be stronger so why change?

Yes, it's a Cinelli 1R (Record) stem. Incidentally the old Cinelli diameter was 26.4mm which makes it too big for modern 25.8 bars/stems.

GrumpyGit wrote:I
How do you regulate the heat loss while remaining safe?

Wear a warm hat.

Guys, thanks for the advice. Think I'll try the Oryx cantis with a headset hanger/adjuster at the front and a bell crank at the rear with an inline adjuster. If it doesn't work as well as I hope I can upgrade the pads first and then the brakes if necessary.

Just bouncing this post. Would really appreciate any thoughts aor experience anyone has - want to avoid a long trial and error session.

Cunobelin is right - the Snell standard is best. The other thing to bear in mind is fit. Different manufacturers suit different shape heads e.g. I have a narrow head and Specialized and Rudy project helmets fit well, Bell don't at all. If you want the helmet for protection then it must fit well so try various brands to find those that fit best - you may find your choice will be a lot more restricted.

I agree with your selection of bike for commuting - I've got a Thorn Commutour with a Sachs 7 speed and no coaster brake. It's excellent and very fit for purpose. I think you would struggle to find an off the peg bike with this hub. You may find a choice if you went for a Nexus hub though. I used one for several years and it was OK. Bike was written off so I don't know about the long term reliability of it though.