Cool looking cycling helmet?

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david

I need a helmet $100 or less that doesn't look like a giant mushroom on my head. Right now I have a super cheap giro and it looks big and goofy. I know helmets are made for safety, but are there any that look good while protecting my head? Something low profile

Answer
Go into a local bike shop (avoid wal-mart and other stores that don't specialize in bikes) and take a look at a few. Helmets have come a long way since those old Bell helmets from the 90's. if this doesn't work out Trek and Specialized make some very nice looking ones for both road and mt.biking, and yes they r under $100

For $1000 road bike, what are top three "must" have for better price?

jian l

low end Carbon vs. high end Al
brend, years...

so many choices. Pla advice

Answer
assuming you will be properly fit and that accessories suchas shorts and pedals are not part of the budget my opinio is as follows.
1. shimano 105 or better components. i love my 105 and ultergra stuff, flat out will NOT pay for dura ace.
2. carbon where it counts... seat stays and forks. aluminium is fine and with carbon forks and stays the ride will be smoothed. add a carbon seat post if necesary. i ride a full alluminum (forks and all) and havent really had any issues with harsh ride.
3. decent wheels. i swear by my mavic open pros on cannondale factory hubs. they are not flashy they dont have huge carbon spokes or some wierd lacing pattern with only 7 spokes. they are low profile aluminum and sturdy, no ridiculously deep v cross sections. plain simple reliable with replaceable and upgradeable sealed berrings.

a reliable local bike shop will be able to steer you in the right direction and help you compare and contrast different models and parts. at the $1000 price point there are tons of bikes out there and many shops are going to be trying to get rid of last years stock... great pricing on near identical bikes. make sure the bike is properly fit to your body, this means that you sit on the bike while on a trainer and they take measurements and make adjustments.some timeses they will replace parts such as stems and bars to acheive a better fit. also it never hurts to ask if you can get discount on some acsessories if purchased at the same time as the bike, ive score pedals or helmets for free before.

one last thing, find out about your shops service plan and definately submit the waranty card from your bike.
good luck and have fun.

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What kind of helmet should I get?

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Chris

I'm looking for a good helmet to use for a pretty long commute to school (1 hr, 30 minutes each way) and just regular biking (bicycle not motorcycle). I use my dad's old Giro helmet that is uncomfortable and kind of ugly. I don't think I'm gonna be racing or anything. I want something that is low profile if possible and not lame looking, but also functional. Any ideas?

Answer
Helmets are like shoes. What fits and is comfortable for one person is not necessarily good for another. Every time I buy a new helmet I go to a well-stocked bike shop and try them all. Buy the one that is the most comfortable regardless of the name as long as it has a sticker inside that says the helmet meets the requirements of the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). If you are wearing the helmet 3 hours a day it would be worthwhile to invest in one of the top of the line models. More expensive helmets don't give you any more protection but they are lighter and have better ventilation, at least that's what the literature claims. When I get a new helmet I also buy a couple of spare sets of pads right then. If you wait until you need to replace the pads in your helmet you'll find out that they don't make that model any more and you can't buy replacement pads.

In my experience I've found that Bell helmets fit best on riders with heads that are more round than oblong. Giro helmets fit best on riders with heads that are more oblong than round. Both Bell and Giro are owned by the same parent company.

HTH

Anyone have experience with bike trailers?

McG

I am looking for a light, folding, 2 child trailer with quick release wheels. I've looked on line, but have zero experience with them. Can one upgrade the tires to narrow high pressure tires? Do they affect the handling of the bike? If you have used one, do the kids really like riding along? All that kind of stuff.

Answer
I've been using a Kool Stop Lil Trooper bike trailer for almost 4 years now. I agree with the other two answers about having the trailer but I would also have to say that narrow high pressure tires probably aren't a good alternative to what the trailers offer already.

While mine is a decent $200 trailer, the first answer has a Burley D'Lite- which is literally the "Cadillac of Trailers." They have every thoughtful touch including padded seating, recesses for the helmet and tinted windows. Mine doesn't even have quick release. The way I see it is if the D'Lite doesn't offer the feature, it probably offers no advantage. In fact, it may even be unsafe to have narrow tires. The D' Lite is the leader in trailer technology and it is also one of the most expensive because of that.

About the kids being bored: My son no longer rides in the trailer but his 15 month old baby brother does. After the intial ride, neither of my kids gave me any qualms about riding in there. Give them some treats, a drink, and something to keep them busy (toys,coloring books, etc.) and they are good to go. They usually look out the windows or go to sleep- which is what they do best in the trailer.

As long as they see Daddy in front, they don't worry. I'll ride a 40 mile ride with one of them in the back and I just let them get out and play for about half an hour at my halfway rest stop before heading back. No worries. Your experiences may be different but when they normally see me riding my bike without them, they are just glad to come along at times. Heck, it gives my wife a break too unless she comes along.

Also, it's recommended that you not exceed 20 mph with the trailer. I found out why when the trailer began to feel unstable when I hit 25 mph a few times. No worries. With the extra weight, you'll want to save your legs on any ride over 15 miles anyway.

Trailers will affect the handling of your bike and make sure that you have either a full steel or aluminum frame bike with at least 32 spoked wheels to pull them with. I had to buy an all aluminum bike while biuying my trailer because the LBS said that a carbon frame or carbon rear frame will crack from the stresses of a trailer. My original bike was a carbon Trek. Titanium is also a no-no.

There are many choices out there when buying a bike trailer. Burley is at the top of the list. Even their barebones Burley Bee trailer is good.

Cannondale trailers are really impressive and they are up there with Burley in terms of technology. Many riders like their unique, more aerodynamic profiles.

Kool Stop is good and they are a family owned company that strongly backs their products. Just make sure to go for a higher end trailer than the Lil Trooper.

A really good trailer that has had a strong cult following but are now being recognized by the masses are Chariot trailers. They are a Canadian company that makes exceptional trailers. Chariot used to make most of Burley's trailers until many buyer's found out that Chariots were the same trailers they were looking at purchasing from Burley and can be had for less. Now Burley makes their own.

Basic requirements that will make your trips easier are quick release skewers ( as you mentioned) AND aluminum rims.You may even want to make sure that your trailer had a rear window in the trunk area so that air can flow threw it on hot days. If you decide you want the D'Lite but it seems cost-prohibitive, consider a used one. Most used trailers have very low miles and are in great condition because they are used so little. That's good for you because you can buy used for a lot less than a new one. Sorry this is so long winded but I'm trying to get as much info to you, so that you will be better prepared when you go shopping for one. Good luck with your purchase.

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