Comments on: Commuting 101: Get a Helmet http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:00:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tedd http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-411810 Tedd Sat, 03 Sep 2011 04:54:22 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/#comment-411810 Did they stop making ironman helmets? Did they stop making ironman helmets?

]]> By: Ken http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-271168 Ken Sat, 04 Jun 2011 21:09:55 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/#comment-271168 I wear my Ironman ILS every day on the bike trail. It's a super concept. Now that my helmet is fading and I want to replace it, where do I go to find a sales source? Ken I wear my Ironman ILS every day on the bike trail.

It’s a super concept.

Now that my helmet is fading and I want to replace it, where do I go to find a sales source?

Ken

]]> By: Mark http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-58622 Mark Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:59:39 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/#comment-58622 "We tested the lights and the front LED can be seen by oncoming traffic for over a mile and the rear for up to 700 yards" I have no doubt that in the dark, that degree of visibility it possible. But as I near the office at 6:00 AM, I'm riding in the dark on roads lined with businesses. Lots of competing light sources like illuminated signs, parking lot lights, traffic lights, cars waiting to turn out, on-coming headlights, and even old-fashioned neon. (But no street lights!) In that visual clutter, the ILS's small LEDs can easily get lost, that same as many low-power LED bicycle tail lights. Even the tail light on a motor scooter can be hard to notice. I'm running a Lupine Wilma 4 up front, and a DiNotte tail light on the rear. Those are definitely visible in a busy environment. I really like the ILS as a second light source in each direction, sitting up high at SUV window level. All without the weight of most helmet-mount lights. “We tested the lights and the front LED can be seen by oncoming traffic for over a mile and the rear for up to 700 yards”

I have no doubt that in the dark, that degree of visibility it possible. But as I near the office at 6:00 AM, I’m riding in the dark on roads lined with businesses. Lots of competing light sources like illuminated signs, parking lot lights, traffic lights, cars waiting to turn out, on-coming headlights, and even old-fashioned neon. (But no street lights!) In that visual clutter, the ILS’s small LEDs can easily get lost, that same as many low-power LED bicycle tail lights. Even the tail light on a motor scooter can be hard to notice. I’m running a Lupine Wilma 4 up front, and a DiNotte tail light on the rear. Those are definitely visible in a busy environment. I really like the ILS as a second light source in each direction, sitting up high at SUV window level. All without the weight of most helmet-mount lights.

]]> By: K-9 http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-58617 K-9 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:29:51 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/#comment-58617 I am the inventor of the ILS system. Mark, I designed it to be rechargeable and like Fritz said, Lion batteries last several years even with regular use. We tested the lights and the front LED can be seen by oncoming traffic for over a mile and the rear for up to 700 yards. Both are designed to be seen at up to 70 degree angles so a driver can see you without you looking directly at them. The system isn't designed to be used as a healight but rather so others can see you. Bike safe. K. Harris I am the inventor of the ILS system. Mark, I designed it to be rechargeable and like Fritz said, Lion batteries last several years even with regular use.

We tested the lights and the front LED can be seen by oncoming traffic for over a mile and the rear for up to 700 yards. Both are designed to be seen at up to 70 degree angles so a driver can see you without you looking directly at them.

The system isn’t designed to be used as a healight but rather so others can see you.

Bike safe.

K. Harris

]]> By: Fritz http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-57967 Fritz Sat, 03 Nov 2007 00:00:09 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/#comment-57967 Thanks for that info, Mark, I wasn't aware of the Ironman. Li batteries last two or three years, by which time I'm usually close to replacing my helmet anyway, so i don't think I'd consider this a serious flaw. Thanks for that info, Mark, I wasn’t aware of the Ironman. Li batteries last two or three years, by which time I’m usually close to replacing my helmet anyway, so i don’t think I’d consider this a serious flaw.

]]> By: Mark http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-57923 Mark Fri, 02 Nov 2007 16:29:08 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/#comment-57923 Ironman Cycling Helmets sells their ILS helmet with two built-in LEDs and rechargeable battery. The single rear red LED is bright, but definitely not sufficient to act as the only 'be-seen' rear light in traffic. It's probably enough for the bike trail. The single front white LED is bright, but again is not sufficient to be the only 'be-seen' front light for commuting. It certainly isn't bright enough to light the way when riding, but is bright enough to light the way when walking, for making repairs, and it's great for lighting up the computer at night. I view it as a supplement, just one more thing to grab drivers' attention. Unfortunately, the batteries are molded into the shell and cannot be replaced, so once they wear out, that's it. For info: see www.ironmanhelmets.us Ironman Cycling Helmets sells their ILS helmet with two built-in LEDs and rechargeable battery. The single rear red LED is bright, but definitely not sufficient to act as the only ‘be-seen’ rear light in traffic. It’s probably enough for the bike trail. The single front white LED is bright, but again is not sufficient to be the only ‘be-seen’ front light for commuting. It certainly isn’t bright enough to light the way when riding, but is bright enough to light the way when walking, for making repairs, and it’s great for lighting up the computer at night. I view it as a supplement, just one more thing to grab drivers’ attention. Unfortunately, the batteries are molded into the shell and cannot be replaced, so once they wear out, that’s it.
For info: see http://www.ironmanhelmets.us

]]> By: Ken http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-31266 Ken Wed, 16 May 2007 19:19:30 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/#comment-31266 I found tons of useful info on www.helmets.org, including their reasoning that non-aero, rounded helmets are better for not having pointy sections that can snag when sliding on (god forbid) pavement. There's also a rundown of each year's models for pretty much every brand available in the U.S., as well as some discussion of the various standards (Snell, CPSC)... I found tons of useful info on http://www.helmets.org, including their reasoning that non-aero, rounded helmets are better for not having pointy sections that can snag when sliding on (god forbid) pavement. There’s also a rundown of each year’s models for pretty much every brand available in the U.S., as well as some discussion of the various standards (Snell, CPSC)…

]]> By: Greg in Loveland, CO http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-31259 Greg in Loveland, CO Wed, 16 May 2007 18:46:32 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/#comment-31259 I love the way the Bell Metro (& its low-cost sibling, Citi) looks, but Bells just don't fit my Alien-shaped skull. Specialized has always given me the best fit, so that's what I keep going back to time & again. I've always gone for less expensive models in the past (less than $40), but this time my family wanted to get me a new helmet for my birthday & I ended up choosing the $100 Instinct. Besides the fantastic fit, great ventilation, extended rear coverage & included visor, it's got micro-shell on the lower half to keep the edges from getting chewed up over time. What is CR's (standardized?) test method for impact absorption? The Instinct is tested to Snell, which I think is more stringent than ANSI. I love the way the Bell Metro (& its low-cost sibling, Citi) looks, but Bells just don’t fit my Alien-shaped skull. Specialized has always given me the best fit, so that’s what I keep going back to time & again. I’ve always gone for less expensive models in the past (less than $40), but this time my family wanted to get me a new helmet for my birthday & I ended up choosing the $100 Instinct. Besides the fantastic fit, great ventilation, extended rear coverage & included visor, it’s got micro-shell on the lower half to keep the edges from getting chewed up over time.

What is CR’s (standardized?) test method for impact absorption? The Instinct is tested to Snell, which I think is more stringent than ANSI.

]]> By: Robin http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-30402 Robin Sat, 12 May 2007 11:27:49 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/#comment-30402 I'm so used to wearing mine that I wouldn't know how to fix my hair when I get to work unless it was a tad bit sweaty and mashed completely to my head. I’m so used to wearing mine that I wouldn’t know how to fix my hair when I get to work unless it was a tad bit sweaty and mashed completely to my head.

]]> By: Mike in Florida http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-29877 Mike in Florida Tue, 08 May 2007 21:46:07 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/08/commuting-101-get-a-helmet/#comment-29877 I am on my second Bell Metro. The first took a hit from a truck mirror and sacrificed itself to save my skull. The second one is a 2007 model---blaze orange. I love the Metro. If I had been wearing my Giro Eclipse I would have been hit in the head by the mirror, as the Metro has more rear coverage. Still, I'm considering one of the new Giro "life and style" helmets that looks like a skate helmet. More rear coverage is good. I am on my second Bell Metro. The first took a hit from a truck mirror and sacrificed itself to save my skull. The second one is a 2007 model—blaze orange. I love the Metro. If I had been wearing my Giro Eclipse I would have been hit in the head by the mirror, as the Metro has more rear coverage. Still, I’m considering one of the new Giro “life and style” helmets that looks like a skate helmet. More rear coverage is good.

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