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What kind of helmet impairs vision and hearing? I haven't heard this before so I'm curious.

by eCa 13y ago

alistairSH 13y ago
Downhill racing helment? Motorcycle helmet? Neither of which you'd normally wear on a road bike.
- reubenmorais 13y ago
  Or in a commute/recreational ride, which is the type of bike riding we need to increase.
jchrisa 13y ago
Would you be able to take in all the sites and sounds around you on a nature hike, say you are going birdwatching or something, just as well with a foam hat on? If you can see your helmet at all then that's part of your peripheral vision you are sacrificing. And if you can't see your helmet it's probably not gonna do much in a car crash anyway... I prefer not to get hit and one way to do it is ride in a part of the world that respects people on bikes. When I lived in Mountain View I wore a helmet... but I also didn't bike much.
- reubenmorais 13y ago
  >And if you can't see your helmet Properly worn bike helmets are invisible to the person wearing it (except for the head visor extension if you use one, and that's above you so doesn't really get in the way). >it's probably not gonna do much in a car crash anyway Bike helmets aren't designed to protect you from a crash with a car, so yes, it's probably not going to do much, even if it was in your peripheral vision.
jessaustin 13y ago
Every helmet I've ever tried impairs hearing at speeds easily reachable on a bicycle. When I hear the rushing of air in and around a helmet, my aural sensitivity and awareness of overtaking motor vehicles is decreased. This isn't so much of an issue on high speed roads, as many vehicles on such roads can approach without making much noise. However, it's huge on city streets on which most vehicles don't exceed about 40mph. My hearing isn't even that good, but when I've been riding in traffic for several weeks, without turning my head I can easily tell UPS trucks (very dangerous) from SUVs (not paying attention but fairly predictable) from straight trucks/semis (pretty safe since they are on alert in urban environments; just don't pass them unless you know you can get clear before they turn).

What kind of helmet impairs vision and hearing? I haven't heard this before so I'm curious.

by eCa 13y ago

What kind of helmet impairs vision and hearing? I haven't heard this before so I'm curious.

alistairSH 13y ago

Downhill racing helment? Motorcycle helmet? Neither of which you'd normally wear on a road bike.

reubenmorais 13y ago
Or in a commute/recreational ride, which is the type of bike riding we need to increase.

jchrisa 13y ago

Would you be able to take in all the sites and sounds around you on a nature hike, say you are going birdwatching or something, just as well with a foam hat on? If you can see your helmet at all then that's part of your peripheral vision you are sacrificing. And if you can't see your helmet it's probably not gonna do much in a car crash anyway... I prefer not to get hit and one way to do it is ride in a part of the world that respects people on bikes. When I lived in Mountain View I wore a helmet... but I also didn't bike much.

reubenmorais 13y ago
>And if you can't see your helmet Properly worn bike helmets are invisible to the person wearing it (except for the head visor extension if you use one, and that's above you so doesn't really get in the way). >it's probably not gonna do much in a car crash anyway Bike helmets aren't designed to protect you from a crash with a car, so yes, it's probably not going to do much, even if it was in your peripheral vision.

jessaustin 13y ago

Every helmet I've ever tried impairs hearing at speeds easily reachable on a bicycle. When I hear the rushing of air in and around a helmet, my aural sensitivity and awareness of overtaking motor vehicles is decreased. This isn't so much of an issue on high speed roads, as many vehicles on such roads can approach without making much noise. However, it's huge on city streets on which most vehicles don't exceed about 40mph. My hearing isn't even that good, but when I've been riding in traffic for several weeks, without turning my head I can easily tell UPS trucks (very dangerous) from SUVs (not paying attention but fairly predictable) from straight trucks/semis (pretty safe since they are on alert in urban environments; just don't pass them unless you know you can get clear before they turn).