Helmets for Dorks

Style has always been a major factor for people who ride bikes. So, who came up with the mountain bike helmet? Some dude in spandex shorts, I am certain.

Exhibit One:

Why? Why design something that makes it look like a UFO landed on my head or even worse like something I would wear to keep Aliens from getting into my head. Its sad really. It doesn't cost more to design things so that they are

stylish. These helmets are just dorky and ugly.

fifteen years ago I bought an ugly mount

ain bike he

lmet. I put a Troy Lee Design Visor on it and it looked less ugly. After smashing it in a bad fall 5 years ago, I was forced to buy a new one. The best one I could find was plain ugly. I am seriously sick of it.

So, I have been wearing my old pro-tec BMX helmet for a while now. But, it too is pretty trashed and is pushing ten y

ears of being dropped left out in extreme heat and sweated in profusely.

Exhibit Two:

So, I have been searching for a new helmet. I want one that I can wear at the Skatepark when I BMX and when I commute and when I ride my Mountain Bike. I want to be able to wear it in the Winter, Summer, Fall, etc. I do not want a space helmet or a dorky helmet or some million dollar helmet that can take 30 second of my time (huh?). I love simplicity. I love good design. I lov

e things that are well made and I hate to buy new things. I r

esent having my vans wear out or having to by new riding gloves. I wear t shirts till they fall apart. i always turn old je

ans in to cut off shorts. So, in the world of 2011, could it be even remotely possible that there might actually be a company that makes a helmet that I can wear without feeling like a fool.

Exhibit Three & Four:

So the above is an interesting choice. It works as a helmet I could wear at the skatepark and on the trail. Cover the sucker with the helmet cover that doubles as a hat and it is not commuter-urban friendly. And this sucker is built to last with word class strapping. However, it is a bit frumpy for serious mountain biking and the unit cost a whopping 175 dollars. The Yakkay is very cool. But, it is still not as versatile as I want and it is way too expensive.

So, here is the final verdict:

The Bern Watts helmet. Made by a co. that started out in Skate-Snowboarding and is making great bike helmets. This is versatile. It can be used to ride park, commute, mountain, and it also has the ability to have winter linings inserted so it will be good in every season. Finally, it costs 55 dollars and is available here in Pittsburgh at the local bike shop so I do not have to order it from Denmark or some hipster bike shop in NYC.

Hopefully, I will not have to do this agin for another ten or fifteen year. And, by that time. my hope is that all dorky space man helmets will be an embarrassing part of bike history.