I'm tired of looking nerdy with my vented oversize helmet. I've decided to buy one of the new trendy yet retro helmets that are round without a zillion vents, more reminiscent of skater boy helmets. I can't stand looking like an alien insect with the futuristic honeycomb designs slanted up toward the back as if someone stepped on the front of the helmet and the back lifted up. Those souped up helmets just doesn't match with the dresses I sometimes wear while puttering around the city.
Also, my helmet dates to 2002, far past its expiry date of five years. I wear it almost every day, and I don't remember buying it. Have I come up with enough reasons to buy a helmet yet?
So I've settled on the Giro Reverb, not yet available in stores. As for the colour... If I was truthful, the real reason for the new helmet is because of vanity. I'm tired of the old helmet, and it just looks bad to me. And yet, when it comes time to choose a colour, I need to know what is most visible. For motorcyclists, a white helmet results in 24% lower risk of motorcycle related injuries than donning a black helmet.
A law firm website suggests yellow, orange, and green and preferably fluorescent. These are superior to black, grey, and white, which tend to blend into the background. The "Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute" suggests that neon colours are the best but have gone out of fashion, and that white is the next best colour. They also recommend festooning your helmet in reflective stickers, or better yet, mount lights on it.
Interestingly enough, according to Bicycling Info, a black shell helmet does not overheat your head any more than other colours!
Now, if only I could do something about drivers who don't see me when I'm lit up like a Christmas tree.
(Update, January 12, 2012: My special order helmet finally arrived at West Point Cycles. With the Entertainment coupon for 25% applied, the base cost is $60, which is quite reasonable and competitive with US prices.)
