tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post1561563898502885356..comments2024-03-28T11:56:48.304-04:00Comments on The Retrogrouch: Hardshell Helmets: A History Through AdvertisingBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-20982068478825692282018-07-01T16:37:25.315-04:002018-07-01T16:37:25.315-04:00Thanks for an interesting walk back through time. ...Thanks for an interesting walk back through time. I am old enough to remember those early helmets. All the "serious" riders laughed at anyone that wore one. I routinely see a guy on my rides who is wearing the early Bell helmet. And, I agree, that thing can't possibly be much protection in a crash.Helmet Storehttps://helmetstore.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-27075642367074530432016-09-01T01:22:14.131-04:002016-09-01T01:22:14.131-04:00I owned a Bailen for 24 hours in 1981. On the ride...I owned a Bailen for 24 hours in 1981. On the ride home it about cooked my brains; shoulda known all that "designed for flow, no need for holes" talk was so much bunk. <br /><br />Next day I exchanged it for an MSR, which I'm still wearing. (After a twenty-year hiatus, while looking for something new that I like.) <br /><br />Wish there were still MSRs on the market; I put thousands of miles on mine, and still love it. Smooth, professional lines; looks like something made for grown-ups. Also not a great fan of that Woody Woodpecker look most road helmets have now. Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08522501894058291952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-4832619517519404422016-05-13T12:03:31.739-04:002016-05-13T12:03:31.739-04:00You're the first I've encountered who even...You're the first I've encountered who even remembers having seen one of these in person, much less owned one. My first helmet was the V1. I even have one now, but the foam "fit pads" have disintegrated completely. But if I can find some replacements, I might use it for a "vintage bike ride" someday - or if I ever do Eroica.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-63432508025599849732016-05-13T11:59:59.591-04:002016-05-13T11:59:59.591-04:00Okay, so it took me a year to see this article and...Okay, so it took me a year to see this article and respond....<br />My first helmet, probably around '82, was a Bell Prime (Pronounced preem) from the local bike shop. It was nothing like the later V-1 Pro, despite outward appearances. The inner polystyrene was the density of a beer cooler (not the higher density found in the V-1) and the ventilation system was air channels created by the fitting foam. It had a VERY heavy plastic shell and was heavier than a Biker. I also think I remember the V-1 Pro having buckles on the straps, whereas the Prime had D rings.<br /><br />There's a very good reason you didn't see them. The Biker was a better helmet, even though you looked like a total Fred wearing it. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07849007956190360786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-23180504145793105882015-11-09T13:36:37.360-05:002015-11-09T13:36:37.360-05:00Ohhh! I misunderstood. Yes - that would be good.Ohhh! I misunderstood. Yes - that would be good.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-6062730127484331142015-11-09T12:40:05.422-05:002015-11-09T12:40:05.422-05:00The picture I wanted to see was David M. on his Wi...The picture I wanted to see was David M. on his Wicked Fat Chance wearing the V1.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17943376901602049328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-62974606539696588932015-11-09T12:30:45.076-05:002015-11-09T12:30:45.076-05:00Did the pictures not show up for you? No idea why ...Did the pictures not show up for you? No idea why - there are lots of photos and scans from the old ads.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-35976992370699000962015-11-09T11:50:13.623-05:002015-11-09T11:50:13.623-05:00good post, pictures would be nice though. I wish ...good post, pictures would be nice though. I wish I had kept some of my bike gear from the 70's & 80's. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17943376901602049328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-56157340389299139252015-11-08T18:23:10.905-05:002015-11-08T18:23:10.905-05:00My girlfriend at the time bought me the V1-Pro as ...My girlfriend at the time bought me the V1-Pro as a gift right after I bought my pink '85 Mt. Fuji Ltd. Having always ridden bare-headed during the 24 years since I received my first bike, a Schwinn American, I hated wearing a helmet and so never did. The V1-Pro was kept in its original plastic bag within its original box and was moved from closet to closet for well over 20 years.<br /><br />When I returned to cycling a couple of years ago, my wife put her foot down and wouldn't let me go out on the road without a helmet. I tried a couple of different ones and finally landed on a Bell that offered great protection at a reasonable price and didn't look too silly when I was out on my Cannondale T2000. But after digging through our closets and rediscovered the V1-Pro, I decided that I had finally found a helmet that I could wear while riding the Wicked Fat Chance I had purchased new in Santa Rosa back in '89 without looking totally Fred. I'm sure that its foam is not as structurally sound as it was when it was new, but then again, I don't ride quite as hard as I did 30 years ago, and the V1-Pro's massive structure is certainly better than nothing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13567765028894215280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-73336240372572118402015-11-05T07:30:50.120-05:002015-11-05T07:30:50.120-05:00My only concern with using a Bell Biker today is t...My only concern with using a Bell Biker today is that the foam may have lost some of its effectiveness over time. Any helmet of that model on the road today has got to be at least 30 years old. The manufacturers talk a lot about the breakdown of the foam over the years -- and while that could just be something they say to get people to buy new helmets, I have a feeling there may actually be something to it. <br /><br />I agree that the design and construction is probably as good as - or better than today's helmets -- that thick shell almost certainly did some good. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-927466027935192442015-11-05T05:52:32.681-05:002015-11-05T05:52:32.681-05:00I don't think there is any evidence the Biker ...I don't think there is any evidence the Biker isn't as good as it always was. As the saying goes, you can tell an MIT prof by the Bell Biker helmet he rides away from campus wearing. Engineer types probably know more about this stuff than we do, and they wear them when they can get them. Modern helmets are more wish than real. All the Bell has to do is outperform them. No contest.ThomDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03515140788422711011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-33904293267174665882015-09-14T16:51:08.393-04:002015-09-14T16:51:08.393-04:00Thanks for an interesting walk back through time. ...Thanks for an interesting walk back through time. I am old enough to remember those early helmets. All the "serious" riders laughed at anyone that wore one. I routinely see a guy on my rides who is wearing the early Bell helmet. And, I agree, that thing can't possibly be much protection in a crash. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17943376901602049328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-32423824311567875672015-03-06T14:39:08.141-05:002015-03-06T14:39:08.141-05:00I was lucky enough to be wearing my first real hel...I was lucky enough to be wearing my first real helmet - the V1 Pro - when I had my most serious accident. Did a full out over-the-bars header, head first into the pavement. If I'd been wearing a Skid Lid, with its open top, the result would probably have been much more serious. As I recall, the helmet actually looked pretty good, but I replaced it as recommended - with another V1 Pro.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-25071232286303896302015-03-06T13:59:22.240-05:002015-03-06T13:59:22.240-05:00I think I got my first Bell helmet in 1976--after ...I think I got my first Bell helmet in 1976--after I got hit by a car.<br />Did not need it before then.Dave Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07355264650239868491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-59278462132125287342015-03-05T07:12:14.524-05:002015-03-05T07:12:14.524-05:00It's interesting to see how much "slicker...It's interesting to see how much "slicker" ads got over time. A lot of those earlier ones were obviously made with minimal advertising budgets -- they look like ads you might see in a little club newsletter that gets printed on a photocopier for maybe 50 people.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-31696300588686354302015-03-05T03:26:30.836-05:002015-03-05T03:26:30.836-05:00Love the vintage ads, especially the 1983 one that...Love the vintage ads, especially the 1983 one that looks like an advertisement for Atari Battlezone.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16916475081711086964noreply@blogger.com