Tony Raven wrote:
> Apparently there is a helmet review in Which. Has anyone seen a copy
> and is it half sensible or driven by the usual scare factors? FWIW the
> cheapest helmet tested, a Canyon Cruz costing £14 came out as best buy.
I am able to access their reports online (a throwback from having once
been an employee of the Consumers Association, though not actually
Which) so I've just had a look...
Here are some details from the "best buy" chart on how they conducted
the tests:
We picked some of the best-selling models from some leading brands and
a few lesser-known manufacturers.
Specification
* Size range We show the range of head circumferences that each model
of helmet claims to fit.
* Sizes The number of size options for each helmet (see 'Fit').
* Vents See 'Vents'.
Performance
* Shock absorption See 'Protection'.
* Ventilation How effectively the helmet allows air to circulate and
how well it regulates temperature.
* Adapting size How easy it is to adjust the helmet to an individual
fit.
* Strap Ease of use and adjustment.
Score
* This ignores price and is based on: Safety tests: 50%; Ventilation
and fit: 35%; Quality of finish: 5%; Instructions: 5%; Safety markings:
5%
If you click on where it says "see Protection" this is what you get:
Protection
All the helmets passed our rigorous shock-absorption tests, though the
Canyon held up best.
The tests involved dropping the helmets on kerb stones from a variety
of angles. We conducted the tests at various temperatures, and even
artificially aged the helmets with gallons of water to see whether they
deteriorate over time.
To measure the strength of the strap and how well it's fixed to the
helmet, we attached a 10kg weight to the helmet and allowed it to drop.
Only one helmet failed - the Trek Interval II.
To test the vents, they used thermal imaging of people's heads while
wearing the helmets rather than just going on number of vents.
This is what it says in the introduction to the report:
Wearing a bike helmet won't make you invincible, so you'll still need
to ride with care. A helmet is designed to protect your head when you
fall on to the ground but it won't always help if your head hits
something else like a wall or a car.
If you do have a fall and your helmet takes a knock, always replace
it as it may have been damaged.
Helmets sold in the UK are required to conform to certain safety
standards. To get the most protection, you also need to wear your
helmet correctly. Try it on before you buy, and make sure it fits
closely without being pushed to the back of your head. If you put it on
without the strap fastened, it shouldn't move about.
To wear or not?
Helmets aren't mandatory in the UK, and only around a quarter of
cyclists wear them.
A private member's bill that recommended compulsory bike helmets for
under-16s stalled in Parliament, and a debate currently rages between
pro-legislation groups (including the British Medical Association) and
those that are more sceptical, such as the Cyclists' Touring Club.
Opponents cite the example of Australia, where helmet legislation led
to fewer children taking up cycling.
One thing both sides agree on is that the health benefits of cycling
- whether helmeted or not - far outweigh the dangers.
So, seems reasonably balanced on the whole - quite fair considering it
is a consumer guide rather than a debate on the pros and cons of
helmets. They could have done with a bit more depth in the introduction
section, but this is an editorial matter rather than a reflection of
the quality of their testing methods.
Back when I was an employee I got to visit the research and testing
centre in Milton Keynes, so I know that they are extremely rigorous in
their testing procedures - eg they won't have just tried the thermal
imaging on one or two volunteers but over a wide range of test cases.
And their tests are usually conducted over a long period - I remember
the chap that showed us round saying this was often a problem because
it meant products tested were no longer on the market by the time the
report was published. This was especially a problem with paint, IIRC,
but I don't know how much of a problem it would be with bike helmets.
d.
