Helmets & helmet mounted lights (etc)

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Apologies if I'm on the wrong thread although I would like to keep this one out of "The CycleChat Great Helmet Debate".

I currently have a helmet mounted light which I think is great for visibility. It means I can move the beam to where it's needed and it has been useful to bob about if it looks like someone is about to turn across the road in front of you. I also occasionally (c. 1x a week) ride on a completely unlit path in the dark so need a good, bright light and find the ability to move the light independently of the bike a huge advantage.

However, I'm concerned about the effect of having the extra object on the helmet being a potential safety concern, for two reasons - one is
  • the potential effect of a helmet-mounted object compromising the safety of the helmet; and
  • the extra weight (the light itself isn't that heavy but the battery pack is also mounted on the helmet)
I remember seeing (although all trace vanished later on) mention made that the helmet mounted camera was a potential contributing factor in Michael Schumacher's ski incident - the theory was that the camera impacted first, breaking the helmet, and meaning there was no protection by the second impact.

If I do continue to helmet-mount my lights I need a new helmet in any case as it is now older than the recommended limit for replacement (5 yrs says Snell?) so recommended helmets for mounting welcome (currently have a Specialised because of the Snell certification; and am very fond of the removable visor for keeping rain off of my glasses...)

Also, if I decide not to wear a helmet are there any views on head mounted items? I am (possibly unnecessarily) concerned about the impact such a hard item could have on my skull...

(As I'm sure it will come up, my current view on helmets is that I only wear one if I need my lights. I am not looking to get into a debate about this.)
 

Drago

Legendary Member
Some years back I was first on the scene of a lad who'd had a spill and had his helmet mounted torch punched through his skull. Took him best part of a year to learn to walk again and after nearly a decade we're still in contact. It's was a small Fenix L1D torch (one of the irrelevant facts my brain absorbed at the time as I've got one myself), so a fairly small aluminium torch has left him with a permanent injury.

If you wear a helmet for safety reasons you'd be foolish to then attach solid objects to it.

In addition, from lights work best mounted on the bike. This allows a decent baseline between eye and light source and makes recognising objects and calculating their speed much easier.
 

steveindenmark

Legendary Member
The rumour that the GoPro mounted on Schumakers helmet was a factor to his injuries was squashed as quickly as it arose.

In the Winter I used to wear a polar Buff on my head with a head torch and that worked well. I never thought of the damage the head torch would do if I came off, but now you have mentioned it, it would be a concern to me.

After a recent accident I now wear a helmet to which I attach a couple of frog lights. I live in the darkest of Denmark and it is pitch black when I go to work. I fitted good Busch and Mueller lights and no longer need a head torch.
 

vickster

Legendary Member
I'm assuming Schumacher wasn't wearing a cycle helmet

Personally, I wouldn't attach anything to my helmet, nor do I carry heavy weight on my back/shoulders unless completely unavoidable and then for not more than a mile or two

Drago's post puts me off even more!

Oh and from what I recall, Specialized do not say that their helmets are definitely Snell certified, just that it is one of the tests that they may use
 

claudbutler

Senior Member
I have 2 small plastic lights mounted on my helmet{front and rear},the wife says ilook like a christmas tree,but at least i can be seen.
 
I'm seriously involved with motorsport safety and all the advice I've seen is not to mount anything to helmets. Helmets are designed to flex and to slide in impacts. Mounting anything to them can change how they flex and absorb energy, transferring that energy into the head inside. Anything that stops a helmet sliding will cause a rotational force, possibly displacing the helmet, or causing the head to rotate damaging neck or nerves. The sudden change of direction may also lead to concussive injuries. Another factor is the additional mass of any accessories attached to the helmet, increasing the energy transfer.
 

RCITGuy

Active Member
Location
London
Holy crap... I had never even considered anything like this, yet week-in, week-out bikers all over South Croydon/Biggin Hill ride with lights and stuff on their helmets, me included. Put a nice Cateye Volt 700 on my MTB helmet to compliment the bar lights, but will swiftly remove asap.. :eek:
 
As with all helmet matters

Do your research, look at the facts and then make an informed decision

Many of the systems (like the GoPro cameras) have a mount that is designed to fail if an impact occurs

The difference in sliding and rotational force from the "stub" is likely to be no more of an issue in this case than the design of some of the helmets out there!
 

snorri

Legendary Member
has been useful to bob about if it looks like someone is about to turn across the road in front of you.a potential safety concern,
  • I have little concern for Schumacher or your head, but I do sympathise with the poor pedestrian who is about to be mown down by you because he or she was not aware they had to look up among the stars for the helmet light of an oncoming cyclist instead of looking for lights at the legally approved height from the ground.
 

claudbutler

Senior Member
  • I have little concern for Schumacher or your head, but I do sympathise with the poor pedestrian who is about to be mown down by you because he or she was not aware they had to look up among the stars for the helmet light of an oncoming cyclist instead of looking for lights at the legally approved height from the ground.
My helmet lights are additional to my legally approved lights not instead of
 
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SavageHoutkop

SavageHoutkop

Veteran
Never had a close call with a pedestrian because of head mounting yet - most close calls are in daylight from pedestrians with earphones in who don't even look behind them to cross road diagonally. I don't think any pedestrian would miss my lights. Perhaps because I'm short or perhaps because I'm not travelling at particularly great speed.

The main bike I have this issue with is a Brompton, and the legal light there (if I head into dynamo territory) is actually mounted very low down, I'd have much more concern with a pedestrian not seeing that.
 
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