..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
bbb falcon helmet
matt seaton's two wheels; one of the best things ever to happen to cycling in the uk, a regular thursday column that ran for a number of years in the guardian's g2 section. i believe the decision to end this weekly input was matt's, since i well know the constant effort that has to be maintained in this direction, but those who assumed the mantle post seaton failed to exhibit his wide perspective on cycling, and eventually, two wheels disappeared altogether. it is sad that the newspaper didn't see the need to research further and engage the services of someone with the ability of matt seaton to continue with this raising of cycling's profile, especially since they have persisted with a weekly motoring section in the saturday magazine, employing a succession of different writers to keep that running. matt has moved on to a position with the guardian in new york, and though he still writes convincingly for each issue of rouleur, cycling has been 'relegated' to the paper's website.
however, one of matt's far-reaching examples of revelatory prose concerned insurance for cyclists. not, i hasten to add, those somewhat large amounts demanded to insure your carbon fibre against damage or theft, but the third party insurance we really all ought to have accompanying our daily travels. there has been much in the cycling press, and i cannot claim immunity on behalf of the post, regarding whether or not cyclists ought to be paying so-called road tax, and while i have no desire to open up that whole debate again, it does seem right and proper that we as road users claim equality with our motorised compatriots, and succumb to having at least third party insurance.
consider the all too likely situation where an opportune moment of downhill freewheeling appears on the horizon. it is not beyond the realms of possibility that an errant pedestrian steps off the pavement unuannounced, and in wrestling manfully or womanfully to avoid deflecting into a parked car or other innocent bystanders, something or somebody gets hit. if we can, for one moment, put aside the apportioning of blame, and any harm that may have ensued to us as bicyclists, who is going to pay for the damage to this hypothetical third party? for you just know, in this litigious society, that somebody is going to sue the miscreant in lycra for that unnecessary criminal damage. do you have a bank balance that will cover such an eventuality? very unlikely, but for a few pounds a year, an appropriate level of membership of either the ctc or british cycling will provide the necessary cover, and cycling can become trouble free once more; something that can hardly be said for the modern vicissitudes of motoring these days.
there is never ending debate about cycle helmets, and they don't just concern whether they should be made mandatory or not. they too are a form of insurance, one you fervently hope you'll never have to cash in, but if you do, an insurance that will fulfil the majority of what it says on the tin. in reality, it's the only true reason to purchase and wear a helmet in the first place. surely we have not gone so far down the road of the nanny state that we wait for government to legislate, before considering which is the more appropriate style. think for a moment, if you will, that whichever helmet you choose, sizing is eminently more important than the style factor, particularly when, in use, you're the one person unable to see what it looks like. sure, stylish is good, but fabulousness has never been known to save lives.
if the helmet is too big, there's a better than even chance that the helmet will move out the way during an accident at speed, leaving fragile head parts open to road abuse. it's a safe bet, nowadays, particularly bearing in mind that for professional cyclists helmets are mandatory, that the principal protagonists are manufacturing helmets that adhere to the majority of those stringent safety regulations. and if you've followed the careers of larry, bertie, andy and perhaps most notable, mario, you'll be aware of the professional style factor requirements.
bbb components of holland are well versed in the requirements of the professional; their sponsorships include quick-step, vacansoleil, and cofidis, all of whom will be racing this season wearing the bbb falcon helmet. these will also be worn by the uk domestic pendragon, le col, colnago team. they have a slight advantage over cycling's proletariat, such as myself, in that theirs are often in shiny colours reflecting the team sponsors, but actually the proletariat don't do too badly with the standard colours offered: red, blue, white and silver.
for the first time ever, though it was bound to happen at sometime, the bbb falcon sent to washingmachinepost cottage fitted perfectly the minute i'd figured out the wrong way to open the box. i have probably lost more than several weeks of my life, fiddling with recalcitrant straps, buckles and closures, trying to practice what i preach and achieve a comfortable and safe fit upon my head. i am a compulsive adherent to the necessity of wearing a cotton cap under my helmet (always peak down), though at this slightly more inclement time of year, that has been replaced with one of those merino winter caps with ear flaps that confirm my assertion that hebrideans are the flandrians of the scottish west coast.
at the rear of the helmet is a notched plastic band that can be tightened by means of two clamps, one on each side, to perform fine adjustment once the helmet is in place. these obviously will be less troubled, the thicker the cap or head of hair that cuddles underneath. gone are the days when each helmet came with an assortment of felt-covered foam pads to adjust the fit, a system that was rather prone to variations in effectiveness. the falcon comes merely with an instruction manual; no spare pads can be seen. however, it is available in three sizes, fitting respectively, 52-55cm and 55-58cm and 58-62cm. not being big of head (though some would disagree), i opted for the medium, after some rudimentary measurement and comparison with previously owned helmets.
i cannot tell a lie; this is the best fitting helmet i have ever had the pleasure of wearing. i am not disparaging others, for i have not been tried everything on the market, and your mileage may vary, but whether worn with cotton cap, woollen belgian hat or merely my long, jet black hair, it was a matter of simple adjustment to effect a perfect fit. again, according to bbb, the helmet features carbon fibre and aluminium reinforcements coupled with a spiderweb inner reinforcement structure. short of taking a saw to the blue falcon in my possession, i have no way of checking, but i'm happy to take their word for it. a bit like the insurance that all but opened this discussion, the hope is that i will never have cause to find out.
arguments number two and three levelled against helmet wearing concerns weight and ventilation, perhaps not by the informed, but most certainly by those eager to feel the wind in their hair. bbb don't quote any relevant numbers on their website, possibly because they feel them no longer relevant; you need only take note that the falcon consists of almost as much empty space as it does helmet (rather negating the 'too warm' argument) through those 23 air vents, to surmise that it's not heavy in a remarkable sense. i have already suffered from the mistaken notion that i have departed the coffee table at deb's without gathering the helmet from its moment of repose.
the styling is best described as contemporary; perhaps not groundbreaking, but appropriately aerodynamic, not necessarily in a time-trial sort of way, but most certainly in a ducting manner that would push-pull substantial volumes of air from front to back, perhaps uncurring helmet-hair, but definitely curing any untoward notions of overheating. and surely 'tis better to suffer a hairstyle that can be washed out in the shower, than one that needs the intervention of surgery?
the bbb falcon helmet is aimed at the professional as well as the more advanced recreational cyclist and costs around £100. for more information, contact the new uk distributors windwave.
posted sunday 13th february 2011
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................