Is MIPS necessary?
- Thread starter Elias
- Start date
We made a decision long ago to not scrimp on head protection.
Slaphappygamer
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Aptos
I ride along side traffic as I commute to work. I went for a MIPS rated helmet. I never go more than 25mph. I'd say get a helmet for what and how you are riding. You probably dont need a fullface helmet if you are riding a trike or beach cruiser. Now, if you are a 13 year old with a Surron, get a fullface helmet.
Art Deco
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Selinsgrove Pennsylvania
@indianajo once made the point that a chinguard is probably more important than a MIPS helmet because his chin took the hit on pavement in an OTB accident, not his head. But you are less likely to die from a badly broken jaw than a bad concussion. Coin flip?
Aushiker
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Australia
- City
- Walyalup, Western Australia
I value my brain, I wear a MIPS helmet. Each to their own.
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Virginia Tech runs a widely respected bicycle helmet testing and rating program. Find their site and see how the non-MIPS helmet you're considering stacks up.
DaveMatthews
Dave's not here. Cheating since 2018
- Region
- Canada
Roadrunner says... MIPS MIPS!
CanNik
Active Member
- Region
- United Kingdom
The problem is that as much as I do the same speed I can on 4 occasions when I cycle not really avoid doing 40mph, in Wales (UK) where I live there are two long downhills going to Aberystwyth, then back again, I know 100% that NO cycle helmet would do any good at that speed
Look, hopefully you'll never need it and yeah if heaven forbid it's a collision with a car or a truck a helmet alone is not going to save you. But a good helmet does protect your head/brain if and when the road, a kerb, even a bollard makes impact with your skull. MIPS seem to be good, I have 2 but also I got great deals and the prices have come down.
Slaphappygamer
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Aptos
Wow. Thats steep! If you are going 40mph, then get a motorcycle helmet. I’d be riding the brakes to keep me near 25-30mph, or find a safer route. 40mph on a bicycle is just too fast for me, but probably not for someone who is used to motorcycles. I don’t think many bicycles were meant to travel at more than 30mph.
I have always applied brakes between 25 and 30 unless I was doing a "roller" road (short frequent repeat descend/ascend). One of our group regularly pedalled down hills at 55 mph; we had different levels of trust in our equipment. I had no problem w/70 on a motorcycle.
Last edited:
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
A guy on a road bike was featured in one of those fly on the wall hospital documentaries, he came down a large hill, lost control and hit a stone fence post.
Managed to rip his jaw clean off, as in it was hanging by a bit of skin.
He was coping and taking it well in the AE ward, they kept asking him questions with nodding yes no answers.
They suddenly realised he was getting confused and rushed him into surgery.
Massive brain bleed, months in hospital, never fully recovered.
If Im going very fast I always use max concentration if theres something solid to hit as opposed to just bouncing along with road rash.
On the trails max 15-20mph.
Managed to rip his jaw clean off, as in it was hanging by a bit of skin.
He was coping and taking it well in the AE ward, they kept asking him questions with nodding yes no answers.
They suddenly realised he was getting confused and rushed him into surgery.
Massive brain bleed, months in hospital, never fully recovered.
If Im going very fast I always use max concentration if theres something solid to hit as opposed to just bouncing along with road rash.
On the trails max 15-20mph.
Rexlion
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Tulsa metro
I bought a MIPS helmet because, well, I needed a new one and the MIPS wasn't really much difference in price. Do I have to have MIPS helmet. Nope. I don't have to have a helmet at all! 
Heck, I guess one could even make a helmet with duct tape and egg cartons, it wouldn't be MIPS but it'd be a helmet, and no one's gonna get a ticket.
Heck, I guess one could even make a helmet with duct tape and egg cartons, it wouldn't be MIPS but it'd be a helmet, and no one's gonna get a ticket.
gromike
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- City of Dreams
Some bikes go downhill at 40mph easy, no pedaling needed.:
Kinda makes me pucker up when I do. MIPS helmet.
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
That's a beauty! Model and year?
gromike
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- City of Dreams
Specialized roubaix, guessing 2007. Bought used a year and a half ago, $100 
.
A non-profit bike shop went through some changes and jettisoned a bunch of bikes. I picked up 6 for something less than $400. This was one of them. It was in unused condition. My assumption is someone bought it for the Seattle to Portland race, used it once then put it away. I say this because I went to REI to buy a bike in the mid-2000's and these bikes were flying out the door. Couldn't get any help because I was looking at under a thousand dollar bikes.
.A non-profit bike shop went through some changes and jettisoned a bunch of bikes. I picked up 6 for something less than $400. This was one of them. It was in unused condition. My assumption is someone bought it for the Seattle to Portland race, used it once then put it away. I say this because I went to REI to buy a bike in the mid-2000's and these bikes were flying out the door. Couldn't get any help because I was looking at under a thousand dollar bikes.
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