Your first helmet

[OakLeaf]

What inspired you to buy it, and when?

Me: It was 1982. I'd been laid off from a job, and took off on a solo tour to clear my head. (Best two weeks I ever spent!) I had not much idea of anything bicycle-related. One evening I was setting up camp at a state park when two Canadian bicycle tourists pulled up and we chatted for a while. Those two guys put me to shame in every way I could imagine, beginning with their precise diction, and including but not ending with their cycling gear.

Anyway, their safety gear seemed like a very good idea that (unlike their diction) would be easy for me to emulate. The next day, I rolled into a bike shop in a nearby town, begged them to take an out-of-town check (no credit card, and this was before ATMs were widespread), and rode away with my first puddin'-bowl Bell helmet and a pair of gloves.

[roadie gal]

I never used a helmet when I was road riding, but I started using one when I took up mountain biking in 1995. After that it was just natural to use one all of the time.

[emily_in_nc]

When my DH bought me my first road bike as an adult (hadn't had one since high school), a helmet was the first accessory I bought. It was SUPER heavy and had only a couple of tiny vents. I think it was a Bell Tourlite (but it was NOT light!!) My DH was a road cyclist and wore a helmet, so I never even considered riding without one, especially since I hadn't ridden a bike in years before that and was sure I'd fall (and I did!) This was in 1986 or 1987.

Helmets have come a long way, baby!

Emily

[shootingstar]

1992 - a white Bell helmet. I didn't really care about how it looked, it was the price. When I was a teenager I never wore a helmet.

Got it because I was returning to cycling after a 12 yrs. hiatus. I met my partner 6 months before and he helped fan the flames of cycling passion.among other things too. Bought my helmet at the same time I bought my bike.

I keep on forgetting...he and I have been together nearly 17 yrs., but I returned to cycling 16 yrs. ago.

[7rider]

What inspired you to buy it, and when?

1992. I had just lost a bunch of weight and moved from New Haven into an apartment with a friend of mine in Milford, CT. My sister gave me her old Fuji road bike so I could exercise and keep the weight off. I had never worn a helmet before, but I recalled the crashes I had as a kid (including one that involved a sack of potatoes, a bike with no brakes, one very upset woman in a little red Chevy Chevette, and my head bouncing off the road like a basketball as I skidded down the road). I figured, if I was going to do this, I might as well do it right, and get something to protect my noggin.

My first helmet was a Vetta, purchased mail order from Performance or Nashbar. I was soooo excited when it came it. I wore it all over the apartment. My roommate thought I was nuts!

[Fredwina]

I also bought mine in 1992 (a very fine year for helmets)
It came from retailer based in Bentonville, AR (which shall remain nameless) I was riding a Magna(I always wonder about the folks who won''t work on "junk" bikes. Thankfully, I found some who did, anyway back on topic) I was riding with a group of friends and they insisted I get a helmet.
I remember it was white with a white liner - not a good thing, as the liner got dirty, and I couldn't clean it. I eventually replaced it with a Giro (from my first LBS)

[sfa]

1990, when I was heading out on a tour. I had never worn one before but they were becoming more common and seemed like a reasonable thing given how much time I planned to spend on my bike, plus it made my mother worry less!

Sarah

[Kano]

2005 -- late summer.

Dusted off the old Trek 820, started pedaling to "get in shape for ski season" cuz DH had decided it was the thing to do, and decided a helmet was a good idea.

I got a blue one, to match the Trek, then the following spring got a new bike, in a new color. Helmet didn't match, but it was "still new."

Blue helmet doesn't match the road bike I've acquired since, but at least it's a blue bike again. AND, I've recently dusted off the Trek again, for trekking around town acquiring things -- it doesn't mind dragging a trailer, or the grocery bag panniers I acquired for the purpose of carrying acquisitions! (and dang, that old bike, fitted by standover, is comfy!)


That was also the winter I decided I should wear a helmet while skiing -- and daughter wasn't skiing, so I used hers. Eventually I realized that one was too big for me and got my own!

Karen in Boise

[Eden]

82-84ish??? My mom bought my first helmet when I was about 10-12 ish. Can't say I really remember exactly when. I do recall it was one of those big, heavy, white Bells with the 2 orange stripes and orange strap with D rings to close it.

[HillSlugger]

1984. I decided to do a bike commute between Somerville, MA and the Harvard Med School. A helmet seemed the only sane way to deal with all the insane traffic. My first helmet was also the white, hard-shell Bell.

[makbike]

I purchased my first helmet in the mid-80s. I was browsing in a bike shop and the owner asked me if I had a helmet. I replied "no." He said "you know if you break your bike I can fix or replace any part that needs to be replaced but if you break your skull there is not much anyone can do for you." That was enough for me. I went home with a nice Bell helmet and have been wearing a helmet since that wonderful day!

[Blueberry]

I didn't have a helmet as a kid. Don't think my parents ever thought of it.

When I bought my first bike in college, I bought a helmet. And have been wearing one for ever ride since.

CA

[Iris616]

I'll admit it...2 months ago. I started borrowing DH's bike to commute, but didn't want to borrow his stinky helmet. So I bought my own. I work with adults who have TBI's, so going with out was not an option. If I ever pulled up to work with out a helmet, I would never hear the end of it.

[melissam]

1984 -- I bought a Bell V1 Pro when I bought my Bianchi. I thought it looked cool, at least as far as bike helmets went.