Helmet recommendations for v20- mine keeps moving

NadiainLA

Member
I've searched the forum and found a little about helmets from several years ago. I'm a new v20 rider and my Giro helmet is annoying- I don't know what model it is, but basically my headrest (I have the adjustable one rather than the stock one) pushes it forward. Sometimes it hits my sunglasses. I've seen some recommend the Giro attack with a visor (I assume the Vanquish has replaced the Attack?) and some recommend a Smith helmet, or a Wild Side helmet from China. Mainly, I just want one that doesn't move around. You may say regarding my current helmet, "tighten it" or "adjust it"-- thanks, tried that.
 

Robert Volk

Member
Lazer Blade+ Top mounted retention system, this is the helmet i use i have of two of them. Works great with the v20 adjustable, not stock headrest, no issues.

Google Hostel Shoppe Lazer Blade +
 

M.J

Well-Known Member
Same here. Lazer Blade works great with the headrest adjusted so it sits just below the bottom of the helmet.
 

DavidCH

In thought; expanding the paradigm of traversity
Similar sort of thing about helmets... I have never found a helmet where you could micro adjust a visor. I cycle in desert like conditions with dust in the air at 50kph is a nuisance ... I would absolutely adore a helmet with visor that works too. I did notice some glasses that have adjustments with arm angles but there arent many options out there.
 

chicorider

Zen MBB Master
I have been using the Lazer o2 for years now because it has its adjuster knob on top, rather than in the back. I also trim away the lowest part of the retention band in the back. In the photo you can see where I did my trimming. That makes it so there is no contact between the lowest edge of the helmet and the top of the headrest, yet the retention system still works. Lazer also makes a visor for this helmet, which I pulled down low and fixed in place with a couple of screws, saving my eyes and face from the sun without obscuring my view. This is my commute helmet in the pictures. For my road riding helmet I painted the screws black and they pretty much disappeared.
 

Attachments

  • Helmet 1.jpg
    Helmet 1.jpg
    212 KB · Views: 69
  • Helmet 2.jpg
    Helmet 2.jpg
    194 KB · Views: 77
  • Helmet 3.jpg
    Helmet 3.jpg
    231.7 KB · Views: 80
  • Helmet 4.jpg
    Helmet 4.jpg
    206.8 KB · Views: 65

NadiainLA

Member
Same here. Lazer Blade works great with the headrest adjusted so it sits just below the bottom of the helmet.
Could you share a photo of how your headrest looks from the profile? I am looking at mine and am a little stumped at how I would adjust it in such a way that it went lower-- is it a case of reclining it for a wider angle so that your head hits it elsewhere?!
 

Attachments

  • Headrest.jpg
    Headrest.jpg
    2.7 MB · Views: 47

benphyr

Guru-me-not
@chicorider I'm sure you weighed the risk but the screws pointing in towards the skull make me a bit nervous. Is there enough of the inside of the visor where the screws are to use velcro instead? or hot glue? should someone (me) want to as an alternative?
 

benphyr

Guru-me-not
img_1381_thumbnail.jpg
https://www.benditcycling.com/Recumbent_Gear.html is an inexpensive visored option. I have one and it works well with my glasses underneath. I don't have a headrest however so I can't tell you how it would work for that purpose.

Edit: at this date they are sold out.
 

3bs

whereabouts unknown
smith ignite
smith podium
and i have a beat up old junky no name that works great
 

chicorider

Zen MBB Master
Hi Benphyr. You make a good point. They are short screws, and the chances of me taking a front-header are comparatively low (we're more likely to slide out on our sides), but still, good point. I would think Velcro or glue would work as well. They'd at least be worth trying.
 

Frito Bandito

Zen MBB Master
Hi Benphyr. You make a good point. They are short screws, and the chances of me taking a front-header are comparatively low (we're more likely to slide out on our sides), but still, good point. I would think Velcro or glue would work as well. They'd at least be worth trying.

In another thread I posted pics of my helmet with the Giro Air Attack shield, and maybe another shield also that I recently bought. Both shields connect with strong magnets I installed in my helmet with Gorilla glue. While I think they make me a bit more aero, they don't really sit low enough on my face to provide protection from dust and bugs entering from the bottom no matter how low I tilt the helmet, which is a Limar 007. I only occasionally get junk in my eye on the Vendetta but I'd love it both of them provided 100% protection. Since they don't I have to wear sunglasses to reduce that gap even more. In my profile pic I am wearing red Alpina Twist 5 HR QVM (polarized) that can be bought for about $150, but I just got Alpina Twist 5 HR CM (non polarized) for about $90. They have adjustable arms and nosepiece that let you get the lense low enough to touch my cheekbones effectively blocking out anything substantial from entering. Since you can get them snug on your face, they might fit under the shield of your helmet if you already have one.
 

paco1961

Zen MBB Master
256DBEB7-0351-47EC-94E1-0D79F21EEECC.png
This Victogal is cheap and works extremely well on the V20. Think I paid about $45 US including shipping. I masked and sprayed the top 2/3+ of the visor w gloss black Krylon acrylic spray paint to block the sun. Leaves about 1.25” open at the bottom which is about perfect. I have about a 2mm gap between the visor bottom edge and my face. Works for most situations but a closer fit would be better. Have considered a silicone stick on weather strip I’ve used on frameless glass doors.
 

paco1961

Zen MBB Master
In another thread I posted pics of my helmet with the Giro Air Attack shield, and maybe another shield also that I recently bought. Both shields connect with strong magnets I installed in my helmet with Gorilla glue. While I think they make me a bit more aero, they don't really sit low enough on my face to provide protection from dust and bugs entering from the bottom no matter how low I tilt the helmet, which is a Limar 007. I only occasionally get junk in my eye on the Vendetta but I'd love it both of them provided 100% protection. Since they don't I have to wear sunglasses to reduce that gap even more. In my profile pic I am wearing red Alpina Twist 5 HR QVM (polarized) that can be bought for about $150, but I just got Alpina Twist 5 HR CM (non polarized) for about $90. They have adjustable arms and nosepiece that let you get the lense low enough to touch my cheekbones effectively blocking out anything substantial from entering. Since you can get them snug on your face, they might fit under the shield of your helmet if you already have one.

I read in the Alpina description that the “inclination angle” is adjustable. Does that help in dialing in the lower edge fit?
 

Frito Bandito

Zen MBB Master
I read in the Alpina description that the “inclination angle” is adjustable. Does that help in dialing in the lower edge fit?
Yes, the arms have a ratchet system that has worked well for at least 2 years so far with my original pair. As you can see in the pic, lowering the arm to the bottom position tilts the lense closer to the face at the bottom. Pushing the nose pieces as close as possible to the lense gets the top of the frame closer to your brow.
Screen Shot 2021-02-15 at 12.24.50.png

They are also hydrophobic on the outside so water and sweat doesn't stick to the lense, as well as having Fogstop in the inside to reduce fogging. QuattroVarioflex adjusts the tint depending on lighting conditions too. That might be a fancy name for photochromatic lenses.

To clean them, and all of my glasses, I use a dedicated shaving brush and mild dish soap, then blow them off after a good rinse. The soft bristles help keep the lenses in great shape, and the mild soap is strong enough to clean them without damaging the coatings. Plus the bristles get into the difficult spots under the nose pieces.
 

Frito Bandito

Zen MBB Master
Looks like a nice helmet Paul. I like the concept of a light on the back. My Limar has one that detaches, but I'll connect it in late Spring when I start riding in the evenings. The 2mm gap you have is about as perfect as anyone could hope for. Just enough to let a little air through, but not touching so sweat doesn't muddy up the bottom of the lense right in the line of sight. My Giro lense has a thin silicon strip in the nose gap, but I can't find a longer one to protect the whole bottom of the lense.

My recent searches have found an incredible snowboard and skiiing lense that I am considering from SWANS, a Japanese company that has some great products.

https://www.swans.co.jp/en/product/snowgoggle/

If I could find a way to easily fit and connect the lense to my helmet then I would just buy the lense and do that. This one would be nice IMO
1_000000000936.jpg
 

M.J

Well-Known Member
View attachment 10880
This Victogal is cheap and works extremely well on the V20. Think I paid about $45 US including shipping. I masked and sprayed the top 2/3+ of the visor w gloss black Krylon acrylic spray paint to block the sun. Leaves about 1.25” open at the bottom which is about perfect. I have about a 2mm gap between the visor bottom edge and my face. Works for most situations but a closer fit would be better. Have considered a silicone stick on weather strip I’ve used on frameless glass doors.
I'm very intrigued! I get tired of wearing sunglasses on long rides but have sensitive eyes and can't go without them.
How is the fit? I read the reviews but always trust a Cruzbiker's opinion first. I have what's described as a "long oval" shaped head. My Lazer helmet fits pretty good but some helmets with a more round shape create bad pressure points on my forehead.
For $40, I'll probably just take the chance. If it doesn't work then my son can wear it and pretend he's flying an X-wing :D
 

paco1961

Zen MBB Master
The Victogal is pretty comfortable overall. The integrated rear light is ok but doesn’t show up much in daylight. I mostly use it as an extra. I have in the past ridden several Rudy and Giro helmets w no fit problems if that provides any help. My current most comfortable helmet on the planet option is the Poc Ventral Spin, in red of course. Doesn’t have an attached visor but feels like wearing a modest head of hair. Super comfy and theytell me it’s so aero that if I think real hard it will propel me forward at 20mph into a 30mph head wind! The Knog rechargeable taillights clip perfectly around one of the rear openings.
 
Top