They're cute, but you would not believe how many handprints they can leave behind. :)
I have often seen someone wearing a helmet with a terribly grimy and scratched face shield, and wondered a) how they could stand it and b) what was so hard about not wrecking your face shield. Well, when dealing with those little guys, preserving my face shield was a tough job, because getting their hands on it was their prime directive, eclipsed only by a desire to figure out which part of the bike was hottest and therefore needed to be touched.
Well, I have scrounged one hand-me-down kid-size full-face, and a small adult full-face that they can grow into. I bought two additional kid-sized helmets new - they aren't nearly as expensive as I feared. When they start growing into the bigger helmets, they can ride in the car one at a time, because they'll be bigger, so I won't need multiple helmets in the larger sizes.
While I was at it I also ordered an inexpensive adult size open-face for the occasional sidecar joy rider. I'm not a fan of open faces, but last night I gave sidecar joyrides where we never got above bicycle speeds, and the kind of mobility-impaired adults who are thrilled to get a sidecar joyride because they could never have climbed onto a pillion seat, also have huge difficulty with the full face passenger helmet. Also, the half helmet will be less bulky to carry in the trunk.
I wonder if a bicycling helmet wouldn't suffice, for just little joy rides around the block. I mean, the main protective ingredient is the same as for moto helmets—styrofoam. Though, I guess I would worry about the helmet actually staying on whoever's head during a crash. The straps are little fiddly things, and I'm guessing most people adjust them to be way too loose.
The up side is that many kids already have bicycling helmets. And in AA/Ypsi, probably quite a few adults do, too.
Ah, screw it—just fill the side car with packing peanuts and jam the kids in there tight!
Their mother seemed to think bicycle helmets would be OK, but I'm not just concerned about the actual safely, I'm also concerned about the experience the kids are having. To those kids, the sidecar ride is exciting and fast. Exciting and fast should include the correct kind of helmet. And I don't want some busybody pouncing on me, either. They should see themselves wearing helmets, and have other people see them wearing helmets.
I wear a bicycle helmet on the b/c, but it never feels right to me, as if it would stay in place in a crash. Have considered going to a vented climbing helmet for that, should stay in place much better, and I don't generate THAT much heat.
If you buy a properly fitting bicycle helmet and adjust the straps correctly, it will stay in place in a crash. Unfortunately most parents buy their kids cheap helmets and adjust them to an angle that is more cute than useful.
Also, Bell bicycle helmets are particularly terrible. I know they're a brand with a good reputation, but I think they used SpongeBob SquarePants as their head model, and their straps are nearly impossible to adjust. I like Giro for bicycle helmets.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2012-05-29 05:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-29 06:45 pm (UTC)I have often seen someone wearing a helmet with a terribly grimy and scratched face shield, and wondered a) how they could stand it and b) what was so hard about not wrecking your face shield. Well, when dealing with those little guys, preserving my face shield was a tough job, because getting their hands on it was their prime directive, eclipsed only by a desire to figure out which part of the bike was hottest and therefore needed to be touched.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-29 07:37 pm (UTC)I guess it's part of being a grimy child?
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Date: 2012-05-30 04:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-29 07:19 pm (UTC)Super cute
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Date: 2012-05-30 01:09 pm (UTC)MUCH cheaper than finding 3 kids.
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Date: 2012-05-30 02:56 pm (UTC)While I was at it I also ordered an inexpensive adult size open-face for the occasional sidecar joy rider. I'm not a fan of open faces, but last night I gave sidecar joyrides where we never got above bicycle speeds, and the kind of mobility-impaired adults who are thrilled to get a sidecar joyride because they could never have climbed onto a pillion seat, also have huge difficulty with the full face passenger helmet. Also, the half helmet will be less bulky to carry in the trunk.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-30 06:18 pm (UTC)The up side is that many kids already have bicycling helmets. And in AA/Ypsi, probably quite a few adults do, too.
Ah, screw it—just fill the side car with packing peanuts and jam the kids in there tight!
no subject
Date: 2012-05-30 08:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-30 09:47 pm (UTC)I wear a bicycle helmet on the b/c, but it never feels right to me, as if it would stay in place in a crash. Have considered going to a vented climbing helmet for that, should stay in place much better, and I don't generate THAT much heat.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-31 01:15 am (UTC)Also, Bell bicycle helmets are particularly terrible. I know they're a brand with a good reputation, but I think they used SpongeBob SquarePants as their head model, and their straps are nearly impossible to adjust. I like Giro for bicycle helmets.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-30 11:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-31 01:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-02 03:51 am (UTC)