Post by samgeo on Feb 28, 2013 17:26:49 GMT 10
Hi All,
I thought that I would pass on my bicycle helmet buying experience. (Shortened version).
I needed a new helmet, and purchased one on-line for a cheap price. Unfortunately, it had been sitting on the seller's shelf for some time, and did not have the Australian Design Standard sticker on the helmet. After a discussion with Bicycle Network followed by a discussion with a guy from the ACCC, it turns out that if a helmet does not have an appropriate sticker on it, from the Road Traffic Authority's point of view, legally you are not wearing a helmet. If involved in an accident where head injuries were suffered, there might be legal difficulties in obtaining a settlement even if you were not at fault.
The current design standard (since Dec 2010) is 2063:2008. However, many helmets comply with the standard, but only have 2063 on the label. The ACCC advise me that this is ok, as long as they have still passed the 2010 standard. I have been advised by two bike shops that the penalties for non-compliance are high, and most reputable shops would not take the chance at flogging a dodgy helmet. Those labelled with just 2063 are probably ok.
Wiggle will not at the moment sell helmets into the Australian market, until they work out how to achieve compliance. (Incidentally, the standards are due for further review in 2015).
The other bit of my odyssey, is that I purchased another helmet on-line, my size, after confirming that it complied with the Australian standards. But guess what, it didn't fit. I passed it on to someone else and it fit nicely.
Obsessively determined to get the issue sorted, I read reviews of helmets, visited bike shops that sold said helmets, only to find that I did not like the fit of any of those I have been considering. I did eventually find something that I liked - a brand that I had not previously heard of.
I learnt three lessons from this:
1. Neve buy a helmet online
2. Never buy a helmet without eyeballing it and trying it on first.
3. The main thing to look for is the right fit.
Perhaps there are some other lessons in there too. eg that I should get a life.
Lawrie.
I thought that I would pass on my bicycle helmet buying experience. (Shortened version).
I needed a new helmet, and purchased one on-line for a cheap price. Unfortunately, it had been sitting on the seller's shelf for some time, and did not have the Australian Design Standard sticker on the helmet. After a discussion with Bicycle Network followed by a discussion with a guy from the ACCC, it turns out that if a helmet does not have an appropriate sticker on it, from the Road Traffic Authority's point of view, legally you are not wearing a helmet. If involved in an accident where head injuries were suffered, there might be legal difficulties in obtaining a settlement even if you were not at fault.
The current design standard (since Dec 2010) is 2063:2008. However, many helmets comply with the standard, but only have 2063 on the label. The ACCC advise me that this is ok, as long as they have still passed the 2010 standard. I have been advised by two bike shops that the penalties for non-compliance are high, and most reputable shops would not take the chance at flogging a dodgy helmet. Those labelled with just 2063 are probably ok.
Wiggle will not at the moment sell helmets into the Australian market, until they work out how to achieve compliance. (Incidentally, the standards are due for further review in 2015).
The other bit of my odyssey, is that I purchased another helmet on-line, my size, after confirming that it complied with the Australian standards. But guess what, it didn't fit. I passed it on to someone else and it fit nicely.
Obsessively determined to get the issue sorted, I read reviews of helmets, visited bike shops that sold said helmets, only to find that I did not like the fit of any of those I have been considering. I did eventually find something that I liked - a brand that I had not previously heard of.
I learnt three lessons from this:
1. Neve buy a helmet online
2. Never buy a helmet without eyeballing it and trying it on first.
3. The main thing to look for is the right fit.
Perhaps there are some other lessons in there too. eg that I should get a life.
Lawrie.