Beautiful Bicycle Helmets
by Bonnie Alter, London 
on 05.16.08
Beautiful and bicycle helmet seems like an oxymoron but here's proof that it doesn't have to be. With Bike to Work Days being celebrated, pretty cycling hats likes these prove there is no excuse not to wear one with pride in front of your fellow workers and bikers. They are designed by an eco-conscious Japanese-born designer who got fed up with looking terrible on her bike so she created her own collection of helmets that are funky and still meet all the safety requirements. The helmets are factory-made and decorated with carefully chosen feminine, delicate colours and have "diamond" trimmed chin straps. The designs are cleverly positioned on the back and on the left-hand side so drivers and pedestrians can admire you as you go. Helmets are available in a full range of lovely colours and there is a "designer" label on the back of each one.
We love the "Kiku", which is a chrysanthemum pattern, in pink (pictured left). But then there is "Sakura", cherry blossom, which comes in bright turquoise (pictured right). Or perhaps "Hanabi" (fireworks) in cool minimalist grey and white. Or for the traditionalist, Rose, in dusty pink. The possibilities for wardrobe matching are endless. :: cyclefashion Via :: Cycle Chic
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will buy one for my daughter.
They're pretty, but I wouldn't want to be wearing one of those on a hot summer day. Sweaty helmet hair is not very attractive.
Wow, these are so pretty. Would have saved a lot of accidents if they'd made bike helmets look a bit more 'cool' years ago, I think...
I'd rather wear something that fits and ventilates properly. To me, bell and giro road helmets are far prettier.
'Beautiful' is not the word I'd use to describe these.
Yeesh!
These helmets are also fun to look at: http://www.nutcasehelmets.com/Pages/index.aspx
They're cute and all but my head is roasting at the thought of donning one on a hot, summer day. UGH!
There is nowhere near enough ventilation. I would never wear one.
Beautiful helmets? A question of taste. One thing is for sure - that bicycle helmets are a sign of illness. Of a bicycle culture that is not healthy, not progressing and that is riddled with insecurity and fear.
And since there is no comprehensive proof in the scientific world that helmets save lives or prevent serious injury, promoting them, as you are doing here, is the surest way of ensuring, through fearmongering, that bicycle culture will not grow healthy.
Promotion and legislation of helmets, in the cities and regions that practice, causes cycling to fall by between 20-40%. In effect, this post contributes to fewer cyclists and an increase in illness. Well done.
Helmet advocates sell helmets. Bicycle advocates sell cycling.
@Mikael - You seem to have an axe to grind!
My friend crashed his mountain bike a while ago, and if he wasn't wearing a helmet his head would have hit a rock. He probably would have ended up with concussion or brain damage, but instead he didn't need to go to hospital at all. How many of the anti-helmet studies take into account the people who DON'T go to hospital after an accident - but would have if they weren't wearing a helmet? I'd say very few - because those people are not visible to the studies!
A lack of comprehensive scientific proof of something is not proof against it.
For those of us who live where helmets are mandatory - regardless of whether they should be or not - access to stylish helmets makes cycling more appealing, not less so. My other half hates helmets, but complaining about them won't get her on a bike - finding a good-looking, comfortable helmet will!