0 Comments Bell Sweep R Helmet

I won’t even lie to you, anyone living in Cape Town and not taking full advantage of the outdoor lifestyle would be a complete fool. Another thing as foolish as this would be letting go of Gisele Bundchen, like our boy Leonardo Di Caprio did a while back. That is in the same league of foolishness. So I take it that you took my advice and have spent some time this summer in Cape Town enjoying the mountain biking. Oh you haven’t? That’s naughty! Well then click HERE and see how you can go about it.

I have been mountain biking for some 8 years now and have never felt that comfortable wearing a helmet because I always look like the biggest loser on earth(Insert joke here about how I am the biggest loser on earth) For years I cycled with those R200 helmets and always felt like I looked like a clown.

Then last year I decided to start looking for something a little more rock star and visited our guys at Olympic Cycles. Being a bit of a Lance Armstrong fan I looked through the selection of Giro Helmets and tested the Giro Pneumo and the Giro Atmos. However, for their price I did not find them comfortable at all. I then started chatting with Mac and Jason at Olympic Cycles and they recommended that I try the Bell Sweep helmet.

Teenage desire is built INTO the Bell Sweep R

I had seen the Bell Sweep being used in the Tour de France but had never really considered Bell as a choice in helmet.

Lances view of me on Mont Ventoux

I slammed the Bell Sweep on and immediately it just felt right. It did not move around on my head and was the best fit I have ever tried. To date it is still the best helmet I have ever used. The adjustment system on the back is child’s play(As in simple, Michael Jackson) and in seconds the helmet is fitted with the help of the harness on the back which stabilises the helmet. Mountain bikers generally use helmets with visors but I have never seen the point in these as they don’t offer much sun protection. Besides I wear my Dragon Rake riding sunglasses so I don’t need a visor.

I also prefer the cleaner look of a helmet without a visor as it makes you look much sleaker and faster. Obviously when trying on a helmet you need to find one in your price range, but sometimes it is well worth going out of your price range for something that can save your life. Always try on the helmet at a shop manned by qualified staff such as those at Olympic Cycles. They can help you select the ones with the best fit and as each manufacturer will have a slightly different casting shape, it’s worth having a look at different manufacturers. I have never found Met or Giro helmets comfortable but found my match with the Bell Sweep helmet.

Wearing a helmet is a must and while people have often joked that I have no information in my head anyway(Failed standard grade maths in matric. Parties got the better of me) it is quite necessary that I wear a helmet in order to keep writing the things I do.

So have a look around for some helmets, because it’s up to your preferences and the best helmets are from Giro and Bell.You are looking at spending at least R1000 on some decent protection for the knowledge inside your head. Pump it up to R1500 though to be safe. Then cycle safe in the knowledge that the best scientists are living ON your head, protecting it for when you fall.

Pay Olympic Cycles a visit at:

67 Lansdowne Road

Claremont

Cape Town

South Africa

Or e-mail: sales@olympiccycles.co.za

Alternatively give them a call on: 021 671 5008

Speak to Mac or Jason, I always do.

Sean Lloyd

Editor