Helmets and eye glasses

[alanmcorcoran]

My current helmet (full face with face shield) requires I remove my glassed before putting it on, and hen put the glasses on throught the face shield and reversing this procedure when I want to take it off.

Are there full face helmets that allow you to get them on and off without screwing with your glasses?

[Easy Rider]

Are there full face helmets that allow you to get them on and off without screwing with your glasses?

Full face.....not really. A "modular" style might help as the chin piece swivels up along with the face shield BUT IMHO, any full helmet that will go on OVER your glasses is not fitted properly (way too big). Half helmets are no problem in that regard and I've seen guys who manage it with a 3/4.

Others who actually have that experience will probably tell me I'm full of.......popcorn. :popcorn:

[mrlmd1]

The bike warms up a little for a minute while you are putting them on, so in a way it's helpful.

[Water Warrior 2]

Get used to it Alan. Been doing exactly that for years now. On the other hand Lynda has a flip face helmet that she puts on without removing her glasses. Might be the shape of the head too b/c I tried a helmet like hers and almost ripped my ears off putting it on and taking it off. Head shape, helmet shape and fit, style of glasses and phase of the moon all affect your overall comfort with glasses.

[alanmcorcoran]

I've resigned myself to the pre-flight ritual, but I'm always looking for a shortcut. Between having to wear pants, boots (and socks!), a jacket, a backpack, gloves, and the helmet - it's a lot of effing around to go somewhere. First thing I learned: gloves go on last and come off first. Second to last is the helmet/glasses hokey pokey. I always put the key into the ignition right off, to get that out of the way. Ever tried to fish a key out of the front pocket of jeans (that "used-to-fit") with a riding glove on? Guaranteed profanity moment.

The glasses have to be put somewhere while one is futzing with the helmet and helmet strap, and a few times I've set them on the pavement, the seat, utility boxes, etc., at night, and, then, not having my glasses on (and being 50), could not see or remember where I put them. One night some folks saw me feeling around on the asphalt all around the GZ (with the helmet on) and when they came over to see if I had gone crazy, I had to yell at them "Stay back! You'll step on my glasses." They were about 12 feet away on a table.

Yup, when you ride a motorcycle, people think you are cool!

[Water Warrior 2]

Yes Alan it is a lot of messing around to ride but the alternative is go naked and take your chances. Eventually getting into all the gear will become second nature and you will feel something is wrong if you ride less dressed up. As for glasses I have a reasonable routine. Find bike after gearing up(old memory cells are a bitch) and unlock disc lock and put key in to start. Start bike, remove glasses and put them on top of my gloves which are on the tank or handlbars. Install helmet on head and fit glasses. Gloves are last and I am away. Part of my routine before putting my gloves on is to check all my pockets for contents and make sure all zippers are done up too.

[mrlmd1]

That's what I do. Get on bike, insert key and start. Gloves with glasses on top sitting atop fuel tank between my legs to keep from falling off. Adjust choke. Zip up jacket, put on helmet, then glasses, check zippers and velcros, then put on gloves. Adjust choke, Close visor, take off.
When stopped, parked, gloves come off first, then helmet and if glasses come off with helmet, put them back on.

One way I saw to make it easier to put on glasses under the helmet ('cause it's difficult sometimes to get the earpieces over the ears) is to straighten out the earpieces eliminating some of the curve. One suggestion was even to cut them off shorter to just go straight over the ears. If you did either of those, you might need a second set of glasses just for riding with the helmet, another set for everything thing else. Another expense in owning a motorcycle.

[alantf]

I wear a 3/4 "Aeroh" helmet. No problem putting it on with glasses in place. On the other hand, my wife, who has the same helmet, can't put hers on without her glasses flying all over the place. My glasses are standard steel frames, while my wife wears "poser!" Dolce & Gabanna. So I think that the style of glasses might be the problem with any kind of helmet. (although I'll admit that I've never worn a full face helmet)

[BusyWeb]

My current helmet (full face with face shield) requires I remove my glassed before putting it on, and hen put the glasses on throught the face shield and reversing this procedure when I want to take it off.

Are there full face helmets that allow you to get them on and off without screwing with your glasses?
Hello, Mr. Alan.
That is one of the reasons that I prefer wear Goggle.
Recently, I bought a SMALL goggle that can be put over my glasses.
It's pretty handy for me in the morning.

Have you tried this method with full-face helmet...
First, wear your glasses as usual, do not need to remove off.
Second, grab both bottom side of the helmet with your thumb and full outside (expand little bit)
You can also use helmet straps to expand bottom of the helmet. (I'm sure that you can't break or crack helmet)
Third, slide your helmet slowly in from the top of the head VERTICALLY, do not angle your helmet while you slide it.
When take off, do reverse order. >> don't forget to expand bottom of the helmet first..
It works very well with me.....

[Water Warrior 2]

That's what I do. Get on bike, insert key and start. Gloves with glasses on top sitting atop fuel tank between my legs to keep from falling off. Adjust choke. Zip up jacket, put on helmet, then glasses, check zippers and velcros, then put on gloves. Adjust choke, Close visor, take off.
When stopped, parked, gloves come off first, then helmet and if glasses come off with helmet, put them back on.

One way I saw to make it easier to put on glasses under the helmet ('cause it's difficult sometimes to get the earpieces over the ears) is to straighten out the earpieces eliminating some of the curve. One suggestion was even to cut them off shorter to just go straight over the ears. If you did either of those, you might need a second set of glasses just for riding with the helmet, another set for everything thing else. Another expense in owning a motorcycle.

This idea is also found on wedBikeWorld. The writer of most of the articles has short arm glasses. For folks with an old pair of glasses(raises hand)the idea would be a cheap experiment just to test the fit and function. Maybe I should visit the lady at the vision shop and have her do the required mods the right way instead of guessing, cutting and straightening.

[alanmcorcoran]

Mine are all wire frames and they fit on okay as is. I seriously doubt I can pull off the Busyweb method, but I am away from home this week and can't experiment. I'm thinking maybe his helmet is a little on the loose side. (I can feel mine with my cheek bones.)

[Joho]

Yep, I got the same problem too.

I have a Fulmer full face (with the flip up visor, and the flip up face) and I can manage to get my helmet OFF with my glasses on (just some cheap nascar brand sunglasses), however, for the life of me, I can't seem to put it on with the glasses in place. I'm thinking this is because when you take the helmet off, it compresses your ears and "secures" the glasses against your skull.


I sure wish my visor was tinted, because that would alleviate the problem. However, on warm days, it's nice to ride with the visor flipped up. (i like to call it aromatherapy, especially when you're driving through the mountains!!)

[mrlmd1]

I never ride for more than a block or two with my visor flipped all the way up, even with glasses on, especially not at road speed. Too many bugs, stones, other debris to hit you in the face. I may crack it open a quarter inch or so, but never all the way open, defeats it's purpose.
To me, having to put the glasses on through the visor opening is not big deal, and like I said, lets the engine warm up for another 30 seconds or so while I'm fiddling with everything too get it all comfortable.

[alantf]

Hi joho,
When you said that you wished your visor was tinted, isn't it possible to get a replacement visor for your helmet? Most helmets have a replacement available in case you damage the original. For my "aeroh" the replacement is available in clear & tinted. I don't know what the price might be in America, but mine cost me 24 euros (I think that's around $28), but the bike shop had one on the shelf.

[dan_]

When you said that you wished your visor was tinted, isn't it possible to get a replacement visor for your helmet? Most helmets have a replacement available in case you damage the original. For my "aeroh" the replacement is available in clear & tinted. I don't know what the price might be in America, but mine cost me 24 euros (I think that's around $28), but the bike shop had one on the shelf.


Yeah I just got one for my Gmax helmet it was 24 bucks. They also make like... i dunno its kinda like mirror tint.. and they have the mirror tint in differnt colors.. pretty cool.

[Joho]

alantf,

ya know, I've thought about getting a different visor. But my only issue with that is the fact that I do a lot of night riding, and in those cases I have to flip down my clear visor to keep the bugs out... and having a tinted visor would force me to lift it up, which may cause bugs/debris to fly into my face...

Eh, there's pro's and con's either way we look at it!

[music man]

alantf,

ya know, I've thought about getting a different visor. But my only issue with that is the fact that I do a lot of night riding, and in those cases I have to flip down my clear visor to keep the bugs out... and having a tinted visor would force me to lift it up, which may cause bugs/debris to fly into my face...

Eh, there's pro's and con's either way we look at it!



I don't know about on your helmet, but mine has a quick change system on it, I swap out my clear visor for my tinted visor when I go night riding (which is not very often).

[Water Warrior 2]

My helmet has a clear visor and I have tinted clip-ons for my glasses. Easier than changing shields on a helmet and much easier to store somewhere.

[mrlmd1]

My glasses have transition lenses, automatically darken on exposure to bright sunlight or UV, then lighten up again when it's darker so I don't fiddle with that problem.
You can also get a darkened plastic strip to put on the top edge of your face shield to block out the high sun from your eyes, and if the sun is in your face if you tilt your head down a little it shields your eyes quite nicely. I put a strip of leftover window tint on the upper edge of my shield, it works fine, and it's a lot cheaper than those strips for sale on the web or in the stores 'cause I already had a piece.

[Water Warrior 2]

Transition lenses will not normally darken behind a wind shield or face shield. Hence the tinted clip-ons. Also use a strip in the upper edge of the face shield but all I had handy was white reflective safety tape. Looks kinda cool at night.

[alanmcorcoran]

I've had the auto-darken kind in the past and found they don't really get as dark as the regular sunglasses. I have a pair of sunglass bifocals now - top set at infinity, bottom at dashboard distance, and these are working pretty well for the sun. My face is getting kind of sunburned, and maybe a little chapped, but that's aother thread.

[BusyWeb]

Transition lenses will not normally darken behind a wind shield or face shield. Hence the tinted clip-ons. Also use a strip in the upper edge of the face shield but all I had handy was white reflective safety tape. Looks kinda cool at night.
Um..
Mine is transition glasses, and works pretty well here California.
May be different kind as you have experienced.
Mine go dark as regular-sun-glasses as behind my goggle.
Some face-shields may have some UV protector, so that transition does not work well.
With my goggle, it works very well. :roll:

[Water Warrior 2]

Transition lenses will not normally darken behind a wind shield or face shield. Hence the tinted clip-ons. Also use a strip in the upper edge of the face shield but all I had handy was white reflective safety tape. Looks kinda cool at night.
Um..
Mine is transition glasses, and works pretty well here California.
May be different kind as you have experienced.
Mine go dark as regular-sun-glasses as behind my goggle.
Some face-shields may have some UV protector, so that transition does not work well.
With my goggle, it works very well. :roll:

Not all faceshields work the same as I have found. I get really strange effects with my older helmet and clip-ons. There is a conflict of sorts between the UV faceshield and clip-ons. White cars are pink. Some of the rocky areas along the road have equally strange colors which are quite amusing after you realize your eye sight hasn't gone south.

[patrick_777]

You must be using some kind of polarization on your clipons and it's interfering with the UV coating on the shield. My polarized sunglasses do that when I get into my truck and look out the side windows (which are polarized and tinted). It's even freakier out the window of an airplane.

Either that or you dropped acid before you rode, which may or may not be a bad thing.

[dan_]

Either that or you dropped acid before you rode, which may or may not be a bad thing.


Jesus, bad waves of paranoia, madness, fear and loathing - intolerable vibrations in this place. Get out. The weasels were closing in. I could smell the ugly brutes. _Raoul Duke

[alanmcorcoran]

No point in mentioning the bats. He'll see them soon enough.

[spuriousgrowth]

So, sorry to distract from the digressions, has anyone tried close fitting prescription sport glasses? I've wanted to explore this option. Just take your helmet to the optometrist, I'm sure they'll be happy to help you out. My GZ has a close fitting strap over the passenger seat, and I'll slide the arm of my glasses under this band to put them on. It's much better than dropping them in the parking lot. Unfortunately I'm a little allergic to something around here, and contacts are miserable for me after a few hours.

[alanmcorcoran]

I ended up buying a 3/4 helmet for commuting. It fits a bit tighter than my full face, but I can get it on and off without removing my glasses. Even, better, I can finish my coffee with it on.

Still use the full face for longer trips and any trips involving the highway. The 3/4 is lighter, easier to turn head, and offers wider peripheral vision.

I have a pair of prescription goggles but they are quite a bit "more" frame than my wire frames. I wear them for soccer and racquetball, but I haven't tried them on the bike yet.

[Water Warrior 2]

Goggles also keep the dirt and dust out of your eyes. Learned this the hard way when I was a dirt rider.

[dhgeyer]

I don't wear prescription glasses to drive (or ride), but on day rides I want the ability to have either clear or dark eye protection. If space is at a premium, I use a clear face shield and have sunglasses along. And, yes, they have to go on after the helmet and come off before it. Once in a while I forget and try to put my helmet on with my shades on my face. Ouch! If I have some extra carrying space, I prefer having both a clear and a tinted face shield along to swap as needed. The HJC CL-15 has a very fast change system. To make it even faster, I marked the outline of the top of the shield near the attachment points on the helmet with a permanent marker. No fumbling, just snaps right on! Just be sure to have something soft to wrap the spare one in so that it doesn't get scratched up in the saddlebag, tank bag, or whatever.

[patrick_777]

Just be sure to have something soft to wrap the spare one in so that it doesn't get scratched up in the saddlebag, tank bag, or whatever.

This is one of the handiest things I have for carrying shields. It fits right around your waist inside your jacket and rides perfectly.

Fieldsheer Visor Bag (http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Fieldsheer_Visor_Bag--506228.html)
http://www.kneedraggers.com/image_storage/f/ef/fefd4967c8119cb1520199723494d14c_rough.jpg?height= 520&width=580

[Water Warrior 2]

Since this thread started I have procured a flip-face helmet. Still taking the glasses off to install the brain bucket. At least I now have the option of putting on my glasses through the face shield or through the flipped up helmet.

[alanmcorcoran]

I have two helmets - a full face and a 3/4. I think the 3/4 is a spider or something like a spider (spyder(?) scorpion?)

Ennyhoo, the 3/4 goes on nicely over glasses and you can drink with it as well. I wear the full when I'm going on the highway and the 3/4 for the commute to work (6.5 miles of 45 mph light traffic neighborhood/park two laners.)

I need to get some new prescription aviator/CHP type sunglasses, probably bifocals. I messed up when I got my last pair of sunglasses - got black plastic frames and they don't fit in the helmet well.

[Water Warrior 2]

Just be sure to have something soft to wrap the spare one in so that it doesn't get scratched up in the saddlebag, tank bag, or whatever.

This is one of the handiest things I have for carrying shields. It fits right around your waist inside your jacket and rides perfectly.

Fieldsheer Visor Bag (http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Fieldsheer_Visor_Bag--506228.html)
http://www.kneedraggers.com/image_storage/f/ef/fefd4967c8119cb1520199723494d14c_rough.jpg?height= 520&width=580

My mesh jacket has a large inside pocket meant to hold a face shield. Wraps right around the right side rib cage.

[burkbuilds]

Okay, redirect back to the original question, although this is entertaining, I've had 4 helmets from 4 different mfgs. ,they are all XL in size and they all fit a little differently. My modular helmet I can get on and off while wearing my glasses and the same for my blue open face style helmet with shield, but another open face style helmet "hits" and I gave one helmet to my daughter because the lower portion of the face shield actually touched my chin when I shut it and almost hit my nose and there was no way I could have had anything on my head and gotten that one on. I guess what I'm saying is that you might find a helmet that you can get on and off with your glasses on but it may take some looking. I've just found a lot of variation in the way the same "size" helmet fits me. Kinda like jeans from different mfgs. Same size, different fit, some jeans I fit in a 34 waist, some a 36 waist and some a 38 waist, go figure! I kinda prefer the modular style over the Full Face style.

[mrlmd1]

That's why you need to try on a helmet before you buy it, and if you wear glasses, put them on too and see if everything fits.
It's not a good idea to buy a helmet online (unless you're just getting an exact replacement of what you had, same manufacturer, etc,) - each company's sizing is different, there are many different head shapes and helmet shapes, and even if you ordered the right size, it may not fit properly or be comfortable. Try it on first.

[burkbuilds]

I agree with you. . . now, that I've learned! But hey, I got lucky with the first two, then one that I couldn't wear and gave to my daughter and the last one is a little tight for putting on while wearing glasses but it's actually my favorite and all four together shipped to my house cost less than two helmets bought locally so I'm not out much. Now that I know which ones fit, I will look for exact replacements from the same mfg's in the future.

[alanmcorcoran]

I bought my 3/4 somewhat tight - over time the padding compresses a bit and now it fits perfectly. Not sure if the compression happens in all helmets, but I feel that a snuggish fit (but not too snug!) provides the best protection if your head hits the ground. I haven't had that opportunity yet with the motorcycle (and hopefully won't!) but I've done it more times than I care to admit off the bicycle. A snug fitting helmet probably saved me from a concussion or two.

As mrlmd1 recommends, I tried both of mine on in a store before buying...

[alantf]

over time the padding compresses a bit and now it fits perfectly. Not sure if the compression happens in all helmets,

Yup! Same thing happened with my 3/4 Airoh "top-one". Really comfy helmet, and I can put it on with my glasses in place. Someone on here said that you can't get Airoh in America. The one thing I've noticed is that , with wearing glasses all the time, the arms have rubbed through the top layer of padding.

[mrlmd1]

Maybe your head shrunk a little? Lost some more hair?

It's best to have a snug helmet rather than a loose one for better protection and to make sure it stays on and in place when needed.

[alanmcorcoran]

Actually grew my hair for the show. Somewhat, anyway. It's past my ears, but a long way from shoulder length.

"Down to here,
Down to there,
Down to where,
it stops by itself."

[burkbuilds]

"A snug fitting helmet probably saved me from a concussion or two."

I doubt it, about the best it's gonna do is eliminate the road rash anything worse than falling off your bike in the driveway it probably won't help. I got a severe concussion and three broken vertebrae from a helmet to helmet hit playing football and that was from a guy running at me who didn't weigh anymore than I did. That helmet is great for keeping bugs off and scrapes but otherwise you are just kidding yourself!

[mrlmd1]

A motorcycle helmet is designed and constructed differently than a football helmet, The padding and shock absorption is heavier, and it's designed, at least in theory, to absorb more of an impact to protect your head.
If you broke 3 vertebrae, either you severely and suddenly bent your neck back or you compressed it downward, that isn't protected by any helmet, and you probably would have also had a fractured skull if you got hit that hard without the helmet on. Your injury would have been much worse.
If the helmet is too loose and your skull bangs around in it, you will more than likely get more than one hit, - you can get what's called a contra-coup injury, like in a whiplash, where you get hit first, then you hit the other side of the helmet with your head and your brain bangs into the opposite side of your skull. You can get 2 injuries to your brain for the price of one even with a good fitting helmet, more likely with a loose helmet.

I found this trying to explain it, but it's a good read about helmets and brain injuries:
http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cach ... l=en&gl=us (http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:B4ssv2WpgcQJ:www.mrf.org/pdf/WhitePapers/Volume3-1995/HeadInjurywithHelmetUse.pdf+contra-coo+injury,&hl=en&gl=us)

Wearing a helmet doesn't automatically prevent an injury, it obviously depends on the speed and force of the impact, but it certainly lessens the amount of trauma to your head and face.

[mrlmd1]

By the way, to get back to the original topic, I have to put on my full face helmet, then put on my light wire frame glasses through the visor opening. When I take the helmet off, the glasses come off inside the helmet.
But I think I already said that here about 7 months ago, and I still do it that way.

[mrlmd1]

From www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurviva ... index.html (http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/dangerous_motorcycle_safety_myths/index.html) - explaining myths about bikes-

Myth 3: Motorcycle Helmets Break Necks

It seems logical—you put more weight out there on the end of your neck and when you get thrown off the bike, that extra weight will create more pendulum force on your neck. Turns out, it doesn't work that way. In fact, the energy-absorbing qualities of a DOT motorcycle helmet also absorb the energy that breaks riders' necks in impacts. Studies show that helmeted motorcyclists actually suffer fewer neck injuries when they crash compared to riders who crash without helmets.

Myth 4: Helmets Block Your Ability to See or Hear Danger

The thing you learn when you dig into the research is that motorcycle riders who use helmets crash less frequently than those who don't. Maybe that happens because motorcyclists who decide to wear helmets have a better or more realistic attitude about riding. Maybe it's because putting on a helmet is a reminder that what you are about to do can be dangerous and the act of accepting protection puts you in the right mindset. Maybe it's because a helmet provides eye protection and cuts down wind noise so you can actually see and hear better. Maybe its because, by cutting wind pressure and noise, a helmet reduces fatigue. Whatever the reasons, wearing a helmet clearly does not increase a motorcyclist's risk of having an accident and wearing one correlates to reduced likelihood of an accident.

Myth 5: A Helmet Won't Help in Most Crashes

People look at the seemingly low impact speeds used in motorcycle-helmet testing and assume that if you are going faster than that, the helmet will no longer be up to the job. That ignores a few critical facts:
# Most accidents happen at relatively low speeds.
# Most of the impact energy is usually vertical—the distance your head falls until it hits.
# Helmets (or at least helmets that meet DOT standards) perform spectacular life-saving feats at impact speeds far above those used in testing.
# When a helmeted rider suffers a fatal head injury, it frequently doesn't matter, because, to hit hard enough to sustain that fatal injury, he sustained multiple additional fatal injuries to other parts of his body. In other words, the fact that the helmet didn't prevent the head injury was of no consequence.
# The numbers clearly say that riders using DOT helmets simply survive crashes more successfully than those without them.

Myth 6: A Helmet Will Leave You Brain Damaged in an Crash When You Would Have Simply Died

Of course that's possible—your helmet attenuates the impact energy enough to keep the injury from being fatal but not enough to keep all of your eggs from getting scrambled. However, that's rare, and if you hit that hard, you are likely to get killed by some other injury. It's actually the un-helmeted rider who is likely to cross from animal to vegetable kingdom, and often from a relatively minor impact that would have damaged nothing but his ego if he'd been wearing a DOT helmet.

[Easy Rider]

wearing one correlates to reduced likelihood of an accident.


Good post.....except for THAT.

An apparent correlation does NOT also automatically mean there is a cause/effect relationship.
It just proves that non-scientific studies and/or collections of raw data sometimes lead to conclusions that are not warranted.

It kind of hints around about what might be the real truth: that is, riders who are generally more careful also are more likely to wear a helmet. To instead strongly imply that the actual wearing of the helmet, in and of itself, results in fewer accidents is twisted logic and irresponsible jounalism......in my not so humble opinion. :cool:

[Water Warrior 2]

A helmet probably saved me from the vegetable kingdom many years ago. In fact I am sure of it. And I wasn't even riding during the impact. Was out enjoying the mountains and scenery, stopped at a bridge to watch the river flowing and take a break. Lost my balance and tumbled down the river embankment onto all the big ass rocks. My head bounced off a rock bigger than my head. Couple of sore spots on the body but the head was intact. At least 100 kms from a hospital if I'd been hurt. My Guardian Angel was along for the ride that day.

[Easy Rider]

Lost my balance and tumbled down the river embankment onto all the big ass rocks.

Well, that would be one in the column of "wearing a helmet does not PREVENT accidents".

:crackup

[alanmcorcoran]

I did not intend to divert this off into the helmet vs no helmet issue (which never, ever ends!) Patrick, I think you should divert the posts starting from my unintentional lighting of the flame (concussion) over to the Hot topics or whatever that forum sub thread is called.

Also, while we're on it: Both my full face helmet AND my thick black plastic sunglass frames restrict my vision. To claim that a full face helmet does not affect your field of vision just seems to undermine one's integrity. It is much easier for me to check my blind spot with the 3/4 helmet. Unless I have a uniquely (weird) shaped head, I suspect most other riders lose a few degrees of peripheral vision with a full face helmet.

For the record, my personal views are that much of what is fun and exciting in life is also dangerous. I wear a helmet, partly cause I have to, partly because I think the benefits outweigh the negatives. I am leery of legislation written purely for safety or "for my own good" because, logically, I'm much safer if motorcycle riding (and cheeseburgers/fries and a shake) are outlawed. I do feel it's reasonable to require people who do risky things to purchase sufficient insurance or show sufficient assets to handle death, dismemberment or vegetation so we don't ask other people to bear the consequences of our choices. The "for my own good" sentiment is also what got marijuana, prostitution and gambling criminalized, most of which are legal in some places.

[Moedad]

Lost my balance and tumbled down the river embankment onto all the big ass rocks.

Have you considered wearing a helemt during all waking hours? :poke2:

[Water Warrior 2]

Lost my balance and tumbled down the river embankment onto all the big ass rocks.

Have you considered wearing a helemt during all waking hours? :poke2:
Funny you should mention that. Lynda did a double take one night when she saw me sitting at the computer with my helmet on. Was checking out the fit of my newest helmet with my glasses for tight points and also listening to my MP3 player to determine if things would fit properly and sound good.
I have on ocassion wished I was wearing my helmet in the Ranger when in rush hour traffic.