How’s that for an exciting blog title? I stopped blogging for
almost a year and this is my big reentry? If you had as much difficulty finding
hats and helmets that fit your head as I do, you would understand what’s going
on here. If you don’t know anybody who rides their bike and has a big head,
then this blog is not for you. Have a nice day. On the other hand, if you—or
someone you know—has a very large head and has difficulty finding bike helmets
that fit, I have really good news for you. I found the helmet!
As I was leaving the vendor area at the Sea Otter Classic
bike festival this past weekend I stopped by a small dealer’s booth because
they had some helmets stacked on a table. I’m always trying on different brands
of helmets because I have never found one that fits my huge melon. Some of the
brands I’ve tried sit on the top of my head like a beanie. Usually the sales
rep looks at me in amazement because he or she has never seen the helmet look
so small.
But lo and behold, when I put the Kali Chakra Plus (M/L size) on my head, I finally found a helmet
that “fits like a glove.” With the twist-tighten control, there’s plenty of
room (in case my head decides to grow some more). They were selling them for
only $40 at Laguna Seca, and the regular price is only $50. This is half what
many helmets go for. I bought two (one white, one black) because I couldn’t
believe I found something that fit after years of searching.
How big is my head? I don’t know, but I know that size 8
hats are barely big enough. As you know, a hat or helmet that is tight when you
try it on will cause headaches. Previously, the only helmet that I found that
was reasonably comfortable was the Bell Triton. My head is not terribly wide,
but has a long front-to-back dimension. The Bell Triton is wide so it’s a good
choice if you have a big round head. But if you’re like me and have difficulty
with the front-to-back fit, you have to try the Kali Chakra Plus on. The
styling is XC/MTB, but I’ve used it on the road and it works just great.
Here’s a link directly to the helmet on the manufacturer’s
site: http://www.kaliprotectives.com/bike/chakra
They have a dealer locator on that page. They’re not in
every shop, but hopefully you can find a dealer nearby to try one on. Good
luck, and happy new year.
