Plastic shell padded helmet for BMX racing -- abs. necessary?

[swinny]

Don't want to start a debate (if possible?!), just want some solid
reasoning.

Son (age 7) does BMX racing. His formula is not aggressive, they
rarely get airbourne, they don't take chances trying to cut each other
off. Son doesn't do stunts, either.

He has a full-face styrofoam-type helmet (no plastic shell) that we
think is adequate, but all his competitors have very heavy hot plastic
shell helmets with thick padding inside. If I buy him that type of
helmet it will cost £100 to get a lightweight one... and we're just
not convinced it's at all necessary at this age to have that level of
head protection. Maybe in a year or 2? I can understand it when he
gets to the age that any kids are really going for it in races, but
they aren't, yet.

I notice (outside of competitions) the other racers often have skater-
type helmets (not full-face). This confuses me (as a skater). Is
plastic shell that much more valuable than face protection, I wonder?
It doesn't make sense.

Wondered if any other parents had thought it thru, or if there was a
reasoned argument for padded heavy hot plastic-shell helmets in
everybody, regardless of age.

I

[D***@gmail.com]

Post by swinny
Don't want to start a debate (if possible?!), just want some solid
reasoning.
Son (age 7) does BMX racing. His formula is not aggressive, they
rarely get airbourne, they don't take chances trying to cut each other
off. Son doesn't do stunts, either.
He has a full-face styrofoam-type helmet (no plastic shell) that we
think is adequate, but all his competitors have very heavy hot plastic
shell helmets with thick padding inside. If I buy him that type of
helmet it will cost £100 to get a lightweight one... and we're just
not convinced it's at all necessary at this age to have that level of
head protection. Maybe in a year or 2? I can understand it when he
gets to the age that any kids are really going for it in races, but
they aren't, yet.
I notice (outside of competitions) the other racers often have skater-
type helmets (not full-face). This confuses me (as a skater). Is
plastic shell that much more valuable than face protection, I wonder?
It doesn't make sense.
Wondered if any other parents had thought it thru, or if there was a
reasoned argument for padded heavy hot plastic-shell helmets in
everybody, regardless of age.
I

I raced BMX for a few years. We used the hot, heavy helmets because
they last through multiple impacts. BMX racers tend to dirt jump as
well, and falling is part of the game. If we had to replace a helmet
every time we fell, we'd never have been able to afford to have a
helmet. A foam helmet will shatter in an impact that most BMXers
would take helmetless without even breaking stride.

Also, we didn't wear them for normal riding. If we had a helmet on we
were either on a track where it's mandated, or doing some SERIOUS dirt
jumping. At that point why play around, if we need it we're really
going to need it.

Have you seen a serious crash on the track yet? They're usually multi-
bike, and people often get run over. If your son wrecks out front in
a foam helmet, it's likely to shatter on impact. That's what they're
supposed to do, they sacrifice themselves to spread and lessen the
impact. The problem is that when the 5 racers right behind your son
come into the accident, he won't have a helmet anymore. It'll be in
pieces all over the track, and if the #3 guy happens to run over (or
worse land on) your sons head it'll be bad news. Yes, it happens.
No, it's not pretty. It's not common either, but when it happens you
want your helmet intact.

In my entire life I have found 1 helmet that's full-face, light, well-
ventilated, lightweight and comfortable. Giro switchblade.
Expensive, but a great helmet. They're discontinued, but still around
NOS if you look.

[zebra]

Post by D***@gmail.com
Have you seen a serious crash on the track yet?

(Swinny replying from different account)
Probably not, only seen a broken collar bone (kid crashed into a race
official) and some bad falls mid-race; none involved more than 2 bikes
or anyone getting run over.

Post by D***@gmail.com
.... The problem is that when the 5 racers right behind your son
come into the accident, he won't have a helmet anymore. It'll be in
pieces all over the track, and if the #3 guy happens to run over (or
worse land on) your sons head it'll be bad news. Yes, it happens.

I see what you're saying, but as my son has almost never actually had
as many as 5 riders behind him (usually bringing up the rear), still a
bit hard to envision. I suppose I might wait until that seems even
feasible.

Ta very much, though, I think you've explained it well.

[D***@gmail.com]

Post by zebra

Post by D***@gmail.com
Have you seen a serious crash on the track yet?

(Swinny replying from different account)
Probably not, only seen a broken collar bone (kid crashed into a race
official) and some bad falls mid-race; none involved more than 2 bikes
or anyone getting run over.

That's nothing. Bad crashes are not real common, but when they happen
they can be real bad, especially if someone loses or disintegrates a
helmet in the process.

Post by zebra

Post by D***@gmail.com
.... The problem is that when the 5 racers right behind your son
come into the accident, he won't have a helmet anymore. It'll be in
pieces all over the track, and if the #3 guy happens to run over (or
worse land on) your sons head it'll be bad news. Yes, it happens.

I see what you're saying, but as my son has almost never actually had
as many as 5 riders behind him (usually bringing up the rear),

It only takes one.

Post by zebra
still a bit hard to envision.

I'll see if I can't find a clip, or some pictures of a good racer that
got mangled at the Wakefield track. Granted, he was older than your
son, but it was ugly all the same.

Post by zebra
I suppose I might wait until that seems even feasible.

It won't seem feasible until it happens, at least that's how it was
for me.
Here's another scenario:
Your sons chain snaps coming off the starting gate. This is likely
to send him over the bars and sideways. His helmet shatters when his
head bounces off the handlebars, and it's gone when his head ends up
under the rear wheel of the rider next to him.

Or, he is second to last when he makes a mistake and crashes or hits
the fallen rider in front of him that made a mistake and crashed.
Same as the 5 racers behind him scenario.

The foam helmet your son has in designed to avoid or minimize a single
impact. That helmet was likely designed to tool around the park and
hop curbs, not be used on a race track. I can't spend your money for
you, but if it were my son his brain would be protected in accordance
with the activity, which in this case is BMX racing on a track with
jumps, a starting gate and other riders. To me, that calls for a BMX
style helmet that was meant to live up to those circumstances.

Post by zebra
Ta very much, though, I think you've explained it well.

Ta = thanks? You're welcome, and good luck. Don't let me scare you
away from racing, most riders do it for years with zero to minor
injuries. I'm just trying to help you understand that when things go
wrong, they can go real wrong. Like anything fun and potentially
dangerous, BMX racing requires a certain level of respect for the
danger and precautions to minimize the spray when SHTF.

Perhaps you could consider a less expensive hard-shell full-face for
actual racing on the track and keep the foam for regular riding and
practice where things are less likely to go drastically wrong?

At any rate, good luck and may your son keep the dirty side down & the
trophies held up!