Buggying

I have been using a 661 Dirtlid, thinking that I could do with something that is going to protect my rugged good looks - so probably with some facial protection!

I know a lot of buggiers opt for a full motor-cycle helmet, but I'm thinking something a bit more light weight and it needs to be comfortable when it's hot.

Any recommendations?

I use a 661 BMX pushbike helmet it's light and vented Briskites has them or any good bike shop

Gumnuts, if there is a mountainbike store nearby go and scope out full face helmets
as mountainbikle full face helmets are a lot lighter.

or as an option scope out the for sale section in the following link

www.rotorburn.com.au

It is the premium MTB site in Australia.

just don't crash

I have a 661 full face mountain bike helmet as well. Used it more when I was chasing speed or doing longer runs up the beach. Now I'm doing more freestyle stuff I've gone back to a triple 8 skate helmet, as it has better visability and nice and light.

That's the thing I have now got a vapor and am planning on pushing harder and faster! If the wind/rain thing can get itself sorted!

Briskites is back up

Have a read of bigkid's thread on PKF here: http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=21899. I'm fairly sure - and shoot Jeff a PM to confirm if you want - that he was wearing one of those motorcross style full face helmets with the protruding 'jaw guard' and it was this part of the helmet that did him the most damage - as in broke 19 of his ribs. I'm a little wary of that style of full face helmet after reading his posts. I think mine is a 661 dirtlid too which worked well when I was wearing the Vmax on my head a while ago and has enough protection down the back of the head for when you get old and fall over - as Mick did at the end of 'a hundred bucks worth of fun' video. You can hear the helmet smack into the hard sand. Fortunately, it was the helmet and not his head.

Possibly some really rugged gloves too (if you don't already) with some wrist support - if you get yanked out of the bug on the salt lakes, your hand and wrist may well be the first thing that hits.

My 2 c

Full face
Make sure you can hose it
Helpfull if you can strap it with just one hand
Try it sitting in 'bug ' postion ... Consider your field of view


And now. . . I'll check out johns link

R

Have a read of bigkid's thread on PKF here: http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=21899. I'm fairly sure - and shoot Jeff a PM to confirm if you want - that he was wearing one of those motorcross style full face helmets with the protruding 'jaw guard' and it was this part of the helmet that did him the most damage - as in broke 19 of his ribs. I'm a little wary of that style of full face helmet after reading his posts. I think mine is a 661 dirtlid too which worked well when I was wearing the Vmax on my head a while ago and has enough protection down the back of the head for when you get old and fall over - as Mick did at the end of 'a hundred bucks worth of fun' video. You can hear the helmet smack into the hard sand. Fortunately, it was the helmet and not his head.

Possibly some really rugged gloves too (if you don't already) with some wrist support - if you get yanked out of the bug on the salt lakes, your hand and wrist may well be the first thing that hits.

R


Unfortunately the thread didn't specify the issue with the helmet specifically as I can see, although that may be the case.......

I was pulled out of my buggy with a 2m kite in winds of 20 to 25mph in a freak gust that only I got. Everyone else was flying 2 and 3m kites that day.
Went up 20 to 30 feet and came down on my left shoulder than the kite powered up and took me for a tumble down the beach for a few hundred yards before it wrapped me up in the lines.

I wear one of the bmx/mx helmets from a cycle shop, has the chingaurd, I will stay with it, freak accidents happen, perchance this time the chingaurd caused a problem, but there may and most likely are situations where it has saved people too, broken jaws, throat injuries etc.

Personally, pad up as much as you can, as you will get a spill one day,

freak accidents happen, perchance this time the chingaurd caused a problem, but there may and most likely are situations where it has saved people too, broken jaws, throat injuries etc.

Very true. Jeff's is the only story I've heard of where the helmet has caused damage. And no, the helmet was not mentioned in that thread, just the injuries. But I'm pretty sure that he's mentioned the helmet in past posts.

since then, he's worked up an auto release that works if you get lifted out of the bug - maybe worth a look if you're thinking of pushing the limits. It also goes to show that our reactions on the safety are not always quick enough. I've been too slow on the safety twice now - and it's something I consciously practice from time to time. I think I remember Nigel saying his reactions were too slow on the day he was injured.

The more info you can get, the better able to make decisions you'll be. Ha, last time I went out with Norman & Shane, I wore a bandana on my head 'cos I forgot my helmet.

edit: I found one post from Jeff where he mentioned the helmet -

Funny how wearing a helmet didn't protect 19 ribs, but the full face helmet was the reason the one rib shattered and punctured my lung. I wont be wearing a full face helmet any more, but the rib protector is part of the gear I wear now.
Be safe, after the crash it's hard to ask for a "do over".

I think I remember Nigel saying his reactions were too slow on the day he was injured.

No.
Who wants to pull the quick release when your X height in the air, with the kite above your head?
You'll get a softer landing this way than bailing.

When I had my stack, I was in super-man position, so bailing could have resulted in either the line or handle getting stuck on my neck on the way out.
It was not the impact with the ground that caused the injury I received, but the impact I made with the handles.
As the kite was borrowed, the strop was to long, and when hitting the ground, the handles sat under the collar bone, not under many ribs. I have had about 3-4 OBE's like this before (under the ribs), and no damage.
My collar bone break is a very unusual occourance, as 95% or more are the result of impact with the shoulder hitting first, not a blow dirrectly to the collar bone.
And most body armour on the market today will not protect you from a dirrect blow to the collar bone.
So even having some body armour on, I would have had the same result.

What your all forgetting is the fact that our quick releases are incorrectly named.
The correct title is the "Ouch strap", this is because it all goes pear shape faster than you can pull it.
And when you need to pull it, it's "Ouch".


As for the OP, I got a full face mountain bike helmet. Lighter than a motor cycle helmet, and breathes better in the heat.
Also one costs less than most dentists charge, should you take a whack to the face.
I'll gladly take a broken rib, over $1000 worth of dental charges and the facial pain/scaring.

Please don't just order some cheap helmet off the net, go and try them on.
There is nothing better than a helmet that fits you like a glove. It also means you'll be more inclined to wear it.

I'm looking for a new helmet at the moment, so if I could wrangle up a selection to be tried on in different sizes, how many in Melbourne might be interested??
There's also the Melbourne bike show in October if you want a great selection.

here's a link to the auto quick release on the popey the welders website.
http://popeyethewelder.com/informational/automatic-quick-release

looks like a very good safty idea. at most you would only get lifted about 1m before it pulled the quick release. doesn't solve the 60+km/h impact with the sand though, but atleast you are not still attached to the kite.

The chin and mouth protection on the full face helmets have the added advantage of acting as a sand anchor when your being pulled face first across the sand.

Seriously though I'm with Nigel anything that helps save the teeth and face is a plus, broken ribs are easier to cover than smashed teeth or stainless steel pins sticking out of your face. Last time I checked public health doesn't cover dental work but they will fix broken bones.

No.
Who wants to pull the quick release when your X height in the air, with the kite above your head?
You'll get a softer landing this way than bailing.

Sorry, Nigel. Coulda sworn we were having a conversation about safety systems and our reaction times. Must have been the other Nigel......

Well back to topic for gummy as u can see it swings both ways , so would U rather have a full face or open me thirty nine years or riding motorbikes on dirt an road ( and plenty of crashes ) more dirt than road FULLFACE all the way incl kiting!!
Enough said that's it FULL/ OPEN .!!!!!!

Seeing as my plan is to keep pushing my speed, I am going to start looking around for a full-face (probably a MTB light-weight one) - will hit some bike shops and start to try some on. May also look at getting some forearm/elbow protection as well as the salt lake is rock hard and very abrasive.
Thanks for the feedback.

One thing tho gum nuts only some pushbike helmets are rated and then only upto 70 kph even looking at this my self an if I was looking to set a record I'd go with motorcycle FMX helmet as they are light weight an washable and THEN we hit that horrible thing COST !! (what's ya fun life worth) so on it goes but some options an comments from us all and most of all OPINON!!!!

Personally, I think anyone who doesn't wear one of these is mad.

Biggles helmet.jpg (30.23 KiB) Viewed 349 times

After all, flying spitfires in the war must be far more dangerous than buggying.....

Fairly sure they used ones with headphones in WWII


Although following that logic you should be looking for a german one as used by Messerschmitt Bf 109 pilots, cause those things were involved in more low speed crashes than anything before or since.

yeah gum nuts, the forarm gaurds would also be a good idea.
The safty gear I wear consists of helmet, tinted safty glasses, forearm protection, and sleeveless compression top that has chest and spine protection. Thinking about getting a long sleeve compression top this season as the forearm guards are getting a bit ratty.



Oh, and converse all stars