Helmets: pain or pleasure?

For the past year and a half, Dylan has been upset about his helmet.

We both subscribe to the notion that the best helmet is the one that fits you comfortably.

For five years Dylan has owned an Arai Quantum F. He loved that helmet. It was a significant investment for someone who was just starting to ride but it fit him really well.

Then the time came for him to get a new one and Arai replaced the Quantum F with the Quantum II. Dylan ended up with an Arai Astral-X instead and has never been happy about it.

"It just doesn't fit like the Quantum F" he'd say. Then, at every opportunity, at every motorcycle show or shop he would explain (I was going to write complain, but Dylan isn't much of a complainer) that they need to bring back the Quantum F and that Arai has made a big mistake.

For a year I would get a kick out of Dylan taking up the time of salespeople to explain how unhappy he was and how an Arai Quantum F would change all that once again. The Astral-X just wasn't quite right and I thought Dylan was being overly picky.

I was lucky, my first helmet was an HJC CL-SP. A great helmet with lots of useful features and a really great price. Snell-approved too! I rode with that helmet all last summer and it felt great.

Then my helmet packed in. Dylan and I both have fairly small heads - we like to make efficient use of our brains, no need to waste space - so I was wearing an extra small (XS) sized helmet. My HJC packed in so badly that I couldn't open my visor on the highway for I'd risk pulling my helmet right off if if wasn't for the chin strap.

So I've spend some time over the past few weeks at different shops trying on helmets.

Wow, was Dylan right about this one. I think I've spent 6 hours and have tried on 40 or more different helmets ranging from XXS to Small. I've tried Arai, KBC, HJC, Icon, Shoei and Shark. I suspect my head would also have fit a Quantum F very well as the Astral-X and Vector (new version of the Astral-X) feel good, but not meant for my noggin. All I want is an HJC CL-SP that won't pack in.

So I'm going to settle on an Astral-X or a Vector, right after my new cheekpads for my CL-SP pack in.

More to come...

Yet another eye update

Who knew that eye surgery would continue to be so much fun?!

I was at the clinic last week for another checkup on my eyeballs.

My left eye is stable and has been for a while at -0.25. Nearly perfect. I'll take it!

My other eye, on the other hand, is swinging like a pendulum still, albiet one that's losing it's energy a bit.

Let's recap this eye...


Before surgery was +3.25
Four days after surgery -4.00
eight days after that, -1.50
two weeks after that -1.00
three weeks or so after that +0.50 back on the drops!
two weeks after that, -1.00
two weeks after that -0.50

Phew, that's about it for now. It continues to be a crazy ride but fortunately one that is slowing down. I'm on the steroid drops once every two days now and hope to come to a soft landing with this. I'm back to Dr. Mitchell's office in three weeks.

more to come...