Jake Khuon's Casual Ponderings and Pontifications

Open the pod bay doors...

After searching all over for a new Giro E2 (I really wanted a 2002 or 2003 model in carbon... big surprise) and failing horribly (for various reasons), I decided to take my LBS up on their offer to sell me a Special Edition "Blue Flame" 2002 E2 they were trying to get rid of on closeout. Seems everyone else was out of stock on bike helmets since the season's wound down and new helmets had yet to be received. Most shops told me they wouldn't be getting new helmets in for up to 3 months. Let me tell you, October is a bad time to smash up your helmet... But then again, is there ever a good time to crash?

My LBS said they would order a new 2003 E2 in carbon but couldn't promise when they would take delivery. I originally had them place the order but called them back a couple of days later and told them I'd take the "Blue Flame" model they had. It originally sold for $175. They had it marked down to $145 and sold it to me for $120.

The main differences from my old 2001 model E2 is a RocLoc-4 (old one was RocLoc-3) and an improved visor-clip system. The sidestraps of the RocLoc are now molded into the helmet rather than being attached via glued on velcro strips like in the previous year's model. This is an immense improvement in my eyes since I had just recently repaired my old helmet by regluing the velcro strips which had come loose from a season's worth of sweat.

At first I thought I would hate the blue flame colour scheme but I've actually grown to like it. It doesn't match my bikes quite as well as the carbon but then again that may not be a bad thing. The special edition model also differs from the other models in that it comes with a "helmet pod" which is basically a hard-shell carrying-case with a clip-handle, vents on the bottom to air/dry out the helmet and a little extra internal space for things like gloves and sunglasses.

Here are some pictures of my new skidlid...

I wear my sunglasses at night...

It's a mile to the end of the trail... we've got a half bladder of water in the Camelbak... leftover energy bar wrappers in our back pockets... it's dark... and we're wearing sunglassses... Hit It!

... And so I did... literally... hit the ground that is.

We had gotten a late start and the sun was already setting but there was still a good hour and a half of daylight. I wear Rudy Project Kerosenes with the smoke grey lenses and prescription inserts. I usually have to make a choice before riding around sunset of carrying my regular glasses along or just hoping to get back before it got dark. Oftentimes, it's not a problem as I can see most things through my sunglasses even during the dusk. We were finishing up the ride and heading back to the parking lot at St. Edwards State Park. The trail by this time was course gravel but smooth and we were pushing a good clip.

As I rounded a corner, I noticed a slight bump in the trail but it didn't seem that big. As I got closer, I noticed it was a LARGE PILE OF DIRT. I immediately tried to pick the front up but it was too late. The front tyre hit, the shock compressed and I could feel my rear end starting to pick up. I was definately going over the bars.

I landed pretty much face first. My bike actually flipped over my head and landed in front of me. My helmet visor went flying one way... my Rudys snapped (@#!#^$*!!). The helmet took the brunt of the impact and later on I noticed the crack in the very front. That helmet saved my forehead but it will have to be replaced (#$^%^^$!). I also have a fat bloody lip and numerous cuts and abrasions from the gravel as I rolled out of the fall. I sat there stunned for a bit. My riding buddy checked to make sure I was okay and handed me my water bottle which I used to wash off the cuts and my lip. I guess it could have been worse. The thing is just before my little spill while still on the rocky and rutted part of the singletrack (which I was negotiating pretty well), I was saying to myself, "Gee... I hope we get back before it gets too much darker... I'm having trouble seeing." I also had been contemplating getting clear lenses for the longest time. Oh well... lessons learned.

Here are some images of my cracked helmet...