Author Topic: Overade Plixi folding cycling helmet available in Central London  (Read 3478 times)

Andre Jute

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Overade Plixi folding cycling helmet available in Central London
« on: February 12, 2015, 03:12:02 PM »
According to the makers of a new folding bicycle helmet on sale in Central London:

"The main reason why urban cyclists take the risk of not wearing a helmet is the inconvenience of carrying it when not on the bike. Overade’s patented and very innovative folding helmet permits it to store very easily but without forgetting comfort and security. Smart and easy to use, the helmet folds and unfolds in seconds. A great innovation that will make it appealing for all urban cyclists."

Other details scavenged from the ad:

• Well Ventilated: 14 vents
• Common Sizing: S/M (54-58cm) - L/XL (59-62cm); adjustable straps
• Materials: Outer ABS Hardshell | Internal Shell: EPS with comfort foam padding
• Uses: All types of cycling, Skateboarding, Roller Skating and Kick Scooters

Available in black and white, no pastels.

See the Overade Plixi at
http://www.velorution.com/overade-plixi/?utm_source=Retail+Group&utm_campaign=74f4e05171-The+boys+are+back+in+town&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_78f4d1fb65-74f4e05171-29112645&ct=t()




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Do everybody a favour, and keep it polite, guys (I don't have to tell the ladies, even when they deny that they are); Dan was writing to me only a couple of days ago about how divisive helmets in general are, so let's not give him a reason to shut down what could be an interesting thread.

Andre Jute

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Re: Overade Plixi folding cycling helmet available in Central London
« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2015, 03:24:49 PM »
I like, and I think a lot of cyclists will like, the technical (heh-heh!) looks of this helmet.

But I don't think I'll be getting one. I find the bowl of my helmet far too useful to hold my scarf and gloves and wallet and all the other stuff I need to carry when (rarely) I take my helmet off outside the house. And when I do have a bag to put it into, the bag is full of painting equiplment, because that's what I carry a bag for. YMMV.

Still, it seems pretty likely to be a hit among the lifestyle commuters.

honesty

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Re: Overade Plixi folding cycling helmet available in Central London
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2015, 04:14:21 PM »
Looks to be a solution looking for a problem. Cycle helmets are not heavy, and are easy to clip to a bag using the chip strap. Looks cool though!

lewis noble

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Re: Overade Plixi folding cycling helmet available in Central London
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2015, 05:10:35 PM »
A solution looking for a problem - a good phrase that, I reckon!!

It looks to me as though it doesn't actually fold into a volume that much smaller, for reasons of structural integrity I guess, so I suspect the 'gain' is very limited.

I think I'll be giving it a miss as well.

Lewis
 

Kuba

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Re: Overade Plixi folding cycling helmet available in Central London
« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2015, 07:58:28 PM »
The main reason why urban cyclists take the risk of not wearing a helmet is the inconvenience of carrying it when not on the bike.

I wonder where this came from, is there any serious research to back it up? Otherwise it seems like a marketing gimmick. The vast majority of helmetless urbane cyclists I know cite other main reasons (questionable effectiveness / hair looks bad after etc.).

Danneaux

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Re: Overade Plixi folding cycling helmet available in Central London
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2015, 11:17:02 PM »
There is something about Folding Things that really appeals to me in general -- maybe it is the extra thought and engineering that go into them. You can see the challenges Overade's engineers must have faced when viewing videos of the helmet here:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=overade+plixi

I don't think the Plixi folds as usably flat as the Morpher, shown here:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=morpher+folding+helmet
Homepage here: http://www.morpherhelmet.com/
Indiegogo page here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/morpher-folding-helmet-technology

I think the flatter-folded Morpher would be more likely to find a home in a messenger's or commuter's musette bag. I can see it fitting in a large handbag, for that matter.

Evenso, I don't see myself buying a folding helmet for most usage. I can see it being really, really handy for international tours where air travel is involved. I wore my helmet on my head both ways on my big European tour last summer. It led to some good-natured kidding by other passengers who wondered if I knew something they didn't, but otherwise wasn't too much bother until I took it off to nap. There was no place to put it, so I held it in my lap. A folding helmet I could have carried safely without fear of crushing in my carry-on luggage would have been real handy and would have come in useful while doing train-based transits also. With this usage in mind, I could see it (a Morpher, that is) being ideal for the Brompton-train commuter. Fold the bike, fold the helmet, and you're just another person getting to and from work till you need to make that "last mile" part of the journey.

Otherwise...no. In its present form, I don't think the Plixi folds to a dimension that would be most handy to save space when unworn, so I'd take a pass this go-'round.

Best,

Dan.
« Last Edit: February 12, 2015, 11:29:34 PM by Danneaux »

Andre Jute

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Re: Overade Plixi folding cycling helmet available in Central London
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2015, 01:33:20 AM »
I wonder how this one sells.
http://www.hovding.com

It's a bike helmet airbag that you wear around your neck, leaving you bareheaded until the sensors discover you're about to have an accident, then the helmet blows up in a fraction of a second and reaches over your head. Your hairstyle is disturbed only in the direst emergency.

How it works:
http://www.hovding.com/how_hovding_works
The second horizontal bar down has an action video.

Pricey, I expect.