Riding home Monday night from the University's motor-pool car-park, I figured it was not only time but well past time to buy a new helmet. Why, you ask? Because I could pretty much not see anything through the scratched and pitted shield. That in addition to its having saved my head a couple of times by giving up chunks of itself to various road surfaces. Plus it kinda smelled like bears hibernated in there. Oh, and I have to wear a balaclava to keep the decomposing foam from sticking to my scalp and face.

It's only now gotten cold enough in Kansas to require wearing a full-face helmet, so I'd forgotten just how bad the old Simpson was getting. But the weather isn't getting warmer any time soon. So, yeah, it was time to retire my beloved Arai DS "Darth Vader" helmet.

What did I order? How about a lightweight, full-carbon-fiber sexy thang:

Click the image to see the specs.

Being a bargain-shopper, I made an offer far lower than their list price - and they accepted it! Within days, I'll have my new helmet. Woohoo!

I looked all over teh intarwebs to find a photo of what my dying helmet looks like, to no avail (it's rather, um, vintage). It was really cool, with giant openings for the eyes and an "I'm your father, Luke," vent on the chin. I suspect it'll become part of a Halloween costume at some point, because it's not really good for anything else.

Later!
Chris