Removable chin guards/convertible helmets

realistically.. how do you see this working? ride up a hill ,refit it at the top, go down a hill rinse and repeat?

I can happily wear my Endura MT500 for pedalling around with no issues, i wouldn't bother with a convertible.

Broadly yes, I've a parachute at the moment, it's OK to wear most of the time though it's not exactly pleasant on a ride in the height of the summer (or winter as the UK summer is often referred to abroad).
I mean, that's OK, but if I'm going to replace it and there's a another potentially better option it would be foolish not to look at it.

Will I want to use it all the time? No. Do I think I'd want to use some of the time? Absolutely. Will it actually work? No idea.

[s] Also the mt500 is an open face isn't it? (a) if you can't pedal about all day in an open helmet it's not a very good helmet. (b) it would be no use on days when a ff is necessary. [/s]
[edit: ah they do a ff version]

I can happily wear my Endura MT500 for pedalling around with no issues

whereas, even on my eeb, i have to take mine off as its hot. but i do run hot.

i have an over ear open face which i use for semi gnarly stuff (this is the lid i wear most of the time) and a full face for bike park smashing/stupid stuff.

some of the 'enduro' full faces seem better ventilated for all day biking.

but it comes down to what you need it for and also DH certification. Some convertible ones (bell super etc) are not DH certified so i`d be wary of those.

I'm either on a full face ride or an open face ride. I've never removed or added the chinbar mid ride

Now that I've owned one, I probably wouldn't buy another convertible helmet. I'll probably next time buy 2 different lids. Can probably do that for the same cost as a convertible and also have a lower replacement cost after a crash.

Mine is a bell super DH, which I do like.

I have a Bell Super 3R, I have yet to ride it without the chin bar.

How long have you had it? Long enough you would have if you were ever likely to?

I’m either on a full face ride or an open face ride. I’ve never removed or added the chinbar mid ride

Just never been tempted?

Daft question but, i guess that's something you've realised since you bought the helmet?

I'd say 95% of my rides fall into that grouping but there are absolutely days of hour long climbs in the heat where, no matter how comfy the parachute is, I would really like to have a little less on my bonce.
Thing is, they're also the days where if it's not actually practical to take the chin bar off and pedal about with on my person somewhere a convertible helmet is going to be worse not better than that.

I take mine on and off, particularly in summer and I know the route well so can time when it's worth removing. I run hot and would rather not wear it but did a face slide a few years back that makes it worth the faff for me.

Mine is a Bell super and the clippy bits work well once you have the knack, had it about 2 years

I have the Super DH Bell and either ride it with or without the guard, I haven't taken it off mid ride due to the faff. I am considering a Fox Proframe at the moment which will relegate the Bell to an open face for the rest of its life.

I looked at them and decided for days where I was pedalling but out of my comfort zone I’d be better off just buying a light enduro full face. Went for the ixs trigger ff - compared to the half shell giro chronicle I was riding as my main helmet it’s barely any hotter at all. I’ve worn it pedalling up and down Afan Masts and Risca etc a number of times just fine.

joebristol
Full Member
I looked at them and decided for days where I was pedalling but out of my comfort zone I’d be better off just buying a light enduro full face. Went for the ixs trigger ff

Almost identical to what I did, except the Trigger didn't work for my head so ended up with a TLD Stage instead. Also agree that it's barely hotter than my trail helmet. It's (and from memory the Trigger too) a surprisingly nice place to be

@spacey What do you do with the chinbar mid ride when you take it off?

I've used my super 3R both with and without the guard. In alpine settings  (think Ciclo in spain) I'll pedal up with it off, and when we stop to pad up I'll clip it on. On uplift days it's on all the time. For regular riding it's off and stays at home.

Have been thinking of upgrading to a Super DH as the chin guard on the 3R is a bit weedy & probably wouldn't do an awful lot in an off.

Just never been tempted?

Daft question but, i guess that’s something you’ve realised since you bought the helmet?

I add the chinbar for bikeparks and ride without it for trails

Some areas, surrey hills, some trail centres, are borderline - sometimes i'll ride with the chinbar sometimes without -  no real rhyme nor reason.

I've never thought of removing it for a climb. If I did think about it I would probably quickly then think that I dont really find it too hot with the chinbar on, and i dont ride with a bag big enough to stash it in and dont want to ride with it dangling from handlebars or belt

I never in 4 years of owning a Giro Switchblade ever rode without the chinbar. Only used the helmet for riding holidays/Alps, Inners uplifts and the likes of Golfie. Found it OK to wear on the climbs, quite heavy though.

Recently replaced with a TLD Stage which will be kept for the big days, and at the same time bought a cheap DH helmet (7iDP M1) for uplifts. My theory is that'll save my much more expensive TLD Stage helmet from the higher risk of binning myself on a DH uplift day.

TLD Stage feels very light compared to the Switchblade.

I do, but not unless I’m wearing a pack to hang it off.

I went up a Munro the other week, off all the way up, on for the descent.

Switzerland was the same, off until the proper descent.

Etc etc.

Depends on what you usually ride probably, I do find I wear it more & more these days, it helps that it’s well vented and not too hot. I’d be pretty annoyed if I smashed my face with the chin bar at the bottom of the hill in the van.

I’d be pretty annoyed if I smashed my face with the chin bar at the bottom of the hill in the van.

More so it dangling from your bag I'd wager!

I went up a Munro the other week, off all the way up, on for the descent.

Switzerland was the same, off until the proper descent.

In alpine settings (think Ciclo in spain) I’ll pedal up with it off, and when we stop to pad up I’ll clip it on.

It's these sorts of rides that have me thinking about one really and if I'm being honest they're also the ones where I'm most likely to be wearing a decent pack to keep a water proof and thermal etc in so where to put the guard is less of a concern. Much as I'd like to be only taking a tiny hip pack etc that actually doesn't happen often on big days because I'm not going up a [few] mountain with nothing more than a gel, 500ml of water and my phone.

When not using the chin guard I either hang it off my back pack, if wearing it, also have a hip pack that I use more often which I added a velcro strap that I can thread it on. Never ride without either of those. Could try a velcro strap off a belt loop of your shorts maybe if you don't have a pack. Sometimes just dangle it off the bars, but it is annoying and rattles.

I'm generally first up climbs with my mates so gives me something to faff with while I wait!

I only have the Super DH and will put the chin bar on for descents and then take it off for the climbs as my face gets too hot. I'll either hang it on my bars or on my bag and only takes a few seconds to put the chin bar on my helmet without taking my helmet off.

After smashing my face up from a simple lack of concentration crash, I think it's worth the faff over several months of stitches and pain whenever I moved my face.

Yes, although not so much now, but for reasons other than the novelty wearing off.

Have a Bell Super DH (had a Super 2R before which saved my face at BPW).

Most rides start at lower level, so definitely off until the first climb is over, then see from there. On a normal bike on a warm/hot day, it would more than likely come off for the next big climb.

However, my big full susser is now an eeb, so I will generally have it off at first, but after that, I'm not too bothered about removing it.

I've also worn with just the chin bar at BPW etc, or completely without the chin bar when I know the ride isn't going to be too danger prone.

For lesser challenging rides without the bar, I ended up wanting something a bit less bulky and ended up getting a Fox Speedframe Pro. Then for inbetween when I didn't fancy taking the full on protection ended up getting a Dropframe Pro.

I guess I'll use it as a convertible still, but because of my range of available helmets, not as much as I would have

I do.

For fire road climbs, I put the chin bar in a Haf Clip on my stem. It's better than hanging it on the handlebar, but it bounces around too much on any other terrain. For other rides I'll have my Evoc backpack, I stuff it in the external helmet pocket and thread the pocket straps through the air holes in the chin bar.

I have the Bell Super Air R. Really easy to remove and refit the chin bar without taking helmet or glasses off. It isn't DH certified but then I mostly only ride things most people would wear an open face for.

In winter I'll sometimes leave the chin bar on more, but in summer I need the air as I run hot.

When not using the chin guard I either hang it off my back pack, if wearing it, also have a hip pack that I use more often which I added a velcro strap that I can thread it on.

Good idea, I'll give this a try.

I have a super DH but I bought it so I only need one helmet rather than two. If I want full face then I tend to leave the chin bar on but will usually ride to the top of the hill with my helmet hanging off my bars.

I can't think of many places where I'd feel the need to remove it, perhaps Cannock if you were doing the XC as well as Stile Cop.

Those who’ve had a convertible helmet for a while, do you find you use it both with and without the guard on the same ride still?

I used to have a bell super 2r. Think I did this twice.

Once I carried it around the dark peak for a full day, just to wear down cavedale. that was probably my first clean descent, personally I’m now of the opinion that public right of way trails should be ridden in open face only, from a safety and optics point of view.

Once in les arcs I needed to traverse across the map quickly, rather than lift descent lift descending my way across; so I removed it. Was nice, wouldn’t have been upset if I couldn’t.

I'm guessing I've had my 3R about 12 months. Gets used when in the woods on the enduro lines. Not taken it in the fells, not sure why, as having that extra protection on the rocky stuff makes as much sense as in the woods.

I don't know if removing the chin bar would help as much with the heat. Next techie ride I think I'll give it a try though.

personally I’m now of the opinion that public right of way trails should be ridden in open face only, from a safety and optics point of view.

Not sure what you mean? I don’t think mine restricts my view at all and it’s safer with chin bar?

From a public perception view maybe.

Yeah, public perception is what I meant. Plus a bit of mentally reigning yourself back a bit with an exposed jaw.

no decrease in visibility in a FF. goggles might crop a tiny bit of peripheral vision.

Ah yeah with you, I thought you meant optics as in what YOU can see 👍

Yeah, public perception is what I meant.

The chin bar muffles the shouts of "stravaaaaaa" though so it cuts both ways

I’ve got a Bell Super DH, as a crack replacement for a Super 3 R.

For me the use case is to only have to take one helmet away with me when I go away on mountain bike trips where I’m going to be doing a mix of bike park and trail riding.

I’ve never used it to take the chin bar on and off during a ride, far too much faff for me.

Other than that, a lightweight full face is on my “to buy” list, along with a dedicated trail helmet. In full face mode, the Super DH can be a bit of an arse to get on.

Another super user, the chin bar has been handy for enduros, clips onto my pack for the ups and attached to the helmet for the downs. I have found myself using it much less lately though.

Got a Bell Super DH (in pink!). Open face for most rides. Full face if lift assisted or if I know the descent is a little more "don't tell mum".

Usually ride up with the helmet hanging over the bars via the stem with or without the chin guard.

Find it a comfortable helmet. The only thing I've done is some bluetack between the two poly layers as found it bounced around a little which was distracting on the downs.