Lidl's bike stuff again

[Gassoon]

It's that time of year! Spring cannat be far off...

LIDLs

flip helmets
rainsuits
boots
Gloves
disc-locks
Magnetic tank-bags
Rucksack
kidney belt
socks
bike cover
wicking garments

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl ... date=28923

[mjc506]

lidl helmets terrify me!

[dsb79]

Going to try get a tank bag.

[Iantson]

£39 for a helmet who the hell would buy them, I value my head more than that.  Other gear looks OK I have a Buffalo tank bag and it looks identical to this one. I will go and look at the kidney belt.

[petestrom]

I aven't tried the socks but have heard they are excellent, worth a punt for £2.99.

[Gassoon]

£39 for a helmet who the hell would buy them, I value my head more than that.  Other gear looks OK I have a Buffalo tank bag and it looks identical to this one. I will go and look at the kidney belt.

Out of curiousity, what is the value of your head ian!?

Seriously though, there's no sharp rating I can see on the helmets, I would be very dubious about those, but feedback I've gleaned over time is that the base-layers are good value, as are the one-piece rainsuits (though mesh lining can be hard to get over boots at side of road); and the socks are good.

I had a great magnetic tank-bag for my VFR which lasted years and was 95% waterproof even without the cover on it, but didn't fit the Strom tank (try before you buy). I have the socks (great, long and warm and all technical) and ALDI pants (which are great, but not the strongest cordura, 100% waterproof, breathe a bit, dead comfy). I guess its a case of have a look, decide what is too crap, and what's worth having at the low price!

[Juvecu]

The thermals are good value, buy now for next winter

[Iantson]

Out of curiousity, what is the value of your head?

I have a schuberth C3 world gloss black
http://www.helmetcity.co.uk/Schuberth-C3-World-Gloss-Black_ARQ0S.aspx

[Juvecu]

It appears your head is just as valuable as Gassoon's He has a C3 as well, I'd get one if I could afford it, but I'm happy with my Shoei Qwest

[Coval]

I have a C3 too, my head though mostly empty, served me well to date and I intend to keep it for a while yet :-)

[Abercol]

I have a lidl flip front helmet  - its my spare...oh dear, my head must be worthless  

Only used it once, it was OK, not brilliant, but do a turn if I'm stuck (got it as a freebie).

Normally use a Shuberth S1...

[frez]

Cost is not necessarily an indicator of how good the helmet is. If it is the same helmet that they sold last year it has a 3 star sharp rating, which is as good as or better than some of the major helmet manufacturers helmets!

[Juvecu]

You can get some cheap 4 and 5 star helmets, but quality could be an issue. They are bought off the shelf and tested when they are new. If you buy a cheap helmet with padding that is going to fall flat in a few weeks/months of use then you cheap 5 star helmet has probably just been degraded to a 3 or less star rating because of the crap fit. Not to mention shell deterioration due to UV and other elements over time. Maybe the foam quality is also bad and will be less effective quicker than the foam used in more expensive helmets. My Shark's padding lasted less than 18 months before it started feeling loose on my head, was nice and snug when I bought it and for months after. My Shoei (more expensive helmet) still feel as good as it was a week after I bought it, which was when it was just nicely worn in. I'm not saying all cheap helmets are bad, it's just that with the more expensive brands you have a better chance or getting the standard of quality that is going to keep your 4 or 5 star rated helmet like that for the whole time you use it.

[frez]

I wouldn't buy one, but at that price I could buy a new one every 4 months to ensure a good fit is maintained and the shell hasn't degraded and still be better off than buying myself a new Shoei every 3 years...

[Juvecu]

You're probably right, you'd have a new visor and all each time too. Helmets are like underwear, you get what you want and like

[Gassoon]

I don't know, I guess the point I was trying to make was we all have to make calculated decisions based on assessment of risks, how much we can afford, comfort, features etc...I mean, I can't be arsed to look, but I'm sure there are more expensive lids than C3's and with better Sharp ratings, so at some point I (and Ian) must have decided wor heads were not worth spending, say, an extra £100 on !

To somebody, maybe somebody out of work but who can't do without their bike, that equation will amount to a Lidl lid. Fair enough.  I wouldn't pour scorn on that.

[thebigcheese]

I was round different bike shops in leeds there today trying on various helmets. I had a few helmets that I would like to buy because of the features and the sharp rating. but at the end of he day here was only one helmet that fitted me and that was an Arai chaser v. the most important aspect is to get one that fits properly and then make a choice. I even tried on a c3 and it was impressive but was resting on my forehead to much.
 I will end up buing the Arai chaser v because it fits properly (upgraded to 35mmc cheekpads instead of 30mm one) even though its only a 3 star helmet according to sharp ratings. some people say the sharp rating system is flawed, and is not a true reflection on the helmet. look at Arai helmets for instance...one of the biggest brands out there, and they only have one helmet wih 5 stars and one helmet with 4 stars and the rest are 3 or less.  :wtf:

[Juvecu]

It's SHARP helmet ratings, Shark is a helmet manufacturer, but I'm sure we all understood what you meant anyway

I wish Shoei would make a Qwest with an internal sun visor already

[fishy23]

Well don't know about the helmets but bought some of their thermals last year and found them great, apart from looking like I stepped out of a red dwarf movie. I read some of the tests in Ride mag but what crazy prices who would pay £40 to £100 plus for thermals. Biking seems to be going the way of other expensive sports, nearly £150 for a pair of gloves no way. Oh I also bought a textile suit from aldi last year and it has stood the test fine and for £60 included  back armour elbow and knee.

[Juvecu]

Have thermals too and so have the good lady, I think I bought from Lidl and hers is from Aldi. Very good value for money, I even wear them off the bike when it's cold. I have EDZ full length merino wool thermals, but the Aldi/Lidl thermals work just as well (I can't tell the difference anyway.)