Quote Originally Posted by Lao Jia Hou View Post
4) I think helmet choice / comfort is paramount. My own personal collection includes several helmets that are top-rated but damn uncomfortable & inconvenient & some even downright unsafe because they have restricted vision / hearing. You NEED to hear and see everything going on around you, and you need it to be comfortable so that you are not getting tired or annoyed.
Totally agree that comfort and fit are essential, though this can put you into a bind. I was a complete novice when I bought my helmet in California, and tried on dozens of models from every manufacturer, including the majors, at prices from a bit north of $100 to $800. Say what you will about my head, but many were uncomfortable. Those with the suggested "just snug enough" fit either created intense pressure points that would have been excruciating to the point of distraction, or were otherwise ill-suited to my noggin. In the end, the one that fit best was one of the budget models straight off the boat from China. I've learned a lot more about my own preferences since then, and deeply envy you guys with modular models that let you open up your face without unstrapping, so I'll continue my search. But if that search leads to a locally made brain bucket that fits and yet seems to offer an acceptable level of build and quality, I'll definitely opt for that over an ill-fitting or downright painful premium brand.

I don't think I'm just being a cheapskate.

PS -- Lao Jia Huo is correct about Beijing drivers, especially the self-important passive-aggressives! Bloody hell, if you are not staying aware 360 degrees around you, you'll suddenly have some f*ckwit in a big black Audi nosing into your lane beside you, just inches off your beam. In heavy traffic where there's nowhere to go, and certainly no point in passing, you'll have f*ckwits tailgating you within a meter or less, and flashing their lights and blowing their horn, clearly endangering your safety just to say, "Get off the road; you don't belong here; I'm in a car and I'm more important." Serious vein-melting assholes.

cheers