BTwin 500 Bike Helmet

The BTwin 500 bike helmet is apparently designed for general riding and reckoned capable both on and off road. Usually this best of both worlds premise results in disappointment and, true, there are some minor compromises, but at £17 it's an absolute bargain.

Like most lids these days, it complies with EN1078 and follows the in-mould construction (where shell and EPS liner are formed together simultaneously). Build quality is extremely high, superior to many I've tested commanding nearer £100.

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Though not everyone's bag, the fluoro yellow polycarbonate shell is particularly well finished and extends around the rim, protecting the EPS liner from the inevitable, everyday carelessness that comes with general riding.

There's a relatively shallow peak up front, which lacks the porch-like protection of trail-specific designs but doesn't look out of place when you're riding a cross/gravel or touring bike.

Having 21 vents isn't really a talking point these days, but they are well designed and give decent levels of ventilation. 3D fit is another concept we've come to take for granted; it's intended to behave like a roll-cage, protecting the brain from twisting forces experienced in a crash.

The familiar thumbwheel system is intuitive and the Y and chin straps feel surprisingly tactile against the skin – even for long periods. On paper, two sizes might dent widespread appeal, though the medium (53-59cm) caters for most adults and, retrospectively, would have been a better choice than the 59cm on test.

Nonetheless, substituting the pads supplied for a compatible set in my bodge box, and 60 seconds later, fit was dialled to perfection. I'm not sure whether size has any bearing on this, but coming from my angular road lids, I was quite conscious of the dome-like profile for the first few rides. I soon forgot about it though.

The first hundred miles of testing were done on my TT-inspired fixer and at 20mph plus. Admittedly, mid-late April and early May felt like a typical first week in March, but even in these contexts and with a thick thatch (it's not me in the photos!), airflow certainly kept pace.

At the other extreme, winching up 1 in 7s on an 81-inch fixed gear, or trundling home on my Univega with a week's shopping in tow didn't induce a soggy scalp.

On fast descents, noise was minimal, so unless the wind is really raging, maintaining conversation should prove pretty easy.

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Touring and commuting are its obvious strengths, and although not a trail lid in the proper sense, its sturdy construction and moderate peak lend themselves nicely to forest fun, giving reasonable protection from low hanging branches and brambles.

Damp cloth once-overs are generally enough to keep it looking sharp, although some mucky rides on the wild side saw it join me in the shower afterwards.

Ultimately, there are better choices for road purists, but standards of comfort and performance for general or even spirited riding are impressive – if it fits, why pay more?

Verdict

Remarkably competent helmet for commuting, touring and light trail duties – an absolute bargain