Orbea Odin Cycling Helmet

After a bicycle wreck that nearly killed me when I was blown off a mountain (I was saved by two vigilant cyclists from Switzerland and my Giro Atmos), I decided that, rather than replace my previous helmet with the same, to get a helmet that, to me, seemed more robust. Europe is, after all, a cycling haven, where cyclists and motorists have mutual respect for each other. After some research, I went for the Orbea Odin, Team Replica colors (second choice would have been the bright red one).

A few weeks ago, my Orbea Odin was put to the test. I was riding a fast downhill, pulling & drafting. I'm an amateur, and didn't realize that drafting on downhills is just asking for trouble... and I definitely got trouble. I was in position drafting, but with some slight wheel overlap. The other rider's rear wheel clipped my front wheel and I went down... head first at 40 MPH. Considering I was supposed to have spine surgery #3 in just another week, my first thought was the irony of the situation and if my bike was ok. Second thought was whether I'd wrecked everything doctors had tried to repair.

I walked away from the accident. My head had hit hardest, and therefore the helmet had severe damage... my head only had a mild concussion. The only clothing I had that wasn't shredded were my shoes and socks... yet my only injuries on the rest of my body were an abrasion to the knee and some bruising on my shoulder.

The wreck had to have appeared spectacular to all who saw it, yet what was most spectacular was the fact that I was hardly injured- and the helmet even had gravel from the road embedded in it.

The Orbea Odin has an amazing look, but that's not why I got it. I got it because of its 4 layers of strength, and because it appeared so much more robust than any helmet I'd ever had (I've wrecked a fair few). When put to the test in a 40 mph wreck, the helmet won the battle, and there is little doubt that it saved my life.