A few weeks back I wrote about my search for a bicycle helmet for my “little” brother, whose big head—I’m talking anatomy here, not character!—made getting a good fit problematic. And thanks in no small measure to the suggestions I found on the pages of the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute website, I finally found a likely candidate: the Bell Venture XLV. Here it is:

The XLV comes in a choice of colors. That’s nice, but none of those on offer—black, white, or gray—is exactly hi-viz. White is probably the best of the lot. It’s not the color of choice for a rider who rides woods roads in whitetail country, however. (There are a few hunters for whom deer season never ends, after all.) So I settled for gray. Luckily, a helmet-mounted light and hi-viz clothing will do much to alert all but the most somnolent of motorists to the presence of a cyclist in their midst. Helmet color is a secondary consideration, in other words. A helmet’s first job is impact protection. But with temperatures creeping toward triple digits now, ventilation looms large, too. And the XLV is well ventilated. That’s very good news on steamy summer days.

The chin strap is also generously proportioned. Which makes sense. Big heads don’t often perch on skinny necks.

And now, here’s a head-to-head comparison, just to help you get the big picture. My medium-sized Giro Hex is on the left:

Want to see the view from the top? OK…

Now you’ve seen what I saw when I opened the box. And things were looking good. But the real test was yet to come. Would the XLV fit my brother? That was a question only he could answer. So I sent it off and awaited his verdict. It wasn’t long in coming, and I’m happy to say all systems were go. The helmet fit comfortably. Moreover, it proved cool enough for hot weather. My brother found plenty of scope for adjustment, too, so accommodating cold-weather headgear shouldn’t prove a problem when the thermometer begins its downward slide in fall.

The bottom line? Well, the ultimate test of any helmet is its performance in a crash, and of course I hope that day never comes. But all the indications are favorable. My brother now has a helmet he can live with. He’s happy with that. So is his wife. And so am I.

What about you? Do you have a big head? Then the Bell Venture XLV is worth a look. At less than USD40, it won’t break the bank—and it just might keep you from breaking your noggin. That sounds like a pretty good deal to me. What do you think?

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