If bicycle helmets are required by law in your state, then you know you need one. But even where they're not required, bicycle helmets are a good idea for every rider. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute estimates that a careful bicyclist will crash, on average, every 4,500 miles. The bike helment essential piece of safety equipment that can save you from serious injury, so it's important to choose one that's the right size and style.
Match the helmet to the ride
Manufacturers classify bicycle helmets in four categories: sport, road, BMX and mountain bike. Sport bicycle helmets are for general use by casual riders. Road bicycle helmets are built for commuters and feature lots of ventilation and lightweight materials. BMX and mountain bicycle helmets are made from impact-resistant materials, enclose the entire head and include thick padding that cushions the head from impacts.
Keep these things in mind when shopping for a specific type of bicycle helmet:
Getting the right size helmet
Properly sizing and fitting your new bicycle helmet before use is the only way to ensure complete protection. Avoid one size fits all bicycle helmets that can be too large or too small.
In order to determine your correct bicycle helmet size, measure the circumference of your skull at the point just above your eyebrows. Most bicycle helmets correspond to hat sizes, although some manufacturers have their own sizing scales. Women should look for women's sizes, and children should have specialized bicycle helmets that offer extra protection.
Once you have a bicycle helmet that's the correct size, look for moveable pads and adjustable straps to custom-fit your new helmet. Many manufacturers provide a band or system of pads inside the helmet to fit it snugly to your head. The straps, sometimes called the retention system, should hold the helmet securely in place.
Once your helmet fits properly, buckle your straps and move your head front-to-back and side-to-side. If the helmet is the right fit, it will move less than an inch during this range-of-motion test. If you can push your helmet back to expose your forehead or push your helmet forward to cover your eyes, readjust the straps to fix the fit.
Understanding foam
One of the most confusing points in shopping for bicycle helmets is the types of foam used in their construction. Most bicycle helmets use EPS or EPP foams, although you'll find some proprietary foams as well.
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is the most common foam used in bicycle helmets. Bicycle helmets made with EPS are single-impact models, as this type of foam loses its shape and ability to absorb impact after a crash. This foam is an affordable choice in road helmets, as cyclists will hopefully not have frequent crashes. EPS bicycle helmets should be replaced every five years, as the foam may compress and lose effectiveness over time.
Expanded polypropylene (EPP) foam is used in more durable BMX and mountain bicycle helmets. This material holds its shape and maintains its ability to absorb impacts even after a few crashes.
Some bicycle helmet manufacturers develop proprietary versions of these foams as a marketing tactic to differentiate their bicycle helmets from others on the market. Examples of these proprietary foams include GE's GeCet, which is a more durable EPS; Zorbium, which claims to be more effective at absorbing impact; Tau's ReUp, a combination of EPS and EPP; and Brock, another multi-impact foam. Some high-end bicycle helmets feature carbon fiber that reduces the weight of the helmet, although this construction adds significantly to the price tag.
Don't be tempted by proprietary foams. Dig around until you find out what is actually in the bicycle helmet, and check online reviews to see if it does what the manufacturer claims it can do.
Keep a cool head
Ventilation is an important aspect of bicycle helmet design. In more physical bike riding, such as BMX or mountain biking, good ventilation is essential to avoid overheating and to retain a healthy core body temperature.
Excessive ventilation can reduce the effectiveness of a bicycle helmet, focusing impact pressure to specific points. Large front vents that provide maximum airflow to the head are the best design for mountain and BMX helmets. Road and sport helmets typically have more ventilation, since these cyclists have less exposure to crashes and jarring impacts. The important thing to remember is that increased ventilation means less protection, as each space in the helmet provides an area for it to crack, as well as a place for objects to get inside.
If you'll be doing a lot of hard riding, look for a sweat management system, which is a series of pads or a mesh lining that can be easily removed from the bicycle helmet and washed as needed.
Safety certifications
Don't pick up a helmet without a sticker indicating certification from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the Snell Foundation. CPSC is the bicycle helmet standard, and a federal safety standard passed in March of 1999 states that all bicycle helmets sold in the United States must meet the CPSC standard.
The ASTM safety certification for bicycle helmets goes above and beyond the CPSC minimums. The Snell Foundation safety certification is the toughest set of standards, incorporating highly rated impact protection for BMX and mountain bikers.
Avoid bicycle helmets that boast certifications from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). ANSI safety certification is weak and outdated, and manufacturers use this certification when they cannot quality for the CPSC.
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