There are three reasons to wear a bicycle helmet when cycling: to protect your head, to protect your head, and to protect your head. In 21 states, it is also required by law. When you look at the statistics, it is easy to see why--cyclists crash an average of once every 4,500 miles of riding. If you're an avid mountain biker or like to perform stunts on your BMX bike, for example, then you can expect to bite the dust much more frequently. Even if you're pedaling at low speeds, cruising along the gentle gradient of a cycle path, a fall can cause serious damage to your skull. In fact, statistics show that head injuries are responsible for 75 percent of the 500 or more annual deaths from cycling. Since medical research has shown that wearing a bicycle helmet can prevent 85 percent of head injuries from cycling, why wouldn't you wear one?
A bicycle helmet works by absorbing the impact of a collision. In the simplest terms, a layer of foam inside the helmet crushes on impact so your skull doesn’t. Traditionally, a lot of bicycle helmets have used foam made from expanded polystyrene, or EPS. Once EPS has been crushed during an accident, it does not regain its shape or absorption capacity. Expanded polypropylene, or EPP, does recover after being crushed but is found in far less helmets than EPS. GE's GeCet is another type of foam widely used in cycle helmets and is effectively a stronger type of EPS foam, more resistant to cracking, while Zorbium claims to absorb twice as much impact energy as other helmet foams.
In recent years, protective foams have slowly evolved. A new foam called Tau ReUp combines EPS and EPU for multi-impact protection, while Brock is a proprietary multi-impact foam that was introduced into some 2006 model Bern Unlimited helmets. When perusing current high end models, you'll notice the use of carbon fiber designed to save weight in a bicycle helmet. It is likely just a matter of time before manufacturers use titanium for the same reason, although using either titanium or carbon fiber will substantially add to the cost of a bicycle helmet. As it is, high-end bicycle helmets can easily top $200. This will buy you a lightweight, aerodynamic unit with large, well placed vents for optimal ventilation. However, in terms of safety and impact absorption, a helmet priced at less than $20 that meets the US CPSC helmet standard should provide comparable level of protection as a helmet that costs $200 or more.
Another current trend in bicycle helmets is a move towards rounder, smoother commuter designs. These often provide the best impact absorption during a crash. While they are ideal for casual riders and commuters, serious cyclists and racers will still likely prefer the elongated style helmets for their aerodynamic styling.
Whether you have taken a fall and dinged your helmet or not, you should still replace the helmet every five years or so, depending on the amount you cycle. As well as crashes and dents, sun and sweat can also damage a helmet by weakening the straps. Extensive use can weaken ring fit systems as well. Unless you're a serious cyclist or have deep pockets, this is another reason to consider some of the less expensive models rather than just high-end bicycle helmets.
How To Shop
There are for basic styles of bicycle helmet available. A sport helmet is suitable for all around use, while a road helmet is designed to be as light and as well ventilated as possible. A BMX helmet, on the other hand, is stronger and built to provide more coverage to the head, sometimes even including full face protection. The final style of bicycle helmet, a mountain bike helmet, offers the maximum amount of protection, as it will be used on the roughest and most dangerous off-road terrain.No matter which style of helmet you choose, the first thing you must look for is a CPSC sticker. By law, all bicycle helmets sold in the US must meet the safety standards laid down by the CPSC. A helmet with certification by the American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM, conforms to even higher standards, as does a unit certified by the Snell Foundation, recognized as the industry's highest benchmark.
Once you are satisfied that a helmet conforms to safety certification standards, you need to make sure that it fits comfortably and correctly. You want the helmet to stay on your head in a crash, so it must have a secure strap, and should sit snugly on your head rather than being tilted back or forwards and leaving areas of skull exposed. Helmets come in a variety of different sizes, including women-specific designs, as well as a one-size-fits-all design. Once you've determined your head size by measuring around your head just above the eyebrows, you’ll be ready to shop. Be aware, though, that sizes vary between manufacturers and all the measuring in the world won't make up for trying a bicycle helmet on before you buy. Don't be tempted to buy a helmet based purely on glowing reviews or recommendations from a friend. You want to make sure that a helmet fits right for your particular head shape and hair thickness. Many people find that helmets with rear stabilizers provide the best fit, but again, that may not be true for you.
A helmet with a custom fit adjustment enables you to easily make adjustments to the fit, often with just one hand, so you can even adjust the helmet while you're riding. The second key aspect to ensuring the correct fit is the retention system--or in more simple terms, the straps. Once the helmet is fitted there should be no slack in the straps. Thinner straps are less likely to make you hot and are generally found on road bike helmets. Mountain bike helmets, however, should have thicker straps to ensure that the helmet stays in place no matter how rough and bumpy the terrain. Higher end models include features such as pinch preventing buckles for a more consistently comfortable fit.
Ventilation is important in a helmet in order to keep your head cool during long bike rides. The more vents a helmet offers, the greater the airflow around your head, and the cooler it will be. However, it is important to remember that the more vents a helmet has, the more of your head is left uncovered, and therefore unprotected. If you're choosing a helmet for road cycling, you can afford to have more vents than if you require a helmet for mountain biking. Similarly, weight is more of a concern for road cyclists than for mountain bikers. Generally speaking, the lighter a helmet, the higher the cost, so unless you're racing where shedding every gram can make a difference, it may not be worth the extra cost to choose a super lightweight bicycle helmet.
There are other features to look for on a bicycle helmet depending on your specific needs. Some models offer a hair port at the back of the helmet to accommodate riders with a ponytail. Other models come with removable snap on visors to shield your eyes against glare from the sun and to create more aerodynamic airflow. There is also the color scheme of a bicycle helmet to consider, which isn't just a matter of fashion--the brighter the bicycle helmet, the easier it is for cars and other cyclists to see you.
Other features such as washable wicking mesh or anti microbial fit pads make it easier to keep your helmet clean and fresh for every ride. While budget priced helmets can be purchased from large chain stores for less than $10, most models start in the $20 to $35 range. If you shop at a specialized bike store you'll receive educated advice, but will of course pay extra for it. A solid shopping plan for a bicycle helmet should include trying on a variety of models in a store to ensure the correct fit then shopping around, including online, to obtain the best price. For serious cyclists, with a large enough budget, high end bicycle helmets can easily top $200 for a model with all the latest bells and whistles
