Bicycle Helmets > Buying the Right helmet

You always need a helmet wherever you ride. You can expect to crash
in your next 4,500 miles of riding, or maybe much sooner than that.

Even a low-speed fall on a bicycle path can scramble your brains.

Laws in 15 states and over 50 localities require helmets.

Make sure your helmet fits to get all the protection you are paying for.
A good fit means level on your head, touching all around, comfortably snug but not tight. The helmet should not move more than about an inch in any direction, and must not pull off no matter how hard you try.

Standards are no longer a big issue. Look for a CPSC sticker.

Pick a bright color for visibility to be sure that motorists and other cyclists
can see you.

Common sense tells you to avoid a helmet with snag points sticking out, a
squared-off shell, inadequate vents, excessive vents, an extreme "aero" shape, dark
colors, thin straps, complicated adjustments or a rigid visor that could snag in a fall.

KidsDirect's Guide to how
NOT to be hit by a car while riding a bike

More Reading
Your brain is worth reading this!

Need One? Absolutely!!

• Experienced, careful bicycle riders crash after 4,500 miles on the average.
  Nobody expects to fall, but in time you will too. When you do you must have head protection, since head injury causes 75 per cent of our 900 annual deaths from bicycle crashes. Road rash and broken bones heal; scrambled brains may not. Medical research shows that 88 per cent of cyclists' brain injuries can be prevented by a bicycle helmet. There are other benefits. Car drivers see you better and give you more respect. So do other riders. And helmets may be required by law in your area.
  

How Does a Helmet Work?

• A bicycle helmet reduces the peak energy in a sharp impact. This requires a layer of stiff foam to cushion the blow by crushing. Nearly all bicycle helmets do this with expanded polystyrene (EPS), the white picnic cooler foam used to protect eggs and computers. Once crushed, the foam does not recover. 

• Spongy foam is added inside for comfort and fit. Another foam, expanded polypropylene (EPP), does recover, but its use is spreading slowly. It may have some undesirable "rebound." An stronger EPS called GECET appeared in 1992 and is widely used now. A third foam called EPU (expanded polyurethane) is used for helmets made in Taiwan. It has a uniform cell structre and good crush without rebound, but is difficult to manufacture and not used much in the U.S.
  

• The helmet must stay on your head even when you hit more than once--usually a car first, and then the road. So it needs a strong strap and an equally strong fastener that cannot be jiggled open. The helmet should sit level on your head and cover as much as possible. Above all, with the strap fastened you should not be able to get the helmet off your head by any combination of pulling or twisting. If it comes off or slips enough to leave large areas of your head unprotected, adjust the straps again or try another helmet. Keep the strap comfortably snug when riding.
  

What Type do I Need?

• Most current helmets are basically all EPS foam with a thin plastic outer shell. The shell helps the helmet skid easily on rough pavement to avoid jerking your neck. The shell also holds the EPS together after the first impact. Some excellent helmets are made by molding the EPS in the shell rather than adding the shell later. Beware of marketing gimmicks. You want a smooth plastic outer shell, not the alternating strips of plastic and foam on the outside of Bell's stylish 1997 "Evo Pro" model. Excessive vents mean less foam in contact with your head in a crash, which could concentrate force on one point of your skull. (U.S. standards don't test for that, so it's your judgment call.) "Aero" helmets are not noticeably faster unless you ride at competition speeds, and the "tail" could snag in a fall. There is no real advantage to using titanium in a helmet. Dark helmets are hard for motorists to see, and even those silver stripes on many helmets that look refelctive
  are not. Skinny straps are less comfortable. Few riders need visors, which can snag or shatter in a fall. Mirrors are a necessity, not a gimmick, but they need a breakaway mount. The wire type mounted on eyeglasses can gouge your eye in a fall.
  

Standards

• A sticker inside the helmet tells what standard it meets. Helmets made for U.S. sale after March 10, 1999 must meet the US Consumer Product Safety Commission standard, so look for a CPSC sticker. ASTM’s standard is comparable. Snell’s B-95 and N-94 standards
  are tougher but seldom used. The weak ANSI Z90.4 standard is dead. Fit is not certified by any standard, so test that on your own head. Visors are not tested for shattering or snagging in a fall, so you are on your own there.
  

Comfort Requirements

• Coolness, ventilation, fit and sweat control are the most critical comfort needs. Air flow over the head determines coolness, and larger front vents provide better air flow. Most current helmets have adequate cooling for most riders. Sweat control can require a brow pad or separate sweatband. A snug fit with no pressure points ensures comfort and correct position on the head when you crash. It may take a half hour of wearing to feel pressure points. Weight has not been an issue with today's thin shell helmets.
  

Special Problems

• Pony tail ports improve fit and cooling for those with long hair. Bald riders can avoid helmets with big top vents to prevent tan lines. Some head shapes require more fiddling with fitting pads and straps. Extra small heads may need thick fitting pads. For extra large heads up to 8 1/4, look for the Bell Kinghead.  For a softer landing, seniors should pick a thicker, less dense model without huge vents.

KidsDirect's Guide to how
NOT to be hit by a car while riding a bike

Prices and Where to Buy

• When you pick up a helmet, look first for a CPSC sticker inside and a smooth shell with a bright color outside. Put it on, adjust the
  pads and straps, and then try hard to tear it off. Look for vents and
  sweat control. Helmets sell in bike shops or by mail order from $20 up,
  or in discount stores for less. A good shop helps with fitting, and fit
  is important for safety. But a discount helmet can be equally protective if you take the time to fit it carefully. Helmets are cheap now, so don’t wait for a sale. Many of us bought our helmets after a crash. You can be smarter than that.

When Must I Replace a Helmet?

• Replace any helmet if you crash. Impact crushes some of the foam,
  although the damage may not be visible. Helmets work so well that you
  need to examine them for marks or dents to know if you hit. Most
  manufacturers recommend replacement after five years. We think that
  depends on usage, and most helmets given reasonable care are good
  for longer than that. But if your helmet dates back to the 70's, it's time
  to replace it. Replace the buckle if it cracks or a piece breaks off. No one
  ever complains about the cost of their second bike helmet.

Warning! No Helmets on Playgrounds!

• Warning: Children must remove helmets before climbing on playground
  equipment or trees, where a helmet can snag and choke them.

• Consumer Reports Article

• In June, 1999, Consumer Reports top-rated the Bell EVO-2 Pro, Louis
  Garneau Globe and Trek Vapor. The Globe had superior impact protection.
  The Vapor was a Best Buy at $32. You can read this highly recommended
  report at a library or download it for a fee at their Web site:
  www.consumerreports.org
  

Back to > KidsDirect Bicycle Helmet Page 1

Source: The Bicycle Helmet Institute

KidsDirect's Guide to how
NOT be be hit by a car while riding a bike