The one thing we know about cycling is that in the past our parents didn’t pay much attention to whether we would be wearing a bike helmet when cycling or not. Luckily, this has changed, and nowadays it’s almost impossible to see a person riding a bike without a helmet. Whether talking about kids or adults, bike helmets are an essential piece of protective gear that anyone should own.
The Importance of Wearing a Helmet
Head Protection
The first and most obvious reason why you should wear a helmet is that it’ll protect your head from injuries. In fact, it said that a bike helmet can reduce head injuries by more than 70% which is just another proof that you can benefit a lot from wearing one. By choosing the right size of helmet, you can increase your chances of staying safe and sound even in case of an accident. It’s said that the right helmet can protect not only your head from injuries but also your brain which is even more important.
Improved Visibility
Just like vests, pants and tops, helmets for bikes can also have reflective bands on them. This could be lifesaving in many situations, especially in those when riding it at night. As we all know by now, a lot of accidents can happen at night because in some situations drivers cannot see cyclers, so wearing a helmet with reflective bands on it. You can even choose a brightly coloured helmet in case you cannot find the right fit for one with reflective bands.
Head Protection from Bad Weather
While helmets for bikes can certainly protect your head from injuries, they can also offer utmost protection from bad weather. If your bike is your personal transportation device and you use it even when going to work, then your helmet can certainly do pretty good service in protecting your head from rain, extreme wind and from the sun.
How to Choose the Right One?
Choose the Right Fit
The first and most important thing about choosing the right helmet is by choosing the right size. It’s said that a poor fit can compromise not only your comfort but also your protection. The ideal way to choose the right helmet is by measuring the size of your head with a measuring tape. In order to measure it properly, you should place the tape measure about 2.5cm above your eyebrows and 1.5cm above your ears. Once done, you can compare and check your measurements with the helmet’s sizing guide in order to choose the right size. In case you are between sizes, it would be best for you to choose a size down since this will provide you with a snug fit. A larger size, on the other hand, would be too loose to provide you with a proper fit. In case you can’t find a smaller size, you can consider wearing a beanie or cycling cap under the helmet in order to improve its fit.
Think of Your Riding Style
Just like bikes are designed for different styles of riding, helmets can also come in different styles. For instance, you can choose from recreational helmets which are designed for casual riding and are designed to offer the most basic protection.
Road helmets are lightweight and offer great ventilation since they are designed to be worn when riding your bike for quite a lot and on paved roads. And lastly, mountain helmets are designed to be worn when riding mountain bikes on rougher terrain. These helmets are designed to provide you with utmost safety, providing your head with improved coverage. They also offer great ventilation and have feature visors.
Consider Its Features
When compared to helmets in the past, all types of today’s helmets are lighter in weight which can significantly contribute to your comfort. They are also cooler and have more aerodynamic while providing you with the utmost protection. You can also choose from helmets with magnetic buckles which are easier to use and buckle even with one hand or when wearing gloves. Some of them can also have built-in mounts for lights and action cameras.
Speaking of features, you can also choose a helmet that offers full face protection, and they are quite popular for mountain biking. Although this might sound like these helmets are heavy and bulky, the truth is that they are quite light in weight while offering great ventilation and comfort. The best of all is that all these types of new helmets available on the market are coming at competitive prices. The most important thing is for you to choose a store that can provide you with helmets that meet the Australian safety standards, so you could be sure that you have made the right choice. Otherwise, you risk investing in a helmet that won’t provide you with the needed protection and comfort.
