Bicycle Helmet

"Advantages of Wearing a Cool Looking Bicycle Helmet..."

...Look around and some riders wear a bicycle helmet, while others don't think the helmet makes much of a difference.  But you can't disagree that wearing a bicycle helmet is the law. 

Bicycle helmets can protect your head in case of a fall or collision.  They can reduce head injuries by providing a cushion, but they make up part of safety plan: helmets alone usually do little to protect you from deadly injuries.  How safe you are on the bicycle has to do with where you ride, the weather, your bicycle maintenance and other factors--not just wearing a helmet.

Bell Bicycling Helmets

One well-known brand is Bell bicycle helmets, which give you a great fit and comfort, along with safety.  Bell's Arc II helmet uses its Acu-Loc system to snugly fit your head.  This helmet also has a place for ponytails and comes in black, blue, and red.

Large Head Bicycle Helmet

For riders with large heads, the 2006 Bell Triton XL Bike Helmet is for you.  This microshell helmet has a snap-in visor, plenty of air vents, and fits head sizes 58-65cm.

Meanwhile, the new Bell Influx mountain bike helmet has cam-lock levers and internal reinforcements.  This helmet comes in large, as well as small and medium size.

To get your correct head size, use a flexible tape measure and wrap it around your head above your eyebrows.  You can measure in inches and centimeters, so you can use either measurement, depending on what the helmet manufacturer prefers.
 
Helmets have either a microshell or a hardshell to absorb energy from a shock.  Hard-shelled helmets, which are made with thick plastic, usually match skaters' needs, not riders since the hard shell is often too heavy for bicycles. 

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Most bicycle helmets have a microshell, a thin plastic outer shell with expanded polystyrene for the inner shell.  Expanded polystyrene, which holds a lot of weight and acts like a cushion, is what makes the foam "popcorn" that you find in packages.  Other types of polystyrene are in egg cartons, coffee cups, and cars

Why Should YOU Wear Bicycle Helmets?

When buying bicycle helmets, you can keep in mind that they work best in collisions that are linear, or a straight line.  If a rider's head turns during a crash, the helmet won't be much help.

You can see how effective a helmet really is by looking at the maximum amount of shock-absorbance a helmet has before it shatters.  This level depends on the speed at the time of impact--when the collision happens. 

At low speeds, helmets absorb almost all of the impact.  But, at higher speeds, helmets have less of a benefit: at 30mph, the helmet reduces the impact to 27.5mph.  The helmet makes a small difference, but that's still less impact and less likely the rider will have a head injury.

How can you tell if a bicycle helmet is right for you?  A good helmet is lightweight and has enough ventilation to cool off your head.  The 2006 Giro Atmos Helmet, a 26-vent helmet for triathletes that comes in seven color-combinations, is one example.

Another feature of a good helmet is that it should be comfortable.  Generally, today's helmets have nylon straps that hold the helmets in place.  If you have the right fit, the helmet will only move around one or two centimeters and be slightly above your eyebrows, when strapped.

You only get one chance to protect yourself in the event of a serious fall.  Your bicycle helmet can be a life saver.

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Ride for Life...
Chip Clark
Famous Bike Guy

  Bicycle Helmet