Despite mandatory bicycle helmet laws in 20 states and improvements in design making helmets an increasingly simpler, cheaper, and more comfortable way to prevent head injuries, many cyclists continue to ride without them. According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute of Washington, 75% of bike crash deaths are attributable to head injuries.
WHY A HELMET?
“We hear a lot of, ‘I’m a safe rider, and nothing’s happened to me yet,’ as excuses not to wear a helmet,” says Beth Brown, a long distance cyclist who has completed seven AIDS rides, 40 centuries, and co-founded Shifting Gears – a recreational cycling club out of Santa Monica. “Helmets are mandatory in our club. If you’re not wearing a helmet, you don’t ride with us.
“It’s about expecting the unexpected,” Brown continues. “There can be potholes in the road, rocks you hit the wrong way, drivers opening car doors, pedestrians on the bike path who don’t look where they’re going, even another cyclist can overlap your wheel.”
Shifting Gears hosts clinics and demos for new riders, covering safety topics including helmets.
“We hold up a watermelon and drop it on the ground,” she says. “That’s what’s going to happen to your head, even in a low speed crash.”
Brown herself was hit by a car while training two years ago.
“When I got hit, it changed my perspective,” she says. “I’m a safe rider, not a daredevil. I looked both ways at the intersection, but out of nowhere this woman came through a red light. My head hit the pavement, and that piece of Styrofoam was the only thing protecting me.”
Roger Wotton, a Category 4 Sport mountain bike racer, and certified technician for REI agrees helmets are crucial to injury prevention.
“Head trauma is not recoverable – it does not heal,” he says. “In bike crashes, you can sustain concussions, lacerations to the head on rough terrain, loss of consciousness, and inner cranial bleeding. In mountain bike crashes, you can flip over the handlebars, and your head snaps back like someone pulled you off from behind. You just don’t have that fast of a reaction time.”
Sport cycling helmets are suited to the casual rider. They have a rounder shape, and tend to have a “one size fits all” universal fit system of adjustability.
Mountain bike helmets have more coverage and protection for the back of the head against branches and debris. They usually have visors and wider vents for sweat control. Generally sized S, M, L, and XL.
Road helmets have more aerodynamic shells, less material, and narrower vents than mountain bike helmets. Also usually sized S, M, L, and XL.
“Cost is about comfort and construction method,” according to Wotton. “Higher end helmets have molded foam shells, advanced retention systems for more tunable fit, and better venting.”
Helmets range in price, but the safety tests for all helmets are the same. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to protect your head. Sport helmets can range from $20-$60, but most experts agree a casual rider can do just fine with a $20 version. For the more advanced features of mountain and road helmets, you can expect to pay $75 to $160 and beyond. Consider the type of riding you will be doing, and the number of miles per week or year to determine the style of helmet you need.
Always replace your helmet after any kind of crash or impact. Even if your helmet has not been in an accident, replace it every three to five years if you’re an avid rider, as the foam may begin to disintegrate and lose its integrity. If you ride infrequently, replace it after five to ten years.
- TESTING - make sure it has passed safety standards tests and has the legally required Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, label. Look also for stickers from testing organizations such as ANSI, BHSI, or Snell to ensure safety and quality.
- FIT – A helmet should be snug, not tight, and should not sit too far back on your head – no more than one inch above the eyebrows. According to Wotton, you should be barely able to stick your index finger up under each side, and be unable to get a finger under the front or back. If you turn your head upside down without the chinstrap attached, the helmet should not fall off. The chinstrap should be snug, but comfortable, making a clean V shape around each ear. If a helmet is too loose and can slide around, it will be less protective on impact.
- FEATURES/DESIGN – Look for light, visible colors. Consider ventilation and sweat control. Many helmets come with adjustable internal pads to help with fit and brow sweat. Factor in hair - some helmets have pony tail ports in back, and balding riders may want fewer vents on top for sun protection.
- BRANDS – Bell, Gyro, Louis Garnot, and Specialized are a few of the popular, well-established and respected helmet vendors.
published in 2003 in LA Sports + Fitness
copyright 2003 Ellen Nordberg . all rights reserved .
ENordberg@mindspring.com