What are bicycle helmets and tips for choosing them

Every cyclist who rides in a helmet can tell a sad story about himself, his friends or friends of his friends, which usually ends with the conclusion: “And then I / he decided to buy a helmet for himself.”

Bicycle helmets are not just a tribute to fashion or a way to show off, it really saves lives, because legs, arms can be patched, but a broken head is no longer treated. Therefore, when buying a bicycle, especially for a child, you should also buy a helmet on the same day, since children's bicycle helmets are now sold along with adults.

The design of bicycle helmets for all manufacturers is the same:

Frame. Made of foam materials - polypropylene foam or polyurethane foam. Expensive models are reinforced with carbon or nylon threads;
Outer shell. Made of polystyrene, designed to protect the helmet shell from punctures and destruction;
Straps secure the helmet to your head. It is better if they are stretched along the top of the helmet, and not attached to the sides - this way, in an accident, the helmet is guaranteed not to fly off the head;
Girth adjustment head is implemented using a slider or an adjusting dial.
Visor and mosquito net are not mandatory attributes of helmets, but greatly simplify the life of a cyclist. Most often, these elements are installed on cross-country helmets.

What kind of bike helmets are there?

Depending on the type of cycling, a helmet is also chosen, although this does not mean at all that only one helmet corresponds to each bike. So, a bicycle helmet can be:

Cross country. Suitable for amateurs, hikers and cross-country skiers. It is lightweight, well ventilated and comes with a sun visor and sometimes a mosquito net. Within certain limits, it can be adjusted according to the size of the head;

Highway. Looks almost the same as the XC, but it often has no visor and the vents are wider;

Designed for fans of BMX, street, dirt and similar velodisciplines. Made of stronger and thicker plastic, has no ventilation holes (or very small ones). Heavier than XC but better head protection. Not adjustable for head size

Suitable for fans of aggressive riding styles - freeride, downhill, etc. Fully protects the neck, face and head. This is essentially a lightweight version of a motorcycle helmet, often made of carbon fiber, fiberglass and other materials that do not break in a strong collision;

Designed for professional athletes involved in track racing. It has a streamlined shape, and for better aerodynamics, there is no ventilation in it;

Most bicycle helmets are made of foam materials covered with a layer of plastic. Such material dampens the force of impact, and the better the foam, the less harm is done to the head. The upper layer of plastic serves to slide the head on the ground, i.e. the more the head "passes" along the ground, the weaker the blow will be. Some helmet models are made of carbon fiber and other materials that can withstand more than one fall. These helmets are much more expensive than regular helmets and are often out of reach for buyers from small towns.

What to look for when buying a bike helmet?

It is better to buy a bicycle helmet in specialized stores - you can be sure of its quality and impact resistance. Used helmets cannot be bought for several reasons:

You don't know if the helmet has been in an accident. Even one blow against an obstacle for a foam helmet is enough to fail. The foam material is not recoverable and will simply fall apart at the slightest load. Any internal damage cannot be seen from the outside, so the seller can easily deceive you;
You don't know how long the helmet has been in use. Styrofoam has its own shelf life - it collapses from temperature changes and weather conditions (both the sun, and rain, and snow equally badly affect the material). Even if the helmet lay quietly on the closet for five years, the foam still collapsed from old age.
You don't know why the owner is selling the helmet. It could be that the helmet doesn't live up to its advertised specifications - it doesn't ventilate well or the sweat-absorbing materials don't work. In the end, a helmet is a purely personal item, so it should be selected taking into account your characteristics.

So, what to look for when buying a bike helmet?

Size

Most manufacturers write the dimensions of the helmet on the inside of the helmet, but you should still try it on. Do not forget that if the cross-country helmet is adjusted within reasonable limits, then the “bowler hat” should sit like a glove - so that there is no sting anywhere, and that the helmet does not hang on the head. By the way, cyclists who think that the helmet is “uncomfortable, obstructs and obstructs the view” most likely picked up the wrong size or fit for themselves.

Landing

After determining the size, put on the helmet and tighten the straps. Check if you are comfortable, if the edges are tight and if the straps do not cut the skin. Move your head from side to side and up and down. A slight backlash to the right and left is acceptable, but moving down on the forehead or back of the head is not. The correct fit of the helmet is horizontal, the helmet should protect the forehead and the back of the head, and if after tightening all the straps it still moves out, you should choose a different size.

Clasp

It is better if the fastener is not attached to the sides of the helmet, but passes along the top - so the likelihood that it will fly off during a fall is lower. See if you can open the clasp with one hand, and if not, look elsewhere.

Workmanship

Of course, a cheap helmet is better than none, but still check the quality of its workmanship - are there any cracks on the material inside and out, are there any notches, etc. It is desirable that there are special pads inside the helmet to collect sweat. If funds allow, choose a helmet from a well-known company - BBB, Bell, Giro, Met, etc.

Color

Advanced cyclists will, of course, choose a helmet design that matches the color of their uniform or bike, but it should still be a bright color combination so motorists can more easily spot you on the road. If you plan to ride at night and at dusk, choose a model with reflective stripes or a small flashing flashlight on the back of your head.

How to use a bike helmet correctly?

The first and foremost rule is wear a bike helmet on any ride, even if you went to the store for bread. Too many accidents can happen on the road to neglect such a simple protection.

The second rule - do not give anyone your helmet, and do not take someone else's. You do not know its history before you, and it is possible that you will be returned an already unusable helmet.

After an accident, even in the absence of external damage, it is necessary to replace the helmet, because. cracks appear on the hull. On the next headbutt, the helmet will shatter, leaving the head unprotected.

Store your helmet where you sleep, i.e. in a dark, dry, cool place - this way the foam will last longer. For care, do not use abrasive products, just wash the helmet with warm water and a soft cloth.

Before use, be sure to read the manufacturer's instructions - perhaps the store did not tell you everything, and you will endanger yourself without knowing any nuance.

The first additional accessory for a cyclist is a helmet. You may feel uncomfortable at first, especially if you live in a small town where you rarely see a "real" cyclist. But look at it from the other side - the cycling helmet actually looks stylish and distinguishes you from the rest, if only because you care about your health and life.

Helmet design options

Historically, there have been two types of bicycle helmets, in-mold and hardshell. The difference between them is in manufacturing technology, with the same protective properties. Let's talk in more detail about the positive and negative properties of these structures.

It is a two-layer structure. Inside there is a foam layer that can absorb shock. Outside - a protective layer of impact-resistant plastic. This version of head protection is heavier than the next, but more reliable.

The second configuration of the protective helmet is a single unit of a thin outer layer and shock-absorbing foam. As a result, the weight of the helmet can be reduced and ventilation improved. The negative side is the lower impact resistance of the outer shell, but this increases comfort and reduces the load on the cervical vertebrae.

What is a bicycle helmet made of?

The vast majority of bicycle helmets are covered on the outside with a thin special plastic, which is EPS (ExpandablePolyStyrene) foam. This plastic is able to slide on the soil surface, which reduces the moment of inertia. This reduces the chance of serious head and neck injuries. The surface layer is also able to hold the foam in one position and preserve the integrity of the helmet, preventing it from splitting.

The second embodiment of the inner shell is expanded polypropylene (EPP), which is capable of self-healing after impact, that is, it has the ability to expand after compression. This material is rare, it is lighter and more environmentally friendly than polyurethane foam.

The second type of foam is Expanded Poly Urethane, EPU or simply polyurethane foam, related to conventional foam rubber. Usually helmets made in Taiwan are made from it. Recently, foams such as Tau MultiImpact Technology and Re-UpFoam have begun to appear.

About Helmet Shock Certification

Since the Russian Federation is not concerned about either the production of helmets or the life safety of cyclists, Russian cyclists should focus on the United States, where such products have protection classes regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). There are special programs for testing various helmets. Regardless of the programs, all helmets are tested for:

Impact absorption (weight equivalent to 3 kg when dropped from 1 m);
The resistance of the helmet to being pierced by a sharp object such as a stone;
The ability to hold the head in straps (for strength);
The ability not to restrict the view to the edges of the helmet, in any case not less than 105°.

Bicycle helmets must also be marked with the stamp of the factory, have a mark of "state acceptance". In Europe, this is the letter "E" in a circle and the number corresponding to the country.

Helmet Replacement Tips:

The helmet should be changed after an accident, even if the wearer is not sure that the helmet will not be able to withstand repeated strong impact. One is enough to break the rigidity of the structure;
The average life of a bicycle helmet is about 3 years. Therefore, every 5 years, no more, it should be changed;
You should not buy used helmets, as there is no reliable information about what loads they had to endure.

Bike helmet parts:

Lining, which is made of polystyrene foam (polystyrene). It dissipates impact energy, so it should fit snugly and comfortably to the head and be intact;
Outer shell. Consists of the plastic possessing the shock-proof and sliding properties. When buying, you need to choose a more noticeable color to attract the attention of other road users;
Holes for ventilation;
Belt fastening system;
Holes for hair/braids. There are even special women's helmet models.

Whatever configuration and type of helmet you choose, be sure to properly secure it to your head and follow the rules of the road.