Bike Helmets

Alright boys and girls, it is time to talk about the favorite of bicycling accessories, the bike helmet. Ah yes, the highly enviable, highly fashionable bike helmet. Our goal at Bicycle-Parts-Information.com is to give you some good guidelines on selecting a quality helmet that will enhance your cycling experience.

Bike helmets are currently manufactured in pretty much the same way, with a thin plastic outer shell and an expanded polystyrene body. The internals are typically lined with a set of pads to provide comfort and proper fit, and in later units, there is typically an adjustable head band.

As you are looking at helmets, you should be on the look out for a Consumer Product Safety Commission sticker (in the US) that will note that the helmet meets their safety standards. All US sold helmets are required to meet the CPSC standard.

In selecting a quality bike helmet, there are a number of factors to look at. The most important factor, from a safety standpoint, is fit. This is a comfort issue as well as a protection issue. If a helmet does not fit comfortably, a cyclist is less likely to wear it, thereby leaving behind the protection that it offers. Additionally, the proper fit of a helmet ensures maximum protection in the case of an impact. A loose fit may allow a helmet to come off, leaving your cabeza prone to the elements of a crash, elements such as concrete and asphalt, car bumpers, bicycle frames and other cyclists.

When looking at helmets, be sure to try on a selection of styles and brands to see how one helmet feels verses another. Make sure that you adjust the head ring or the internal pads (especially in older designs), and adjust the chin straps. A good fit will have the helmet level on your head, touching all around, comfortably snug but not too tight. The helmet should not move more than about an inch in any direction. Once you have established a snug and comfortable fit, you should try to pull the helmet off (with the straps done up). Try pulling from different angles with different pulling and twisting motions If you are able to pull the helmet off, you either need to find a different helmet, or readjust. The purpose of this is to ensure that in the case of a crash, the helmet stays where it is supposed to be.

Some important things to look for are vents and sweat control. Cycling is an aerobic sport which definitely raises the body temperature. It is essential that the helmet you select provides you enough airflow to keep you comfortable while you ride. Also, many helmets have a brow pad to help control sweat.

Remember, a bike helmet is there to protect your most vital cycling accessory-- your brain. Bicycle-Parts-Information.com boldly recommends that all cyclists use their brain every time they take off on two wheels. This is the most essential safety gear that you possess. Use your brain and hopefully the protection your helmet offers will not be utilized. Lucky for cyclists, a bike helmet doubles as one of the most enviably fashionable accessories in the cycling world . So, use your head for more than a hat rack- wear a fashion statement that protects: a helmet.

You can check out an assortment of quality Giro bicycle helmets, and Bell bicycle helmetsavailable from our sponsor, Colorado Cyclist. For more information on bike helmet safety, check helmets.org/