Bicycle Helmets | Most Stylish Bike Helmet | Ride safely
Bicycle Helmet
A bicycle helmet is a helmet which was designed to be worn while riding a bicycle. They are planned to attenuate impacts to the head of a biker during falls while minimizing side effects such as too much temperature on the head or interference with peripheral vision.
Bike helmets are usually designed to absorb the energy of a head falling from a bicycle with an impact speed of around 12mph or 20 km/h. As a supplementary consequence they should also distribute impacts over a wider area of the skull. Due to its limitations it is not expected to protect the rider´s head from impacts with another vehicle. Hard shell helmets may do this better but are heavier and less ventilated.
The helmet argumentation
There are almost as much different opinions about the need of using helmet when riding a bicycle as the number of people riding regularly. I have no intention of "converting" all those who believe they do not need head protection every time they go for a ride. In fact I think it should be a personal decision and never a forced declaration or law (except maybe for kids).
The Rift cycling helmet is a great choice for riders who want cool comfort and rugged good looks without breaking the bank. A great choice for any rider!
I always wear a helmet every time I go for a ride and no matter what people may say I know for sure it has save my life at least twice (yes, I do not need any scientific studies). One time it was a crash during a downhill ride when I got my front wheel on the wrong place and went over the handlebar hitting a rock directly with my helmet. It is true that mountain biking can be more dangerous than riding on the road but it is also true that anyone can easily fall down and some times even the slowest crash can have severe consequences.
I am not saying that helmets are going to save your life no matter what but it is obvious they will minimize a great deal of head injuries one could suffer during a bike crash. Of course there are situations where the helmet can itself cause some injuries to the rider but the question is: what would happened to him if he did not wear a helmet in that same situation!?
Even though I always wear a bicycle helmet every time I go for a ride I also believe it is possible to ride without any problems and even fall without getting any head injury.
Helmets can also be stylish
Bicycle helmets companies
One can say that bicycle helmets companies are the ones behind the lobby of mandatory use of helmet when riding a bicycle and also that today´s bicycle helmets are still ineffective or at least not totally effective preventing head injuries during a bicycle crash. I also believe all this is true but like many other examples of security devices we can only expect efficient products after lots of research and complete testings. And this can only happen (or happen faster) if people start to invest on head protection even though they know it is not yet perfect.
"Fitting a Bicycle Helmet" by NHTSA.gov
How To Choose The Safest Bike Helmet
Main Bicycle Helmets brands
- Abus
Abus it is synonymous of security. Every product is tried and tested a million times before being able to protect you.
- Alpina
Since 1980 Alpina has been making some of the best bicycle helmets available. German quality at its best.
- Azonic
Having started on motorcycling races as O´Neal soon "jump" to the biking world.
- Bell
Bell helmets have played a vital role in protecting sportsmen and women for nearly 50 years.
- Casco
For about twenty years the Casco name has stood for innovation and superior quality. It is also one of Europe's leading manufacturers of protective helmets.
- Catlike
Innovation and top-notch technologies made this Spanish company a special one since its beginning until now.
- Cratoni
Great selection and variety of bicycle helmets.
- Etto
Some of the best quality bicycle and ski helmets you will find.
- Giro
Great selection of helmets for every kind of riding from road racing to downhill racing.
- Lazer
LAZER it is the oldest bicycle helmet maker world-wide which is still actively present on the bike business and on every road or trail.
- MET
More than just protection, it is an element of distinction and class. MET means unique style, superior quality materials and continuous technological innovation.
- Polisport
Polisport`s quality policy trys to overcome its clients expectations through a vast range of quality products.
- PRO-TEC
Having started by producing skate helmets in the early 70s Pro-Tec has now a complete range of bicycle helmets.
- SPIUK
After 11 years commitment to quality has made SPIUK a brand of reference in the world of cycling.
- THE
Small range of high quality bicycle helmets. Their products born from the many enthusiastic people`s experience.
- Uvex
Bicycle helmets are just one of the several products from Uvex. Quality is their commitment, safety and protection of people is their mission.
Let´s hear your opinions
Do you believe that bicycle helmet use should be mandatory?
Do you wear a bicycle helmet every time you go for a ride?
Please Ride Safely
Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
Comments are much appreciated, thanks
AUTHORThank you for the great comment... you make very good points. That`s why it`s a controversial subject...
First, nobody should be forced to do nothing. :)
Is there any serious studies about bicycle helmets which are not supported by helmet`s brands? I would love to share it here :)
Pity there is little referencing to any serious studies. It feels like Daily Mail Science to me. Still a good hub with a good dialogue.
Other issues to consider. Different types of bike ride, the off putting affect of riding with helmets (Oz saw serious drop-of bike use when it became madandatory) and the overall affect of bike riding on society both for health and for culture. (Do people riot who ride bicycles??) Keep up the good work.
Not sure why children have to be forced to wear helmets. Don't we want healthy children?
- AUTHOR
Hey Kelly, nice to meet you. You`re absolutely right... no one should be forced to use a bicycle helmet (except perhaps children). There are several safety measures better than helmets like riding style and places where you ride. I`m overall an anti "prohibitionist" :)
I don't every want anyone to not wear a helmet because I don't wear one. I will not argue that you shouldn't wear a helmet. I will tell you that helmet use is over rated in most cases and effectiviness/need should be based on style of riding rather than "overall" Honestly the way I ride 80% of the time the helmet would be better served on the golf course or in the car. Statistically I have a better chance of hitting my head falling in the shower than on my bike.
In groups, clipped in, or any fast riding I always wear a helmet.
So not saying helmets don't help.. just saying that if you force me to wear it on the bike, you should force me to wear it on the golf course, in the car, shower and walking in winter as well.
Kelly
- AUTHOR
Like to see you wearing a bicycle helmet... we need you to stay safe! ;)
funride I think the world of you sir! This is a great hub. Thank you for helping others be safer! God bless!
- AUTHOR
Glad to hear :)
Another good thing is that you´ll feel much more confident while riding in the trails wearing a helmet... at least I do ;)
just an update, we all picked up a helmet each today before we hit the tracks, and like some previous posts, they were very comfy and surprisingly i actully enjoyed wearing it and after 10 minutes you really don't notice it.
thanks for this thread, i don't think i would have been enlightend without it!.
- AUTHOR
Hey Street, I believe you made the right choice :)
Thanks for sharing your comment with us.
Have a great (safe) ride tomorrow ;)
i'm going downhilling with some friends for the first time tomorrow and ive got 2 friends that have something to say about helmets.
first one says "its only a blue run (a mild downhill experience) and the chances of falling off are silm, plus you look like an idiot"
and my other friend says "even if you don't fall off your bike, theres always branches on these tracks and you'll soon know about it if one hits your head, also its not unheard of to be escorted off the track for not wearing a helmet"
i think ill suck it up and pay £25 and buy one, who cares if i look like a fool for a few hours, better then going home with black eyes and a sore head!.
- AUTHOR
Oh Mike, sorry to hear that... were you wearing a helmet?
If you ask me I never liked to ride on the roads... why don´t you try mountain biking instead? It´s easy to avoid drivers and their cars. Hope you recover fast and completely, take care.
I crashed after a 3 hours training ride. Had a concussion. Still recovering from it two months later and over $100,000 in medical bills. I quit riding because you cannot win against cars. We have had 9 riders this spring hit by cars. I have taken up skeet shootng now. More golf and jogging.
The scarf isn't going to happen when it's 100 degrees outside. The sun went down 3 hours ago and it's still 83 F. We added more of the foam padding in the one I have now and it seems to be working. I'll look for the adjustable ones.
- AUTHOR
You should try to find one that has adjustable head size and if it is not enough you may try to use some kind of scarf on your head. There are those sweat bands to use on your head that also could do the trick ;)
Good luck.
I just found your hub. I recently started riding with a couple of groups and everyone wears helmets.
My problem is finding one that fits. Sometimes even the youth helmets are too big and I refuse to wear Dora the Explorer. Maybe I'll try a few of these links.
- AUTHOR
Hey Tom, thanks for sharing your experiences and for the help spreading the word about the importance of wearing helmet when riding ;)
My helmet has saved me at the very least from road rash a couple of times. I would never consider biking further than around the block without one, and every event I ride in requires them.
Thanks for writing this very informative hub on bike helmets.
- AUTHOR
LOL I can not help laughing when I think of you curling up inside my bicycle helmet :D
Thank you very much for your kind comment. I will research for bikes and helmets designed specially for poorQpines. Don´t you think I will let you out of the fun riding world :p
Take care!
funride, it seems you have done your homework when it comes to this head gear. Personally I like the idea of curling up inside of the helmet and rocking myself to dream-ville. My legs won't reach the pedals so a helmet would be of little use unless I could fit one up for sleeping. It is very nice how they are designed with the ventilation. Nice to read how you Humans live and play. Good that you share your expertise. me poorQpine
- AUTHOR
Hi Ben, thanks for stopping by and I´m glad you liked it. How is Megan and Jeff doing? Are they back on their bikes again? I hope all that bad luck has gone away for good!
Have fun!
Thanks for the tip that you wrote this, very good info. We always wear our helmets, which is good after the rash of accidents lately in the shop:
- AUTHOR
@ Foodstorage - Thanks for commenting. Enjoy your rides ;-)
@ G-Ma - :( I see you haven´t found a good bicycle/tricycle to get on riding again. I can imagine how you felt when you saw your son after that accident, thankfully it was not life-threatening. That´s why I believe it should be mandatory for kids while they are learning to ride.
Thank you so much for your kind words... You made me blush... Big Kiss!
Well I don't ride any more...too old...but would surely wear a helmet...and when I was riding we didn't even have bike helmets...in fact not even car seats...yikes...but you all know my age anyways...Now that they are available and there are so many that look nice and are reasonable...I can see no reason good enough NOT to wear one. And I think it should be manditory...sorry I know it seems old fashion but I still feel that way...No One can really force you...and is your choice not to listen.
My son had a great accident when in high school...but it was his tennis shoes hanging over the handle bars and they slipped and got caught in the spokes...which brought the bike to a fast stop throwing him off over the handle bars onto the gravel road...his face and arms and hands looked like hamburger meat...at the hospital they thought he had been in a motorcylce accident. Thank God he is ok and did not have head injuries....so an accident can happen for many reason's..in many fashions...but wearing a helmet can and does save live's..
Wonderfully done hub...as you always do my dear sweet man...and full of goodness...Thanks...G-Ma :o) HUGS
I thought I commented already but I must not have. Thanks for this good reminder to wear a helmet. I really dislike wearing a helmet but I don't really go on too vigorous of rides. My husband had a big bike crash coming down a canyon once but luckily he didn't hit has head.
- AUTHOR
@ Peter - Thank you for your nice comment. I´m glad to know that your brother-in-law went through the accident without major injuries.
@ Tinacarla - Thanks for passing by.
@ Princessa - First of all let me say to you that no matter how ugly the helmet could be it would never shadow your beauty ;) . Thanks for commenting. Enjoy your rides safely and have fun!
I had never worn a helmet because I always thought they were so awkward and awful looking that I would rather not be seen wearing one. However I have seen some decent looking ones in here, the Lacoste one is quite cool. Maybe If I look hard enough I might find a chic and fashionable helmet for my next ride J Thanks for the reminder.
WOW! nice hub! great information about helmet!
This is a great hub - it presents arguments for some important issues and carefully treads a balance between divided opinion. I agree that it should be personal choice as to whether you wear a helmet when cycling - however, it might be prudent to legislate helmet use for the under-15s.
Some years ago I was out cycling with my brother-in-law when he had a freak accident (getting his back wheel caught between a crack in some concrete paving and being flipped backwards, ending up hitting his head). He had no helmet (and always wears one now) - the impact took a small piece out of his skull but he escaped without any brain damage or serious injury.
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