Overview
According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI), the average bike rider crashes about once for every 4,500 miles of riding. The BHSI cites medical research that helmets can prevent 85 percent of cyclist head injuries; these injuries, in turn, cause 75 percent of cycling deaths.
Step 1
Wrap a flexible measuring tape around your forehead, 1/2 to 1 inch above your eyebrows. The measurement on the tape is your head circumference, which is usually clearly marked on bicycle helmet packaging. In general, a head circumference of less than 21.75 inches requires a small helmet, larger than 23.25 requires a large helmet and anything in between is considered medium.
Step 2
Select a helmet with a smoothly rounded outer shell–this helps reduce the chance of some part of the helmet snagging or catching on anything around you in the event of a fall. Bright colors are also a bonus because they make you stand out more in traffic.
Step 3
Put the helmet on. It should sit flat on your head, between 1/2 and 1 inch above your eyebrows. Twist the dial or push the slide on the back of the helmet–if present–to snug it down on your head. Not all helmets will have this adjustment mechanism, but most contemporary models do, especially if they’re one size fits all.
Step 4
Push the helmet forward and back on your head, then side to side. If it shifts noticeably, the helmet is too large or simply the wrong shape for your head. Size down or try a different brand of helmet in the same size.
Step 5
Buckle the chinstrap and repeat Step 4. The strap should be snug enough to keep the helmet firmly on your head, even in case of an impact, but not uncomfortably tight. Open and close your mouth. The helmet should press down on your forehead as you do so, but the chinstrap shouldn’t pinch uncomfortably.
Tips and Warnings
- Some bicycle helmets come with extra foam pads that can be adhered inside the helmet for extra stability, to cover any rubs or other sources of discomfort, and to help fit the helmet to a smaller head.
About this Author
Marie Mulrooney has written professionally since 2001. Her diverse background includes numerous outdoor pursuits, personal training and linguistics. She studied mathematics at the University of Alaska Anchorage and contributes regularly to various online publications. Print publication credits include national magazines, poetry awards and long-lived columns about local outdoor adventures.
