Bike helmets made simple
Summary: Helmet facts in plain language.
What is a bike helmet
A helmet protects your brain when you fall. It has a plastic shell on the outside and foam inside. It has a strap to keep it on when you fly through the air. It only covers your head, and the rest of your body is still exposed. So you still have to be careful.
How does a helmet work?
The foam crushes when you hit the road. That cushions the blow, and usually saves your brain. The shell makes it skid on the street so your neck does not get jerked. The shell also keeps the foam in one piece. It can split when you hit the car and not be there when you hit the street.
If the strap is not right, your helmet can slip to the side or to the back. Then your bare head hits the road. Ouch. Pavement is very very hard.
Why wear one?
Being careful and not crashing is the best way. That's better than crashing in a helmet! The helmet only covers your head. So you need to learn the rules of the road and how to ride with them. But even the best riders crash. If you hurt your brain it can change you. You may not be able to read this page, or play video games, or talk, or run, or tie you own shoes or even feed yourself.
Some people do not wear bike helmets. Don't let that stop you. You need one when you ride your bike. They do too, but they just don't know it yet.
How do I pick one?
A magazine called Consumer Reports can tell you which helmets are best. But they don't test very many helmets.
Find a helmet that fits you. That's really the most important part. That will keep it on your head while you fly through the air or over the handlebars. Work on the straps to get the fit just right. You will probably need somebody to help you do that.
You don't have to pay a lot for a good helmet. But be sure it fits you, you like it and you will wear it.
Your helmet is good for only one bad crash. That damages the foam and you have to replace it. So you can wear a bike helmet to skate if you use inline skates and don't crash every day. For skateboards where you do crash a lot, you need a different helmet that recovers after a crash. Skateboard helmets have a sticker inside that says ASTM F-1492.
This page was last revised on: June 9, 2005.
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