2. Don't lose your head
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For protection in a bingle and to satisfy the law, bike riders need helmets that fit. Follow these guidelines to adjust yours
This article first appeared in RideOn August-September 2006 issue
Bike riders are required by law to wear a securely fitting, Australian Standard-approved helmet on roads and shared paths. You can be fined $50 if you don’t, unless you have applied for an exemption on medical or religious grounds. Helmets are not just for accidents with vehicles. They are beneficial for crashes at low speed, which are the type that constitute the majority of bike accidents. So how do you choose a helmet that will do the best job for you?
What to look for in a helmet
Firstly, all bike helmets must meet the Australian/New Zealand Standard. Interestingly, the AS/NZ 2063 Standard is one of the highest in the world and does not recognise any other standard from another country. Approved helmets carry the Australian Standard mark, usually as a sticker on the inside.
Not everyone has the same head size or shape and different brands will suit different people. The sizes range from 45cm for infants to 65cm for adults. Take the time to try on a variety of different helmets until you find one that fits. Adjustment pads inside the helmet can help improve the fit to your head, however, they won’t make up for incorrect sizing.
Keep in mind it may be better to let your child have a camouflage print, ‘cool’ helmet that they will wear than a safety yellow one that they won’t.
Aim to get a lightweight style with ventilation holes to allow airflow for cooling in summer. Newer helmets tend to be lighter and airier as well as more comfortable. A visor helps keep the sun and rain out of your eyes, while a mounted light improves your visibility at night.
Plastic shells on helmets are there to help them skid instead of catch on impact. If you have a foam only helmet you should replace it with a helmet with a shell.
Getting the fit right
Studies in the US have found that helmet fit is poorest among males and younger children, and that kids are particularly at risk of head injuries if their helmet doesn’t fit. The research noted the three aspects of fit most problematic were:
- helmet ‘resting position’ too high on the forehead
- improper strap position; and
- excessive movement of the helmet from front to back of the head.
Often, the only advice you get about a helmet is that it should ‘fit securely’. This means the helmet should sit level on your head (about two fingers above your eyebrows), feel firm without being tight and touch all round your head. The helmet must stay on your head even when there’s more than one impact, for example, hitting another object and then the ground.
The side toggles on the straps should be adjusted to sit just under the ear and the fastener should sit under your chin. Most importantly, with the strap fastened your helmet should not move and you should not be able to get it off your head by any combination of pulling or twisting. If it slips enough to leave areas of your head unprotected, adjust the straps again or try another helmet. Keep the strap comfortably snug when riding.
H2
Replace old or damaged helmets
A helmet reduces the force of an impact, but it only works once. Most bicycle helmets use expanded polystyrene (EPS), which is the white esky foam. Once crushed, EPS does not recover. This is why helmets must be replaced after a fall or if they are damaged in any way, as the foam will no longer absorb the impact. The foam will also deteriorate with age, chemicals and sunlight, so it is a good idea to replace your helmet every three to five years. When you buy a new one, use a marker to write on the date that you start using it.