Lee Hill
If you are a bike rider, then you should wear a helmet. A helmet is necessary when riding because it protects your head and face from unexpected accidents and injuries. You should wear a helmet for safety.
In some places, it’s mandatory to wear a helmet while riding. Otherwise, you need to give a fine. In the United States, all bike helmets should meet the standard guidelines.
If you are a rider, then an obvious question comes to your mind about buying a bike helmet. Various bike helmets of different brands are available both offline and online. But, you need to choose a bike helmet for yourself wisely. It should fit your head correctly because a poor fit can compromise the protection of your head.
Again, some people may question how to buy a motorcycle helmet that matches bike paint? You should always look for a bike helmet that suits your riding style, almost matches your bike color, and perfectly fits your head. In this article, I will try to help you make this crucial buying decision.
Types Of Helmet
#1. Road Bike Helmets
The road helmets are lighter and have good ventilation. They usually fit into the rider’s head easily.
#2.Mountain Bike Helmets
All mountain bike helmets have the same features as road helmets, but they also have additional features. These helmets cover your entire head to protect the rider from branches or any fall.
#3.Kids Helmet
These helmets are compact and shorter at the back. Children who are below ten years old can wear this helmet. If someone has kids, he usually searches around buying a bike helmet for the kid? A kid’s helmet should always sit low on his forehead. If he wears that helmet, he should look upward and see his helmet’s front rim. The left and right side straps of the helmet should form a Y shape.
#4. Recreational Helmets
A rider can also choose recreational helmets for casual riding.
How To Choose The Right Size Of Helmet For Comfort?
How to buy a bike helmet is the obvious question that arises in every mind of a rider. There are various helmets available in shops and multiple websites. So, a rider gets confused regarding choosing the best helmet for him.
Firstly, you should know the proper size of the helmet, which will suit you. You should also remember that the size of the helmet differs from one person to another. So, if a helmet fits your friends or relatives properly, it does not guarantee that that helmet will properly fit his head.
Some people prefer to buy helmets online. Those people may think about how to buy a helmet online? But it’s very simple. You need to measure the circumference of your head and then decide whether you need a small size helmet or medium-size or large size. (More on this below). Then purchase a helmet for you. But in online shopping, you cannot try your helmets before buying.
So, it’s best to buy helmets from bike accessory shops like REI or large retailers like Walmart and Home Depot. There you can try a helmet before buying.
How To Measure Your Head Size?
To find the right size of your helmet, you should measure the circumference of your head.
You can measure it with the help of flexible tape. Wrap it around the largest portion of your head but leave one inch above your eyebrows. If you don’t have a tape at your home, you can measure your head’s circumference with the help of a string and then measure the length of the string with the use of a yardstick. It is very simple. You can easily do it.
Sizing Parameters
| Circumference | Helmet Size |
| <51cm (20 inches) | Extra Small |
| 51 – 55cm (20 – 21.6 inch) | Small |
| 55 – 59 cm (21.6 – 22.8 inch) | Medium |
| 59 – 63 cm (22.8 – 24.4 inch) | Large |
| >63 cm (24.4 inches) | XL |
How Can You Adjust A Bike Helmet
Most of the helmets have an adjustment wheel. You should open the adjustment wheel fully and put the helmet on your head, and then twist the wheel according to your size. Then the rider should tight the chin strap. The strap should form a V-shape when they rest under each ear. A good helmet should fit properly on your head.
Again after wearing a helmet, you need to push from one side to the other or from left to right. If the helmet shifts, then you need to adjust the fit.
Features Of Bike Helmet
#1.Ventilation
If a helmet has more vents, then it will allow more air to flow over the rider. Thus it will keep the rider’s head cool. Consequently, a rider can ride comfortably. Again if any helmet has more vents, then they are lighter and comfortable to wear.
#2.Visor
A visor protects a rider from harmful sun rays, which we see in mountain bike helmets.
#3. Full Face Protection
Some bike helmets have a wrap near the chin. It protects the face of the rider from unexpected injuries. A mountain rider should always wear these types of helmets because they will protect him during downhill riding.
How Can You Take Care Of Bike Helmets?
- You should not clean your helmet with chemical solvents. You can wash it with mild soap and water.
- Avoid storing your bike helmet in a garage or a place where heat can accumulate.
- Don’t give your helmet to others.
Wrap Up
If you are a rider, then you should wear a helmet. It is a tool which you should wear for your safety. But when purchasing a helmet, a usual question comes to the rider’s mind regarding how to buy a bike helmet to fit on his head correctly. Well, the article answers your question above.
Again you should replace your helmet after five years. But, if your helmet met with an accident, you should change it at once because manufacturers design a helmet only for a single impact.
