HOW TO CHOOSE A BICYCLE HELMET

The helmet is one of the most important pieces of safety equipment for cycling. It will protect you in case of a fall if it is well adapted to the morphology of your skull and well attached. Various models are available on the market to suit everyone, optimize the safety of the cyclist, without compromising his comfort.

Technical details on bicycle helmets

The structure of a bicycle helmet has been designed to optimize the protection of the cyclist's head in case of a fall. Generally speaking, starting from the outside, we have the outer shell. It is the element intended to protect from light shocks. It is made of PVC. To meet certain needs, other materials such as polycarbonate or ABS can be used to form the upper part of the helmet. Underneath comes the inner shell which is the main part for protection. It is made of polyester beads. The two elements are assembled by means of a press that will weld them perfectly to each other. Then, additional components are patched to the helmet to give aesthetics and comfort. These include closure straps and pads, decorations glued or printed on the outer layer of the helmet. Depending on the structural elements, materials used to manufacture the helmet, its price will vary. This is one of the determining factors in choosing a bicycle helmet.

How to choose a bicycle helmet for adults?

Governed by the standard NF EN 1078, a bicycle helmet must mention the CE marking, name and address of the manufacturer, the number of the standard, size, weight, year of manufacture, model and type of helmet. Wearing a helmet is not mandatory for an adult. Nevertheless, it is strongly recommended. To choose your bicycle helmet, you must identify the use for which it will be intended. For example, for city traffic, a helmet with a rounded shape is recommended. The city helmet has a less developed ventilation system compared to others since it is intended for a short trip. The concept is quite different for the road bike helmet. Indeed, it is essential to maximize aerodynamics and comfort for this category of leisure. That's why the road helmet has an elongated shape, and is well ventilated. Identical to the latter, except for one point, the classic mountain bike helmet, in addition to its lightness and hyper ventilation, is equipped with a visor that protects the cyclist from sunlight and branches.

Wearing a child's helmet for safety

The law requires that children under the age of 12 wear a helmet, whether they are riding a bicycle, a passenger or in a trailer. That's why helmets with a special design have been developed for them. They differ from those of adults in terms of size, shape and design, which is much more playful. Before choosing a bicycle helmet, be sure to measure your child's head circumference to ensure that the helmet fits perfectly.