Guide on Purchasing a Bicycle Helmet
Riding on Two Wheels: A Guide to Choosing the Perfect Helmet
Having your own bike opens up a world of adventures, and one of the thrilling aspects is gearing up for the ride. From bike lights to ensure you're visible on the road to bike locks for keeping your ride secure, there's no denying that the excitement lies in the equipment. But what about the crown jewel of safety gear? Yes, we're talking about the trusty bike helmet.
But is spending more money on a helmet equal to getting superior protection? What features should you be on the lookout for, taking your preferred activities into account, and how often should you replace your helmet? And what on earth does MIPS mean? Let's dive into the jargon and make sure your brain stays safe in your skull.
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Picking the Right Helmet for You
The kind of helmet you need depends on your riding style. If you're commuting on city streets, covering 1 to 5 miles to work, a commuter or everyday helmet will suffice. Some boast more or less ventilation, while others like the Thousand Chapter MIPS ($145) come with handy features like a punch-out hole for locking the helmet with your bike.
If you're a road cyclist, opt for a road helmet such as the Kask Utopia Y ($300). These helmets prioritize aerodynamics, ventilation, and weight, ensuring you breeze through the wind with comfort and coolness on long rides. For mountain bikers, a mountain biking helmet like the Smith Forefront 2 ($270) is a must-have. These helmets offer additional coverage for the back of the skull and often incorporate visors and clips to fasten eye protection or goggles.
Finding Your Perfect Fit
Buying a helmet might remind you of buying a bike – try it on! Most modern helmets come with dial systems at their rear, allowing riders to adjust their helmets for a precise fit. Adhering to the old adage "low, level, snug," your helmet should sit level on your head, cover almost all of your forehead.
A good rule of thumb is that your index finger should comfortably fit between your eyebrows and your helmet. The strap should be snug beneath your chin, ensuring you can't fit a finger between your jaw and the strap. Any significant movement of the helmet more than an inch in any direction suggests improper fit.
What Does MIPS Mean?
Lately, you might have noticed a tiny yellow logo with the word "Mips" on it on the shell of bike helmets. Mips stands for "Multi-directional Impact Protection System." This system within the helmet aims to reduce rotational impact frequently experienced during collisions.
An inner webbing (or what the brand calls its "low-friction layer") fits snugly to your head. Connected to the helmet's outer shell with fasteners, the low-friction layer and shell are designed to move independently, lowering the risk of damage to the head if a Mips helmet is worn during a fall.
Mips was established in the mid-90s by Swedish brain surgeon Hans von Holst, who recognized that contemporary helmets were inadequate in protecting against brain damage. Von Holst observed that helmets were designed and tested for straight-angle impacts; however, cyclists seldom encounter head-on collisions. He and his team began testing impacts from multiple angles to develop a system capable of rotating within the helmet, thereby reducing the force of impact on the cyclist's brain.
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- If you're a city commuter with short rides to work, consider purchasing a commuter or everyday helmet like the Thousand Chapter MIPS ($145), which includes functional features like a lock hole for securing your bike.
- For road cyclists, focus on road helmets like the Kask Utopia Y ($300), prioritizing aerodynamics, ventilation, and lightweight designs for optimal comfort during long rides.
- When choosing a helmet for mountain biking, opt for a helmet like the Smith Forefront 2 ($270), featuring additional coverage for the back of the skull, visors, and clips for attaching eye protection or goggles.
- MIPS, or Multi-directional Impact Protection System, is a system found in some bike helmets that aims to reduce rotational impact during collisions. Internally, a low-friction layer within the helmet is connected to the shell, allowing independent movement that may help reduce brain injury during a fall.
