24 Jun Bike Safety

In the country children and adults ride bicycles all over the place.  Whether in a colony, on a country road, or on the highway, safety is a priority.

The rule is simple: If you ride a bike, you need to wear a helmet.

Why? Well, try this on for size: According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, wearing a proper fitting, Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) certified helmet could prevent 85 percent of cyclists’ head injuries.

Children & Adults alike need to wear helmets

The truth is, it’s easier than ever to be safe on your bike. In fact, it’s almost too easy — there are an overwhelming number of helmets on the market to choose from. Fortunately, we’re here to help. This helmet primer will walk you through the basics of helmets: How they’re made, how to tell if a helmet’s safe, and how you can be sure the helmet you choose will do its job and protect your head. Read on, and ride safe.

Check the box: If the label says “bicycle helmet,” it needs to meet the standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. It’s a law in the United States. Other standards exist (Snell’s B-95 standard is even tougher than the CPSC standard). But if you’re buying a bike helmet, rest assured that a low-cost helmet meets the same safety standards as a pricey, high-end helmet. Need reassurance? Look for a CPSC sticker inside the helmet.

Construction: Today, most every bike helmet is made of expanded polystyrene foam (like what’s found in picnic coolers) covered with a tough-but-thin plastic shell. On impact, the foam gets crushed instead of your skull. In less expensive helmets, the plastic shell is glued or taped to the foam; in more expensive helmets, the pieces are molded together during the manufacturing process. Either type of helmet is safe, though molded helmets are lighter, have more vents. Remember: EPS foam is single-use — it doesn’t recover from being crushed. After a bad crash, you need a new helmet.

Size it up: Lower-priced helmets are often one-size-fits all; you simply adjust an internal strap to get the helmet snug. Higher-priced helmets are available in a range of sizes. To learn what size you need, measure your head: wrap a tape measure around your noggin just above your ears. Make sure the tape is level — it should cross your forehead an inch or so above your eyebrows. Then, choose a helmet size to match the measurement.

Look: Most riders probably won’t admit it, but the look and feel of the helmet is just as important as how well it protects their grey matter. Some things to consider are color(bright colors are good if you are still riding during hunting season); cut (do you need something that covers the back of your head, or a full face mask for downhilling?); and ventilation (if you overheat easily, the more vents the better). Do you care to have a visor on the front of the helmet? Generally speaking, roadies don’t, mountain bikers do. But that is a matter of personal preference. These are not the most important decisions you’ll make if you take a hard fall. But how you look and feel out on the trail is still something to think about.

Wear it right: Low, level, and snug: That’s how your helmet should sit on your head. Here’s how to get a perfect fit.

Look in a mirror. Your helmet should sit level on your head, and the front of the helmet should cover most of your forehead. If the helmet tilts back and exposes your forehead, it’s not going to protect you.

Connect the chin strap, and tighten it so that it’s snug beneath your chin-you should barely be able to fit a finger between the strap and your chin. Adjust the side straps so that the point of the V sits just below your ears.

Push the helmet back on your head. Can you move the helmet more than an inch? Tighten the straps in front of your ears (loosen the rear straps so that the V points still sit just below your ears). If you can push the helmet forward, adjust the straps behind your ears. In the end, you shouldn’t be able to move the helmet more than an inch in any direction.

Check often: Helmet straps tend to loosen, so give your helmet a quick wiggle-check before every outing. Tighten the straps if you can move the helmet more than an inch in any direction. Then enjoy the ride.

ADDITIONAL SAFETY NOTE: Please make sure that you bike ride WITH traffic on the right side of the road. If you need to cross a road while bike riding, please get off your bicycle and WALK across the road. This is the only way to cross a street safely. Additionally, please be extra cautious while WALKING on country roads.  They can be extremely dangerous as there are no sidewalks. Always walk against oncoming traffic, on the left side.