How to Properly Fit a Cycling Helmet

Every person on a bicycle--regardless of the type of bicycle, where they ride or age--should wear a helmet. More than 90 percent of all fatal injuries involving a bicycle, involve rider that didn't have a helmet. Never leave on a ride without a helmet. That also means kids in trailers you pull behind your bike.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tape measure
• A bicycle shop with more than 1 type of helmet brand or the time to go to more than 1 store

1. 
    
   A basic road bicycle helmet

   Bicycle helmets are fitted by the circumference of the rider's head. It is best to use a sewing kit tape measure. Wrap it around your head about half way up your forehead. Measuring in centimeters is the best way to accomplish this.

2. 
    
   Basic mountiain bike helmet

   Sizes for helmets generally fall into these groups: Small is 51 to 55 or 57 cm, Medium is 54 or 55 to 59 or 60 cm, and Large is 55 or 57 to 60 or 63 cm. Youth sizes are generally 50 to 57 cm. The ranges reflect the differences between the different manufacturers. Try on different brands to see which one fits best without a lot of adjustment. All of the helmets have the ability to change the internal band of the helmet to be snug and to accommodate the rider, especially if they wear something underneath to keep their head warm or something to keep the sun out of your eyes.

3. 
    
   A basic children's helmet

   There are different types of helmets, such as road, mountain, dirt and sport. Whatever the type, it should be comfortable to the rider. There will be a trade off of weight of the helmet and cost. The lighter the helmet, the more it will cost. The other factor is how open the helmet is to airflow. In general, the lighter helmets have more vents and cost more.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a tape measure to measure your head.
• You could also use a baseball cap as a size if it is size-specific.
• Try different brands to find the best fit for you.
• Leave some room to put on a cycling cap or a light winter cap if you intend to use those.
• Never ride without a helmet.
• Price isn't the only factor you should consider, but it will be a differentiator.

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