How to choose the right helmet for cycling?
When cycling, your helmet is an absolute must for safety. Particularly so for mountain bikers tackling rugged and rocky terrain!
Handy tips to help with your cycling.
Different styles of riding require different levels of protection, so you’ll need a helmet specifically designed for city or road riding and mountain terrains. Kids – in more ways than one! – are a whole other ball game. And of course, your helmet needs to fit properly, so make sure you choose the right size.
There are different kinds of helmet depending on the kind of cycling you do: city, countryside, all terrain or road. Each discipline has its own kind of helmet.
No matter which type you need, all our helmets comply with the same safety requirements to guarantee the same level of protection.
City Or Hybrid Bike Helmets
This kind of helmet is more suited to being stored in a basket or on your handlebars as it’s likely to be made from ABS, a sturdy plastic that means the helmet can be used often. Certain helmets also have a place for attaching a VIOO Clip, a small light that shows other road users where you are.
Road bike helmets are lighter, well-ventilated and well-fitting. The very best helmets are the ones that balance all three of these important criteria. The number of vents is important too, and you’ll probably already know how many you need – or at least how warm you tend to get during a ride.
These helmets have the same characteristics as a road cycling helmet. There are however a few additional requirements: it needs to cover your whole head in order to protect you from branches and falls, which are more likely in this discipline. Top tip: a visor will also protect you from mud.
We’re talking children up to the age of nine – from 10 years old an adult helmet will be needed. Cycling helmets for kids aged one to three are more compact and shorter at the back, which makes them more suitable for child seats. This type of helmet can also be used by children riding a balance bike. From ages three to nine years, kids' helmets resemble adult helmets. It's best to get a helmet with an adjustment wheel at the back for the best fit.
Your helmet needs to be the right size for both comfort and effectiveness in the event of an accident. Getting the right size isn’t not rocket science – you just need to measure your head.
Whatever the measurement, you should always try your helmet on before buying it. Everyone's head is different and the type of helmet (longer, rounder, more curved, etc.) will affect how comfy you feel. This is why, if it's a better fit, it can be better to get a helmet that isn't necessarily designed for the kind of activity you’re doing.
Your cycling shop probably has a measuring device for you to use but, if not, measure your head size or your child's head size at home using a flexible tape measure. This measurement will tell you whether you need to look at S, M or L helmets.
You should also test the dividers (on the straps by your neck). When correctly adjusted, they will stop your helmet from moving about.
Adjusting your helmet correctly will make it more comfortable. Some helmet have an adjustment wheel at the back to enhance the fit.