Bicycle Buying Advice/Buying Bike Helmets
Buying Bike Helmets
Buying the right bike helmet is very important as the wrong bike helmet can not only be uncomfortable, but might not fulfill the proper requirements of keeping your head safe. The information below will inform you on the necessary precautions that need to be made when buying a bike helmet.
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Helmet Fit
Try a number of different brands. Each brand has different moulds and dimensions for their helmets, so some will naturally fit better than others. A helmet should be firm fitting but still comfortable. Whilst the helmet is on your head and the straps are undone you should be able to lightly shake your head around without the helmet falling off. If the skin on your forehead slightly moves with the helmet and it is not uncomfortably tight, then this is a sign of a good fit.
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Helmet Adjustment
With adjustable chin straps and rear head locks, in many instances helmets today can be customised to fit anyone. The most common way to adjust you helmet is to simply turn the knob clockwise to make it tighter and anit-clockwise to make it looser. Whilst adjusting your helmet, you will see the brace inside the helmet moving. This applies to road or mountain bike helmets and the higher quality brands usually have the adjustment knob at the top rear of the helmet. For BMX helmets, the most common adjustment type is the chin strap.
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Helmet Safety
Check that the helmet meets Australian standards. Most helmets on the market meet Australian standards; however it is possible to buy helmets that do not, especially BMX style helmets.This can be extremely problematic as the helmet may not offer the right type of protection you need whilst riding.
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Why pay more?
The more you pay for a helmet the better quality it will be. Higher quality helmets will be more comfortable, have better adjusting mechanisms and will look and feel a lot better than cheaper helmets. It is important to buy a good quality helmet as your safety is the highest priority when riding.
Take care of your helmet
For all helmets it is important to take note of the manufactures care and maintenance recommendations. Treat your helmet with care and try not to drop it as this can damage the internal structure of the helmet.
If you have any specific questions about bike helmets, or would simply like to hear more about what makes bike helmets so important, please feel free to contact us.
