How to Choose the Right Bike Helmet for Road Cycling? Expert Guide
In the world of cycling, you will find a lot of helmets from different manufacturers. You must choose the right one because your safety is the concern here. But how to choose the right bike helmet for road cycling? You need to make a few considerations to ensure you get the right one. They can be your budget, comfortability, fitness, retention system, conditions, etc.
In this guide, I will be detailing all the possible ways to choose the best helmet for road cycling, understand whether it fits you, and many other things.
Why Is Wearing a Bike Helmet Important for Road Cycling?
Do you know how many accidents occur every day? Some come in the new some do not.
Wearing a bike helmet during cycling is crucial. Let me show you some to
make you understand why you need it –
● Head Protection: The essential reason we wear helmets is to protect our heads from accidents or collisions. The EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) foam with a hard plastic shell keeps your head safe.
● Visibility: The bicycle helmet has many bright reflective colors so that you can improve your visibility on the road.
● Compliance with Laws and Regulations: Many countries worldwide charge fines for not wearing helmets while riding abicycle.
Types of Bike Helmets for Road Cycling
Buying any helmet is, of course, a ridiculous idea for a cycler. There is a specific helmet for a specific type of cycling. Let’s say you are a road biker. Then, you are going to buy a helmet suitable for road biking. You will not wear a mountain bike(MTB) helmet and ride on the road, right? Let’s check out the types of helmets you will have if you are riding a bike on the road.
1. Road Cycling Helmet
First up, a type of helmet I will talk about is a road cycling helmet. These are also commonly used for gravel or light off-road mountain bike-style riding.
I have worn these helmets the most, so I found them reasonably lightweight. Along with that, the helmet offers good ventilation. Also, in some cases, these helmets are designed with aerodynamics in mind.
Their shape is non-restrictive regarding your head movement or field of view. They sit above the ears and exceptionally high on the rear of your head. I never got my helmet gotten low behind because they sat there perfectly.
Road helmets tend to do a good job of covering all bases and can be seen as a bit of a do-it solution.
2. Mountain Bike Helmet
Mountain bike helmets give less ventilation than road cycling helmets. By the way, this helmet will give you great protection. In some helmets, you may get a visor, and some may not add it. This will help you again to keep the sun out of your eyes.
3. Casual Style Helmet/Commuter Helmet
What if you are not planning on getting kitted up in lycra and looking ready to take on the Tour de France?
A commuter or more casual-style helmet could be the way to go. From experience, they are slightly less ventilated than a road helmet, as you will likely not be working quite so hard.
This helmet has vents that can open and close. How cool is that! Also, there is a Visor that retracts away and a super fancy pants magnetic closure system.
Many will offer additional visibility or safety features, such as lights or reflective panels. They are often designed with additional padding and offer more protection to the rear of your head.
There are even some commuter-style helmets that can fold up to take up less space in your bag once you have arrived at your destination. Are The Helmets for Road Worth It?
How to Choose the Right Bike Helmet for Road Cycling?
Learning about the different types of helmets is not enough to give you the right helmet. There are a lot of considerations that you need to make to buy the proper helmet.
Here are some practical ways to choose the right bike helmet for road cycling –
● Strength and Safety Concerns
● Your Budget
● Comfortable Fit
● Retention System
● Conditions
● Crash Replacement
Strength and Safety Concerns
The main reason to buy a helmet is to protect your head from severe injuries. This means the helmet needs strength and safety concerns. Here are some safety considerations that you should check before buying a helmet –
1. Certifications: Look inside the sticker of the helmet. Check whether it has CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission), EN (the European Committee for Standardization), or the Snell Memorial Foundation safety standards.
If you find them, then this helmet is perfect for you. If not, do not buy that helmet.
2. Impact Absorption: Even if the helmet has the certifications, can it absorb and dissipate impact force during a crash? While checking the certification, consider whether it is made of EPS (Expanded Polystyrene). This foam helps to cushion your head if you have an accident. This polystyrene foam absorbs the impact and helps to protect your head.
3. Structural Integrity: Just checking inside is not enough. You should always check whether there is any structural damage in the helmet or not. If any irregularities are found, stay out of buying it.
Your Budget
Budget is always a concern, no doubt. But you have to spend money wisely so the amount spent makes the most sense. Almost every country worldwide has minimum safety standards that all companies have to meet before their helmets go to market. So, if you make sure that you buy yours from a reputable local bike store, you can also check the sticker. You have to take a look inside the helmet and find the sticker.
Hence, spending more actually does not get you any more protection. What does it buy you? Well, there are a few answers to that question.
● Weight: First and foremost, if you spend more on a helmet, you will generally get something that is much lighter. Therefore, it will be more comfortable to wear every day when you are riding.
● Ventilation and Aerodynamics: Secondly, these days, manufacturers have invested a lot in making their road helmets more aerodynamic. So, you will find fully ventilated helmets and fully aerodynamic when you want to be.
● Looks: Finally, you will get better-looking helmets the more you spend on them. But that is not always the case. You can spend less and still look good.
Comfortable Fit
Whenever I buy a bicycle helmet, I go to the local store. Because what if I buy it online and it does not fit or is uncomfortable to wear? Comfort and fit should be your next consideration after safety.
Note: Before you head to your local bike store, getting a measuring tape and measuring your head is not a bad idea. That way, you can compare that with the size that most manufacturers will have written inside the helmet sticker.
Retention System
A relatively recent addition to many modern helmets you will see is the retention system. You will see it on the back.
It makes a huge difference. You will get an excellent, snug fit. When you put it on and get it in place, you can bend your head anywhere without thinking about your helmet falling off.
Some manufacturers even provide height adjustability. I used it to adjust the helmet before buying the right one. You need to check around to see if the helmet meets your condition. Suppose any pressure is found, not suitable.
Conditions
Have you ever asked yourself what type of riding you do and what conditions you do it in?
● Weather Conditions
Now, I will not delve into the mountain bike side and all the options available to them. However, even roadies occasionally have to ride in cold and wet conditions. That is the case for you. Conversely, if you live in a really hot country, get something that will let plenty of air in and keep your head cool.
● Commuting
Do you commute often, riding on busy roads or at night? Because if that is the case, then you want to get something that is highly visible. So, consider the color, reflective strips, integrated lights, etc.
● Riding Fast or Slow
If I want a fast ride, I will choose a more aerodynamic suitable helmet. You may ask, “How much can it make a difference?” A lot that you can not measure. It pushes the air that would have pushed back your head, thus making you slow. If you want a regular ride, go for one with more ventilation.
Crash Replacement
What if you get into a crash? Will you get a replacement? I always look for the company’s policy whenever I buy one. That makes a good amount of discounts for me. Even if I crash my helmet by accident, it will not cost me as much as the first time. Talking about replacement, you should always replace your helmet after accidents and any helmet damage because you will not find it comfortable to wear if it is damaged somehow.
What Is MIPS Technology in a Bike Helmet?
Multi-Directional Impact Protection System (MIPS) provides additional protection against rotational pressures. This occurs while you are on the verge of an accident.
It will reduce the risk of having critical injuries on your head. So, having MIPS technology in a bike helmet is a great addition for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s check some frequently asked queries by people and their answers about choosing the best helmet for cycling.
1. How Do I Know If a Helmet Is Certified for Safety?
As I have told you before, look at the rear of the helmet. You will see a sticker with a label called CPSC(Consumer Product Safety Commission) or EN1078 (European Standard).
If the bike helmet has either of these labels, you do not need to worry because these helmets are certified for safety.
2. How Often Should I Replace My Bike Helmet?
You can change it for a regular or normal user after 3-4 years of using the helmet. If you have a crash and there is no damage to your helmet, you will still feel a bit uncomfortable wearing it.
So, change the helmet as soon as you crash.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of helmets in the market that you will find. If you are confused and thinking about how to choose the right bike helmet for road cycling, your answers are here.
Ensure you follow the methods mentioned in the sections and choose the best helmet because this will help you have a smooth riding experience and a healthy mindset.