How to choose a cycling helmet

Any helmet is better than no helmet at all. On average, 570 cyclists are injured every year. In most accidents, death is caused by a serious head injury sustained in the accident. Of the 43 cyclists who died in accidents between 2018 and 2020, 43 were not wearing helmets. One in three of them would probably have been saved by wearing a helmet. Of course, even the best cycle helmet does not offer complete protection, but wearing a helmet significantly reduces the risk of injury.

For a long time now, helmets have been scientifically proven to reduce the pressure on the head in a collision and thus the consequences of a fall: this significantly reduces the risk of fatal injuries in an accident (see section ‘Does a helmet protect against concussion?’). After an accident to the head, the helmet must be removed from service immediately, even if there is nothing wrong with it externally, as any hard impact will permanently damage the EPS foam used to cushion the helmet's "shock absorbing zone". Other invisible damage, such as hairline cracks, often occurs on helmets in accidents. In such a situation, your helmet has already served its purpose and unfortunately can no longer protect your head the next time a collision occurs. A new helmet must therefore be purchased immediately! Fortunately, in the event of an accident, many manufacturers offer cheaper helmets through a ‘Crash-Replacement’ guarantee.

To provide optimum protection, your cycling helmet must fit perfectly, should not be more than five years old, and should comply with the European DIN EN 1078 testing standard (all Bikester.co.uk helmets naturally comply with this standard). Doctors also recommend helmets with edges that extend down to the lower cheek or at least over the ears, as most serious injuries occur in these areas. However, many amateur cyclists do not want to wear, especially in hot weather, a closed-face helmet that offers the most protection and optimum protection - a helmet that makes many cyclists look like Darth Vader. This means that a sensible compromise must be made between maximum safety and comfort.

Even lightweight road bike and MTB helmets are justified if you ride at a leisurely pace. Today, the ‘All-Mountain’ name is being used for an increasing number of helmet models that have been launched specifically for mountain bikers. Their edges extend relatively far into the neck area, offering more protection in the event of a fall. While the previous problem with these helmets was poor ventilation, the new ‘All-Mountain’ helmets allow air to circulate through airflow channels inside the shell, ventilating the helmet and being much lighter than previous models. Some models also have camera mounts that automatically release in the event of an accident, while others offer an adjustable visor. Modern quality helmets are manufactured using a process known as moulding, where expandable polystyrene (EPS) is moulded directly into an outer plastic shell. This creates a strong bond between the outer shell and the EPS core. The soft inner liner helps absorb the energy of an accident, while the hard, low-density outer shell protects against mechanical impact while preventing aftershocks from a fall. Depending on the thickness of the outer shell, the helmet is called either a ‘Hardshell’ or ‘Microshell’ helmet. Hard-shell ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) models are more durable and heavier, which is why they are used for downhill cycling, for example, but equally they are also seen in everyday use (for example on children). On the other hand, thinner-shell ‘Microshell’ polycarbonate helmets are more convenient because they are lighter in weight.

Is a cycle helmet compulsory? According to the Highway Code, cyclists and bicycle passengers are strongly recommended to wear a safety helmet whilst underway. This means that there is no legal obligation to wear a cycle helmet and there is no penalty for not using it. However, the use of helmets when cycling is generally considered necessary as they protect the cyclist's head in the event of an accident or fall. The law is therefore open to interpretation, since in its preamble the provision is considered to be a recommendation, not binding legislation. If the question ‘is a helmet compulsory?’ is replaced by ‘is it worth wearing a helmet?’, the answer is simpler. Yes, it's worth it. A cycling helmet always absorbs some of the energy of the impact and reduces the force of the impact on the head. You should choose a cycling helmet that fits your head snugly and tightly, so that it protects your head best.

The bad news first: even the best helmet cannot prevent the movement caused by a hard impact, but instead the brain responds to centrifugal force, which strikes the inside of the skull against its wall, causing a concussion. Depending on the intensity of the impact, nerve cell attachments may stretch or tear, which in turn can lead to swelling in the brain. The good news is that helmets offer excellent protection against many other consequences of accidents - such as bumps, scrapes and cuts, and even contusions and fractures of the skull. In any case, if you get a blow to the head, and especially if you have memory gaps, stop your bike ride there and seek medical attention immediately - even if you are not injured and are not in any pain. This is because even a ‘minor’ concussion can cause headaches and nausea, vomiting, problems with balance and concentration, convulsions and even worse consequences. All of this must either be diagnosed or ruled out by a doctor's tests.