Every time you ride your bicycle, especially in heavy traffic, you run the risk of getting into an injurious or even fatal accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that in 2018 in the U.S., 857 bicyclists died in accidents.
Wearing the right helmet when your ride your bike can prevent head injuries and protect your overall safety. Here are some tips for picking a helmet that fits for proper protection.
Try it on
Before you purchase a helmet, try it on. It should feel snug on your head and sit level. The front of your helmet should also rest about one inch above your forehead to provide protection to this area of your head.
Buckle it
To prevent serious bike injuries, you should always buckle your bike helmet when you ride, even if you only travel a short distance. After you connect the chin strap, make sure it is tight and snug underneath your chin. You should not fit more than one finger between your chin and the bottom of the strap.
Do the shake test
While you have your helmet on, push it back to front and side to side. Adjust the helmet’s retention system if it moves noticeably during this test. With the right fit, your helmet should not move noticeably when you push it around on your head.
As you ride your bike, your helmet straps can gradually become loose again. Before every ride, adjust your helmet’s straps and do the shake test to make sure you have the proper fit for improved safety.