Turns out my chin strap could have been a little tighter.

Crashed a few weeks ago on a group ride, helmet took most of the impact (cracked it), but the right side of my face still hit the ground and fractured my eye socket. Ambulance, ER, concussion, roadrash all over and stitches in my ear that day, then a few weeks later, re-constructive surgery.

I'll make a full recovery, but it hasn't been fun....or cheap.

Its possible I still would have been hurt with it tighter, but looking at the helmet now, I could have snugged it up without being uncomfortable....and maybe avoided my fractures. Now I've gone from training for a PR in a last couple of races this year, to trying to recover enough to just finish one.

I see folks all the time with the chin strap loose enough to fit three fingers under the chin....the helmet's not going to stay in place in a crash.

Take some time and check your straps....if you can't make your helmet stay in place....get another one that fits better.

Thanks for this post. I've lost 15 lbs since I bought my helmet and it definitely needs readjusted. Is there a "three-finger" rule?
Glad your fine and good luck on continued and speedy recovery,
James

Thanks for this post. I've lost 15 lbs since I bought my helmet and it definitely needs readjusted. Is there a "three-finger" rule?
Glad your fine and good luck on continued and speedy recovery,
James

Thanks...

No there's not a 3-finger rule...I just mentioned that as a frame of reference as to how loose I see some people wearing their helmets. Mine wasn't that loose, but it definitely wasn't snug.

Do a google search for bike helmet fit or go into a good bike shop to get some help if you need it.

Something that brought it home for me was to lie on the ground and roll from back to front and see if any part of my head contacted the ground. See if the helmet shifts easily and some part of your head touches the ground. Now imagine that happening at 20-25mph on the pavement......are you still comfortable with how your helmet fits?

Good post- I noticed after last winters riding with a balaclava, my chin strap
loosened up a bit. Once it slid off the back of my head when I was walking
through some bushes and it got hung up on the foliage. Definitely keep that
strap snug!

I tightened mine. Thanks!

Im going to tighten mine tonight..thanks for the post, but sorry about your accident. I hope you have a full and speedy recovery!