Fifty Plus (50+) - How to make sure that helmet fits

Hi all,

Went to my second "Street Skills" class this Saturday. One thing I learned that I want to share with y'all: How to tell if your helmet fits properly enough to stay on your head if you take a nasty spill, at least according to Martin Clinton, who is a wonderful instructor. He made the four hours fly by. And this was my second time around!


The helmet should fit one finger width above your eyebrows
The Y of the strap should fit just below your earlobes
The chin strap should be tight enough that if you yawn, your jaw pulls the helmet lower. (Or no more than room for one finger if you stick your finger between the strap and under your chin.)

I don't know about you, but I've been wearing my helmet too far up my forehead and the strap much too loose. It will take me awhile to not feel like I'm being choked, but at least I know what I should work toward.

Any of you hear other tips for making sure the helmet fits properly?

The most common error in wearing a helmet is to have it riding too far up on your forehead. A lot of people do this.

The advice given in your class is sound. I would add that the shape of the helmet needs to be appropriate for the shape of one's head, just as one has to select shoes made on a last proportioned the same as one's feet. This was the primary reason I splurged on a Giro Xen.

The advice given in your class is sound. I would add that the shape of the helmet needs to be appropriate for the shape of one's head, just as one has to select shoes made on a last proportioned the same as one's feet. This was the primary reason I splurged on a Giro Xen.

Yes! I recently bought a new helmet to better match my new bike. (Yes, go ahead and snicker...) The one I bought is a Giro that is designed for women. I couldn't believe how much better it felt (and looked) than the unisex Bell Citi I bought when we bought our first bikes last year. Don't know if you can tell by the photos, but the Bell is very round and the Skyla is shaped more like my head.

Bell Citi
http://media.rei.com/media/886734.jpg

Giro Skyla
http://www.velotique.com/images/GiroSkylaBlkGold.jpg

Are you telling us that women's heads are different than men's?

Are you telling us that women's heads are different than men's?

Dangerous territory you are getting into.

Are you telling us that women's heads are different than men's? Actually, you'll love this: According to this article (http://www.livescience.com/health/080122-women-skulls.html), women are more thick-headed than men. And our skulls are smaller than a man's. So you guys need more padding. You should probably be wearing one of these: http://www.kneedraggers.com/image_storage/4/7f/47f567dd9e3068f5966abc38c7e209b5_rough.jpg :D

And our skulls are smaller than a man's.

Oh yeah?

Then tell me why Mrs. CW has to adjust the straps to loosen them if she wants to wear my helmet, eh?




I don't know why anybody would think DG is heading into dangerous territory. Surely it's common knowledge that women's heads are MUCH more swelled than men's heads?


:roflmao::roflmao:

Oh no DG............what have you done?

I've always worn my helmet the correct way, but am stunned when I see riders wearing a helmet with the straps completely undone. I'm torn between saying something and minding my own business. So, I usually don't say anything.

Again, head sizes and shapes vary radically, and if you are going to the effort and expense of buying and wearing a helmet, make sure it is one which fits your particular skull properly. I tried a long series of $50ish helmets at my LBS, and simply could not find anything which felt right, until Fred said, "This is probably more than you want to spend, but try the Giro Xen. It is the only helmet I find comfortable, and your head shape (spherical) is very similar to mine." This was not bait-and-switch by a clever salesman, but the honest truth. I have been absolutely delighted with this $130(!) helmet, and have subsequently learned that two of my buddies at work swear by them, as well.

Any decent hemets come with proper fitting instructions. Once you try on a helmet and it feels good, you just make the proper adjustments and go.........not rocket science. And those people with straps not clipped or with the helmet on the back of the head just might as well not be wearing one. and there is no sense saying anything to them, they obviously don't care.

Are you telling us that women's heads are different than men's?

I had to break a couple fingers to keep from typing an answer to this question:eek::D

Sound advice, TruF.

Proper helmet fitting is one of the points we cover in the weekly bike ride with the local parks each week. It's surprising how many people want to wear that helmet on the back of their head.

I personally like the Limar helmets as they seem to fit my head shape and are easily adjustable. I see nothing strange about buying a helmet to match the bike. I have two to match my jackets:o Maybe I need to buy one to match the bike, too:D

I don't know why anybody would think DG is heading into dangerous territory. Surely it's common knowledge that women's heads are MUCH more swelled than men's heads?


:roflmao::roflmao:

I know you are a reltive newcomer to the forum--But it was nice knowing you. The Housewifes mafia spreads to Oz so don't go and old women with shopping trolleys or carrying sharp ended Umbrellas.

Only way out of your predicament is Pie all round- but Make certain it is not Meat pie. Roo pie is not to my liking.

[QUOTE=Catweazle;6479611]Oh yeah?

Then tell me why Mrs. CW has to adjust the straps to loosen them if she wants to wear my helmet, eh?
QUOTE]

(My turn to walk on thin ice...)
Maybe because in our age group the women are the only ones who still have hair? :lol:

... Only way out of your predicament is Pie all round ...

A not-unexpected response from stapfam. :)

(My turn to walk on thin ice...)
Maybe because in our age group the women are the only ones who still have hair? :lol:

You'll have to try harder than that, TruF. I still sport a gloriously full head of hair, which falls further than my shoulders. I've offered, on occasion, to lend some to my sons :)




On topic, I suspect the confusion about helmet fit is largely the result of not having helmet laws. Here in Australia, where we've had mandatory cycle helmet laws for ages, the sort of advice posted by TruF above is prominently displayed all over the place, wherever you see helmets sold. Even the chain stores feature large, illustrated signs above or alongside the racks of cycle helmets.

When wearing them becomes culturally ingrained the understanding of them improves, I think.

How to fit a helmet

1) Deflate head
2) Insert into helmet
3) Re-inflate head until you achieve a perfect fit.

A guy was trying to explain proper helmet fit to his wife but she just didn't seem to get it. "I don't understand how you could be so beautiful yet so dumb" he exclaimed. "Because God made me that way on purpose" she said. "He made me beautiful so you would be attracted to me". "But why did he make you so dumb?" asked the husband. She replied, "so I would be attracted to you"

A guy was trying to explain proper helmet fit to his wife but she just didn't seem to get it. "I don't understand how you could be so beautiful yet so dumb" he exclaimed. "Because God made me that way on purpose" she said. "He made me beautiful so you would be attracted to me". "But why did he make you so dumb?" asked the husband. She replied, "so I would be attracted to you"

:roflmao:

[QUOTE=Catweazle;6479611]Oh yeah?

Then tell me why Mrs. CW has to adjust the straps to loosen them if she wants to wear my helmet, eh?
QUOTE]

(My turn to walk on thin ice...)
Maybe because in our age group the women are the only ones who still have hair? :lol:

I tell my wife that my bald spot is a solar collector for a sex machine...........she usually just shakes her head and walks away.