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03-29-05, 07:17 PM
My 7 year old just got a new BMX bike last week to begin racing. Today he begged me to go for a few laps around the park in the rain, and since it was Spring Break I reluctantly agreed. Then, this evening when it cleared he wanted to ride a bit up and down the street as I watched. Well, his grips were wet and apparently not fixed with anything, and he pulled one off when standing up to pedal and came down right on his head and broke his helmet cleanly in two places. Just a small scrape on his elbow and a near nervous-breakdown from his father to show for it.
Anyway, the point is an obvious one with regard to helmets, but I realized looking at it how important it is to take the time to make sure it fits exactly correctly. I always make sure the straps are properly tensioned and it's sitting firmly and correctly on the head, usually to a great deal of complaining from the kids. In this case, if it would have been loosely sitting on his head the way I see most helmets on kids and adults alike, I think he would have caught most of the fall with his forehead. As it was, the helmet did exactly what it should.
The second part is the grips I suppose - on my MTBs, I always fix them with a light adhesive like hairspray, and then run a loop of wire around the inner end of the grip and wind it tight with pliers. Looks like the LBS just stuck 'em on there . . . I'm just sick that I didn't think to check them over.
Fit those helmets, otherwise they're just like unused seatbelts.
Anyway, the point is an obvious one with regard to helmets, but I realized looking at it how important it is to take the time to make sure it fits exactly correctly. I always make sure the straps are properly tensioned and it's sitting firmly and correctly on the head, usually to a great deal of complaining from the kids. In this case, if it would have been loosely sitting on his head the way I see most helmets on kids and adults alike, I think he would have caught most of the fall with his forehead. As it was, the helmet did exactly what it should.
The second part is the grips I suppose - on my MTBs, I always fix them with a light adhesive like hairspray, and then run a loop of wire around the inner end of the grip and wind it tight with pliers. Looks like the LBS just stuck 'em on there . . . I'm just sick that I didn't think to check them over.
Fit those helmets, otherwise they're just like unused seatbelts.