How to Fit Your Bicycle Helmet The Right Way

Being that I have grown up in the bicycle industry my whole life I have a real hard time walking by someone with their helmet fitted wrong. I will chase kids down in the store and tell them "Let me see your head so I can fix your helmet". The plus about buying a helmet in a bicycle store is that it is fitted professionally to your head, that way I don't have to chase you down, to save your head from an improper fit. But all joking aside, if you don't come in the store here is all of the most important fitting information you need to wear your helmet the right way:

First and foremost make sure that the helmet has been tested and meets the uniform safety standard issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), you will find a sticker in the helmet that lets you know that it is compliant.

Make sure the helmet fits
Try the helmet on to ensure it fits snugly. While it is sitting flat on top of your head, make sure the helmet doesn’t rock side to side. Sizing pads come with new helmets; use the pads to securely fit to your head. Mix or match the sizing pads for the greatest comfort. In your child’s helmet, remove the padding when your child’s head grows. If the helmet has a universal fit ring instead of sizing pads, adjust the ring size to fit the head.

Proper helmet Positioning on your head:
The helmet should sit level on your head and low on your forehead—one or two finger-widths above your eyebrow. I always see people with their helmet sitting far back on their head, this does not protect the most important part of your head, your brain! So Please make sure that helmet is covering your forehead!

Straps Positioning and Adjustment
Adjust the slider on both straps to form a “V” shape under, and slightly in front of, the ears. Lock the slider if possible. Buckle your chin strap. Tighten the strap until it is snug, so that no more than one finger fit under the strap.

What to look for
1. Does your helmet fit right? Open your mouth wide…big yawn! The helmet should pull down on the head. If not, refer back to step 5 and tighten the chin strap.

2. Does your helmet rock back more than two fingers above the eyebrows? If so, unbuckle, shorten the front strap by moving the slider forward.
Buckle, re-tighten the chin strap, and test again.

3. Does your helmet rock forward into your eyes? If so, unbuckle, tighten the back strap by moving the slider back toward the ear. Buckle, retighten the chin strap, and test again.

4. Roll the rubber band down to the buckle. All four straps must go through the rubber band and be close to the buckle to prevent the buckle from slipping.

Last But Not Least
Make sure the helmet is not on backwards. I swear I see a helmet on backwards once a week! If its on backwards its not doing its job, see picture below for example.

HELMET FACTS
-Its a law, all children under the age on 18 have to wear a bicycle helmet.
-All helmets should be replaced after a crash or at the sign on any damage.
-A properly fitted bicycle helmet reduces the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent and the risk of brain injury by as much as 88 percent.
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