10 misunderstandings about helmets, cyclists have to know!

Helmets are equipment related to the lives of cyclists. Although the news does not list those products that are unqualified, there are still some things you can pay attention to when choosing a helmet. In addition to choosing a well-known brand, pay attention to the following misunderstandings and try to avoid them during use!

Myth 1: The lighter the helmet, the better
Relatively speaking, the lighter the helmet, the better. But the lighter the cycling helmet, the smaller the chance that it will pass the national safety certification test standards, and the higher the relative price. Therefore, the prerequisite for choosing a helmet is to pass the national safety certification test standard. This weight will not make you tired even for a long-distance, so don’t care too much about the weight index of the helmet. Generally speaking, the lighter the helmet, the more expensive it is. Unless you are for a bicycle race. Try to reduce your own weight, otherwise, it is not worth the extra money to buy an ultra-lightweight helmet.

Myth 2: The bigger or more holes in the helmet, the more windy the helmet
Breathability is the key to the helmet, which can keep your head dry during long-distance cycling. The more or larger the ventilation holes on the helmet, the greater the airflow around your head, and the cooler you will feel. However, please keep in mind that the more or larger the ventilation holes on the helmet, the more exposed your head will be, so the degree of protection will be reduced accordingly. Compared with mountain bike helmets, road bike helmets have more or larger ventilation holes. Similarly, road bikers must consider the weight of their helmets more than mountain bikers.

Myth 3: The buckle and the drawstring cannot withstand a certain amount of force
You may only know that cycling helmets need to be subjected to some impact tests, but the buckles and straps also need to be subjected to corresponding tensile tests. If they fail the corresponding tensile tests, they cannot be used on the helmet. Therefore, a qualified cycling helmet, small buckle and pull strap must pass the corresponding tests before it can be regarded as a helmet that meets the national safety certification test standards in the true sense.

Myth 4: The helmet is broken or used overdue
If it breaks, don’t use it. Wearing it is just comfort for the heart. It is not of much practical use. If you make a small bump, it doesn’t matter, but once the car crashes and the strength is strong, it may not be able to play a protective role. . Don’t underestimate a crack, it has changed the helmet’s force and component effects in the physical structure. Do you know the cause of the collapse of a bridge in Seoul in the 1990s? Later, it was inferred that it might be caused by cracks that were not firmly welded at a certain welding spot on one side of the bridge deck. Changing the simple principle, you pull a piece of brand new A4 paper from both ends forcefully, it may take a little effort to tear it, but once you tear a small hole in the middle of the paper, it will be easy to tear the paper.

Regardless of whether they have fallen or collided, cyclists should change their cycling helmets every three years. Because, although the helmet has not undergone a collision, sun exposure and sweat erosion will also cause the helmet and some accessories to age, thereby weakening the safety factor and damaging the helmet’s protective performance.

Myth 5: Wear a helmet without straps

It may feel more comfortable to untie the chin strap of the helmet, but if the head is hit, it will easily bounce out, and naturally, it will not be able to protect it. Therefore, in order to play the protective role of the helmet, please wear the helmet chin strap at all times.

Myth 6: Wearing a helmet that is too wide or narrow
If the helmet is not the correct size, it will not protect your head from impact. Don’t make the mistake of buying a helmet of inappropriate size. To determine the correct size of the helmet, measure around the largest part of the head, (usually 1 cm above the eyebrows), and then buy a helmet according to this measurement. Since helmets are often divided into small, medium, and large sizes, you may only buy a relatively suitable size, and then use the size adjuster rotary button to adjust to achieve the most suitable size. After putting on the helmet, turn the helmet from one side to the other, from the front to the back, and feel whether it is comfortable to wear. If it is too loose or too tight, you need to continue to adjust or replace it.

Myth 7: Use poor quality helmets
The manufacture of helmets has strict technical standards. Inferior helmets often fail to meet safe collision avoidance standards and cause danger. Many cyclists may not know how to know whether the helmets they bought are safe. In fact, it is impossible to determine whether the helmets are safe simply from whether the helmets are affixed with the CE certification mark. Corresponding test reports and certification certificates must also be provided. CE mark certification is a certification for specific products, focusing on product safety features. It is a conformity certification that reflects the product’s requirements for public safety, health, environment, and personal safety.

In China, most helmets are produced in accordance with the CE EN1078 standard, because most of the helmet manufacturers in China still export more, so the helmets bought on the Chinese market are basically CE EN1078 standards. Some have affixed this CE mark, but they have not really been sent to TUV. SGS has been certified. Each product and different sizes should have corresponding test reports and certification certificates. Consumers must pay special attention. Helmets without safety certification are dangerous.

Myth 8: Wrong wearing position
The most effective helmet position requires keeping the helmet and head level, and the edge of the helmet should be about 1 cm above the eyebrows. If it is not in this position, check whether the size of the helmet is appropriate, and then adjust the adjuster knob and chin strap to ensure that the helmet is worn in the correct position.

Myth 9: The system bandwidth is loose
The loose straps make the helmet possible to jump and move at any time, and when the head is hit by a secondary collision, the protective effect is reduced. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the length of the pull strap so that the distance between the pull strap and the chin is adjusted to a space between the fingers, which can maximize the effective safety protection performance of the helmet.

Myth 10: Put the cycling helmet casually after use
After every use of the cycling helmet, please put it in a cool and ventilated place to avoid high temperature or long time exposure to sunlight

Safety is no small matter: How to judge whether it is time to change the cycling helmet?

Mountain biking is always full of many unknowns. A crash is inevitable. The helmet can absorb the shock generated by the impact to reduce the chance of head injury. As time goes by, the helmet needs to be replaced after a certain number of years. Ensure that the helmet protection performance is in the best condition. So, how to judge whether the helmet needs to be replaced, let me tell you below.

First, check whether the helmet’s appearance is broken, scratched, or bumpy due to the impact. If there are obvious cracks in the appearance, it proves that you can give yourself an excuse to upgrade the equipment.

In addition to determining the wearing comfort, the helmet fixing device also has the function of fixing the helmet from shaking, making it more fit the back of the user’s head, increasing safety and stability. Therefore, if a helmet fixing device is loose, broken, or worn, it means that the helmet has lost the most basic protective function and needs to be replaced in time.

After the helmet is impacted by the outside world, it will break and deform to absorb the shock. You can check whether there is a gap and separation between the inner edge of the helmet and the EPS foam as a basis for replacement.

These stress positions of the bonnet buckle will cause the gum to become brittle and fracture due to long-term use or exposure to the sun. Regular inspections are required.

In addition to the fixing mechanism on the back of the head, the loosening of the fixing straps on both sides of the temple is also a sign that it needs to be replaced.

After a long period of use, the helmet liner will gradually become thinner and damaged and need to be replaced in time, otherwise, it will affect the wearing comfort. Since many brand helmets are not equipped with an extra liner for replacement, it also means that the helmet liner becomes worn out. Wearing your helmet is not far from retirement.

The “Y”-shaped buckle design of helmets on the market is divided into two types: preset type and movable type. Like the preset type buckle in the picture, the manufacturer has preset the length of the buckle during product design. No need to adjust when wearing. The location of these fasteners also needs to be checked frequently for breaks or looseness. If the above phenomenon occurs, it also proves that the helmet has reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced.

As the most important personal equipment, helmets should be visually inspected before each ride to discover problems in time. Only a fully functional helmet can provide maximum protection. Don’t forget to wear a helmet that protects your head before riding. , remember! A cycling helmet is not as expensive as brain surgery.