Many people oppose helmets stating that they offer little to no protection against major impacts to your head. They would argue that we do not use helmets when driving a car or walking down a sidewalk even though we still have our heads exposed, so why should we wear a helmet when riding a bike?

Indeed manufacturers of helmets appear to be marketing less and less protective products. In the past decade, consumer helmets have trended towards more holes for ventilation and smaller sleeker designs for style. They are, however, made with better insulating foams that absorb more of an impact and tougher outer shells that can withstand more stress.

So the question is, should I buy a new fancy bike helmet?

Firstly, during an impact, your helmet is designed to do more than you think. The foam inside crushes when you hit the road, cushioning the blow to your head and decreasing the impact on your brain. The shell on the outside makes it skid on the street so your neck does not get jerked, while also keeping the foam in one piece.

If you have purchased a helmet in the past, then it is prudent to know that your old helmet will deteriorate with age. The plastic lining will dry out over time and become more brittle. It is a safe bet that if you bought a helmet more than five years ago that you should buy a new helmet. In addition, a bike helmet is only designed to save your head once, not repeatedly. Even if there are no visible marks on the outside, you should purchase a new helmet.

If you do not believe in wearing a helmet, consider the simple piece of logic that some protection is better than no protection. Granted, there are a lot of people trying to point out that studies showing bike helmets are effective aren’t completely true, but there is no evidence that helmets increase the risk of injury to your head. Safety is an important key to feeling comfortable on a bike and having a good time. Important facts:

 

 

1. Studies suggest that wearing a bicycle helmet has shown to reduce serious head injuries by 85% 

    

2. 39% of deaths from cycling injuries occur in children under the age of 15 

    

3. It’s the law for anyone under the age of 18 to wear a helmet.

 

Jeffrey Abbott is a proud editor of the Science of Cycling website. They have many articles relating to the science behind the sport of cycling. Articles relating to helmet safety