.png?1677767993 "MikeSPORT")
Bicycle helmets - which one to choose?
If you are a bike lover, you know how important road safety is. A properly selected bicycle helmet is not only an element of protection, but also an indicator of your style and individuality. In this article, we outline some important factors to consider when choosing the perfect cycling helmet.
Especially if we are moving on difficult terrain or driving at high speed on asphalt.
A well-chosen helmet will not give us a guarantee that nothing bad will happen, but it is able to significantly reduce the impact force and protect us from really serious skull injuries and their consequences. So let's take a look at the types of bicycle helmets and see which one will be a good choice.
Types of bicycle helmets
Like bicycles, bicycle helmets They also come in several different types, which allows us to match a model that will not only be in the right size, but also, thanks to its construction, will effectively protect us. Riding style, speed, what kind of bike we ride and the terrain we ride on - all this affects which parts of our skull are most vulnerable to damage. Therefore, there are three basic types of helmets. These are:
- recreational helmets, also called city helmets: relatively inexpensive, they will prove themselves when commuting to school or work, they can also be used while rollerblading or scootering.
- road helmets, designed for lovers of fast driving on asphalt.
- mountain helmets for XC, as the name suggests, designed for driving on difficult terrain and hills.
- kaski enduro is an evolution of XC helmets. They are more built-up, the back of the helmet better protects the back of the head, some models have the option of attaching the jaw (then it receives a Fullface helmet)
- children/junior bicycle helmets - targeted at the youngest bicycle users
- BMX helmets- peanut type helmets, for riding a BMX type bike, necessary when performing various types of aerial acrobatics.
- full face helmets - that is, built-in with a full jaw, dedicated to those cyclists who ride in difficult terrain and the risk of an accident is very high
- time trial and triathlon helmets - these are models with streamlined shapes, where every second is at a premium, limited number of holes.
How are bicycle helmets different?
Depending on the type bicycle helmet we are dealing with a slightly different structure and thus functionality. Recreational helmets have a simple structure, often equipped with an additional visor, which serves as a shield for the eyes against the sun. Helmets of this type are distinguished by a less streamlined shape than other models, they often also have an elegant or original design.
In the case of road helmets, low weight and aerodynamic shape are extremely important. So they are very streamlined, they are also characterized by a large number of ventilation holes.
Mountain helmets, also known as MTB helmets, come in two variants - open and closed, which also protects the rider's jaw. They are distinguished by larger ventilation openings, thanks to which they are able to provide us with comfort even if we do not reach high speed. They are often equipped with a visor, which is supposed to protect against precipitation and sunlight.
Bicycle helmet with or without MIPS?
Looking through the offers in shops with bicycle accessories, we can see two types of helmets. The first, traditional, are bicycle helmets that have an outer shell joined with a liner and helmets with MIPS technology. Which of them are worth betting on?
In order to answer this question, it is worth explaining what it actually is MIPS in bicycle helmets. Simply put, it is a technology that provides multi-directional impact protection. In helmets of this type we will find an additional, movable insert that allows the helmet to rotate during a fall and adjust it to the type of impact. These helmets are more expensive than traditional helmets, but research on their effectiveness leaves no illusions. Ordinary bicycle helmets reduce the risk of dying from an impact by 85%. Helmets with MISP are equally effective and at the same time reduce the risk of suffering severe skull injuries by four times. In other words, if we care about maximum protection, they will be the best choice.
