A bicycle helmet is a basic yet one of the most important safety accessories to own as a cyclist. With an increase in motorists on our busy roads the potential to be in an accident situation can be quite high and your safety is of utmost importance in these situations. Apart from safety, helmets offer a ton of other benefits.
Here are our top five reasons to wear a bicycle helmet while riding your bicycle.
1. SAFETY / PROTECTION
The head is the most important part of the human body and needs to be taken care of. Good helmets conform to stringent global testing standards and come with safety certificates that ensure your safety in case of a fall. Snell and M.I.P.S are common safety standards to keep an eye out on.
A fall could take place at any speeds and it’s critical that you wear a helmet at all times. Even if you’re just riding around the neighborhood!
2. INCREASED VISIBILITY
Bicycle helmets increase your visibility in multiple ways. They come in bright colors or fluorescent colors which make the rider highly visible on road. Inbuilt reflectivity ensures you’re visible in the dark and few helmets have flashing L.E.D lights which are an added advantage in low light.
Especially when the weather conditions are less than ideal, a helmet can improve your capacity to see other drivers on the road, as well as potential hazards, by keeping water or mud out of your eyes (if the helmet has a visor). A helmet with a visor can also help to shade your face, improving your vision by mitigating the effects of sunlight in your eyes.
3. KEEPS YOU PROTECTED FROM HARSH WEATHER
Helmets protect you from harsh weather by cutting direct sunlight from scorching the riders head. Helmets are also designed to help speed up sweat evaporation and work to keep the head cool.
Managing head heat is an extremely important aspect of a well designed and well-ventilated helmet – especially when you’re riding long distances or if you’re putting in the effort when you’re climbing an elevation or in a race/performance situation.
4. EARNS YOU RESPECT
Wearing a helmet definitely earns you respect from the community. People appreciate the fact that you ride safe! Make wearing a helmet cool and help educate and influence the newbies in this awesome sport! You could potentially save someone’s life.
5. SETTING AN EXAMPLE
wearing a helmet is not only necessary for your health and safety, but also for that of your friends, family, or kids. By enforcing the use of helmets within your friend’s circle you are creating awareness that is then noticed by others around you.
Besides, most group rides make it mandatory to wear a helmet to ride with them. Group rides are a great way to connect with riders in your locality, explore new routes and generally hang out with other like-minded folks.
Wearing a certified quality helmet is one of the most important aspects of cycling to ensure you’re safe. It’s uber important to wear a helmet even at low speeds as you never know when an unfortunate fall can happen. Apart from safety, helmets offer a host of other benefits like increased visibility, community respect, and protecting your head from the elements.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT CYCLING
I never stopped riding my bike! It all started with me cycling to school. It then became my tool of choice to stay fit, which seeded my passion for long distance cycling. I love the simplicity of cycling as it makes you an integral part of the elements (Rain, Cold, Heat, Climbs, Descends) which in turn makes you value every pedal stroke!
Working as a Bike Specialist allows me to spend my entire day with bicycles and working with other like-minded people.
DISCIPLINE: Road
CURRENT BIKE(S): Scott Aspect 670 & Specialized Allez
DREAM BIKE: S-Works Tarmac
OTHER PASSIONS: Running, Photography, Travelling
