When a person is considering the sport of mountain biking, there are a number of issues to deal with beyond the type of bike, wheels and tires that will fit the terrain. Mountain bikers should put some serious thought into bicycle clothing, helmets and so on. The correct helmet can literally mean the difference between life and death. Serious injury can be avoided with the proper mountain bike helmet.
Studies have shown quite clearly that those who do not have the proper helmet are much more likely to have a serious head injury from a mountain biking accident. It is simple: To lower the chances of serious injury, choose a quality biking helmet when purchasing other bicycle clothing and accessories.
The choices are there and most of them are of top quality. This is not a place to try to save a couple of dollars, so it would be wise to make sure that the biking budget includes more than enough for protective headgear.
First and foremost, the shopper should talk with an expert at a mountain biking shop to get a feel for what materials are most desirable in a helmet. Durability is essential and there are national and state standards for most protective bicycle clothing and headgear. In addition to a durable exterior, a good biking helmet should probably have a lining that is soft and comfortable. Overall, quality workmanship should be obvious.
Adjusting The Mountain Bike Helmet
The bottom line: Wearing the correct bike helmet may save your life one day. The pros at the bike shop should tell you that a helmet should fit correctly when it slides forward slightly on the head and rests about ? inch from the eyebrows. Strap adjustment is also critical. A loose helmet is not much better than no helmet at all. (Most top quality helmets have a "y" or triangle shape to them that fit around the ears.)
The chin strap should be snug but not too tight. Moving the head back and forth will tell the individual if the helmet fits well and is adjusted properly. Some bike pros state that the skin on the forehead should move with the helmet if it is properly secured on the head. If there is discomfort from the helmet being too loose or too tight, start over with another helmet or with the adjustments.
It would be almost impossible to spend too much time on this critical part of mountain biking.
