Highlands First Aid Squad
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Bicycle Safety Tips
Tip 1
Proper Helmet Strap Adjustment
A properly worn and adjusted helmet is a safer helmet.
Helmet straps adjust in several ways:
- The yoke buckles (plastic pieces connecting
front and rear straps) should rest at the corner of your jawbone,
below your ears.
- In use, the side yoke straps must be taut with
the helmet level on your head as you fasten the chin strap.
- Excess chin strap webbing can be trimmed and
the cut edge melted to prevent fraying. Please let us know if you
need assistance with strap adjustment or helmet fitting.
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Tip 2
Three Tests For Helmet Fit
- The shake test. Shake your helmet from side to side.
Fit pads should hold it snugly in place.
- The open-mouth test. When you buckle the chin strap and
open your mouth, you should feel the helmet press firmly against the top of
your head.
- Peel-off test. If you can "peel" the helmet
off your head to the front or rear when the chin strap is tightened, the
straps need to be tightened.
Tip 3
A Level Helmet is a Safe Helmet
- A helmet isn't safe if you don't wear it correctly.
The most common mistake we see is a helmet that's not level on the head,
exposing the forehead, nose and chin to injury in a fall.
- The helmet should rest on your head so the front
rim is just above the eyebrows. All other adjustments should be made without
altering this position.
- Please be careful when adjusting the straps--it's
easy to pinch some skin or pull hair when fastening the chin strap. Ouch!
Tip 4
Why You Should Wear a Bicycle Helmet
- Helmets offer two-stage protection for your
head. The outer shell distributes the crash impact over a
larger area to reduce the likelihood of skull fracture. The liner
is a foam material which compresses to absorb an impact, reducing the
force on the skull and the damage that can occur when the brain is
suddenly jarred.
- Helmets are more comfortable than ever. The
newest models are light, weighing in at only about 10 ounces.
They're cool, with more vents and channels inside the helmet to
direct air flow over your head and out the rear. And they fit better
than ever. We offer a big selection and more sizes, with some models
featuring new head-hugging devices that that keep the helmet properly
positioned and secure, even when you're on a bumpy surface.
Tip 5
Anatomy of a Helmet
- Micro thin outer shell is featherweight and
provides "exoskeleton" structure around liner.
- Vents force cool air through helmet's
interior.
- Polystyrene liner absorbs shock once by
compressing at impact. Some models have internal reinforcement.
- Fit pads fine-tune fit and absorb sweat.
- Strap suspension and buckle hold helmet
securely.
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liner absorbs serious impact only once and won't protect you again. Some helmet
manufacturers will replace your helmet after a crash--ask your retailer for
details.
Tip 6
Choosing Cycling Eyewear
Choose the lens color that suits the light and weather
conditions at the time of your ride.
Tip 7
How Cycling Eyewear Works
| The short lenses and/or thick
frames of normal sunglasses can obscure your vision in the forward lean
of cycling. |
Regular glasses can cut through
your line of vision.
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Cycling eyewear has special features to make your riding
safer and easier.
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- Wrap-around wind and dust protection is
especially critical to contact-lens wearers
- Stay-in-place nosepieces and temples keep
eyewear from slipping
- Distortion-free lenses that block UV are easy
on the eyes
- Shatter-proof lenses offer safety from gravel
and insects
- Some models have interchangeable lenses for
different/changing light conditions.
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