by John Cane

Created on: June 10, 2009   Last Updated: June 12, 2009

The only thing that bothers me more than seeing a child riding a bike without a helmet is seeing that kid who is wearing a helmet but it fits so poorly that it wouldn't protect him if he fell. So to make sure that kid isn't your kid, here are a couple of things to consider.

There are a number of styles of bicycle helmet that you can choose from. What style you choose will depend on the age of your child, what your child will be using the helmet for and what your child likes. Lets face it, if your child doesn't like his helmet he won't wear it. It should also be noted that all helmets on the market in the US and most other countries have all passed certain safety standard, so for the most part it is safe to assume that helmets are roughly equal in terms of safety unless they have added features like chin or face guards. The major styles that you will see out there today are the following: Standard, BMX/Skate, Full faced, Trailer.

Standard helmets: Standard helmets are what most people ride on road or mountain bikes. They are the lightest weight of the helmets and have the best ventilation of the helmets. This is the style that most people should and will select for their children.

BMX: BMX and Skateboard helmets have a harder shell than the standard helmets. They are typically less ventilated (so your head is hotter) but they are more durable so they take a little more abuse if your kids drop them on the ground a lot. These are also a little trendier so kids may be more likely to wear them.

Full Faced: Full faced helmets are used for BMX and Downhill racing. They can be really warm in the summer, but they have a face guard so if you crash you are less likely to damage your teeth and face.

Trailer: For the young kids, there are also special helmets designed for riding in trailers and strollers. These helmets have a little flatter back to them so that the headrest on the trailer will not push the helmet up into the child's face.

Once you know what style of helmet you want, you are to the most important part.

Fitting the Helmet: Helmets are typically adjustable to a range of head sizes. Older and cheaper helmets are often adjusted by changing pads. Thicker pads are used for smaller heads and thinner pads for larger heads. Most modern helmets have an adjustment in the form of a ratchet or dial that closes the helmet in around the head.

In order to fit the helmet, open the helmet up to the largest adjustment

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>