I recently bought a bike and am planning on integrating it into my spring/summer work out. I haven't ridden since I was about 14 (I'm 20 now) but I'm getting the hang of it again. However, I haven't ventured out on any bike paths because I don't have a helmet yet.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how/where to buy a helmet that doesn't look ridiculous? And how do you know it fits properly?
Anyone know if it's required that a person wear a helmet in NJ if they are over 18?
I'd prefer not to wear one, but I'm going to go ahead and be safe. Rather do that than risk smashing my skull against the pavement. Definitely wear a helmet, even if the law doesn't require it. It may not look 'cool', but facial damage or brain damage is definitely a much bigger consideration than your looks.
Go to a bike shop and have them fit you for a helmet. They will have more options for style/looks and will help make sure that it is the proper size. As far as I know, all states require you to wear a helmet while riding a bike. However, enforcement of the law is pretty variable. Thus, you may not get cited for riding without a helmet. Even if your state does not strictly enforce helmet laws, you should not put your brain at risk of traumatic injury.
Back in the dear, dead, days of my youth, I put in untold thousands of miles without a helmet. Of course, seat belts, air bags, baby seats, etc. weren't required back then either. In any case, a couple years ago, a dog tried to chase me, and managed to run in front of my bike. I went over - hard. My helmet was both shattered from the impact and badly abraded from skidding on the road. While I lost lots of skin from the rest of my body, I didn't lose any from my head. Even better, I didn't even have a head ache from the impact. Without a doubt, I'd have had a nasty concussion without the helmet. Therefore, I never go without a helmet.
It is very important to wear a helmet when riding paths. You really don't want to impact a tree or rock while riding.
Anyhow, as others have stated, you need to find a helmet that is appropriately shaped for your head and fits fairly closely. Use the adjusting wheel and straps to fit it perfectly to your head. I suggest you go to a bike store with a large selection of helmets and just start trying them on until you find one that is perfect. Regardless of price, all helmets conform to the same safety standards. Thus, you can buy for fit and looks knowing it will work as well as all others.
Hope this helps. Man i hate NJ...no freedom cant do nothing and its boring and the teens there are so fake they just bark but dont bite! BX, NY all day!
Sorry just had to get that off my chest...bad history..Anyway you can go to a bike shop and look at what they got. Go to any local bike shop that has a good selection of helmets. Try them all on until you find one that fits you comfortably at a price you are willing to pay. It's as simple as that. The people in the bike shop will help you make sure it fits properly. Everyone has a different brand preference because everyone has a different shaped head.
HTH ALWAYS wear a helmet and don't worry about how it looks. All it will take is one crash to change your mind ! Only two kinds of bike riders. Those that have crashed, and those that will crash. Walmart has some cool looking ones. There's one for $30 with a dull red finish that looks pretty sweet. It should fit snug and not move around. Ridiculous is in the eye of the beholder. If you hung out with cyclists, you'd find an entirely different sense of style than you get from fat housewives in SUV's, teenage girls in hoochi skirts, or your local goth contingent. In fact, not wearing one identifies you as a noob among cyclists.
You're 100% right to think about fit. It should be snug, but not uncomfortable when you're snapped in, and not move around when in place. There is a fair amount of adjustment to straps, pads and webbing possible with each size, so you can probably get most helmets to fit right if you have the right basic size. I have two different helmets, one a little larger so it fits properly over winter headgear.
See link below for a good selection. Rather than tell you what I like, notice that they're in order of sales popularity.
Should you wear a helmet? Of course. Its cheap insurance against the unexpected. I've broken a few over the years, and might not be typing this if I hadn't been wearing one. If you live near Paramus; go to campmor on 17N. They have a bunch of helmets in a back section with mirrors to check the geek level.
It should fit snug without being tight. You want it to stay in place after the first impact with the ground so when your head hits agian there will be a helmet on it. Got it?
A helmet saved my brains from a major scrambling one day.
You don't have to wear one but it's a good idea. No one to blame but you if you don't. The vast majority of states do not require adults to wear a bicycle helmet.
That said -- Wear A Helmet. Do so before everyone has a law saying you must. Maybe -- just maybe we can avoid yet another law saving us from ourselves.
Here is New Jersey law:
Title 39:4-10.1
In New Jersey, anyone under 17 years of age that rides a bicycle or is a passenger on a bicycle, or is towed as a passenger by a bicycle must wear a safety helmet.
On August 1, 1998 this helmet law was extended to include roller and inline skates and skateboards. Roller skates means a pair of devices worn on the feet with a set of wheels attached, regardless of the number or placement of those wheels and used to glide or propel the user over the ground.
The definition of bicycle with reference to the helmet legislation is a vehicle with two wheels propelled solely by human power and having pedals, handle bars and a saddle-like seat. The term shall include a bicycle for two or more persons having seats and corresponding pedals arranged in tandem.
All helmets must be properly fastened and fitted. Bicycle helmets must meet the federal standards developed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) effective March 10, 1999 that ensure the best head protection and strong chin straps to keep the helmet in place during a fall or collision. Also acceptable are helmets meeting the Snell Memorial Foundation鈥檚 1990 Standard for Protection Headgear.
Exemptions from the helmet requirement are persons who operate or ride a bicycle (as a driver or a passenger) on a roadway closed to motor traffic; on a trail, route, course, boardwalk, path or area set aside only for the use of bicycles. These exemptions do not apply if the areas of operation are adjacent to a roadway and not separated from motor vehicle traffic by a barrier that prevents the bicycle from entering the roadway. Bicyclists or passengers operating in an area where helmets are not required who need to cross a road or highway should walk with the bicycle.
Initial violators of the helmet law will receive warnings. For minors, the parent or legal guardian may be fined a maximum of $25 for the 1 st offense and a maximum of $100 for subsequent offense(s), if lack of parental supervision contributed to the offense.
Bicycle salespersons and rental agents must display a sign at least 15 inches long and 8 inches wide at the point where the transaction is completed when they sell or rent a bicycle. This sign should read: 鈥淪TATE LAW REQUIRES A BICYCLE RIDER UNDER 17 YEARS TO WEAR A HELMET.鈥?In the case of bicycle rentals, the salesperson/rental agent must provide a helmet, if necessary, for a fee. |
