Bike helmet safety or "how a helmet saved my life and netted me a husband"
By Heather
by Heather
A long time ago (2002, but pre-kids so it totally feels like a lifetime ago!) in a land not too far away, I used to be an athlete. One sunny Sunday afternoon, I went mountain biking with my good friend Olivia and my new boyfriend (and eventual husband), Alec.
Alec was a much stronger cyclist and biked on ahead while Olivia and I huffed and puffed up the dirt trails of one of our local state parks in an effort to earn our pancake breakfast.
Toward the end of our ride, I made a bad judgment call and went head over heels and onto the hard-packed earth, landing smack on my shoulder and helmet-covered-head. The next thing I remember was sitting on the side of the road while Olivia begged me to stay put so she could fetch her car (and drive me to the hospital). The part I forgot went something like this:
Heather: my arm hurts
Olivia: I know, you fell.
Heather: what are we doing mountain biking?
Olivia: we thought it would be fun.
Heather: are we here with someone else?
Olivia: yes, Alec.
Heather: and what is my relationship to him?
Olivia: you’re dating (oh no! and this is where she might’ve messed with me a little)
Heather: my arm hurts…etc.
[Rinse, repeat that conversation about six times, until Olivia managed to wheel both of our bikes and guide my sorry frame out of the hills and back to the road.]
My helmet cracked that day but it saved my noggin from worse injury. Since then I am a huge (AND VOCAL) advocate for everyone wearing bike helmets. Do your brain and your family a favor and make sure your helmet is in good working order.
Here are a few helmet safety tidbits to keep in mind:
- Wear your helmet whenever you are biking. Your kids are watching.
- Make sure your kids are wearing their helmets when they’re biking, riding in a trailer or sitting in a perched-up bike seat. Every time.
- The helmet should fit snugly on your head but not be too tight. Make sure it is also level and stable. Can you fit two fingers beneath the chin strap? Good … that’s perfect. Here is a quick fit checklist from the Bike Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI).
- Once your helmet has been in a crash, it is time to replace it. It did its job and the inner-workings are compromised (that’s a good reason not to buy a used helmet as much as I like second-hand gear).
Now get out there and enjoy this spring weather on your bike – but helmet up!
3 Responses to “Bike helmet safety or "how a helmet saved my life and netted me a husband"”
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Great tip! I just wanted to add that some manufacturers have been known to replace helmets for free in return for sending in a cracked/damaged helmet along with the crash story.
Yes, my dad crashed and sent his cracked helmet in and got a replacement. And he loves to tell the story, so it’s a win for the manufacturer!
thanks ToolGuyd! We tell our kids that after a good bonk on the head that a helmet “did its job” and needs to be replaced. I like the idea of sending it back home.