An essential safety accessory, a bicycle helmet has to be chosen with almost as much care as you would your bike. Although they are all designed to protect, they are not all made the same!
At Epic Bike Store, our bicycle store in Beaupré, you are sure to find the perfect bicycle helmet for men, women or children that will be best suited to your needs. We provide you with expert advice to help you choose the right helmet and talk about a few of our best models.
Different types of helmets for different occasions?
The answer is a short one: yes! You won’t be wearing the same bicycle helmet in urban settings that you would when going down a hill at full speed with your DH bike. The amount of protection you need is something to be taken into consideration, but you also have to think about other factors such as aerodynamics and ventilation.
Mountain bike helmets
When it comes to mountain bikes, bicycle helmets are split into two main categories: the open face helmet that some might call the “classic” helmet, and the full face helmet.
Its name describes it well: the full face helmet will not only protect your head, but also your jaw, chin and face. If you enjoy enduro, downhill or BMX racing, this is the helmet you need. What sets it apart from others is the chin bar, which can be removable or not. With a removable chin bar, you will have the advantage of being able to lighten your helmet and enjoy better ventilation when you need it, like when cycling up a hill, for example.
The open face helmet naturally offers more ventilation than a full face, but it will protect you better than a regular road bicycle helmet. Mountain bike helmets reach lower in the neck and include a visor or face shield to protect you from branches, rain and sunrays. If you like riding All-Mountain, cross-country or trail, this is the type of helmet that will protect you efficiently.
Bicycle helmets for the road and the city
When it comes to helmets for road bicycles, they are also adapted to gravel bikes. They are aerodynamic bicycle helmets with a semi rigid shell and are often quite light.
You will also find city bicycle helmets that are round –or bowl helmets. They offer a little less ventilation, but do offer good thermal protection for when it gets cold. You can use these helmets when you are riding in the city or in BMX freestyle.
How to choose the right bicycle helmet?
Now that you know what type of helmet to choose for different disciplines, how can you pick THE best helmet? First and foremost, make sure that you really like the model and that it is a certified bicycle helmet. It must have a tag from one of the following organisations:
- CSA International
- CPSC
- ASTM
- Snell B90/B95
Our bicycle helmet store only offers certified models. If you want full body protection, take a look at more of our protection gear and equipment.
Having the right sizehelmet is also important for cyclist safety. If it is too big, it will move and it can fall. Too tight, and you will be uncomfortable and might even feel pain.
If you are shopping online, you can measure your head by placing a measuring tape under your eyebrows, all the way around your head and placing it where your skull is most rounded at the back. No matter if you are looking for a bicycle helmet for children or adults, here is a size guide that will help:
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Adult
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Enfant
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X-Small
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N/A
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47 – 54 cm
|
|
Small
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52 – 55 cm
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50 – 57 cm
|
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Medium
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56 – 58 cm
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N/A
|
|
Large
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59 – 62 cm
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N/A
|
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XL
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60 – 65 cm
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N/A
|
Most models are unisex, but you will also find helmets for women, which are specifically adapted to women’s head shapes. As a general rule, bicycle helmets for adults are easy to adjust.
EXPERT ADVICE: Before buying, the best thing remains physically trying out the different models to find the one you feel most comfortable with. You want to be able to put on and remove your helmet easily and adjust the straps. Once the straps are properly adjusted, the helmet must stay in place even when you move your head, and you should not feel any pressure on your temples.
The difference between a lower-end model and a higher-end helmet, is also a question of technologies and materials. With high-end models, the shell will be made from materials like composites or carbon. Mid-range models might be made with polycarbonate or ABS.
To make the right decision, you should look into the technologies used to improve aerodynamics and ventilation, and to reduce the helmet’s overall weight.
Recommendations for the best products
Do you need advice? Here are three great helmet models, recommended by members of our team.
Do you ride DH or BMX bikes at an intermediate level? Our choice for you: the 100 % Status. This is a full face helmet with an excellent price-quality ratio. More affordable than the Aircraft, it does utilize some of its design elements in order to provide you with maximum performance and great comfort. The shell contains carbon fiber for a lighter helmet, along with an active cooling system for great ventilation at all times. If you are looking for an excellent helmet without having to empty your pockets, this is the ideal model.
The 100 % brand also offers an excellent full face helmet for enduro and All-Mountain aficionados: the Trajecta. Very comfortable and versatile, it comes with the Smartshock® Rotational System, on 13- points. With 24- vents, a light weight and a magnetic buckle, it combines comfort, performance and practicality while also providing you with maximum safety.
Another excellent price-quality ratio helmet choice, this time for open face mountain bike helmets: theFox Racing Speedframe MIPS®. Despite an affordable price, it offers impressive value with a light shell that is well ventilated. It is both comfortable and safe, thanks to 360 degree adjustments, a 3- position visor and 19- air vents. In short, this is the ideal model for those looking for a light open face helmet that does not compromise on safety, especially for All-Mountain or light enduro biking.
Do you need bicycle parts or components? Take a look at our star products or dive into our complete inventory.
Expert Advice – How to maintain your bicycle helmet in tip top shape
Even the best protection equipment won’t last for a lifetime! In average, a bicycle helmet will last from 3 to 5 years. When should you replace your bicycle helmet?
One of the easiest ways to check if it is still good, is to feel the foam: if it is hard, that means it has dried out. Unfortunately, dry foam means that the foam will no longer absorb shocks! You also need to pay attention to signs of damage or wear over the whole helmet surface, like cracks or any element that is coming apart or unglued.
One thing is for sure: you must change your helmet after a shock, even if there are no visible signs of damages. And P.S., dropping your helmet on the ground is also considered a shock!
If you want to keep your helmet for as long as you can, you should store it somewhere it cannot easily fall to the ground; make sure it is also dry, cool and not exposed to UV rays. When it comes to maintenance, you can let your helmet air dry or wipe it after each bike adventure, before storing it in its bag.
The helmet and foam can be cleaned with water and mild soap (more importantly, do not use any chemicals or solvents!). If the foam is removable, you can clean it in the washing machine in cold water, on the delicate cycle, and allow it to air dry.
Are you looking for a bicycle store, for expert advice or do you want to try on some helmets? Epic Bike Store offers quality models and our passionate team of experts can talk to you about bikes and accessories for hours on end! We are looking forward to your visit!
