Helmet Safety Standards

All bike helmets sold in New Zealand need to comply to a safety standard. So it doesn’t matter what the cost or style of the helmet if it is sold in New Zealand it will comply to the minimum standard.

We think there is more to consider when it comes to safety.  At goRide we believe one of the most important safety features to consider when purchasing is the shape of the bike helmet. We suggest a shape that gives you good head coverage and is smooth and round like your skull/head.

Read what the Helmet Safety Institute recommends:

1. The more of the head that is covered by the helmet the better (consider the head as starting from the bump at the top of the back of the neck, around the top of the ears and to the top of the eyebrows. The rest really is your face).
2. They prefer the more round smooth style helmet , basically round like your head. No protrusions. Being round with no protrusions it will slide better along a surface, reducing the peak forces with sudden stopping and isolated points of impact from protruding shapes also reducing the risk of snagging. All factors that  may result in a head and/or neck injury.

Other considerations for safety is the reflective capacity and visibility of the helmet. A bright colour and reflective strips can help to make YOUR child be more visible. Helmets are now available in some fun funky colours and this draws attention, helping them to be seen.

A helmet that will be worn

Kids are not always keen to wear a bike helmet. Often all they have had on their head is either a warm woolly hat or a sun hat. Now you expect them to be open to putting on a funny looking heavy hat and then securing it with a chin strap… So out comes the push away hand, the tears and the screams and you thought this was meant to be fun. If they are at an age where they can understand you can try to explain and rationalise the importance but basically you just need to get them used to the helmet and the feeling of a helmet on their head.

Good role modelling also plays a part here.  The strong association of riding a bike and wearing a helmet comes from you and any older siblings or cousins they may have.  If you have a positive attitude to your helmet they will see this.  No helmet, no riding on a bike.  It’s a simple rule.  Expose them to the helmet before you try to take them for a ride or they go for their first ride.  Put your helmet on first then try them.  If they are not ready the first time, try to be patient, put the helmet somewhere they can see it, give it a few days and try again. Keep exposing it to them until they are comfortable wearing it. Knowing they are comfortable and happy in their helmet gives you peace of mind and means there is one less thing to think about when you are out there enjoying your ride together.

What will help your child want to wear their bike helmet?  This will be different for different kids. You will know them best and what features will help you achieve this important step to protecting their head.

Comfort

• Weight of the helmet – Remember the early days of having a new born and helping them support their head as they developed the strength to hold it up themselves. Putting a bike helmet on your child’s head adds weight to their head.  Therefore they will need the strength to support their head and the helmet. So the weight of the helmet is important. You will need to consider a light helmet the younger they are and if they are going to be on the bike for long periods of time.  First helmets (X-Small Toddler Helmets) start as light as 250grams.
• Points of rubbing – If the helmet causes irritation by rubbing, tension or pressure it is unlikely that your child will be as keen to wear it. This could be an adjustment issue or maybe they need to just become more familiar with the feel of wearing a helmet. However, there are some kids head shapes that do not suit certain bike helmets and you may need to try a different style of helmet.
• Ventilation –  The foam liner is an insulator, so it does get hot under a bike helmet. Kids can suffer from hot and sweaty heads, some more so than others, so getting a helmet with good temperature regulation through ventilation holes/vents may be important.

Look

• Colour & graphics – Will getting a helmet on their head be easier if they love their helmet? Having a connection to their helmet may help with their desire to goRide.   Do they have a favourite colour or a theme that they have a passion for?  Their choice of that “favourite” thing can change so be thoughtful about your decision here.

  Match the helmet to the type of riding they do

This applies manly to older kids who are keen on mountain biking or are involved in multiple impact sports like biking and scootering. You may want to consider a mountain biking helmet or a multi-sport helmet (a helmet that can be used for different sports).  Give consideration to the fact that the materials used in different helmets are designed for the specific type and level of impacts that can be sustained in that sport.

If considering a helmet for an older child then you need to ask yourself if they are a recreation rider or are they starting to do more high performance riding? They may be starting to do jumps, a lot of downhill mountain biking, starting to test riding capabilities.  If so, please consider an adults high-performance bike helmet.  A child’s head will fit into an adults helmet, on average, from the age of 6years.

It must not be damaged

Most bike helmets do not respond well to being thrown on the ground, stood on or dropped. Damage to bike helmets is not always visible to the human eye, so the best piece of advice is take care of your bike helmet.  Have a process of care in place and a great storage place – shelf or hook.  When you are finished using your helmet store it in ‘this’ safe place (that is not hanging over the handlebars of a bike).  It is important to regularly check for damage to the straps, clips, shell and inner foam, especially if the helmet is not “treated with care”.  See 3 Top Tips for Helmet Care for more information.

We also advise that you use a new helmet and not a secondhand helmet as you will be unaware of any damage that has occurred to the helmet.

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