Cycle helmets work like a shock absorber for the head. If you fall off your bike, the momentum can whip your head toward the concrete. A helmet cushions the blow and helps reduce the impact on the brain and skull. Cyclists have used some form of helmet since the late 1800s, but for recreational use largely only since the second half of the 20th century.
Origins
The first helmets probably date back as far as the 1880s, when riders of large-wheel bikes took to wearing hardened hats. Early designs used pith -- a cork-like material covered in cloth. The designs were similar in look to safari helmets of the day. As bikes became faster and were built lower, helmets became lighter and less clumsy. However, for several decades the most popular type of bicycle helmet was made with thick leather straps -- often referred to as "hair nets." Only serious race riders tended to use these.
1970s
In 1975, engineers working on motorcycle helmet technology started producing versions for bicycle riders. Most featured a hard outer shell, with expanded polystyrene and foam used on the inside. According to the National Museum of American History, Bell Helmets Inc. produced the first commercially available helmet that used the new technology in 1975. The exterior was a hard lexan shell. This style dominated the helmet market for the rest of the 1970s.
Evolution
In the 1980s, bike helmet design continued to gradually change. More cyclists started to wear helmets, encouraged by studies that showed a link between lower incidences of head injuries and wearing a helmet. Different designs appeared that were lighter and had more ventilation. The result was helmets, such as the Giro Sport in 1987, which didn't have a hard shell but did have several ventilation holes.
1990s
The 1990s saw the development of ultra-thin plastic helmet shells. This led to a change in the shape of many helmets to a sleeker, tapered look supposedly for enhanced aerodynamics. However, the shape offered less protection than a bowling ball style look, according to Randy Swart, director of the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute. As of 2011, most manufacturers still use the same expanded polystyrene material as the early models of the 1970s.
Legal Requirements
As of 2011, no U.S. federal law addresses the use of helmets while cycling. However, many states and localities have passed helmet laws, some dating to the early 1990s. In most cases, these laws apply to children, often under age 16. However, several areas of the United States, including much of Washington State, require all cyclists to wear a helmet, regardless of age.
Member Comments