Bicycle touring can include anything from riding cross country with your bike or hopping on your bike for a few hours while on vacation to explore a new city. No matter how often you use your bike, the distance that you're riding or the terrain, you should always be wearing a helmet. A helmet could save your life in the event of an accident.
Statistics
The statistics concerning helmet usage are compelling and often shocking. Of all bike riders, only 44 percent routinely wear their helmets, according to "Consumer Reports." It's a surprising number, considering 2 percent of traffic accidents involve cyclists and head injuries are common bike injuries. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety notes that helmets reduce your risk for head injury by a whopping 85 percent.
Importance
When riding your bike in an unfamiliar area, you may not know where common traffic stops, bike routes or dangers threaten your ride. If you're on a bike tour, then it's even more important that you ride with a helmet, since you're more at risk for injury when you're unsure of the area or the terrain, even on a leisurely ride. What's more, should you forgo the helmet and sustain an injury, you may be unsure of where to go for help or admitted into an unfamiliar hospital. Prevention is key.
Helmet Standards
When choosing a helmet for your bike tour, it's important that you choose one that has been approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which regulates bicycle helmets. Helmets that are made for other purposes, such as skiing or horseback riding, are not regulated by the CPSC and are therefore inappropriate for bike touring. Look for the CPSC seal on the lining of the helmet to ensure that it's been tested and found safe for cycling.
Choosing a Helmet
Ensure that you have a helmet fitted before your trip. Especially if you'll be spending a lot of time riding and wearing your helmet, you'll need one that is comfortable to wear. In general, a good-fitting helmet should fit comfortably but snugly and should be level on your head, never tilted back or forward. Try moving the helmet back and forth or side to side to ensure that it doesn't slip and slide. Always fasten your helmet under your chin properly to avoid the helmet falling off in the event of an accident.
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