Safety and Education Committee Report
My helmet is white: function before fashion
Facing life’s challenges is why we’re here and few people wish to appear so timid that they are afraid to accept a normal amount of risk. Protection that exceeds the needs of conditions encountered is a waste of resources but nothing lasts forever. Helmets should be replaced after a crash or five years (ten max.) of service. Over the years helmets have evolved and the old, ill-fitting, and uncomfortable “wastebaskets for the head” are way past due for replacement.
Clothing is for environmental protection and social acceptability. Ninety-five percent of all bicycle fatalities involve un-helmeted riders and a covered head is cooler in the sun. I need a lot more than some fancy new clothes to be socially acceptable. For me, form follows function and I buy gear instead of fashion. I see no merit in compromising safety or comfort in order to impress other people. I want people to see me and my equipment to be the most appropriate for my needs.
A helmet is really just a hat that is designed to protect one’s head.
All bicycle helmets must meet (or exceed) the same safety standards in order to be certified. Aero helmets have no vents in order to reduce drag but they are quite hot. I have seen no data regarding the changes in ventilation and drag related to the size, number, and shape of helmet vents. Sunlight can pass through helmet vents; larger and more numerous vents increase solar heat gain and the risk of sunburn. Additional headwear impedes airflow nullifying the benefits of helmet vents. Testing has revealed that the helmet’s color had little (if any) effect on the amount of solar heat gain incurred. Helmets are available in many colors but white is the most visible of those commonly available. I often ride in the dark and have mounted a taillight on my helmet. The added weight isn’t really noticeable but it probably exceeds the difference between most helmets available.
All clothing makes a statement about the person wearing it. When someone chooses less than optimal protection are they a brave warrior “facing the dragon” with a lousy shield or just somebody wearing sandals (or going barefoot) in the snow? When I put on my bike helmet I am saying, “I care about my safety; please acknowledge that I am here.” What statement are you making with your choice of headwear?
Bill Fisk- Safety and Education
Safety and Education Coordinator
Archive Safety Articles
Which Foot Down?
Preparing For Rain
Stopping in the Roadway
Encountering Animals
Why I Commute by Bike
Save Time Commuting by Bike
Your Bike and Knee
You Can be Too Far Right
Wrong Way Cyclists
Choosing the Right Tire
Don't Scare the Slow Guy
Using Your Front Brake
How Safe is Bicycling?
How Safe is Your Helmet?
Making Left Turns
Where on the Road Do You Belong?
Rumble strips on the Shoulder
Safer Without Helmet?
Impaired Drivers
Take Your Body to its Limits
HB-1203
Protecting your Bike
Helmet Mounted Headlights
Tire Pressure