00:00If you're thinking about buying a cycling helmet but you're not sure which one to go for or what
00:04to look for then this is the video for you. I'm going to run you through my top tips and
00:08recommendations so that you're left feeling safe, secure and protected.
00:17There are many styles of helmet available but generally they tend to boil down to road,
00:22commuter and leisure models. Now road helmets tend to be lighter and have a lot of ventilation
00:28and they're made for people that want to go as fast as possible on the road while staying as
00:31cool as possible. Aero road bike helmets on the other hand, they tend to be more covered up
00:37because they're for people that really want to go as fast as possible at the cost of some
00:41ventilation. The vents on road bike helmets tend to be designed so that you can slide sunglasses
00:45into the top of them and it gives you another place to hold them if you don't need to wear
00:49them on your face. Commuter helmets will be heavier and more sturdy just so they can deal
00:54with that daily bump and grind of commuting to work. They may also have reflective strips and
00:59lights built into them for extra visibility which personally I think is a really nice touch if you
01:04can climb on with them on. Leisure models tend to be more affordable than their road counterparts
01:09and that's due to a simpler design. Now they make a great option for those who don't ride
01:14day in and day out and on of a performance orientated mindset.
01:18Nearly every helmet will have some sort of retention system and this is to help you dial in the fit and
01:28their size. Now in many cases this is going to be in the form of a cradle that sits on the inside
01:33and is adjustable with this little wheel. Now on higher end models you can actually
01:37move the cradle up and down depending on how big your head is.
01:40Finding the right size helmet can be tricky especially if you're shopping online as a medium
01:50from one brand might be different to a medium from another. Helmets also vary in their size and shape
01:56with some being more round and some being more oval. This all means you might have to go to a
02:00shop to experiment with a few different models to see what fits you best. In terms of how a helmet
02:05should fit it shouldn't be rattling around but at the same time it shouldn't be so tight that it's
02:09digging into your skin. Now do remember you do have that retention system so that you can make
02:14those fine adjustments to the sizing. The strap needs to be snug but not too tight. The general
02:20rule of thumb is making sure that you can fit two fingers in between the strap and the bottom of
02:24your chin. You should be able to open your mouth and move your chin around without it feeling too
02:28restrictive. Finally look for two fingers width between the top of your eyebrow line and the
02:32bottom of your helmet to ensure that the depth is correct. Again it's always worth testing a few
02:38brands to find out what's right for you because at the end of the day all of our heads are different
02:42shapes and sizes. If you're buying a helmet from a reputable shop then all of those helmets will be
02:53meeting a minimum safety standard so you can be confident that whatever you're buying will protect
02:58you. However higher end models may include some extra safety features. A prime example of this
03:03is MIPS otherwise known as multi-directional impact protection system. This thin cradle on
03:08the inside of the helmet is designed to reduce rotational forces by moving a little on impact.
03:14As I've already mentioned some road and commuter models may feature built-in reflective strips and
03:19LED lighting which will increase your visibility to other road users.
03:24When it comes to pricing you can find a safe cycling helmet anywhere from the region of £25
03:29up all the way to £200 plus. Now while expensive cycling helmets may not be any safer they will
03:35include more of those premium features we've already discussed in this video. For example a
03:39top spec helmet might be lighter, have a more refined retention system, have comfier straps,
03:43have MIPS or potentially built-in lights. So hopefully you've got all of the models
03:48you need now to go out and buy your next cycling helmet. If you've got any questions just drop them
03:53down in the comments. If you enjoyed the video drop it a like, subscribe to the channel for
03:56more content and I'll see you again very soon.
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