Bicycle Safety – Cyclist Resource

What Size Bicycle Helmet Will Fit My Head? Choosing the right size of bicycle helmet is more important than simply getting a comfortable and snug fit, it is very important to protecting your head in case of a crash. You should always choose a bicycle helmet that is the correct size, avoiding a helmet that is too tight or too small This article goes into greater detail, however in short to get the right size of helmet, simply take a flexible measure cord and wrap it around your head about two finger widths above your eyebrows and ears. Take several measurements to make sure you have the smallest, largest size and overall average size of your heads circumference and then match the correct size of helmet to your heads average size of circumference How Do I Find The Right Size Helmet? Before choosing your bicycle helmet there is some important information you’ll need to gather, you’ll need to measure and know the circumference of your head. Using a measuring rope you need to get an accurate circumference of your head Once you have an accurate measurement of the circumference of your head then there are standard sizes of bicycle helmets that will fit the size of your head. So by having an accurate measurement of the circumference of your head choosing the correct sized helmet is very easy to do, it then just comes down to style and price How Do You Measure Your Head For A Bike Helmet? Measuring your head is a very quick and simple procedure to do, simply take a flexible measure cord (similar to the ones that dress makers use) and wrap it around your head about two finger widths (1 inch/2.5cm) above your eyebrows and ears A tip I would give you is to take several measurements to make sure you have the smallest, largest size and overall average size of your heads circumference. If you don't have a tape measure, you can always use a piece of string and measure that against a ruler, this will work as well and again take several measurements especially if your using a piece of string What Are The Standard UK Sizes Of Bicycle Helmets To Choose From? It is always helpful to know the standard helmets size so that you know what ballpark size you are before choosing your bicycle helmet. Here are the standard sizes of bicycle helmets below: Head Circumference are shown in Inches and Centimetres UK Adult Standard Helmet Sizes Guide Helmet Size: 2XS (2x Extra Small) - Head Circumference: 20- 20 ½ Inches - 51-52cm Helmet Size: XS (Extra Small) - Head Circumference: 20 7/8 - 21 ¼ Inches - 53-54cm Helmet Size: S (Small) Head Circumference: 21 5/8 - 22 Inches - 55-56cm Helmet Size: M (Medium) - Head Circumference: 22 1/2 - 22 7/8 Inches - 57-58cm Helmet Size: L (Large) - Head Circumference: 23 1/4 - 23 5/8 Inches - 59-60cm Helmet Size: XL (Extra Large) - Head Circumference: 24 - 24 3/8 Inches - 61-62cm Helmet Size: 2XL (2x Extra Large) - Head Circumference: 24 3/4 - 25 1/4 Inches - 63-64cm Helmet Size: 3XL (3x Extra Large) - Head Circumference: 25 5/8 - 26 Inches - 65-66cm Kids Bicycle Standard Head Sizes By Age Child's Age: 12 Months Boys Head Circumference: 46 cm / 18.1 in Girls Head Circumference: 45 cm / 17.7 in Child's Age: 18 Months Boys Head Circumference: 47.5 cm / 18.7 in Girls Head Circumference: 46.5 cm / 18.3 in Child's Age: 2 Years Old Boys Head Circumference: 48 cm / 18.9 in Girls Head Circumference: 47 cm / 18.5 in Child's Age: 3 Years Old Boys Head Circumference: 49 cm / 19.3 Inches Girls Head Circumference: 49 cm / 19.3 Inches Child's Age: 4 Years Old Boys Head Circumference: 50.5 cm / 19.9 Inches Girls Head Circumference: 49.5 cm / 19.5 Inches Child's Age: 5 Years Old Boys Head Circumference: 51 cm / 20.1 Inches Girls Head Circumference: 50 cm / 19.7 Inches Child's Age: 6 Years Old Boys Head Circumference: 52 cm / 20.5 Inches Girls Head Circumference: 51 cm / 20.1 Inches Child's Age: 7 Years Old Boys Head Circumference: 53 cm / 20.9 Inches Girls Head Circumference: 52 cm / 20.5 Inches Child's Age: 8 Years Old Boys Head Circumference: 54 cm / 21.3 Inches Girls Head Circumference: 53 cm / 20.9 Inches UK Kids Standard Helmet Sizes Guide Helmet Size: YS (Youth Small) - Head Circumference: 19 1/4 - 19 3/4 Inches - 49-50cm Helmet Size: YM (Youth Medium) - Head Circumference: 20 - 20 1/2 Inches - 51-52cm Helmet Size: YL (Youth Large) - Head Circumference: 20 7/8 - 21 1/4 Inches - 53-54cm How Do I Know If My Helmet Is Too Big? It’s important to know how to tell if your bicycle helmet is too big for you, because it will ultimately not be providing your head with the same level of protection that of a properly fitted helmet would be Place your bicycle helmet on your head and fasten the bottom straps, then try to move the helmet with both hands from side to side and up and down. If the helmet is too big, your skin or face should not move as the helmet is moved side to side and up and down In other words as you move the bicycle helmet, it should move independently from your head which clearly demonstrates that your bicycle helmet is too big of a size and head circumference than your own head If the bicycle helmet is the correct fit, your skin or face should move as the helmet is moved side to side and up and down. Additionally there should be a feeling of even pressure on each side as the helmet is moved from side to side and up and down How Do I Know If My Helmet Is Too Small? Again, it’s important to know how to tell if your bicycle helmet is too small for you, because it will ultimately not be providing your head with the same level of protection that of a properly fitted helmet would be Place your bicycle helmet on your head and fasten the bottom straps, if you feel an uncomfortable pressure on your head then it may be too small, especially if wearing the helmet gives you a headache (from the pressure on the skin/skull) within minutes. To further reconfirm this if you try to move the helmet with both hands side to side and up and down and there is no give then your helmet is too small If the bicycle helmet is the correct fit, your skin or face should move as the helmet is moved side to side and up and down. Additionally there should be a feeling of even pressure on each side as the helmet is moved from side to side and up and down Your helmet being too small or too large comes down to your head circumference being between sizes or towards the lower end of one size band. In most cases the next size up will seemingly fit better if your helmet is too small, it might not be the perfect snug fit that you're looking for. Sometimes the smaller size of helmet might eventually be the better fit after the inner liner/padding is worn in and moulded to your heads circumference and head shape If you happen to be a medium size bicycle helmet (22 1/2 - 22 7/8 Inches - 57-58cm), not all brands and helmet sizes will fit the same way. Your head shape may differ (think of a potato rather than a egg shape) from the recorded average and you may require a custom fit or a size in between a medium and large How Do You Know If A Helmet Fits? Before purchasing a bicycle helmet it is always recommended that you try lots of them on first, make sure to know your ballpark helmet size from the chart above from your heads average circumference before you go shopping Try lots of them on to get a general feel for them, usually it is pretty obvious and hard to ignore if a bicycle helmet is too large or too small when wearing them. The reason it is a good idea to shop around is because not all bicycle helmet brands and helmet sizes will fit the same way even when they are the same size of helmet If your bicycle helmet feels like it fits, it usually is correct, get a feel for what is too big and a feel for what is too small. Then you have a smaller size window to work with, then go for the helmet that feels right and is not too tight or too loose when wearing the helmet What Size Helmet Do I Need For A 22 Inch Head? From looking at the standard UK adult helmet sizes guide above, if your head is 22 inches/57-58cm in circumference, then the ballpark size of helmet will be a M/Medium sized bicycle helmet. It is always beneficial to keep an open mind as you may be a size in between a small (S) and a medium (M) or even sizes between a medium (M) and a large (L) size of bicycle helmet What Size Helmet Does A 4 Year Old Need? From looking at the standard UK kids helmet sizes guide above, the UK standard size of bicycle helmet that would fit you 4 year old child would be a YS, which is a Youth Small. Helmet Size: YS (Youth Small), Head Circumference: 19 1/4 - 19 3/4 Inches - 49-50cm I hope you enjoyed this article and if you have anything to add, then leave a comment down below. All of the information has been thoroughly researched and I have plenty of real world experience on this issue to add as well. Thanks for reading and enjoy!