'Safety first' is a maxim with which most child cyclists are familiar. And for
good reason, since a recent survey of Accident and Emergency departments of
hospitals across Britain revealed that a little over 50% of all cycling
accidents involve injuries to the face and head. Therefore, taking your time to
decide which safety equipment you need is as important is selecting the type of
bike you will ride.
Cycle Helmets
The most obvious and necessary piece of safety equipment is the helmet. Coming
in many varying types and styles, helmet selection has never been so intuitive.
BMXers and downhill mountain bikers will generally opt for the full-face
helmet, which is designed to protect the jaw as well as the skull, and is often
worn with goggles.
Originating in the velodrome, the Time Trial helmet's sweeping profile has been
to developed to smooth the air flow over the rider's body, causing as little
aerodynamic disturbance as possible and reducing the drag coefficient to as
close to zero as is realistically practicable. Top-end helmet manufacturers
like Bell, Limar, Giro and MET have invested massive amounts of money and
resources into the development of these market-leading products, which are
aimed specifically at the serious time-trialer, and are priced accordingly.
More common when it comes to head protection is the archetypal 'skid-lid'.
Available with peaks which add a little more protection from the sun and rain,
or without peaks to reduce interference with peripheral vision, the technology
of the road-rider's helmet has advanced significantly in recent years. Modern
helmets are generally composed of Kevlar-aramid reinforced plastic or resin,
often with a layer of expanded polystyrene. The holes and gaps between the
joining structure of a helmet are designed to provide ventilation for the head,
since cycling is a highly aerobic exercise that increases body temperature,
while the structure itself is designed to spread the force of an impact evenly
over the head in the event of an accident.
Reflective Clothing
For riding in the early mornings, in the evenings, or in poorly lit areas it is
important for your bike safety to consider a fluorescent jacket or any other
form of reflective clothing, including the reflective, belt, reflective trouser
bracelet, not to mention cycle lights. While cycle helmets will protect you in
the event of an accident, these reflective measures may well help to prevent
the accident in the first place by keeping you safe and visible to other road
users, and as such deserve serious consideration.
Cycle Safety Accessories
For inner-city cycling, and for sufferers of asthma and hay fever, a face mask
may be the ideal way to assist comfortable breathing in the saddle by reducing
and limiting the amount of airborne hazards that can be inhaled when you're
cycling - and therefore, breathing - hard.
It's important that your feet don't slip from the pedals, so grippy, comfortable
cycle shoes or trainers are important, as are sunglasses to protect your eyes,
and more information about these can be found in their respective sections.
For downhill mountain bike enthusiasts, rigid body armour might be necessary.
Protection is available for the entire body, from knee and shin guards to full
torso and spine defenders to reduce the risk of serious injury, as well as
wrist guards to nearly eliminate sprains and breaks. Manufactured using cutting
edge materials, they, like helmets, are light, flexible and strong.