FitSugar

Fittingly Mad: Cyclists Not Wearing Helmets!

FitSugar — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:30:00 -0700

When I see images of cyclists riding in past Tours de France, they look odd to me. I recognize the riders, but they aren't wearing helmets. But over the course of the last decade, helmets became mandatory in the most prestigious bike race in the world.

Wearing a helmet is the simplest safety precaution you can take to protect your most important body part: your brain. Even though most casual cyclists are not barreling down hills and mountainsides at the speed of professional racers, wearing a helmet is a no brainer! Yet more than half the riders I see on the street are not wearing helmets. I just don't get it. I know helmets are not the most stylish of biking accessories, but is there really anything flattering about cycling gear? If messed up hair is keeping riders from wearing helmets, I would respond that a serious head injury is considerably worse than a bad hair day. We spend so much time taking care of our bodies and feeding our brains with knowledge, we really should protect our brains when biking.

Some helmetless riders argue that they're skilled cyclists so they don't need a helmet since they're not going to fall. Think of the helmet like the seat belt; it's there to protect you from crazy drivers or large potholes or, in the case of Matt Lauer of the Today Show, a deer. Without a helmet, Lauer would have suffered injuries far greater than a separated shoulder. Same goes for Lance Armstrong's collar bone-breaking crash a couple of months ago. Without a helmet his fate might have been much worse. If you're cruising around town or barreling down a dirt path on your mountain bike, wear a helmet. Please!

Do You Wear a Helmet?

FitSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 04:30:00 -0700

We all know that helmets save lives. In fact, a new report has found that helmet laws have cut the amount of bicycle related deaths in children by 50 percent - yet, I still see folks riding around with their noggins unprotected. This makes me wonder about you guys. Do you wear a helmet when riding your bike?

Source

Get in Gear: Yakkay Bike Helmets

FitSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Many folks still, though it boggles my mind as to why, refuse to wear a helmet when biking. Some are worried about messing up their hair on not looking like a fashionista while wearing a helmet. As my mom, and former R.N., always said, "A helmet is a lot more fashionable than a halo brace." But I digress . . .

For those looking for a helmet that's a little cooler, and pricier, than your average helmet try on a Yakkay for size. These smart helmets are basically a very simple, but safe, helmet fitted with a cool hat-like cover. Unfortunately the helmets seem to be only available overseas at the moment, but you can order one online for about $177 (or 120 Euros) plus shipping. I'm loving them - but my Specialized helmet seems to be working just fine for me right now. Maybe when they make their way stateside I'll invest in one for my days when I am cruising around town rather than working to get my heart rate up. What do you think?

New Helmet Design For Better Injury Prevention

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0700

We've all heard of someone who's endured a head or spinal injury from an activity that required a helmet. That's why it's so important to protect your noggin, whether it's a team sport like hockey, or a casual sport like biking. Helmets aren't a 100 percent guarantee that you'll stay injury free though, since they can't prevent compression of your vertebrae if you have a head-on collision (see the picture below). So researchers put their heads together and developed a new kind of helmet, the Pro-Neck-Tor.

To hear more about it and see a video of how it works then read more.

This new helmet features an outer shell, and has an inner shell that fits your head. If you happen to hit something, the outer shell stays in place and the inner shell moves forward, which guides your head down. This prevents your vertebrae from compressing together, so the risk of fracturing your neck is greatly reduced. Check out this video to see how it works.

This helmet is still in the preliminary stages, but hopefully it'll hit stores soon for all the bikers, snowboarders, and ice hockey players out there. Would you wear one? Tell me in the comments section below.

Fit Tip: Wear a Helmet

FitSugar — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 03:00:00 -0800

Now I love Kate Hudson as much as the next fan, she happens to be one of my favorite celebs. I love that she's tooling around town on a bike instead of driving in some over priced SUV. Not only is it good for the environment, but also it is good for your health. But there is one thing I don't love . . .

She's not wearing a helmet! I know helmets are not the coolest looking piece of gear while biking, but they are the most important - even I have to force myself to put on a helmet when I am cruising around town. For those of you who think you don't need a helmet when biking, I leave you with this adage that my parents always told me: There are three types of bikers: those who are going to have a crash, those who have just had a crash, and those who are going to crash again.

So wear a helmet, pretty please, even if you're just biking around town.

View 7 Photos ›

Flynet

Going Downhill and Fast? Protect Your Noggin

FitSugar — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 02:00:00 -0800

I am certainly looking forward to hitting the slopes this snow season, but I just read an alarming piece of news. It seems that although traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries are rare in downhill skiing and snowboarding, rates of injury are on the rise. The upward trend in injuries matches the growing trend of acrobatic moves on the slopes. Unsurprisingly, young men are most likely to injure themselves when going downhill fast.

Wearing a helmet while participating in downhill sports decreases your risk of head injury by at least 22 percent. So protect your noggin when you are on the slopes. Even if you are not prone to feats of acrobatics on your board or skis, you might run into someone who is.

Source

How to Fit a Bike

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 02:30:00 -0700

So you want to ride a bike again. Ahhhh...to feel the wind on your face and re-discover that flying feeling of your youth. Well good thing about biking is you never forget how to ride one, but the proper fit can make your return to two wheels much more pleasant.

Bike Height: You should be able to stand over the bike without making contact with the top tube while both feet should be on the ground.
Seat Height: Adjust the seat of the bike so when pedaling your knee is just shy of being totally straight on the down stroke. Your knees should never lock!!!
Saddle Comfort: Saddle is "bike-speak" for seat. You want a ~~seat~~ saddle that cradles your pelvic bones. You might think a cushy, soft seat is the way to go, but they can end up restricting blood flow and cause unwanted numbness.
Bike Helmet: You want your helmet to fit snugly, but not too tight and you can end up with a headache.

Enjoy the ride.

Do You Wear a Helmet When You Ski or Ride?

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 08:31:19 -0800

Helmets Are Cool

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 04:01:19 -0800

If you're going to be on the mountain, you've got to be safe. You could be the most amazingly skilled and experienced skier or boarder in the world, but that won't help you if someone's ski falls off when they're in the chair lift above you.

Ok, so that's pretty unlikely, but you never know when something might happen that could cause you major bodily harm, especially if you like working the back country. Why take the chance?

A Norwegian study published in February 2006 in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that using a helmet was associated with a 60% reduction in the risk of a head injury.

When buying a helmet, this is what you should look for:

The back of the helmet should be cut high enough for unobstructed head and neck movement.
You want a painted polycarbonate shell, which will stand up to years of use.
It should fit nice and snug so it stays on in case you or something else hits your head.
It should be compatible with your goggles - make sure the goggle strap is long enough to fit around the helmet.

Fit's Tips: Make sure you like your helmet - if you don't - go out and buy one that you do because a helmet does your head no good when it's shoved in your hallway closet. Check out this high-tech tiara from R.E.D. - only $110.

Bike Helmets: How to Get a Proper Fit

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:15:16 -0700

I'll never fully comprehend why some people don't wear helmets. For those of us that do, it is important to make sure that your helmet fits your head properly so that it can do its job of protecting your head effectively. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (Yup, they've got an institute for that) gives us these tips on fitting your helmet properly:

Adjust the fit pads or ring. Most helmets come with extra foam fitting pads to customize the fit. You can usually remove the top pad or use a thin one there to lower the helmet on the head, bringing its protection down further on the sides. Use thicker pads on the side if your head is narrow and there is a space, or add thicker pads in the back for rounder heads. Move pads around to touch your head evenly all the way around. If you have a "one size fits all" model with a fitting ring instead, just adjust the fit by tightening the ring if needed.
Adjust the Straps. Put the helmet on, level on your head. Adjust the rear (nape) straps, then the front straps, to locate the Y fitting where the straps come together just under your ear. You may have to slide the straps across the top of the helmet to get them even on both sides. Then adjust the chin strap so it is comfortably snug. Now adjust the rear stabilizer if the helmet has one.
Are you done? Shake your head around violently. Then put your palm under the front edge and push up and back. Can you move the helmet more than an inch or so from level, exposing your bare forehead? Then you need to tighten the strap in front of your ear. Now reach back and pull up on the back edge. Can you move the helmet more than an inch? If so, tighten the nape strap. When you are done, your helmet should be level, feel solid on your head and be comfortable. It should not bump on your glasses (if it does, tighten the nape strap). If it still does not fit that way, keep working with the straps and pads, or try another helmet.