Helmet or no helmet

Cyclists without a bicycle helmet

Paying attention to your own safety is essential. Are cyclists without a bicycle helmet unprotected road users, According to traffic law, an adult must be in Austria and Germany not wearing a bike helmet, although cycling is the leading cause of sport and activity-related concussions and brain injuries, and wearing a bike helmet is associated with a lower likelihood of facial and head injuries, according to a study by Jake Olivier and Prudence Creighton revealed. The lack of a bicycle helmet requirement for adults is justified by the fact that everyone can assess the risk for themselves in their individual situation.

Helmets compulsory in Europe

In Spain helmets are compulsory outside built-up areas - also in the Slovakia. In Finland and Malta Cyclists must always wear bicycle helmets. According to § 68 paragraph 6 of the Road Traffic Act, StVO, bicycle helmets are compulsory for children up to the age of 12 on public roads in Austria. In Sweden and Slovenia bicycle helmet is compulsory up to the age of 15. In Estland and Croatia the bicycle helmet obligation applies until the age of 16. In Czech Republic and Lithuania The bicycle helmet is mandatory for children and adolescents up to the age of 18. In Germany and Italy there are no legal regulations.

Children's bike helmets

Children's bicycle helmets cover almost the entire back of the head and are pulled very far over the forehead and temple area. That gives all-round protection.

When cycling in Austria, bicycle helmets are compulsory for children up to their 12th birthday
A child should try the bike helmet on for about 15 minutes. If nothing pushes or slips and the child hardly notices the head protection, then it is the right one.

A modern children's bicycle helmet is equipped with a hard outer shell and a padded interior. The helmet must be replaced after every fall. The smallest cracks or breaks reduce the protection. The right size is essential. The helmet must not be easy to pull forward or push back. There should be no play to the side.
The helmet should have test marks such as TÜV, CE and GS seals. In an article in HardShell - Das Fahrradhelm Magazin, Patrick Hansmeier dealt with the standards applicable in Germany and the EU and the standard reference "EN 1078". The European standard EN 1078 specifies requirements and test methods for helmets.

Foldable bicycle helmets for adults

A variety of different bicycle helmets for adults make the choice difficult.

Foldable bike helmets

Foldable bike helmets are space-saving. The flat folded helmet fits into the bike bags or a small backpack. A few examples:
Carrera Foldable bike helmet, Fuga Closca bike helmet, Overade bike helmet

An “invisible” bicycle helmet

An Airbag helmet is much more comfortable because it is worn around the neck like a scarf. The model weighs about 650 grams and is hardly noticeable while driving.
This inflatable helmet is an alternative for everyone who feels limited by a "normal bike helmet" or who rejects the look of a normal helmet. It is not too warm or destroys the hairstyle.

Better protection

Traditional helmets don't protect riders as well as they could. Foam bike helmets have been shown to reduce the likelihood of skull fractures and other more serious brain injuries. However, many mistakenly believe that a traditional bike helmet can protect against concussion. An airbag helmet offers better protection than conventional bicycle helmets, according to American researchers Stanford University found in a study.

The airbag bicycle helmet from Sweden protects and then triggers when the sensors detect a fall. The movement sequences while cycling are recognized by a special sensor system. Individual movements are recorded up to 200 times a minute and compared with the stored patterns. In the event of sudden braking or a jerky movement, the bicycle helmet will not trigger.

If there is an accident, the Hövding airbag helmet inflates within 0,1 seconds and encloses the head and neck area. The head lies securely in the air cushion. An impact is cushioned. Injuries to the top of the skull, the neck and the neck area are avoided and the cervical vertebrae are also protected by the gentle cushioning.

The bicycle helmet airbag is made of highly resistant nylon fabric, so the material does not tear when in contact with very rough and sharp surfaces. The airbag bicycle helmet can be deactivated at any time.
A beep reminds us that we have activated the invisible bike helmet again and that it is ready for use. The battery is charged using a USB cable. When switched on, the battery lasts 9 hours. A beep and LEDs indicate when the battery level is low.