Inspecting your bike and fitting your helmet are important things to do before heading out for a ride. Using this worksheet you and your children can have a look at your bikes and helmets together. If you have doubts about the safety or fit of your helmets or bikes ask your local bike shop to help you out!
Checking your helmet
Inspection
Examine the shell and polystyrene of the helmet – it should be in good condition and not be cracked or damaged. The straps and buckles should be intact and
not frayed or broken. There should also be a standards-approved sticker on the helmet. Examples of the approved stickers are shown as below.
Fitting
To check the size of the helmet, ensure that it touches the head all the way around the rim and that there is little or no wobble when fitted on the head.
The helmet should sit flat and square on the head, with the rim of the helmet 1–1.5cm above the eyebrows. You shouldn’t be able to pull the helmet back to expose the forehead or tilt it forward or sideways.
Chin and back straps should run in straight lines from the rim of the helmet, and meet on the jaw, below and to the front of the ear lobe. The straps must buckle up under the jaw near the neck, not forward on the chin. The strap should be snug (not slack) and not uncomfortably tight!
Checking your bike
With your helmet in order it is now time to check your bike. Use this diagram to help you identify the parts of the bicycle which are referred to on the checklist overleaf.
