Need a new cycle helmet - haven't a clue!

[Lucky13]

I have a new job where I'll be spending time on my bike. I never had a helmet before, so can any of you lovely people give me some advice as to what to look for please? My head is quite small so anything that minimises the cartoon character look would be fab :-)

There are 3 kinds:

Road helmets, which look like this

Mountain bike helmets, which look like this - basically the same as a road helmet but with a peak which is useful for keeping the sun out of your eyes and protecting you from branches etc.

BMX helmets which look like this

Lots of commuters (especially in London) use the BMX helmets as they are very compact and can be easily slipped in a rucksack.

Your best bet is to go to a bikeshop and try lots on, look for adjustability and a good snug fit, make sure it's not going to slide about when you are sitting on the bike - you don't want it to rotate down over your eyes and the number of people I see with a helmet perched at a jaunty angle on the back of their head, providing no frontal protection at all, is depressing. Take a pair of sunglasses with you and make sure they fit over the straps. If you are planning to ride in winter, take a beanie and make sure it fits under the helmet ok.

Reputable manufacturers: Giro, Bell, Uvex, Cratoni, Lazer

Fantastic advice - thank you!

I went into a shop to try some today and asked if they had a mirror - i think they thought I wanted to see if it looked pretty, when actually I wanted to see what/where it fitted!

I will remember the sunnies and the beanie next time.

Thanks

Specialized and Met are also reputable makes and a good shop eg Evans will carry a range of 1 or 2 makes (they can't stock every brand). I have Giro, my partner Specialized