Cycling Helmet Technologies
With growing awareness of the need for safety among cyclists, bicycle racing and other sporting events are seeing a large increase in participation. In order to prevent head injuries, new helmet designs have been developed. The safety standards have also increased with the advent of new technologies. Since the introduction of helmets in cycling events, there have been great improvements in the helmets' ability to protect against head injuries.
There are many different types of helmets. Bicycle helmets, which are also known as cycle helmets, provide protection against head injuries in case of an accident. They are made up of a hard plastic outer shell and a soft inner shell. Many different materials are used in the construction of bicycle helmets such as ABS plastic, expanded polystyrene and polycarbonate.
The outer shell is the most visible part and is the part that the user sees. The inner shell is the part that protects the head. It is made up of expanded polystyrene which is a type of foam that absorbs energy and therefore protects the head from injury. The inner shell also makes it possible for the helmet to be lightweight and comfortable for the user to wear. The outer shell is usually made from polycarbonate or ABS plastic. The outer shell is made from these materials because they are very tough and durable but still lightweight.
Other helmets include motocross, ski and skateboard helmets, which are used for similar purposes as bicycle helmets. The main difference between these types of helmets and bicycle helmets is that they have a visor attached to them which protects the eyes from debris. They also have vents or holes which allow for air circulation to keep the rider cool while wearing them.
Motocross, ski and skateboard helmets are required in some events due to their specialized designs. Motocross helmets have smaller vents than bicycle helmets because they do not need as much air circulation while they are being worn.
There are many different kinds of bicycle helmets but they all work in a very similar way. They all protect the head from injury by absorbing energy during an accident. They accomplish this by breaking down into smaller pieces due to force applied to them during an accident. One piece of technology that has been added to bicycle helmets is a reflective strip on the back of the helmet so it can be seen at night when it is light reflecting off of it.
Materials and Technologies in Bicycle Helmets
Bicycle helmets consist of two main parts: an outer shell and an inner liner (also referred to as an EPS liner). The outer shell protects the head from scrapes and abrasions from friction with the ground or other objects in case of a crash or fall. It also protects against punctures from sharp objects such as branches or shards of glass in an accident or fall.
The outer shell is usually made from polycarbonate or ABS plastic since these materials are strong enough to withstand impact from accidents but still light enough to not weigh down the helmet on the wearer's head.
Polycarbonate plastic is a special type of plastic used in many applications due to its properties such as its durability, flexibility, heat resistance, and transparency(for example: bullet proof glass). Some companies also use expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam inside the liners which absorbs impact energy in case of a crash or fall by breaking down into small pieces that distribute force instead of concentrating it on one point like a hard surface would do (for example: hitting a tree stump).
Some companies also use padding inside their liners to provide more comfort for their users' heads while wearing their helmet.
In order for a helmet to fit correctly on someone's head, there must be space inside for their brain to move around since it does not stay in one position all day long like other parts of your body do (like your arm or leg). This means that bicycle helmet liners need space inside so that when someone hits their head, their brain can move around without causing any damage to it or possibly causing death if their brain hits against their skull too hard (for example: hitting your head on a rock while mountain biking).
Even though bicycle helmets are made up of special materials that help absorb impact energy during a crash or fall, it can still cause serious damage to someone's head if they hit their head hard enough on something like a curb or tree stump while riding their bike though most people do not ride their bike fast enough for this to happen.
Helmet Specific Technologies
The technology used in many modern day bicycle helmets can be categorized into three different categories: Multi-directional Impact Protection System (MIPS), Cinch Pro™ System, Ponytail Friendly Helmet Design, LiteForm™, Element Strap System™ (ESS), TransTextura Plus™ Padding, and MIPS Brain Protection System™ (MIPS).
Multi-directional Impact Protection System (MIPS):
Invented by Swedish neurosurgeon Hans von Holst and developed with researchers at Stockholm’s Karolinska Institute and Chalmers University of Technology, MIPS is a breakthrough technology in helmet safety that has been adopted by more than two dozen leading helmet manufacturers worldwide since 2008. This unique technology enables each helmet’s multi-impact EPP liner (expanded polypropylene) to rotate independently inside its own individual compartment within the helmet’s outer shell during certain impacts—helping to reduce rotational forces that can result in concussions.
MIPS-equipped helmets have been shown to reduce rotational acceleration by up to 50 percent compared with non-MIPS models during controlled laboratory testing according to standards set by both US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and European Standards Institution (CE).
Cinch Pro™ System:
Cinch Pro is a technology that provides a customized fit, allowing the helmet to have less movement on the rider's head. The design of Cinch Pro is made up of three different components: the helmet's outer shell, air pads on the inside of the helmet and an adjustable webbing strap.
The outer shell of the Cinch Pro helmet is made up of polycarbonate plastic and has an inner liner made out of expanded polystyrene (EPS). The inner liner absorbs energy during a crash or fall and it also makes it possible for the helmet to be lightweight and comfortable for the user to wear. The outer shell is usually made from polycarbonate or ABS plastic because they are very tough and durable but still lightweight.
The air pads that are located in the helmet help to adjust the fit for the rider so it can be comfortable for them to use. The air pads are also removable so they can be washed and replaced as needed when they are dirty.
The adjustment is made through an adjustable webbing strap which is located on the back of the helmet. This strap can be adjusted based on the size of a rider's head and can be tightened or loosened based on their comfort level .
Ponytail Friendly Helmet Design:
Some women do not want to put their hair up in a ponytail when riding their bike because it may not look good and it may cause their hair to get caught in their chain or gears which can be very dangerous for them. With this new type of design, women who do not want to put their hair up in a ponytail when riding their bike no longer have to worry about this happening .
This design has an opening on the back of the helmet that makes it possible for a woman's hair to flow out while they are riding their bike without getting caught in any gears or chains. The opening is located at a position where it will not interfere with someone wearing a helmet while they have their hair down.
LiteForm™:
LiteForm™ is a technology that is used in many different types of helmets such as ski, motocross and skateboard helmets. It is used in these types of helmets because they all have holes or vents in them that make it necessary for air circulation to flow through them so that a rider can stay cool while wearing them.
The mechanism behind LiteForm™ involves using a special type of cloth that is used in these types of helmets instead of traditional plastic materials which are used to make other types of helmets.
The main advantage for using this technology over other materials is that it allows for much more ventilation than other materials do due to the fact that cloth can hold more air than plastic does. This technology also enables these helmets to weigh less which helps with reducing fatigue on someone's neck from having to carry around something heavy on their head all day long.
Element Strap System™ (ESS):
One problem with bicycle helmets is that they can sometimes chafe against someone's neck when they are wearing them for extended periods of time. This chafing can cause pain on a person's neck which can make their ride uncomfortable and may discourage them from riding their bike as much as they would like too.
TransTextura Plus™ Padding:
The padding in bicycle helmets is made up of different materials. Some companies use different types of foam while others use fabric or cloth. The padding is located on the inside of the helmet liner and it makes it possible for a rider to have a comfortable ride while wearing their helmet.
The padding is also removable since it can be washed when it gets dirty.
Conclusion
Cycling helmets are very important because they can prevent head injuries from occurring if a rider has an accident while they are riding. The use of the technology that has been added to bicycle helmets has made them much safer to use and has increased the safety standards of all types of helmets.