PLAY IT SAFE

Helmet

A helmet is your most important line of defence when riding. It will keep you warm and dry, and potentially save your life. Wearing a helmet is a legal requirement in the UK, so buy the best you can afford.

Look for helmets tested by SHARP (Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme) – sharp.dft. gov.uk. There are several good-value helmets with five-star ratings. Check any helmet you buy meets British Standard 6658:1985 or UNECE Regulation 22.05. This will be on a label inside the helmet. Buy a helmet from a reputable retailer and never buy used as you don’t know if it’s been in a crash.

The Nolan N87 is a full-face helmet with a removable and washable interior. It comes in a broad range of sizes, so you should be able to find a comfy fit, and the helmet is both ECE and DOT certified. It’s available at a big discount if you make the effort to shop around.

WHAT IT’S MADE OF

A helmet is made of several protective layers: a thin hard, outer shell typically made from plastic or a composite material, then an impactabsorbing inner, followed by a soft, inner liner for cushioning, often removable for cleaning.

Helmet Buying Tips

Try before you buy – wear the helmet for several minutes in the shop to make sure it’s comfy and there are no tight spots.

Snug fit – make sure the helmet is not loose or moves when you turn your head. Check the securing strap fits neatly under your chin. Noise – earplugs help protect your ears from excessive noise while riding. Go to UltimateEar.com for a range of custom-made earplugs and earphones.

A full-face helmet – gives better protection. Be sure the

PRICE £209.99

Colour

Choose bright colours as these help other road users to see you coming.

Eye Cover

Wear a visor or goggles with an ECE, CE or BSI approval mark. In daylight a tint of up to 50% is okay; a clear visor must be used after dark.

visor is ECE or BSI approved. Only use a dark-tinted visor in daylight.

Tough stuff – helmets soften impacts using multiple layers of composite material, foam and padding. A removable inner liner makes cleaning easier.