Bike helmet
A hard-shelled head covering worn while cycling and riding bikes.
Overview
A bike helmet has a hard outer shell over an impact-absorbing inner liner, held in place by an adjustable strap under the chin. It is a standard piece of protective gear across cycling disciplines.
Helmets come in styles suited to road riding, mountain biking and other cycling, but all share the same basic construction of shell, liner and retention strap.
Good to know
- Fits snugly and is held by an adjustable chin strap.
- Different shapes suit road, mountain and commuter riding.
- A correct fit keeps the helmet level and stable on the head.
Where it’s used
Sports that use bike helmet:
Cycling
A low-impact endurance sport that doubles as transport, exercise and adventure.
Mountain Biking
An off-road cycling sport ridden on rugged trails, mixing endurance, bike handling and outdoor adventure.
Skateboarding
A creative board sport of rolling, balancing and learning tricks on streets, paths and skateparks.
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Playing surfaces
- GravelLoose crushed stone over a firm base — an unpaved middle ground between smooth road and rough trail, ridden and run for variable grip and steady pace.
- Road (Tarmac / Asphalt)Paved tarmac or asphalt: a firm, smooth, predictable surface that rewards steady pace and rhythm — the ground for road running, cycling and race-walking.
- Hard courtA rigid acrylic, concrete or asphalt court that gives a true, consistent, medium-paced bounce — the standard multi-use outdoor surface.
Learning paths
Disciplines
- Road CyclingRoad cycling covers riding and racing on paved roads, from mass-start races and time trials to multi-day stage events.
- Track CyclingTrack cycling is racing on a velodrome, an oval banked track, using fixed-gear bikes with no brakes across sprint and endurance events.
- CyclocrossCyclocross is lap racing on a short off-road circuit of grass, mud, and sand, where riders often dismount to carry the bike over obstacles.
- BMX RacingBMX racing is a short, intense sprint on a dirt track full of jumps and banked turns, with riders starting together from a gate.
- Gravel CyclingGravel cycling is riding and racing on unpaved roads and mixed surfaces on a drop-bar bike, often over long distances and self-supported.
Skills
- PedallingThe skill of turning the pedals smoothly and at an efficient rhythm on a bike.
- HeadingThe skill of directing the ball with the head to pass, clear or attempt to score.
- Bike handlingThe skill of balancing, steering and controlling a bike confidently in different conditions.
- BalanceThe skill of keeping the body stable and controlled while still or moving.
- DiggingThe volleyball skill of controlling a hard-driven ball low to keep it in play.
Tactics
- DraftingRiding, running or swimming close behind another competitor to save energy in their slipstream.
- Breakaway and pelotonThe cycling tension between the main pack riding together and small groups that break clear to gain time.
- Interval-training strategyStructuring a workout as bursts of hard effort separated by recovery to build fitness efficiently.