Loving your auntie & your noggin

Oh hey springy humans! 

The cherry blossoms are starting to bloom.

The daffodils are smiling in their golden yellow hues. 

And the tulip magnolias are wafting their sweet scents into the world. 

Which means… it’s a great time to ride a bike. 

Saturday, I went on a bike ride with my aunt and uncle and I was so stoked for my auntie. 

She hadn’t ridden a bike since July of last year, but I had full confidence that she was going to pedal away from the experience happily! 

Over the next two newsletters, I’ll be sharing a few tips from my ride with my auntie that can be beneficial to you… particularly if you are riding on your bike for the first time in many months. 

Tip #1: If the helmet on your head reminds you of a kid swimming in boots too large, your helmet is too large.

My auntie showed up with a very sweet metallic pink helmet.

She was racking up big style points.

As soon as she put it on, I asked her to shake her head. Immediately one of the cushioning pads fell out and the helmet swayed all over. The helmet size was waaaayy too big. Even minimal adjustments wouldn’t have fixed the situation.

We found her another helmet in the garage that adjusted better.

So here are the basics (thanks to League of American Bicyclists):

• Place the helmet on your head without fastening the straps

• There should be a two-fingers width between your eyebrows and helmet

• There should be little movement when you shake your head from side to side

• You will want to start out with the smallest size– you may have to try on different sizes and brands of helmets until you find one that fits

Adjusting Your Helmet:

• The side straps should come to a point just below your ears forming a “Y” shape

• When your mouth is closed, there should be about half an inch between the chin strap and your chin

So sure, you might have an old helmet sitting around that seems to “do the trick”. BUT!! wearing a well fitting helmet is a crucial safety feature!

Would you go running on a treadmill with shoes 3 sizes too big? Absolutely not!

So keep that in mind as you hit the trail… find and wear a well fitting helmet.

I’m not paid to say this, but REI’s sale ends today, so if you are in need of a new helmet, go redeem your membership coupon and get a new helmet!

Wheels up,

Ellen