Whether we’re talking electric road bikes, mountain bikes or hybrid bikes, there’s one thing that should always come first when you’re riding—safety.
Of course, choosing a well-made, dependable bike (like one of our Charge e-bikes!) is the first step to safe rides, but choosing a great helmet to wear while you ride should be a close second.
The fact is, helmets matter. No matter if you hit high speeds or just choose to cruise about leisurely, should you get into an accident, they can protect you from serious head injuries and even save your life. According to the National Safety Transportation Board, helmets can reduce the incidence of head injuries by 48% and reduce serious head injuries by 60%.
Not only that, but bike helmets offer sun protection while you ride, warmth in cooler weather and added visibility. There’s no difference in helmets for e-bikes or traditional bikes, and they can be used interchangeably—what matters is that you use them.
Like bikes, however, there can be an overwhelming number of choices when it comes to helmets. That’s why, at Charge, we offer a streamlined selection of helmets that we trust and riders love. One that we think is a good choice for most riders: The Cannondale Quick Adult Helmet.
About the Cannondale Quick Bike Helmet
While any helmet is better than no helmet, the fact is all helmets aren’t created equal. While there are federal safety standards that all bike helmets must meet to be sold in the United States (more on those later), to get the protection a helmet offers, one has to actually wear the helmet. There are some features that make certain helmets easier and more enjoyable—and therefore make riders more likely—to wear than others.
The Cannondale Quick, for example, looks good and feels good when you wear it. It has a sporty, modern shape with 19 air vents to keep the air flowing. It also ups the safety factor with a rear safety light and reflective accents to increase visibility. Getting the right fit is easy too, with one-handed adjustment.
It comes in two sizes: small/medium, with a circumference of 54-58 centimeters and large/extra-large, with a circumference of 58-61 centimeters. To find your size, the manufacturer recommends measuring your head horizontally across your temples, about 1.5 centimeters above your ears.
It also comes in an array of great colors including black, white, silver, cherry red and highlighter yellow, and it’s affordable to boot. While helmets come in a wide price range, the Cannondale Quick is just $45.
Basically, it's a helmet that checks all the boxes then adds more boxes and checks those too.
As one Charge rider wrote in a review of the Cannondale Quick Adult Helmet, “Lightweight, protective and stylish. All the things I was looking for in a helmet. Protection is a big part of safety!!!”
Buyer beware
So about those safety standards we mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, there are plenty of bike helmets for sale that don’t meet these standards and a proliferation of counterfeit models out there for sale on the internet. To ensure you get the best protection, you want to make sure that you do your research and purchase one that has a CPSC label from a trusted retailer.
That label must include the following, as stated on the CSPC website:
A specific statement that the helmet complies with the standard. The name, address, and telephone number of the manufacturer or importer issuing the certificate, or of the private labeler of the helmet. The name and address of the foreign manufacturer, if the helmet was manufactured outside the U.S. Information, such as a serial number, that allows you to identify the production lot of the helmet, and the month and year the helmet was manufactured. Can people counterfeit labels that include this information and look legit? Sure. That’s why purchasing a helmet through a trusted company, like Charge, is so important. When you purchase one through us, you know you’re getting the real deal that will provide the utmost protection.
Once you get your helmet, make sure it fits correctly, and that you wear it properly. According to the CPSC, helmets should be snug but comfortable. “Be sure that the helmet is worn so that it is level on your head—not tilted back on the top of your head or pulled too low over your forehead,” their website states. “Once on your head, the helmet should not move in any direction, back-to-front or side-to-side. For helmets with a chin strap, be sure the chin strap is securely fastened so that the helmet doesn’t move or fall off during a fall or collision.”
When to replace your bike helmet
The CPSC recommends following the helmet manufacturer’s guidance, but in general, they should last 5-10 years. However, the longevity may be affected by how much you use a helmet, where you store it and other factors. If you find things like cracks in the shell or liner or worn straps, it’s likely time to replace it.
“Regular replacement may minimize any reduced effectiveness that could result from degradation of materials over time, and allow you to take advantage of recent advances in helmet protection,” the CPSC guidelines state.
E-bike safety
At Charge, we pride ourselves on making great e-bikes that offer a fun and safe way to traverse the hills and valleys of life. They’re just as safe, useful and enjoyable for retirees who haven’t ridden for decades as they are for college students and young professionals looking for a better way to commute. They’re for going to get groceries and picking up your kid from preschool while enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. They’re for off-road adventures and on-road flexibility.
They don’t reach high speeds, like a car or motorcycle, but they can go at a pretty nice clip—up to 20 miles per hour with pedal assist. You can pedal harder to go faster if you want, but in general, you’re looking at about 20mph. Are you going to win any races? Probably not, but that’s fast enough to get where you’re going in good time, and getting there will be easy and enjoyable.
All of our bikes come equipped with standard safety features, such as
High-quality, lightweight aluminum frames that are nimble and easy to transport, but built to last and ready to ride in any weather.
Puncture-resistant Goodyear tires that offer unsurpassed, all-weather traction and robust flat protection.
Automatic tire pressure sensors that take out the guesswork and show red when you need air, or green if you're good to go.
High-powered, integrated front and rear lights and reflective tire walls that ensure you can see and be seen, day or night.
All that said, accidents do happen, and you want to protect yourself just in case. That means a helmet.
In a nutshell: We make e-bikes that are made to safely move you in all the best ways. It’s up to you, however, to make each ride as safe as possible by following the rules of the road and wearing a well-made helmet.
So, if you’re looking for a bike helmet (which you should be if you don’t already have a good one), do your research, or just trust us—we’ve done it for you. There are a lot of good helmets out there, and as long as they meet CPSC standards, you’re in good shape. But if you want help narrowing things down, for a solid, comfortable, good-looking bike helmet, we think the Cannondale Quick is a good choice. It’s affordable, dependable and we’ll deliver it to your doorstep in just a few days. Then, you can Charge on, rest assured you’re well protected as you ride through the hills and valleys of life.
