Let’s face it; no-one wants to wear a helmet when they ride. We’d much rather sport a summery straw number or a jauntily angled fedora; or better yet, let our waxen, flaxen hair flow behind us like streamers from our childhood handlebars.

safety first

I’m more than happy to give someone a piece of my mind but, if possible, I don’t want to leave pieces of it on the road. The problem is, no matter which of my helmets I wear, I feel like a dork; like the kid with the over-protective parent (I’m pretty sure if my mom had her way I’d be wearing knee and elbow pads too and only riding in the park).

style at last

Recognizing that sometimes statistics aren’t enough to convince cyclists to don a lid, the latest helmets have done for protective gear what Twilight did for pale people. Here are some of our favourite new stars.

nutcase & sawako furuno

Yes, Nutcase and Sawako Furuno are still very much helmets but so much cooler than the rest. We love the nutcase slogan: “I love my brain” and the watermelon design is a great reminder of what would happen if our own melons were to hit the pavement. We also love the designs from Sawako Furuno and the attitude that if you’re going to wear a helmet, at least have fun with it.

yakkay

These helmets put the “yay” in Yakkay (somehow). The cool looking hats are just a disguise; they can be slipped off and changed to match your outfit. One of our favourites is this horse helmet design we saw on Garance Doré. The compact helmet has been designed to meet rigorous European safety standard. Safety and style: first equal.

lacoste cork

One of our lululemon alumni, Kyle Ferguson, designed the lacoste cork helmet concept as part of a project at Emily Carr. Though not yet in production, the cork helmet takes a great step away from the traditional plastic-not-so-fantastic helmets and feels more like a piece of clothing, less like a haz-mat outfit. If you want to see this helmet become a reality, contact Kyle.

There’s a theory that drivers drive more carefully around cyclists with helmets; they presume that someone confident enough to ride without one knows what they’re doing. How does a helmet that doesn’t look like a helmet fit into that theory?

tires

In my life, bike tires deflate a little over the winter months while spare tires grow. Planning ahead and putting some air in the tires about a week before hitting the road this spring means there's plenty of time to check for leaks. If your tires are deflated or flat a couple days later, there's still time to get that tube replaced. (If you're pumping up your tires at the gas station, inflate to the PSI indicated on the sidewall of the tire — narrow tires generally need 80-100 PSI and mountain bikes with wider tires require 40-60 PSI).

brakes

When worn out tires prevent you from going, that's bad; when worn out brakes prevent you from stopping, that's worse. Fortunately they're easy to check. Lift up one end of the bike so the wheel can spin freely and squeeze the corresponding brake (then check the other end). The wheel should stop instantly. If it doesn't, drop in and see your friendly bike shop.

nuts & bolts

Check that your seat and handlebars are straight and that the bolts holding them are tight. If the handlebars are loose you won't be able to steer. Before you tighten them off, make sure your seat is the right height too (who knows, you may have grown over winter). If the seat is too low, you have to work much harder (when the pedal is at the bottom of the stroke, your knee should be just slightly bent).

chain

One of the dirtiest, but most satisfying, jobs in the bike maintenance list is cleaning the chain. You can get up close with an old toothbrush or take the easier route with a chain cleaner (a little plastic box with rotating brushes in it). Don't forget to lube it once it's sparkling.

test ride

A gentle tour of you neighbourhood, before you head across town, is a good opportunity to test your gears (do they shift up and down easily) and your brakes. Listen out for any grinding, squeaking and clicking noises (from the bike, not your body).

I use the mnemonic "Tortured Bikes Never Create Thrills" to remember the five checks on this list. If something doesn't feel right, take it to the pros. Alternatively, local bike shops, like Our Community Bikes in Vancouver, are great places to pick up some knowledge about simple checks and maintenance that we can all do ourselves.

want more

• Be seen in reflective cycle gear.
• Use cycling for cross-training.