DO CONVENTIONAL BICYCLE HELMETS PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN MOUNTAIN BIKING

We present two cases of acute injury to the face and head sustained fr om off-road mountain biking despite the fact that the riders wore bicy cle helmets. We reviewed the literature related to this topic and sugg est that conventional bicycle helmets may be inappropriate for off-roa d use. Specifically, they lack an apparatus to protect the face in fal ls that involve this exposed area. In addition, current standards for bicycle helmets to protect the head were devised for road use and many presumptions are incomplete when applied to off-road use. Recommendat ions for application toward off-road use of current helmet design are made.