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Pimp Your Bike Helmet

Slap some style into the thing that protects your precious brains and skull.

Megan Cohen

By Megan Cohen
San Francisco, CA, USA | Mon Nov 10, 2008 04:30 AM ET

bike helmet photo


Glowimages/Getty Images

Wearing a bike helmet can protect you even if your head is literally run over by a truck, and adding some zap and snazz to your helmet will make you proud to be seen in your safety gear, and help you remember to throw it on before you hit the streets. That's right, pimping your bike helmet could save your life. Sure, you could just buy a bicycle helmet that's already chic or charming or whatnot, but let's say that you haven't done that. Instead, you're pedaling all around like a good green cyclist, commuting to work on two wheels to reduce your carbon footprint, and generally making a spectacle of yourself by saving the planet while developing legendary calf muscles, but your helmet just isn't as cool as you are. Maybe it's old or ugly or dorky or just plain boring and run-of-the-mill. Here are a couple of ways to bring your bike helmet up to the level of the rest of your impeccably stylish lifestyle.

Put A Face On The Front
Take a cue from butterflies and moths, who have evolved wing patterns that look like big eyeballs to scare away potential predators, and throw a face onto the front of your helmet to help you make it through the brutality of rush hour. Flick user Red Bat has a cool picture of a bike helmet decorated with a face, from a big Halloween ride in Portland, Oregon. Even if it's not Halloween, you can still dress your helmet up as a goblin or a ghoulie, or just give it a big smile.

Give It Some Glow
Wearing LED lights on your bike helmet won't just make your head look like a nifty floating constellation, it'll also help protect you, by ensuring that drivers and assorted road warriors can always see you coming, day or night. Check out this LED Bike Helmet instructable for info on how to make it happen.

Stick Something On Your Bike Helmet
If you'd put a bumper sticker on your car, why not put it on your bike helmet? Sure, you're working with a smaller canvas, but that doesn't mean you can't show off a cool picture, an allegiance to your favorite band, a staunch political viewpoint, or just a friendly joke with whoever ends up stuck behind you at a crosswalk. For kitsch, try scouring flea markets and vintage stores for stickers from vacation destinations you've never been, or go totally wholesome and cheerful with a bunch of second-grade-teacher style "good job!" stickers from a classroom supply store.

Come Up With A Better Idea
Have you done something rad to your helmet, or seen an amazing helmet on the streets? Share the idea with other readers in the comments, so we can all ride in style.

Related posts:
Bike to Work Pants: Now You See Me, Now You Don't
Make Your Own Foldaway Bike Rack
Commute to Work by Bike
How to Go Green: Commuting

Are you a green hipster looking for all things green and cool? Then you'll love actor and eco-activist Adrian Grenier and his team of environmental experts, who live it up with sustainable style on Planet Green TV's Alter Eco.

 
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