Cycling in France
USA Cycling recently added the European helmet standards to its approved standards for legal bike racing helmets. France Cycling was the first to produce hard shell helmets for all cycling races in 1986. We also acknowledged many government agencies at that time, including SNELL, ANSI and the U.S. CPSC. The UCI made hardshell helmets mandatory for all races in the past few years. A new standard, the European Committee for Standardization, has just been introduced to the market. The European Committee will approve helmets that have stickers (ECS/CEN) similar to those found on all American-made helmets.
All licensees riding on a bike must have a helmet securely fastened that meets the U.S. standards. The following standards are required for helmets:
American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Standard Z90.4
Snell Memorial Foundation Standard Series B or N
American Society for Testing and Materials’ (ASTM) standard F-1447
Canadian Standards Association (CSA), standard CAN/CSA D113.2-M
Standard for bicycle helmets by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (CPSC).
European Committee for Standardization (CEN), standard for bicycle helmets
IS YOUR HELMET SAFE?
*A helmet can only be effective if it is properly fitted for the rider and properly strapped on.
*A helmet that has been struck by an object may not be able to protect the wearer from any subsequent impacts. This helmet should be returned or destroyed by the manufacturer and a replacement helmet ordered. This type of damage may not be obvious to the user.
*The helmet rule applies from the time of registration until the awarding of prizes.
USA Cycling encourages riders to use a helmet when they are riding their bicycles, whether it is for training or commuting.
