Pimp Your Bike Helmet

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.