icon-account icon-glass

Join the community!

We'll keep you up to date with interesting news, product information and offers so you never miss out.

No boring newsletters and we'll never share your address. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Popular Searches

Popular Products

The Lean Protein
Whey protein powder for weight-loss.
The Energy Booster
Pre/intra-workout powder with BCAAs.
The Glow Booster
Collagen supplement for skin.

CATEGORIES

The 5 Best And Most Stylish Women’s Bike Helmets

18th December 2020

Fitness

18th December 2020

By Shivraj Bassi

Cycling is amazing. You can revel in the independence that comes with propelling yourself along, the sun on your face and the wind rushing past you. You know what’s also amazing? Wearing a bike helmet. 

We know that helmets can sometimes be annoying to wear, not to mention that they make your head hot and they’re a pain to carry around. But as far as we’re concerned, if you’re cycling, you’re wearing a helmet. 

The International Journal of Epidemiology states that wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk of you suffering a serious head injury while cycling by up to 70%. If you’re cycling along happily at 20 miles per hour, you’re moving as far as you would be if you fell out of a second story window. Would you want to try that jump with your head unprotected? Thought not. 

When choosing a helmet, it’s essential to ensure that it fits well and is round in shape - the rounder the helmet, the better it’s able to roll rather than stick. It’s also helpful if it makes you more visible while you’re cycling. 

However, none of this means that you need to sacrifice style over function. You can still look fabulous while you’re biking, and here are some helmets which tick every box. 

Dashel Re-Cycle Helmet, £79

Not only are Dashel’s helmets minimalist and chic, they’re also made from recycled, sustainable materials. Once your helmet has reached its lifespan (which can be up to 10 years), Dashel will part-exchange it for a new one, and re-use materials from the old helmet to manufacture more. You don’t get a more stylish bike helmet philosophy than that. 

Liv Rev Women Road Helmet, £119.99

While the entire Liv Rev line of helmets are great, it’s this one which stands out as a winner. It’s among the official helmets worn by the women of the CCC-Live Team, a well-known road cycling team. If you suffer from a hot and sweaty head while riding, you’ll love the ventilation on this. 

Giro Quarter Helmet, £44.99

This stylish women’s bike helmet is a great budget option. Very light, it’s made of ABS plastic, which is extra-resistant to physical impacts. Good for the safety of your skull and for your wallet. It features sweat-absorbent pads inside, as well as an expanded polystyrene liner.

Sawako Crocodile Black, £106, Sawako

This helmet is what Anna Wintour would wear on her morning commute. You don’t get a more stylish women’s bike helmet than this. All of the Sawako’s helmets turn heads, but this black faux crocodile leather one takes the grand prize. As well as looking good, it complies with international safety standard the European CE EN1087 and has 11 air vents to let your head breathe. 

Hedon Cortex Creme, £199

This helmet for women is one to put on your Christmas list. Admittedly it’s on the pricier end, but the luxurious cream colour, brown calf leather trim and strap and classically retro style means you’ll be set apart from other cyclists on the road. 

Once you've hopped off your bike and safely stowed your helmet, our The Recover Capsules will keep you in tip-top shape for your next ride. 

< Older post Newer post >

Need Expert Advice?

Take the quiz

Take the quiz

If you're not sure where to start, take our 5 minute health consultation to get product recommendations tailored to your goals.
Read more

Other Insights

7 Expert Gym Tips to See Faster Results at the Gym

7 Expert Gym Tips to See Faster Results at the Gym

Are you pushed for time in your daily life? Take a look at out top 7 tips to supercharge your gym results in less time!
Read more
From the Bedroom to the Gym: Is Your Sex Life Affecting Your Workout Performance?

From the Bedroom to the Gym: Is Your Sex Life Affecting Your Workout Performance?

The relationship between sex and workout performance is one that’s long been debated by scientists and fitness fanatics alike. It’s complicated and multifaceted, so answering the question of whether your sex life is affecting your training is difficult. That said, today we’re going to take a look at a variety of evidence, both academic and anecdotal, as well as several different scenarios and at least try to reduce some of the mystery around the subject. First, it helps to understand what’s actually happening to the body, both physically and psychologically, during both activities.   The Effects of Sex on the Body Sexual activity causes several changes to occur in the body:   Physical Changes That Occur During Sex During sexual activity and the lead up to it, the human body undergoes a process known as the sexual response cycle. This is the case for both males and females, though the cycle can be highly individual and may not be the same each time for each person. Describing the full sexual response cycle is beyond the scope of this article, however it consists of 4 phases: Desire Arousal Orgasm Resolution Factors such as elevated heart rate, increased blood flow and pressure and heightened muscle tension all come into play. If you’d like to read about the sexual response cycle in more detail, check out this great article from Cleveland Clinic.   Psychological Changes That Occur During Sex Several psychological changes occur both during and after sex. Most notable are the release of endorphins and oxytocin, which are associated with improved mood and a better sense of wellbeing. These are also responsible for reduced stress levels, which brings a multitude of additional benefits that are of particular interest to those of us participating in regular training and exercise. Cortisol, the hormone responsible for stress, is catabolic in high levels, meaning it can cause the breakdown of lean tissue. So, whilst it is unclear whether sex itself affects workout performance, the reduction in stress levels it may bring is definitely beneficial for preserving our results!   The Effects of Exercise and Training on the Body Exercise and training also cause the body to undergo a number of changes. These occur both during and after the physical activity. There are in fact a number of similarities in changes that happen during exercise and sex:   Physical Changes That Occur During Exercise The physical changes that happen in the body vary based on the type of exercise being undertaken, however, there are some that are common to exercise in general: Increased heart rate Increased blood flow, especially to the muscles Faster, deeper breathing due to additional oxygen needs Heightened activity within the circulatory, respiratory, musculoskeletal and endocrine systems A full summary of the changes that occur within these systems can be found here. More aerobically demanding exercise will, of course, place greater emphasis on the circulatory and respiratory systems as well as causing fat to be metabolised as an energy source. Resistance training, which often relies more heavily on the lactate and creatine phosphate energy systems, instead promotes greater muscular and endocrine (hormone) activity. Note the common physical changes between sex and exercise here, as they do crossover!   Psychological Changes That Occur During Exercise The psychological changes that occur during exercise are similar to those experienced during sexual activity and are mostly related to the release of endorphins and other ‘feelgood’ hormones. These help to regulate mood, and it is common knowledge that frequent exercise and leading an active, healthy lifestyle promotes a feeling of wellbeing.   Does Sex Affect Our Workouts? This is where things become complicated. Though extensive studies have been done on the subject, the results of these have varied massively. We must also take into account the experience of individuals, and this anecdotal evidence again has huge variance. Let’s look at both:   Sex and Training: What the Science Says Scientific studies on the relationship between sex and training are contradictory at best. There’s no denying the positive benefits of both activities, particularly from a psychological perspective, but as for the effect of sex on actual performance in the gym the results are inconclusive. A study, published in April 2021, by Kirecci, Albayrak and co. examined the effects of sexual activity of 50 men in the 24 hours prior to training on lower body strength. The study measured effects by having the men perform 3 separate squat sessions, each at the same time of day. Each of these sessions occurred after participating in or abstaining from sexual activity the night before. The men performed 5 sets of 5 repetitions of their maximum squat weight during these sessions and the difference in weight lifted was observed. The study concluded that ‘sexual intercourse within 24 hours before exercise [has a] detrimental effect on lower extremity muscle force, which suggests that restricting sexual activity before a short-term activity may be necessary.’ Aside from this study, most others found either no notable relationship between sex and athletic performance. A meta-analysis of 9 crossover studies, conducted by Zavorsky and Brooks and published on 16 September 2022, confirms this. The analysis concluded that ‘The results demonstrate that sexual activity within 30 min to 24 h before exercise does not appear to affect aerobic fitness, musculoskeletal endurance, or strength/power.’ This is perhaps more notable, because these studies incorporated different types of exercise and were not restricted purely to a strength/power based activity like squats.   Anecdotal Evidence: What About the Experiences of Real Gym Goers? The anecdotal evidence is, as expected, highly individualised. However, there tends to be a bias against the results of most studies, particularly in those participating in sports involving strength and aggression. For example, many fighters claim that they perform better when they abstain from sex in the days leading up to a contest. Similarly, bodybuilding forums are full of debate on this topic and many claim they note a significant decrease in motivation to train at maximum intensity after sexual activity. It has been hypothesised that this may be due to a downregulation in testosterone production after sex; during orgasm the mineral zinc is released in the body and this is also a precursor for natural testosterone production in the body and may, therefore, provide some reasoning as to the experience of many trainees.   Key Takeaways The relationship between sex and workout performance will always be a complicated one. The effects of one on the other in terms of physical fitness and, in particular, mental wellbeing, are clear, but when it comes to actual performance this appears to be highly individual. We’d advise doing what feels best for you but not worrying too much about it. Instead, prioritise your nutrition and make sure you’re fuelling your workouts properly. While you’re here, why not take a look at the Innermost range? We’re proud to be completely transparent about the ingredients in our products and we always ensure they’re of the highest quality. Check us out, and be sure to get in touch if you have any questions!
Read more