In last week’s Fast Facts Friday post we featured a handful of cities, organizations, and companies offering free helmets. Helmet awareness and bike safety has grown immensely over the last 20 years and we are thrilled to see so much philanthropy.

Today we’re kicking off a helmet giveaway campaign via twitter. Here’s how it works: Follow @BellTrueFit on twitter and be automatically entered to win a new Bell True Fit bike helmet!

Each time we reach another 100 followers, we’ll randomly select one of our followers to send a new Bell True Fit helmet to! Plus, each time we reach another 100 followers we’ll donate five helmets to an organization that is dedicated to helmet advocacy and bike safety. We’ll be giving helmets away when we reach 700, 800, 900, and 1,000 followers.

As of today we have 647 followers, but once we reach 700 followers, we’ll randomly select a follower to send a new helmet to. We’ll also send five new bike helmets to SafeKids USA for them to share in their efforts to keep kids safe.

If you’re already following us on twitter, well then you’ll be automatically entered into a drawing to win a helmet once we reach the 700, 800, 900, 1,000 follower milestones. But please encourage your followers to follow @BellTrueFit also, so we can reach our goals that much sooner!

Here’s what you can tweet:

Follow @BellTrueFit – they’re giving away bike helmets as they reach 700, 800, 900, & 1,000 followers! Please RT http://bit.ly/dcqRlc

Here’s what you could win (and what we’ll be donating):

The Bell True Fit Adrenaline

Stay tuned for the first winner!

Lately we’ve noticed a lot of people looking to purchase bicycles, helmets, and gear. Naturally, spring and summer are busy for those of us in bike-related industries as more people begin taking advantage of the longer days and warmer evenings to go ride!

If your bike spent the fall and winter months’ stored away collecting dust and cobwebs, be sure to give it a thorough inspection and safety tune-up before pedaling. For those looking to upgrade, choosing the right bicycle for your size, style, and skill level is obviously important, but having the right equipment is equally important. Today’s Fast Facts Friday focuses on some of the best and most affordable bike accessories. We won’t cover everything here, but we hope you find these products to be useful to your cycling experience.

1)      For the city riders out there, consider the Bell Hands Off Bike U-Lock. This indestructible lock will ensure your bike’s safety no matter where it’s parked. Plus, the carrying bracket features a quick release, and the vinyl coating protects your bike from scratches.

2)      The Bell Sports iPulse LED Bike Torch takes night riding to a whole new level. This bike “light” is equipped with high power LED with sculpted lens to produce extreme brightness. The iPulse also boasts up to nine times longer run time than traditional lights. This ultra bright bike “torch” will light your path through the darkest of situations. It will also enable drivers to better see you on the bike, too.

3)      Planning a road trip? Maybe you’ll be attending one of the many bike tours taking place across the country and world this summer? If you’re not riding your bike across the country, you’ll need a way to take your bikes with you … Bell’s Locking Three-Bike Rack allows you to securely take up to three bikes anywhere! This is great for long road trips or for transporting your bikes across town. A strong 6′ locking 8mm key cable promotes safe transport; the hitch-free design with 6 durable straps offers a stable fit to almost any car. This sturdy unit folds in one simple step and boasts red reflective end-caps to enhance visibility and safety.

4)      For most bike riders, cyclists especially, sunglasses are a key accessory. There’s nothing worse than catching a blinding sun ray travelling at high speeds. One of Bell’s sister companies, Giro, has more than ten styles in their sunglass collection for men, women and all bikers. One of Giro’s technical features is the Pop Top™ Lens System that allows you to change lenses in seconds without stress or hassles. Pictured is the Havik 2 Compact, winner of Bicycling Magazine’s 2010 Editor’s Choice Award!

5)      Of course it wouldn’t be right for us to leave the most important bicycle accessory off of this list: the helmet! We’ve discussed – in depth – the importance and, for some, requirement of wearing a helmet when riding a bike or participating in other action sports. So when you’re out shopping for new cycling accessories, consider a Bell True Fit model with its patented design that makes the proper fit, literally, a snap.

What bicycle accessory are you planning to pick up this year? Would you like to know more about any of the products described here? Let us know by leaving a comment or shoot us a note on twitter @BellTrueFit.

Today is Earth Day 2010 – the 40^th Anniversary of the celebration. This week also marks the one-year Anniversary of the Bell True Fit blog! A year ago we started this blog in an effort to raise awareness about Bell’s advances in the bicycling, snow sports and fitness industries, while paying homage to Mother Earth. In doing so, we unveiled our True Fit technology: a perfect combination of science and human experience that resulted in the best fitting helmets ever. We kicked off this blog with a Bell True Fit helmet giveaway and some Earth Day awareness.

Since last April we’ve held numerous giveaways, offered invaluable helmet and biking tips, and covered off on some of the most relevant helmet and biking-related news with our Week In Review series.

Unlike a newspaper, radio or traditional TV sitcom, a blog is not a static thing … it requires human participation and interaction for it to be successful.

You’ve participated in our surveys and contests, you’ve shared your favorite biking trails and locations, and you’ve offered unparalleled insight into the minds of the bicycle community. So, on this anniversary we’d like to thank our community. Meaning, we thank YOU for all the different levels of collaboration offered to us over the past year.

We thank The Full Mommy for her review and giveaway of a Bell True Fit helmet last spring. TG Daily Dads and Grads Product Giveaway was a hit with the guys last summer.  Last fall we conducted a survey asking if you allow your children to ride their bicycle to school. During the winter we asked what your favorite holiday traditions are. Both times we gave a helmet to one lucky commenter. And of course who could forget our twitter contests where we gave away three sets of Tony Hawk RIDE video games and Bell True Fit helmets! We hope the winners @MomMostTraveled, @davesniadak, and @MissingLynxx are getting good use out of the video games and helmets.

While your participation here has helped our blog become a Web destination for the bicycle community, your engagement with our Facebook and Twitter pages has also made Bell True Fit one of the highest followed in the social web.  ‘Thank You’ to all of you who commented on our blog posts, wrote on our Facebook wall, or “ReTweeted” our Twitter updates. Without you this blog would not be possible. Your engagement helps us decide what kind of content you’re most interested in for yourself and others in your own social networks.

We hope you’ll continue to visit our site and provide the invaluable feedback that you do.

Be on the lookout for more contests, and once again THANK YOU for being a part of the Bell True Fit family!

Happy Earth Day 2010!

As many of you may (or may not) know, Google Maps unveiled a “bicycling directions” feature last Wednesday.

The new feature offers turn by turn biking directions with trails and bike lanes directly on the map, and just like traditional Google Maps there’s an option to drag and drop points of interest to customize your route.

“Bicycling directions” has been met with some criticism, however, as one New York Post reporter used it to plot a few routes through New York City, and it led him into some heavy traffic along the way.

The article starts out with, “A helmet may not be enough to protect cyclists from Google Maps’ latest feature.” – We disagree.

Google bicycle directions might take you into traffic jams and unfamiliar neighborhoods, but wearing a Bell helmet has proven time and again to protect riders and prevent serious head injury. Did you know that Bell  offers a GPS enabled helmet? No it’s not a helmet with a global positioning system, rather it’s a Geared Positioning System where all you do is reach back and turn a dial and it either tightens or loosens the molding around your head. Check out the Influx for more information on Bell’s Geared Positioning System technology.  Or if you’d prefer the easiest fitting helmet, check out one of Bell’s many True Fit models that make the proper fit a snap with one easy adjustment.

Not all of the reviews have been critical however, and a few outlets, like Wired.com, are asking for your input in helping them determine whether the new feature is “pretty awesome” or “full of potential fatal flaws”.

Google is currently running a twitter contest – Share Your Ride Sweepstakes – for the chance to win a $2,500 voucher for use at American Cyclery.

To enter, simply log on to Twitter and create a Twitter entry which includes the hashtag #bikewithgoogle

Above is a screenshot of San Francisco from “bicycling directions”– with the green lines representing bike lanes and trails. The Bay Bridge isn’t currently highlighted with any green lines, but people are working hard to get biking lanes spanning the length of the new bridge, once construction is complete and it is opened to traffic. In the mean time, biking across the Golden Gate Bridge makes for a great outing.

What do you think about Google’s new feature? Will you use it to find new routes? Weigh in on this by leaving a comment below.

March is upon us, and while Punxsutawney Phil, the only true weather forecasting groundhog in the business, saw his shadow back in February predicting  another six weeks of winter, we are already looking forward to the green of Spring. Daylight Savings begins on March 14, St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17 and fun bike rides and tours are popping up across the country.

In today’s edition of Fast Facts Friday we’re discussing some of the upcoming bike rides and tours taking place across the country, with a focus on some of the the more interesting and obscure events. If you know of or are participating in any interesting bike rides or tours coming up, let us know! Just leave a comment below, and maybe we’ll feature you in a future Bell True Fit blog post!

1. The Muddy Buddy Ride is coming to a city near you! From California to Virginia, down to Florida and up to Oregon, the Muddy Buddy Ride and Run Series is a must for the adventurous. Muddy Buddy is all about having fun (and getting muddy of course) with a friend, family member, partner or co-worker. Teams of two traverse a 6-7 mile off-road course and five obstacles. “At the start of the race, one team member will run and one will ride the bike. At the 1st obstacle, the rider will drop the bike, complete the obstacle, and begin running. The runner will arrive, complete the obstacle, find their bike and begin riding. Teams will continue leapfrogging each other through the entire course,” according to the Web site. Funds raised through this meaningful program, benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) and allow people with physical challenges to live an active lifestyle. So go get dirty, challenge yourself, support a great cause, get some exercise and get to know someone really well! Visit Muddy-Buddy.Competitor.com to get the “the dirt” on this awesome event.

2. Maybe getting sweaty and muddy with a boss or new girlfriend isn’t your cup of tea … maybe you’d prefer a glass of wine? Geared towards the novice rider, with an epicurean/vinophile bent Napa Valley Bike Tours offers a variety of scenic bike rides through rustic wine country. Since 1987 they’ve been offering single and multi-day guided bike tours, self-guided bike tours, bike rentals and bicycling vacation packages that include accommodations and dining. Sample and purchase wines, wine and dine at some of the best wineries and restaurants, and enjoy an “invigorating sensory experience” as you roll through scenic Napa Valley past rows of vineyards. Visit Napa Valley Bike Tours or become a fan on Facebook to start planning your trip today.

3. Register’s Annual Great Bike Race Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) always takes place in the summer, during the last full week of July. Sponsored by The Des Moines Register, this annual seven-day bicycle ride across the state from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River, and is the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring event in the world.  RAGBRAI is heading into its 38th year in 2010. A week-long rider fee is $140 and includes baggage transportation, camping accommodations, emergency medical services, daily route maps, entries into drawings for a free bike, and much more. Meals, concerts, parties and events along the way make this scenic ride all the more worth it at the end of every day (after you’ve ridden 75+ miles!). Hurry though, because the entry postmark deadline is April 1, 2009. Visit RAGBRAI.com for more information and check out their blog for interesting updates.

4. Not interested in being confined to the borders of one state? Cycle America offers Cross-State Tours and a Coast-to-Coast journey from June to August. Go from Seattle, WA to Boston, MA crossing over 13 states and one Canadian Province in 64 days. The ride will take you 4,200 miles, averaging 65-86 miles per day through “the lush mountains and forests of the West, across the grasslands of the Great Plains, to the lakes and farms of the Great Lake states and the quaint towns of New England.” The cost is $6,685, and is all inclusive. If a three month bike ride across the country doesn’t quite fit into your calendar or your bank account, you can opt to ride one of the nine cross-state tours for much cheaper (roughly $800 per event). For more information or to reserve a spot visit CycleAmerica.com.

5. Looking for something closer to home, maybe not as long? Then check out The World Wide Bicycle Tour Directory (BicycleTour.com) – a comprehensive directory of bicycle tours and events for both road cycling and mountain biking. They have an easy-to-use menu to help you find bike tours based on country, state, month, duration, and type.

Whichever tour you participate in, be sure to wear your helmet! And be on the lookout for Bell helmets along the way, as many of our models are considered the best. ConsumerSearch.com says the Bell Vela is the best bike helmet for women, the Bell Citi is the best bike helmet for commuters, the Bell Boomerang is the best bike helmet for toddlers, and the Bell Trigger is the best youth bike helmet.

We at Bell Sports hold bicycling – and safety – dear to our hearts. We publish these Fast Facts Friday (#FFF) blog posts with the hope of providing you with insightful information, and inspiring you to get out and ride. We also intend to provide you with factual information that encourages you to always wear a helmet when cycling. So, in the spirit of #FFF, today’s installment features some obscure bicycling and helmet facts meant to educate, inspire, and maybe even answer that nagging question that has piqued your curiosity time and again.

1) Despite the requirement for adults to use hand signals when riding in traffic, The American Academy of Pediatrics says Children shouldn’t use hand signals, because signaling may cause them to lose control of their bikes. (AAP.org)

2) Ever wonder why male cyclists shave their legs? Well, according to eHow.com it is it has nothing to do with aerodynamics, and more to do with road rash, massage, hygiene, vanity and tradition. Hairless legs are easier to clean, and it’s less painful to tear bandages off of smooth skin than hairy skin. Plus leg hair gets messy when slathered in massage oils, and it is easier for masseuses to work on bald legs. (eHow.com)

3) In China, bicycles outnumber cars 250 to 1, and in Tokyo, Japan a bicycle is faster than a car for most trips of less than 50 minutes. (Strange-Facts.info)

4) Bell Helmets feature EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam liners. The purpose of the liner is to help prevent or reduce brain injury by absorbing the energy of an impact through its own compression or destruction. (BellSports.com)

5) And our Fast Fact“ee” of honor: At 25 years old Georgia native Fred A. Birchmore circled the globe by bicycle. The entire trip, through Europe, Asia, and the United States, covered forty thousand miles. Over the course of his tour, taken in 1935, he pedaled about 25,000 miles and wore out seven sets of tires. The rest was traveled by boat. And, Fred just celebrated his 98^th birthday this week! Happy belated birthday, Fred! (NationalGeographic.com)

What inspires you? Let us know what type of information gets you out on the road or on the trail spinning those wheels!

In the United States, Veteran’s Day takes place on November 11 every year and serves as a federal holiday in remembrance and observance of our troops. Well, in honor of the all the brave US soldiers who have served, fought and dedicated themselves to defending our freedom, we would like to dedicate today’s post to saying “Thank You” to our men and women in the armed forces.

Seeing as we’re in the helmet manufacturing business, we thought – what would be a more fitting way to show our gratitude than to highlight the military by providing some insight and historical context about the military helmet?

1) In 1981, Bell Sports introduced products for anti-ballistic military and law enforcement use. (Bell Sports)

2) The development and expanded use of steel helmets “saved the French” in WWI as it enabled them to disregard German artillery fire. (NYTimes.com)

3) During World War II, the United States designed and standardized the M-1 helmet, which became the symbol of the American soldier and was used afterward in the Korean and Vietnam wars. (ehow.com)

4) Thanks to generous donations, Operation Helmet has sent 46,009 protective helmet-pad upgrade kits to U.S. soldiers in the field. (Operation-Helmet.org)

5) In April 2009 Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Harvey received a Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge after being shot in the helmet and continuing to return fire during an enemy attack in Najaf, Iraq on Feb. 10. Harvey’s life was saved by his Advanced Combat Helmet. (Army.mil)

Thanks again to all the veterans out there for your service, and let’s not forget about the role helmets have had in the safety and protection of those who risk their lives for our freedom.

We recently posted a survey asking people whether or not their children ride bicycles to school, if they wear their helmets, and a few other bike and helmet-related questions. We also offered a free Bell True Fit helmet to one lucky survey participant. Today we’re announcing the lucky winner … and sharing the survey results!

While many of the participants had similar responses, there were also some interesting variations too.

For example, the majority of survey participants said their children do not ride bicycles to school, with the number one reason for not riding their bikes to school being distance, as the majority of respondents live more than one mile from their child’s school. Another common reason that participants’ children do not ride their bikes to school is because of age. They think their child is too young. The mean age of all survey participants’ children was 6 years old. And for those of you in that pack with children on the younger side, respondents whose children do ride a bike to school said their child first began doing so around age 6 ½.

And when survey participants were asked, “Are there clearly marked bike paths on your child’s route to school?” the survey was about split, with 46% responding “yes”, and 54% responding “no”. We believe that this could also be a factor in deciding whether or not to allow a child to ride a bicycle to school.

Overwhelmingly, most respondents had never heard of a walking train or bicycle train. Of those respondents that were familiar with those terms, one respondent said, “… we do a walking ‘bus’ occasionally.” And for that majority out there that does not know, a walking school bus and a bicycle train both consist of groups of students accompanied by adults that walk or bicycle a pre-planned route to school (SafeRoutesInfo.org).

Other survey results that were pretty lop-sided include 78% of respondents saying “yes”, their child rides a bike 3 or more times a week, outside of riding to school. And, 23% said no, their child does not ride a bicycle that often.

Finally, participants gave a resounding “YES” to the question “Does your child wear a helmet when they ride a bike?”. That’s relieving.

Thanks to those that participated by taking a minute from their day to take the quick survey! And, drum roll please, the lucky winner of a shiny new Bell True Fit helmet is the survey is Silicon Valley-based Kimberly aka @tippytoes on twitter.

Have you ever been backstage at a rock concert? Taken a tour inside Buckingham Palace? Been to a movie set? We will count you as the lucky ones if you’ve done one or all…

While we can’t get you on the set of the new Harry Potter movie, we can offer you a sneak peek at the coolness inside the new line of Bell Sports bike helmets with the True Fit technology. When you stop to think about it, it’s not just a helmet, it’s a brand-new technology… and it *is* pretty cool.

Creating this technology was very important to us; especially when you remember one in three kids wear false fitting helmets. Readers of our blog already know the premise of the Bell Sports True Fit helmet line: A True Fit helmet gives the right fit, right away, every time. So, how is that possible for kids and adults? We are here to unveil some of the inner-workings of this cool technology and take you “backstage”… so to speak.

Back in 2004, the makers of True Fit identified that key challenge – a false fit – for cyclists of all ages, especially kids. Our company set out to ensure that kids can wear helmets with the highest level of protection available, while making it as simple as possible. Our awesome and super-smart Bell designers spent five whopping years developing an innovative helmet design that help keep you safe.

The design is based on a ground-breaking, self-adjusting fit belt to give just the right fit, with fixed straps that offer the correct position every time, and a single adjustment point near the base of the chin. Elastic forms to the Occipital Lobe (Um, what? See picture!!) to create a consistent and level fit, with cool high impact reflectors, and primary retention and fit systems combined for simplicity that are positioned strategically at the base of the straps at the back of the helmet.

Sounds simple right?? Well, now it is! True Fit offers a truly revolutionary design in that no other helmet on the market offers. True Fit takes the guesswork out of whether the helmet is positioned properly.

Well, there you have it. All access backstage passes at Bell True Fit headquarters. We hope to hear how your experience has been. Tell us your story here or in the comments. Happy (and safe) riding.