Did you know head injuries account for 75 percent of the 900 annual deaths from bicycle crashes? That's why the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute recommends getting properly fitted for a helmet.

Nobody expects to fall, but at some point you will -- the BHSI says that after about 4,500 hours of riding, every cyclist becomes a victim of statistics and has some sort of injury-inducing fall. And while road rash and broken bones heal, brain injuries often don't. Research indicates about 88 percent of cycling head injuries could be prevented with a helmet.

A helmet should fit securely on top of the head -- covering part of the forehead like any other hat. The strap should be tight enough that the helmet moves when the cyclist opens and closes his or her mouth.

And if you are wearing a helmet, replace it after a crash. Helmets are so well constructed that they spread the shock of the impact throughout the device's foam lining. It may not work as well a second time.